Thailand THIM App immigration app is beginning to roll out, but there is one point every visitor needs to understand: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is still required. The Thailand Immigration Management app, known as THIM, is optional during its initial phase.
It offers another way to access TDAC-linked registration, but it is not a replacement for the arrival card and it is not an extra form travellers must complete.
The short version
- TDAC remains compulsory for foreign visitors who fall within the requirement.
- THIM is currently optional and is designed to make registration more convenient.
- You can continue using the official TDAC website.
- THIM is not a second arrival card and does not create an additional entry requirement.
- Use only official channels and never pay a third-party website to submit a free TDAC registration.
What is the THIM app?
THIM stands for Thailand Immigration Management. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Immigration Bureau opened pilot access before a planned full launch in August 2026. The mobile platform is intended to streamline registration and eventually provide a broader range of digital immigration services for foreign nationals.
During the pilot phase, travellers can use THIM to access TDAC-linked registration. The app can scan a passport photograph to read and save passport details automatically. Users then enter their accommodation in Thailand, travel information and purpose of entry—the same types of information needed for arrival registration.
TAT says individual registration should take no more than about three minutes. THIM also supports group registration for up to 10 travellers, which may be useful for families and organised groups. At launch, the app supports English, Russian, Japanese and Chinese, with more languages planned.
Does THIM replace the TDAC?
No—not at this stage. The clearest official advice is that foreign visitors should continue to complete the TDAC as required by the Immigration Bureau. THIM is simply an optional route to TDAC-linked registration during the initial rollout.
This distinction matters because references to a “new immigration app” can make it sound as though Thailand has introduced another document. It has not. Travellers do not need to complete one arrival card in THIM and then submit a second TDAC on the website. What matters is that the required TDAC registration is completed correctly through an official channel.
What travellers should do before flying to Thailand
1. Complete the TDAC through an official channel
If the TDAC requirement applies to you, complete it using the Immigration Bureau’s official Thailand Digital Arrival Card portal or through the official THIM app. The government portal does not charge a submission fee.
2. Have your information ready
You will normally need your passport details, journey or flight information, purpose of travel and accommodation address in Thailand. Using the address of your first hotel or other first place of stay makes the process easier. Check every passport number and date carefully before submitting.
3. Save your confirmation
Keep the confirmation accessible on your phone and consider saving a screenshot or PDF for offline use. Airport Wi-Fi and mobile data are not always reliable precisely when you need them. A saved copy also makes it easier to find the relevant details if an airline employee or immigration officer asks to see them.
4. Do not confuse an arrival card with a visa
The TDAC is an arrival registration, not a visa and not permission to stay indefinitely. You must still meet the entry conditions applying to your passport, visa or visa-exemption arrangement. Completing the TDAC does not guarantee admission; the final decision remains with Thai immigration officers.
Who may find THIM useful?
The app’s passport scanning and group-registration functions could make it especially helpful for:
- families travelling together;
- tour groups of up to 10 people;
- repeat visitors who prefer a mobile workflow;
- travellers using one of the initially supported languages; and
- foreign residents who may use future immigration services added to the platform.
If you prefer not to download another app, there is no need to do so during the pilot stage. The official TDAC website remains available.
Thailand Visa Rules Are Changing: What You Need to Know as of August 2026
What could be added to THIM later?
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau is developing THIM as a broader service platform for short-stay visitors, long-stay residents and other foreign nationals. Possible future functions mentioned by TAT include digital document submission, appointments with immigration officers and online consideration of selected requests when an in-person visit is unnecessary.
These features remain under development and are subject to official confirmation. Travellers should avoid planning around proposed functions until the Immigration Bureau announces that they are active. The app also provides registered users with access to the Tourist Police hotline for urgent assistance.
Beware of unofficial TDAC websites
New digital entry systems often attract copycat websites that look official but charge unnecessary service fees or collect sensitive personal information. Check the domain carefully. The official TDAC portal is on immigration.go.th.
Avoid clicking arrival-card links in unsolicited messages or adverts. Never provide passport details to a website merely because it appears near the top of a search result. If you use THIM, download it only through the official Apple App Store or Google Play listing referenced by Thai authorities.
Frequently asked questions
Is THIM mandatory for travelling to Thailand?
No. During the initial rollout, THIM is optional. The TDAC remains the relevant arrival-card requirement.
Do I have to complete both THIM and TDAC?
No. THIM can provide access to TDAC-linked registration; it is not a separate second arrival card. Make sure your TDAC submission is completed through an official channel.
Can I still use the TDAC website?
Yes. Official guidance states that travellers may continue using the existing TDAC channel.
Does THIM cost anything?
The official information presents THIM as an immigration service app. The official TDAC submission itself is free. Be cautious of third-party services that charge for completing the form.
Can one person register a family group?
THIM is designed to support group registration for up to 10 travellers, according to TAT. Ensure the details entered for every traveller match their passport exactly.
The bottom line
THIM may make Thailand’s arrival process quicker and could eventually put several immigration services in one place. For now, however, the practical advice is simple: complete the TDAC, treat THIM as optional and use only official government channels.
Because the app and its functions are still developing, check for updates shortly before departure. Thailand Stay Guide will update this article when the Immigration Bureau confirms any change to traveller requirements.
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Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand, “Thailand Immigration Management application introduced to streamline foreign traveller registration,” 11 June 2026. Entry requirements can change; always confirm the latest position with Thailand’s Immigration Bureau before travel.
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