Thailand THIM app: it is official, but TDAC is still required
Thailand's THIM immigration app is official, but current government guidance reviewed on August 17, 2026 does not make it a separate requirement for travelers. The Tourism Authority of Thailand still describes THIM as an optional pilot and tells foreign visitors to continue completing the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or TDAC, as required.
The same guidance said a full THIM launch was expected in August 2026. It did not name an exact day. We found no later official notice that turns the app into an additional mandatory form or says it has replaced TDAC.
The traveler answer: complete the free TDAC through Thailand's official Immigration Bureau channel within the allowed window. You may use THIM if it works for you, but the direct TDAC website remains the safer fallback while the app is optional. Save the completed arrival card offline before travel.
Thailand THIM app status on August 17, 2026
| Traveler question | Current verified answer |
|---|---|
| Is THIM an official app? | Yes. TAT identifies it as an Immigration Bureau app, and the Android listing is published by RoyalThaiPolice with a Government label. |
| Is THIM mandatory? | Not in the latest official traveler guidance reviewed. TAT still calls it optional during the pilot. |
| Is TDAC mandatory? | Yes for covered non-Thai arrivals. The official FAQ lists limited exceptions, including travelers who remain in transit without passing immigration. |
| Does THIM replace TDAC? | No. TAT says it does not replace TDAC at this stage. THIM can provide access to TDAC-linked registration. |
| Is there an exact full-launch date? | No exact day appears in the current TAT or government guidance. Both pointed to August 2026. |
| Can I still use the TDAC website? | Yes. TAT tells travelers they can continue through the current official channel. |
| What does TDAC cost? | The official Immigration Bureau submission is free. |
| When can I submit TDAC? | No more than three days before arrival, including the arrival date. |
| Can a group apply together? | The official TDAC guide permits up to 10 entries in one group submission. TAT says THIM also supports groups of up to 10. |
| What if the app fails? | Use the official TDAC website. The official FAQ also lists arrival kiosks and airport Wi-Fi for travelers without suitable internet access. |
What Thailand announced about THIM
The Tourism Authority of Thailand announcement was published on June 11. It says the Immigration Bureau opened pilot access to THIM before an expected August launch.
THIM can read passport details from a photograph, store trip and accommodation information, and connect travelers with TDAC-related registration. TAT said an individual registration was expected to take no more than three minutes and that one group could include up to 10 people. Its initial language list was English, Russian, Japanese and Chinese.
Thailand's Government Public Relations Department also described the app as a trial moving toward full implementation in August. Neither page gives travelers an exact activation date, a new compliance deadline or a rule requiring every visitor to install the app.
The app itself has continued to change. The official Google Play listing showed an August 11 update when checked for this article. That proves the app is active and maintained. It does not by itself change the entry rule. A store update is not a substitute for a traveler notice from the Immigration Bureau.
Thailand THIM app versus TDAC
THIM and TDAC are related, but they are not two copies of the same thing.
| THIM | TDAC |
|---|---|
| A mobile immigration platform being introduced in phases | The required digital arrival card for covered foreign arrivals |
| Optional in the latest TAT pilot guidance | Required for covered travelers before entering Thailand |
| Can store passport, trip and accommodation information | Records arrival, passport, accommodation and required health information |
| Intended to support more immigration services later | Used for the current arrival-card process |
| Available through app stores | Available through the official Immigration Bureau website |
The important practical result is simple: installing THIM is not the task that proves a traveler completed the arrival card. The traveler still needs a valid TDAC submission and should retain the resulting card or confirmation.
THIM's possible future functions include document submission, appointments and selected online requests. TAT says those features are still being developed and remain subject to Immigration Bureau confirmation. Do not plan a visa extension, residence service or appointment around an app-store description unless the relevant Thai authority confirms that exact function is live.
How to complete the Thailand arrival card now
The official TDAC guide says all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand must complete the arrival card online before entry, subject to the exceptions in its FAQ. The card can be submitted no more than three days before arrival, including the arrival date.
Prepare these details:
- Passport information.
- Flight number or other arrival details.
