Thailand is continuing its move towards digital immigration services by introducing the Thailand Immigration Management (THIM) mobile application. Developed by the Thailand Immigration Bureau, the app is designed to make arrival procedures quicker and provide travellers with a single platform for immigration services in the future.
Although THIM is still being rolled out, it already allows visitors to complete their Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) using a smartphone, with additional services expected to be introduced over the coming months.
Do I need to download the THIM app when I travel to Thailand?
No.
The THIM app is optional. Travellers are not required to download it before visiting Thailand.
What remains compulsory for foreign visitors is completing the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before entering the country. You can continue submitting your TDAC through the official online portal or do so in the THIM app instead. During the current rollout, THIM is simply an alternative way to complete the same arrival requirements. The THIM app is not an additional form.
THIM and TDAC: What’s the difference?
Think of TDAC as the digital arrival form that replaces the old TM6 paper arrival card.
THIM, meanwhile, is the wider immigration platform that eventually aims to bring together a range of immigration-related services in one place.
At present:
- TDAC remains mandatory.
- THIM is optional.
- You only need to submit your arrival details once, either through the TDAC website or via THIM.
What can the THIM app do?
During its pilot phase, THIM focuses mainly on submitting TDAC information. After creating an account, users can:
- Scan their passport using their phone camera
- Automatically populate passport details
- Enter accommodation and travel information
- Submit TDAC details digitally
- Manage registrations for groups of up to ten travellers
- Receive notifications relating to upcoming trips
According to the Immigration Bureau, most registrations take less than three minutes to complete. The first release of THIM supports four languages:
- English
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Russian
Officials have indicated that many more languages will be introduced as the platform develops.
What features are planned?
The Immigration Bureau intends to expand THIM into a comprehensive digital service for both tourists and long-term foreign residents.
Potential future services include:
- Online appointment booking
- Immigration document requests
- Selected visa and immigration applications
- 90-day reporting
- Application tracking
- Access to the Tourist Police emergency hotline
Some of these services remain under development, and implementation dates have not yet been confirmed.
Is the THIM app secure?
The platform has been developed for the Thailand Immigration Bureau using cloud infrastructure hosted within Thailand. Officials state that personal information is stored in accordance with Thai data protection and localisation requirements.
As with any government service, users should download THIM only from the official Apple App Store or Google Play Store listings.
FAQs
Official resources
For the latest information, use official sources:
- Thailand Immigration Bureau
- Thailand Public Relations Department announcement
- THIM for Android (Google Play)
- THIM for iPhone (App Store)
