“Why is my Thailand arrival card asking for $65?” comes up in traveller groups almost every week. Short answer: the card costs nothing, the money goes to a copycat site. Here is the official process as of October 2026.
Where the “paid arrival card” came from
Thailand replaced the paper arrival card with the electronic TDAC on 1 May 2025. Lookalike sites appeared almost immediately, charging a “processing fee” and copying the official design.
On 29 March 2026 the Immigration Bureau’s deputy commissioner and spokesperson said at least 10% of foreign travellers had registered through fraudulent TDAC sites, some of which charge fees, and that their data does not connect to the immigration system (Khaosod English). The bureau is working to shut them down, but many are hosted abroad.
How it actually works
| Question | Answer, October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Cost | free |
| Where | tdac.immigration.go.th only |
| When | within 3 days before your arrival date |
| Who | all foreign nationals entering Thailand |
| Confirmation | by email |
| Changes | «Update Arrival Card» on the same site |
The official site also reminds arrivals of three rules under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522: every passenger must complete the card, foreigners staying longer than 90 days must report their address every 90 days, and working without a work permit is not allowed.
How to avoid the copycats
- Type the address yourself or follow the link from immigration.go.th
- Check the domain ends in immigration.go.th, not .com or .org
- Choose «Arrival Card» and enter your passport, flight and address in Thailand
- Never enter card details: the official site does not take payment
- Keep the confirmation email on your phone until you clear passport control
For onward ticket questions at the border, see our return ticket guide. Other common tricks are in the scams guide.
This page is reviewed every 60 days.
FAQ
Is there a fee for the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
No. The official site is literally titled «Official Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), No Fees Required». If you are asked to pay, you are on a copycat site: do not pay, and submit the card again on the official address. If you already paid, contact your card issuer.
When should I fill in the TDAC?
The Immigration Bureau asks foreigners to submit their arrival card information within 3 days before their arrival date (including the arrival day). Confirmation arrives by email, so do it before you fly rather than at the gate.
What happens if I used a fake TDAC site?
According to an Immigration Bureau spokesperson, data entered on fake sites does not reach the official immigration system and may be misused by scammers. Submit a new card on tdac.immigration.go.th.
Can I change my TDAC if my flight changes?
Yes. The official site has an «Update Arrival Card» section for changing a card you have already submitted.
Sources
- Thailand Immigration Bureau. TDAC FAQ: submit within 3 days before arrival, including the arrival day
- Immigration Bureau of Thailand. Thailand Digital Arrival Card (official site, «Important notice»)
- Immigration Bureau of Thailand. Main site
- Khaosod English. 10% of foreign arrivals used fake TDAC sites, immigration warns (29.03.2026), media confirmation
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