TDAC Archives

THIM App Checks For Bangkok Condo Viewing Trips

by Marcus Reed | Jun 12, 2026 | Expat Living & Relocation, Foreign Buyer Guides, Legal, Tax & Due Diligence

Foreign buyers planning a Bangkok condo viewing trip should treat arrival administration as part of the purchase process. Flights, hotel bookings and property appointments are obvious. Immigration forms, passport validity, address details and entry purpose are just as practical because mistakes can disrupt a short trip and compress the time available for inspections.

On 11 June 2026, TAT advised that pilot access had opened for the Thailand Immigration Management application, or THIM. The app is being developed to streamline traveller registration and support future services for foreign nationals. For condo buyers, the important point is measured: THIM may become useful, but the current Thailand Digital Arrival Card requirement still needs to be handled correctly.

undefined — THIM is relevant to buyers because viewing trips depend on smooth arrival and accurate traveller details.

What changed and what did not

The current TAT advisory says THIM pilot access is available ahead of an expected full launch in August 2026. During the pilot phase, travellers should continue to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or TDAC, as required by the Immigration Bureau. THIM is optional at this stage and does not replace TDAC.

That distinction matters for buyers who are reading travel updates quickly. Do not assume a new app removes existing arrival-card obligations. Before travel, use the official current channel for TDAC, keep screenshots or confirmations where appropriate, and check airline, airport and Immigration Bureau instructions close to departure.

The same discipline applies to every administrative detail in a viewing trip. A buyer who is in Bangkok for three or four days may have only a narrow window for unit inspections, bank meetings, lawyer appointments and document signing. Avoidable arrival confusion can cost a full day.

Prepare address and trip details before you fly

THIM is described as allowing travellers to record passport details by taking a passport photo, then complete accommodation details in Thailand, travel information and purpose of entry in line with TDAC arrival information. This is not only a technology step. It is a reminder to prepare your trip file before leaving home.

For a viewing trip, keep the hotel or serviced-apartment name, address, phone number, booking dates and passport details in one place. If you will split time between Bangkok and another province, make sure your arrival details are accurate for the first stay. If plans change, follow the latest official instructions rather than relying on old screenshots or social media summaries.

Buyers travelling with family should also plan group details. TAT said THIM is expected to support group registration for up to 10 travellers at one time. That may be useful for families or small groups, but each traveller still needs correct passport and travel information. One organised folder is better than collecting details at the airport queue.

Use arrival admin to improve the property schedule

A property viewing trip should have a clear sequence. The first day is often best kept lighter, with district familiarisation, hotel check-in and one or two lower-pressure viewings. The second and third days can handle serious inspections, price comparisons, legal questions and return visits. Departure day should not be overloaded with decisions that need documents or bank evidence.

If digital arrival tools reduce friction, the benefit is not just a shorter queue. It is more usable time in Bangkok. That time should be spent walking routes from the building to BTS or MRT, testing taxi access, visiting nearby hospitals or schools if relevant, checking groceries and seeing the neighbourhood at different times of day.

Do not treat arrival efficiency as a reason to rush the purchase. A smoother trip should create more time for due diligence, not less. Foreign buyers still need to confirm foreign quota, title, debt-free letter, transfer timetable, payment evidence and legal review before placing meaningful funds at risk.

Passport and airport details still matter

Thailand’s wider move toward digital traveller services also highlights basic passport discipline. A separate TAT visitor-information update on automated passport channels at Phuket International Airport reminded travellers to follow eligibility rules, airport signage and officer instructions. Different airport systems can have different practical requirements, so buyers should not assume every checkpoint works the same way.

Before flying, check passport validity, name spelling on tickets, visa or exemption status, arrival-card instructions and airline requirements. If you are entering Thailand for repeated property trips, keep a record of entries and exits. If your trip involves long-stay plans, retirement, work, family relocation or education, get appropriate immigration advice before relying on a short-stay entry pattern.

Property buyers sometimes blur travel planning and residence planning. Viewing condos is not the same as securing the right long-stay status. The legal route for living in Thailand should be assessed separately from the purchase decision.

A practical viewing-trip checklist

Before departure, prepare passport scans, hotel details, flight information, TDAC confirmation, property shortlist, appointment schedule, agent contact, lawyer contact, budget limits and questions for each building. Keep a separate note of the units you are not willing to buy, so excitement during the trip does not push you into weak compromises.

During the trip, photograph routes, lobby condition, parking, lift waiting times, corridor condition, views at different hours, noise, nearby construction and convenience stores. Ask for juristic-person documents and ownership checks early, not after emotional attachment forms. If a unit looks promising, arrange a second viewing before negotiation.

