Short answer
Thailand's Immigration Bureau launched the THIM app, available on the App Store, Google Play and Huawei AppGallery since 1 August 2026. For now it offers the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) and an information feature called Explore Thailand. The TDAC is still available on the bureau's website, so THIM is a second channel, not an extra form. The card is free, mandatory for every foreign visitor and filed within 3 days before arrival. Visa extensions and 90-day reports are planned, not yet live.
What the bureau announced
On 25 September 2026 the Immigration Bureau, which belongs to the Royal Thai Police, presented THIM as a digital gateway for foreign visitors, according to The Nation. The app had been in the App Store, Google Play and Huawei AppGallery since 1 August 2026. The bureau said it had recorded more than 600,000 downloads by then.
Today THIM does two things: it carries the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) and an information feature called Explore Thailand with partner offers. Queue booking, certificates of stay, visa extensions, 90-day reporting and visa on arrival at authorised checkpoints are listed as future functions. The bureau said it uses biometric verification and data encryption to protect users' data.
Do you have to use it?
No. Both The Nation and The Thaiger report that the TDAC is still available through the Immigration Bureau's website, and THIM is another way to submit it. When the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) described the pilot in June 2026, it said THIM was optional, was not an additional arrival-card requirement and did not replace the TDAC.
The card itself has not changed. The Immigration Bureau's FAQ says every non-Thai traveller, children and infants included, must submit it within 3 days before arrival, once for each entry, and the portal is headed "No Fees Required". In August, The Nation reported an official advisory warning visitors about third-party websites that charge for the free card.
What THIM adds for the traveller
TAT's June notice says the app reads your passport from a photo, then asks for your accommodation in Thailand, travel details and purpose of entry. One person should need no more than three minutes, and a group of up to 10 can register together. In the pilot phase the app supported English, Russian, Japanese and Chinese, with at least 15 more languages planned. Registered users can also reach the Tourist Police hotline from inside the app.
The card asks for your address in Thailand, so it helps to have your hotel settled before you file. If you book a day tour with us, the same hotel is the pickup point: our Phi Phi and Maya Bay speedboat tour, from $75 per person, collects you from your Phuket hotel at about 7:00 to 8:30 am. Nothing about our tours depends on the app. For the full arrival-card steps, see our TDAC guide.
Practical checklist
- File the TDAC within 3 days before you arrive, through the Immigration Bureau's website or the THIM app.
- Never pay a third-party site for the arrival card: the official portal is free.
- Have your hotel name and address ready before you start the form.
- Save the QR code you receive by email, in case you need to show it at immigration.
- Do not rely on THIM for visa extensions yet; ask an immigration office.
Questions and answers
Do I need the THIM app to enter Thailand?
No. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is still available on the Immigration Bureau's website, and THIM is another channel for the same card. TAT said in June that THIM does not replace the TDAC.
Does the arrival card cost anything?
No. The official TDAC portal is free, and the Immigration Bureau's page is headed No Fees Required. The Nation reported an official advisory against third-party sites that charge for it.
Can THIM extend my visa now?
Not yet. Visa extensions, 90-day reporting and queue booking are described as planned functions in the bureau's September announcement. Ask an immigration office until the bureau confirms they are live.
When should I file the arrival card?
Within 3 days before arrival, including the arrival date, according to the Immigration Bureau's FAQ. You need a new card for every entry into Thailand.