- Accommodation address in Thailand.
- Travel purpose.
- Any health information requested for the route.
- An email address that you can access.
Use tdac.immigration.go.th or an official app link reached through TAT or the Immigration Bureau. Review scanned passport details carefully. The official guide specifically tells travelers to recheck information retrieved from the machine-readable passport zone.
After submitting, download the arrival card and keep the email. A screenshot or offline file is useful if airport Wi-Fi, roaming or an email app is unavailable at the checkpoint. The confirmation is not a visa and does not guarantee admission.
How to identify the official THIM app
The Android listing is named THIM - Thai Immigration Bureau. It uses the package identifier th.go.immigration.thim, names RoyalThaiPolice as the publisher and carries Google's Government label. TAT also links travelers to THIM on the Apple App Store.
Check all of those details before uploading a passport. Search advertising and similar domain names can make a paid assistance service look like the government process. Thai immigration says the official TDAC route is completely free. A company may charge for help, but that charge does not make its website an Immigration Bureau portal or give the submission more authority.
Do not install an app from a link sent in an unsolicited message. Start from the TAT announcement, the Immigration Bureau site or the verified store listing. An eSIM provider, hotel or airline may remind you about the form, but none should need your Thai immigration password or passport chip data to supply mobile data or a booking.
What to do if the THIM passport or NFC scan fails
Those reports are useful evidence of questions people are encountering, but they do not prove that every phone, passport or current app version has the same fault.
Try the least risky path first:
- Confirm that the installed app matches the official store identity.
- Update THIM and the phone operating system through their official stores.
- Remove glare, use even light and compare every scanned field with the passport.
- Do not keep retrying close to boarding if the arrival card remains incomplete.
- Move to the free official TDAC website.
- Save the completed card and email offline.
The official TDAC FAQ says travelers without a smartphone or internet can use kiosks and Wi-Fi on arrival. It currently names Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai as kiosk airports. That is a fallback, not a reason to wait. Completing the form before travel leaves more time to correct a name, passport number, hotel or arrival date.
If the direct TDAC website returns an error, the official FAQ advises refreshing for a 429 error and checking the internet connection for a zero or unknown error. It also tells travelers to keep a screenshot of a website error and contact airport or immigration staff if the site remains unavailable.
THIM and TDAC for families and groups
Both official routes support group handling for up to 10 travelers. The TDAC guide allows shared trip and accommodation information to be reused for other people in the group, but each person still has an individual entry in the submission.
Children, including infants, need TDAC records according to the official FAQ. A parent's successful card is not the child's card. Before closing the session, check each name, date of birth, nationality and passport number against the correct passport.
One adult can prepare the group, but the family should keep the confirmations where another adult can reach them if the original phone is lost or out of power. Store copies in an offline folder and, if appropriate for the group, with a second responsible traveler. Avoid posting passport or arrival-card images in a shared social chat.
What THIM changes for mobile data planning
THIM does not require a Roaming eSIM, and a Roaming eSIM does not complete TDAC. The useful connection is timing. A traveler may need data to retrieve the card, read an Immigration Bureau update, contact accommodation, receive an airline change or load transport after landing.
Complete TDAC on trusted Wi-Fi before departure when possible. Install a Roaming eSIM early enough to resolve setup questions, but follow the selected package's activation instructions so its validity does not start sooner than intended. Keep the usual SIM available if banking or airline messages still arrive on that number, and check home-carrier roaming charges before enabling it abroad.
The public Roaming eSIM catalog returned 34 Thailand packages on August 17. Live fixed-data examples included 1 GB for 7 days at USD 1.40, 3 GB for 15 days at USD 3.40, 5 GB for 30 days at USD 5.40 and 10 GB for 30 days at USD 9.40. Those examples listed AIS, dtac and TrueMove H with a 3G/4G/5G speed label and supported top-up. Inventory, prices and terms can change, so the selected card remains the source of truth.
