THIM App vs TDAC: Do You Still Need the TDAC? (2026)

What THIM is

THIM is the Thai Immigration Application, operated by the Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police, according to Khaosod English (media) and VisasNews (media). Its current key features in those reports are TDAC and Explore Thailand.

The names differ: TAT’s 11 June 2026 pilot announcement called it the “Thailand Immigration Management application”. The bureau’s later announcement and media launch reports use “Thai Immigration Application”. The pilot wording and the launch name refer to THIM.

• 11 June 2026: TAT announced pilot access. At that time it expected an official launch in August 2026.
• 1 August 2026: availability on the App Store and Google Play began, according to Khaosod English and VisasNews reporting Immigration Bureau information.
• 25 September 2026: the official launch is dated by the Immigration Bureau’s THIM announcement and Digital Gateway launch post. Those official posts provide titles and dates with image galleries; the detailed rollout figures below come from media reporting.

Khaosod English (2 October 2026) and VisasNews (25 September 2026) reported more than 600,000 downloads and more than 580,000 users, attributing those figures to the Immigration Bureau. These are reported launch-period figures, not a live count.

If the app or website stalls, see TDAC and THIM troubleshooting for submission errors, missing QR emails and correction rules.

THIM vs TDAC: the same card, a second channel

TDAC is the arrival card; THIM is an application that can submit it. TAT explicitly says the app neither replaces TDAC nor introduces an additional arrival-card requirement. Khaosod English (media) reports that TDAC remains available on the bureau website and can also be accessed and submitted through THIM.

If you have already submitted through the website, do not refile just because THIM exists. That advice is reported by VisasNews (media). For website instructions, see how to fill in the TDAC.

TDAC rules are the same either way

The official TDAC FAQ sets the arrival-card rules. Choosing THIM does not add a second card or change these requirements:

• Submit within 3 days before arrival, including arrival day.
• All non-Thai travellers need a TDAC, including infants and children.
• A TDAC is for one entry; submit a new card for each entry.
• A group submission can include up to 10 travellers.
• The official TDAC is free.

See the TDAC guide and TDAC FAQ for the arrival-card guidance.

Automated passport gates: TDAC 2026.10.00

The official release notes for TDAC version 2026.10.00, dated 15 October 2026 record an automated-passport-control eligibility decision. The release verifies and records that decision, shows it in the email, and includes a QR code with a checkmark.

The same release notes say the informTDAC Web Service sends the automated-passport-control decision result to THIM. This is a recorded eligibility decision, not a promise that every THIM user can use an automated gate.

Planned features, not live

Khaosod English (media) and VisasNews (media) describe these as planned services:

• Queue Booking
• Certificate of Stay
• Visa Extension
• 90-Day Report
• Visa on Arrival at authorised checkpoints

No launch dates are given. These features are not live in the cited launch reporting. Keep using the current channels for those services.

Languages and passport scan: the TAT pilot

TAT’s 11 June 2026 pilot announcement described initial support for English, Russian, Japanese and Chinese, with plans for at least 15 more languages. This is the pilot language list; the expansion was a plan.

TAT described taking a passport photo so the system reads and saves the information automatically, followed by accommodation, travel information and purpose of entry. Its pilot description also allowed group registration for up to 10 travellers.

The website’s “Retrieve with Passport” feature is separate: the official TDAC release notes for version 2025.04.00 describe scanning the machine-readable zone (MRZ) or uploading an MRZ image on the website.

Troubleshooting

Official editable-fields rule: the TDAC FAQ says all fields can be edited except Full Name, Passport Number, Nationality and Date of Birth. To change one of those fields, submit a new form. See TDAC errors and fixes for the official update guidance. This correction rule is separate from switching channels: an existing website submission does not need repeating merely to use THIM.

Frequently asked questions