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Effective May 1, 2025, all non-Thai nationals entering the country must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC).
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This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.
Copyright © 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Thai government unveiled the online TM.6 system, also called Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), to simplify entry procedures for tourists and travelers.
Additional Information: Thailand recently launched the “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025” campaign to attract 39 million international visitors and generate 3 trillion baht in tourism revenue by 2025. Officials stated the initiative will feature year-round tourism festivals and high-profile sporting tournaments to celebrate the nation’s cultural heritage, diverse tourism experiences and world-class sporting events. The online TM.6 system has been developed to further this initiative and enhance Thai tourism.
Background: The government previously announced a suspension of the TM.6 paper form until April 30, 2025, while simultaneously working on the new ETA system. The TDAC digital immigration system is expected to now provide this service and, similar to the e-Visa initiative, has been created to simplify entry procedures and improve efficiency to reduce wait times. BAL will continue to monitor developments and will provide more information once it becomes available.
The Thai cabinet approved updates and adjustments to the qualifications, criteria and conditions for the Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa program.
Additional Information: The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) is the agency in charge of screening applicants to the LTR visa program, which was first launched in September 2022. The BOI designed these updates and adjustments to facilitate access to a wider range of foreign experts, investors and executives so the country may boost talent pools and increase international competitiveness. As of the end of 2024, the BOI granted LTR visas to more than 6,000 applicants.
The Thai government announced the worldwide implementation of the electronic visa (e-Visa) system across 94 Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates-General.
Background: The Thai government stated that their current policies are focused on a system-wide visa restructuring. The e-Visa initiative aligns with the government’s priority to revitalize Thailand’s image and international confidence while promoting the country as a global hub for tourism, business and international exchange. The e-Visa attempts to balance the desire to enhance services to facilitate greater travel while improving security by increasing the effectiveness of screening processes, reducing paperwork and integrating databases with other relevant agencies.
Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Thai government provided further details for the implementation of the new electronic travel authorization (ETA) system.
Additional Information: Once the system is launched, applications are expected to be available via the existing e-visa platform; however, the official channel has not yet been announced. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet released all pertinent details, and the start date remains tentative, with further changes to the applicable visa types possible. BAL will continue to monitor developments and will provide more information as it becomes available.
The Thai government announced a new facial recognition technology to streamline passenger identification and reduce wait times.
Additional Information: Passport holders from Hong Kong or Singapore are able to access the new system immediately. The system does not apply to holders of long-term visas. Passengers can complete biometric enrollment at airline counters or self-check-in kiosks, where facial data will be captured alongside passport scans. This data will be registered once with a single use consent.
BAL Analysis: Passengers should be able to move more efficiently through check-in, baggage handling, security and immigration with the new system. The government is expected to announce at a later date which nationalities will be exempted from completing biometric checks. BAL will continue to monitor developments and will provide more information as it becomes available.
The Thai government announced a new law amending the civil and commercial code No. 24 to recognize marriage equality.
Additional Information: King Maha Vajiralongkorn signed the marriage equality bill into law, making Thailand the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. BAL will continue to monitor developments and will provide more information as it becomes available.
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the timeline for implementation of the electronic travel authorization (ETA) system.
Additional Information: All visa-exempt travelers will be required to hold an approved ETA before arriving in Thailand, whether arriving by air, land or sea. The ETA is expected to be free of charge and grant single-entry capabilities via automated gates at immigration checkpoints using a QR code. Holders of diplomatic passports, official passports, U.N. Laissez-Passer and Border Pass users, as well as nationals of Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia, will be exempt from the ETA.
BAL Analysis: The Thai cabinet has tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies to update and align their internal regulations and implement measures to promote tourism and stimulate Thailand’s economy. The government hopes to implement the ETA system for travelers entering the country under the visa exemption regime, similar to South Korea’s K-ETA or the United Kingdom’s new ETA system, which is expanding in phases.
The Thai cabinet approved new measures to promote tourism and stimulate Thailand’s economy, including a new Destination Thailand Visa category.
Additional Information: The new Destination Thailand Visa has received cabinet approval but is pending official implementation by the Thai Immigration Bureau. Once implemented, the new category will be tailored to foreign nationals who wish to travel for longer-term tourism and remote work, including highly skilled foreign nationals and digital nomads. Currently, tourist visas allow for a 60-day stay and a single 30-day extension. The new visa category will allow for up to a 180-day stay per entry. The visa will cost 10,000 THB (about US$272) and be valid for five years. Individuals may also be able to extend their stay for an additional 180 days and change visa types within the country.
BAL Analysis: The cabinet has tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies to update and align their internal regulations and implement these measures to promote tourism and stimulate Thailand’s economy. BAL will provide further updates and confirm the official commencement and detailed procedural guidelines for the Destination Thailand Visa once available.
The Thai cabinet approved an extension of the visa-free policy that allows Indian and Taiwanese tourists to enter Thailand for 30 days without a visa.
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Additional Information: BAL previously reported the initial approval of this policy by the Ministry of Interior. The original policy allowed eligible passport holders or individuals with valid documents from India and Taiwan to visit Thailand for tourism purposes visa-free from Nov. 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024.
BAL Analysis: The extension is part of a wider government policy to boost tourism and facilitate additional cross-border travel and economic development.