| Traveler need | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Submit the official arrival card | TDAC through the Immigration Bureau route |
| Use the optional immigration app | THIM, after checking the official listing |
| Retrieve documents and use travel apps after landing | A suitable mobile data plan on a compatible unlocked phone |
| Resolve an entry or passport question | Thai Immigration, an official embassy or the relevant authority |
| Resolve a Roaming eSIM setup question | Roaming eSIM's public 24/7 support route |
🏆 Roaming eSIM wins for traveler-controlled mobile data: a traveler can compare Thailand, Asian and global plans, inspect current allowance, validity, price, network and top-up fields before checkout, then use the published 24/7 support route if setup needs attention. THIM and TDAC win for immigration administration. They do not sell general travel data, and Roaming eSIM does not grant entry or make an immigration submission valid.
Start with Thailand Roaming eSIM plans for a one-country visit. Compare a country plan with a regional Roaming eSIM for a wider Asian itinerary. Before departure, check whether the phone supports eSIM, when to install a Roaming eSIM and how much mobile data the trip may need.
The Thailand visa-exemption update owns the separate question of how long an eligible traveler may stay. The Thailand tourist fee guide tracks the proposed 450-baht charge, which is not the TDAC and was not payable when that page was last checked. For local tourist-line rules, see the Thailand tourist SIM 60-day limit.
Ten Thailand THIM app questions travelers are asking
1. Is the Thailand THIM app mandatory from August 2026?
No official source reviewed on August 17 gave a mandatory start day. TAT still described THIM as optional during its pilot and told travelers to continue completing TDAC.
2. Does THIM replace the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
No. TAT says THIM does not replace TDAC at this stage. The app can give access to TDAC-linked registration, but the required outcome is still a completed TDAC for covered travelers.
3. Can I use the free TDAC website instead of THIM?
Yes. The latest TAT guidance explicitly says travelers can continue through the current official channel. Use tdac.immigration.go.th.
4. How do I know which THIM app is official?
Use links from TAT or the Immigration Bureau. On Android, check for THIM - Thai Immigration Bureau, publisher RoyalThaiPolice, package identifier th.go.immigration.thim and the Government label.
5. What should I do if the THIM NFC or passport scan stalls?
Check the app identity and current version, try even light for the passport image and verify every field. If the arrival card is not complete, use the official TDAC website rather than missing the required submission window.
6. Can I submit TDAC without an NFC passport or NFC phone?
Yes through the direct official TDAC website. Its guide supports typed details, an MRZ scan or an uploaded MRZ image. NFC is not listed as a condition for using that web route.
7. Can one adult add family members in THIM or TDAC?
Yes. TAT says THIM supports groups of up to 10, and the official TDAC guide permits up to 10 entries in one group submission. Check every person's details separately.
8. Does a child need a separate TDAC record?
Yes. The official FAQ says infants and children need TDAC records. They can be included in a group submission.
9. When will the TDAC confirmation or QR code appear?
The official web guide says the card can be downloaded after submission and is also sent to the supplied email. If no code arrives by email, the official FAQ tells travelers to contact the immigration officer at the entry checkpoint.
10. What if I arrive without a working phone or internet?
The official FAQ says kiosks and Wi-Fi are provided on arrival and currently names five kiosk airports. Prepare before departure where possible and keep a printed or offline copy so a dead battery does not become the only access point.
Sources and updates
The optional pilot status, expected August launch, relationship with TDAC, passport-photo workflow, group size and initial language list came from TAT. Thailand's Government Public Relations Department supplied a second government description of the trial and planned August implementation. The Immigration Bureau guide and FAQ establish who submits TDAC, the three-day window, direct website, required information, group process, child rule, transit exception, update path, kiosk locations and technical fallbacks.
The official app stores were checked to confirm the current app identity and Android publisher. Store ratings and individual reviews were not used as proof of a general failure rate.
The missing traveler answer was a dated decision between optional THIM and required TDAC, including an official fallback when the app does not work. No existing Roaming eSIM resource owned that search intent.
Update policy: We will update this page when Thailand publishes an exact THIM launch or mandatory date, changes the relationship with TDAC, adds a required feature, changes the official app identity, revises the TDAC submission window or publishes a material traveler fallback.
