Thailand’s tropical climate, fiery food and gleaming beaches have been attracting travellers for decades, and recently the country’s tourism has seen a bit of a boost thanks to the White Lotus effect.
In fact, euronews reports that from January 1 to March 31 2025, Thailand welcomed a staggering 9.5 million visitors – clearly it’s as popular as ever.
But listen up – if you’ve got travel plans to the country any time on or after May 1, there are some new entry requirements you need to be aware of.
All non-Thai nationals entering the country must complete a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) three days before their arrival to the country – that’s anyone with a foreign passport, whether you’re a long-term resident, a business traveller or a tourist.
The new system is replacing paper forms and is in place to streamline the immigration process at the border. These TDACs will be synced with Thailand’s immigration bureau biometric database so that officials can quickly check the criminal backgrounds of all arrivals.
Simply passing through Thailand for an airport transfer? Good news, as this does not apply to you. However, if you are required to sign up, there’s no need to stress as the process is pretty straightforward. Register online here and you’ll be given a QR code to present at your arrival checkpoint – no other steps, and no fees.
While you’re here, check out our favourite beaches and things to do in Thailand, and have a gander at our deep-dive into what White Lotus got right (and wrong) about life on Koh Samui.
Did you see that this is officially the best hotel in the world, according to TripAdvisor?
Plus: The alternative summer destinations to visit this year, according to Skyscanner.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
