Simplifying your vacation: New entry rules will be introduced in Thailand starting May 1

A week later, Thailand introduces a new entry rule for foreign citizens. Starting from May 1, everyone will have to fill out an online form before arrival, after which the kingdom's immigration authorities will send an e-mail to a letter that will need to be presented at the entrance. For more information about the change, as well as about the visa—free regime for Russians and fines in the country, see the Izvestia article.

TDAC Online Form: What you need to know about the new rules of entry to Thailand

From May 1, all foreign citizens wishing to visit Thailand will have to fill out an online form called the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC, digital arrival card in Thailand). It will be required regardless of the type of transport used to cross the border.

"The Immigration Bureau of Thailand has implemented a digital arrival card in Thailand (TDAC) to simplify the entry of travelers into the country. All foreign nationals arriving in the kingdom <...> must complete the TDAC online before entering. Compliance with this requirement will be mandatory from May 1, 2025," the Immigration Bureau of the Thai Police reported.

The form is filled out through the official website, which is already working. You can do this three days before the date of the trip.

An important advantage for Russians is the presence of a Russian-language interface, however, filling out the questionnaire itself will still be in English. The questionnaire consists of three blocks:

— personal data. Travelers need to provide a passport or travel document number, personal information (full name, date of birth, nationality, phone number);

— the route of the trip. This item includes: flight information, date of arrival and departure, place of residence in the country (address, name of the hotel, apartment, and so on);

— health information. In this block, you will need to register all the countries that the tourist has visited in the last two weeks.

After filling in all the data, the Thai immigration authorities will send an email with a QR code to the specified email address, which will need to be presented upon arrival.

It is important to note that TDAC is a mandatory point of arrival in Thailand, without it, the processing of entry into the country will not be possible. Before the introduction of TDAC, the country had a paper version of the questionnaire.

The advantage of this new system will be the ability to store an archive of digital questionnaires, so when you visit the country again, you will not need to fill out all the items again — it will only be enough to update the data by selecting the appropriate item.

Tourism in Thailand: popularity among Russians

Thailand is traditionally a popular tourist destination for Russian citizens. According to data for 2024, the total tourist flow to this Southeast Asian country amounted to 35 million people, of which more than 1.7 million are Russian citizens. In general, almost 18% more of our compatriots came to the country than a year earlier.

This year, the demand for tours to Thailand with arrivals for the May holidays was 1.8 times higher than the same figures last year. The main factor favorably influencing the tourist flow to the kingdom is the availability of direct flights, as well as the attractive price of tickets and tours.

Visa-free regime in Thailand for Russians, penalty system

In 2025, Russian citizens can stay in Thailand for 60 days without a visa. This period can be extended for another 30 days, and you must contact the immigration office to extend it. The service is paid, it will cost 1,900 baht (about 4.7 thousand rubles at the time of publication of the article).

In addition, starting from March 1, 2023, Phuket, the country's most popular resort, introduced a system of penalty cards, like in football, to combat tourist intruders. They are issued for "illegal behavior that poses a threat to society." This number includes, among other things, traffic violations (lack of helmet, dangerous driving). Yellow — for the first offense, red — for the second (with expulsion from the country). The holder of the yellow card will receive an official warning, and the misconduct will be reported to the embassy of his country, but he will be able to continue his vacation. The next time such a tourist visits, they are likely to be denied a visa. A red card is followed by immediate deportation. In 2003, two Russians were deported from Phuket for cryptocurrency fraud.