THIM or TDAC? What you need to do before you fly to Thailand

A new immigration app called THIM is being promoted to visitors, and some online posts say it has replaced the arrival card. The official line, as of the Tourism Authority's June announcement, is that it has not. Every claim carries a numbered source at the foot of the post.

What the news says

• THIM (Thailand Immigration Management) is a mobile app from the Immigration Bureau. You photograph your passport, enter your accommodation, travel details and purpose of entry, and the app reads the rest. One traveller takes up to three minutes, and a group of up to 10 can register together [1].
• TAT says THIM "is not an additional arrival-card requirement and does not replace TDAC at this stage". Visitors should keep completing the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, either through THIM or through the official channel [1].
• The June announcement described THIM as a pilot, with the official launch "expected in August 2026". Later functions, such as booking appointments with officers, were still under development [1].

That announcement is from 11 June, and its August launch date has now passed. We have not confirmed what has changed since, so the answer for your own trip is to check the official Immigration Bureau channel in the days before you fly.

What we do about it

• We tell every client heading to Hua Hin to complete the arrival card before they fly, and to use the official route only. Be wary of look-alike sites that charge for it. The Immigration Bureau graphic says it is free.
• We send a reminder with the dates, so the three-day window is not missed.
• If an online post tells you something different, send it to us and we will check it against the official source.

Talk to us. Flying in soon? Tell us your arrival date and we will send the reminder. WhatsApp +44 7763 597345

David and the TCT team

Sources

• [1] TAT Newsroom, "Thailand Immigration Management application introduced to streamline foreign traveller registration", 11 June 2026. tatnews.org