The Thailand Digital Arrival Card can't be sent whenever you like. It opens a few days before you arrive, and many travellers are surprised to find they can't submit it while planning the trip weeks ahead. This guide explains the window, how to count it across time zones, and what to do when your plans move.
The rule in one sentence
You can submit your TDAC from three days before your arrival date, up to and including the day you arrive.
The government's wording varies a little from page to page. The TDAC FAQ says the card "should be submitted within 3 days in advance of arriving in Thailand (including the date of arrival)". The form itself says arrival card information is submitted "3 days in advance of their arrival date". The Tourism Authority of Thailand gives the clearest example: if you arrive on 5 May, you can submit from 2 May.
You can submit the official TDAC yourself at tdac.immigration.go.th as soon as your window opens.
Count from your arrival date in Thailand
The date that matters is the day you land in Thailand, on the calendar in Thailand. It isn't the day you leave home, and it isn't the date shown on your phone if your phone is still on your home time zone.
Thailand's clocks run at UTC+7. Depending on where you start, Thailand's date can be a day ahead of or behind yours, and a long or overnight flight can put your arrival on a later date than your departure.
| Arrival date in Thailand | You can submit from |
|---|---|
| 5 May | 2 May |
| 1 June | 29 May |
| 1 January | 29 December |
Worked examples
An overnight flight from Europe
You leave London on the evening of 4 May and land in Bangkok in the afternoon of 5 May. Your arrival date is 5 May, so the window opens on 2 May, even though you leave on the 4th.
In May, London is on summer time (UTC+1), so Bangkok is six hours ahead. When it's 9:00 in London, it's already 15:00 in Bangkok.
A long journey from North America
You leave Los Angeles late on Saturday 2 May and, after a connection, land in Bangkok early on Monday 4 May. Crossing the date line moves the calendar forward, so you arrive two calendar days after you set off. Your arrival date is 4 May, and the window opens on 1 May, before you've even left home.
This is the case that catches people out: if you count from your departure date, you'll think you have more time than you do.
A short hop within Asia
You fly from Singapore to Phuket at lunchtime on 10 June and land the same afternoon. Your arrival date is 10 June, so you can submit from 7 June. Singapore is an hour ahead of Thailand, so the dates line up for most of the day.
If you'd like a margin
Different government pages describe the window in slightly different words. The TDAC FAQ also says "you can submit the form up to 72 hours before your entry". If you'd like to be sure every wording is met, submit once you're within 72 hours of your landing time in Thailand.
Don't leave it until you land unless you have to. The card can be completed up to the moment you reach immigration, and there are kiosks at five airports (Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai), but you may be tired, offline or in a queue. Sending it before you travel is calmer.
What if your plans or flight change?
Plans move. Here's how the rules handle the usual changes.
Your flight is delayed past midnight
If a delay means you now land on a later date, your arrival date has changed. Open Update Arrival Card on tdac.immigration.go.th, find your card with its number, your date of birth and nationality, and change the arrival date and flight. The TDAC user guide says your information can be updated any time before you travel.
You're rebooked onto a different flight
Change the flight number, and the date if it's different, in the same way. The TDAC FAQ says that when your flight or hotel changes, you can update your card or submit a new one before you enter Thailand.
You submitted twice
That's fine. The FAQ says the system considers only the most recent submission valid, so the latest card is the one that counts.
Your trip moves by more than a few days
Each card is valid for one entry on the arrival date it gives. If your trip moves well beyond the original dates, update the arrival date, or submit a new card for your new date once its window opens. Our guide to updating your TDAC walks through both options.
Sending it with calmvisa
calmvisa is an independent service, not affiliated with the Thai government. We count the window on Thailand's calendar for you. If your arrival is still more than three days away, we tell you the date you can come back to send it; once you're inside the window, we fill in and submit the Thai form for you. Our service is paid, and the pricing page explains what's included.
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit my TDAC a week before I travel?
No. The window opens three days before your arrival date, so a week ahead is too early. Have your details ready and send it once the window opens.
Can I submit it on the day I arrive?
Yes. The window includes the arrival date, and the card can be completed up to the moment you go through immigration. Submitting before you fly is still the calmer choice.
My flight lands just after midnight. Which date do I use?
Use the date in Thailand when you land. A flight that lands at 00:30 on 6 May has an arrival date of 6 May.
Does the 3-day window count in Thai time?
Your arrival date is a date in Thailand, which runs at UTC+7. If you're far from Thailand, check the date there before you count, especially if you cross the date line.
My flight was delayed by a day. Do I need a new card?
You can either update the arrival date on your existing card or submit a new one. Only the most recent submission is valid.