After the trip, compare the shortlist calmly. The best viewing trip does not always end with a reservation. Sometimes the correct outcome is a clearer brief, a better district choice and a decision to wait for the right resale or new-launch opportunity.

Buyer takeaway

THIM is a useful travel-administration development to watch, but buyers should not confuse pilot access with a complete change in entry requirements. For now, plan around TDAC, official instructions, accurate accommodation details and a viewing schedule that gives due diligence enough time.

Continue with IBP’s Bangkok condo buying process guide, expat living guides and legal and due diligence articles. IBP Real Estate can help turn a Bangkok viewing trip into a disciplined shortlist rather than a rushed decision.

Thailand will require all international arrivals to complete a Digital Arrival Card starting 1 May 2025

by Willie Tan | 2 May 2025 | Bangkok Property Market Updates, Expat Living & Relocation

Right, let’s talk travel updates for those of you keen on heading to Bangkok, or anywhere else in Thailand for that matter. There’s a significant change you absolutely need to be aware of, impacting pretty much everyone arriving in the country from this May.

Starting May 1st, 2025, Thailand is introducing a mandatory digital arrival card. It’s officially being called the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or TDAC. This isn’t entirely new in concept; it’s the digital replacement for those little paper TM6 cards you might remember filling out on flights before they were paused. The plan was always to bring them back, just in a digital format.

So, who actually needs to complete this TDAC? The rule is quite broad: Pretty much everyone who is a foreign national arriving in Thailand. This applies whether you’re arriving by air, land, or sea. It even includes foreign residents who are returning to Thailand using their re-entry permits. Transit passengers need it too, but only if they pass through immigration. If you’re just changing planes and staying airside in the international zone, with your bags checked through, you generally don’t need to complete the TDAC.

Who is exempt? Thai citizens, naturally. Also, those transit passengers who don’t go through immigration. Diplomatic and consular staff using diplomatic passports are also exempt.

For everyone else, you need to know when to do it. The window for submission is up to three full days before your arrival. For example, if you’re landing on May 6th, you can submit your TDAC on May 3rd, 4th, 5th, or even on the 6th before you land. The system actually went live a little earlier, on April 28th, to allow people arriving right on May 1st to get theirs done.

Where do you complete it? It’s done online via the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card Portal website. On the portal, you’ll find a button labelled ‘arrival card’ to launch the form.

The information required is very similar to the old paper form. You’ll need to provide your full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and expiry date. Standard identity details. You’ll also need your occupation, contact details, and trip specifics. This includes your date of arrival, flight number, your purpose for visiting Thailand (tourism, business, etc.), your planned departure date and flight number, and the address where you’ll be staying in Thailand, such as your hotel name and address. One additional item is a list of countries you’ve visited in the two weeks before arriving.

Once you fill in all the details and submit, you should receive a QR code confirmation. This is likely to come via email, potentially with a downloadable PDF attached. We’ve heard the system is quite fast, often providing a downloadable PDF on screen immediately after submission, with the email following quickly.

Now, for some practical advice: The absolute best way to handle this is to complete the TDAC before you even leave home. Do it well in advance of heading to your departure airport. Waiting until you’re at the gate or on the plane is definitely not recommended. Doing it in advance saves potential hassle at check-in and on arrival.

Will airlines check for this QR code? That’s still a little unclear. Some might, some might not, especially initially. However, the strong advice is to just assume they will check and have your QR code ready. It’s the safest approach to avoid being denied boarding at your departure airport, which is a serious possibility if you haven’t completed it. Don’t risk your whole trip for a form that should only take about 10 minutes to fill out.

The form itself is split into three main sections: personal information, trip and accommodation details, and a health declaration section.

Here’s a crucial ‘pro tip’ once you get your QR code confirmation: Save it digitally on your phone (screenshot, save the PDF), BUT also print out a paper copy. Technology can fail – phones die, apps glitch, Wi-Fi might be unavailable when you need it. Having that physical piece of paper can be a real lifesaver and provides peace of mind.

What if your plans change after you’ve submitted? Good news, you can update it. The portal has an update function. You’ll need your TDAC number from your confirmation, your passport number, date of birth, and nationality to log in. You can update things like your arrival date, flight number, or accommodation details if they change.

So, what happens if you just forget or don’t do it at all? It’s definitely not ideal. You will likely face significant delays and longer queues at immigration upon arrival in Thailand as you’ll have to complete it there. As mentioned, there’s also the potential risk of being denied boarding by your airline.

However, Thailand’s Immigration Bureau hasn’t left people completely stranded. There is a fallback option: They’ve set up kiosks or counters in the arrival halls for last-minute TDAC submission. Specific counters have even been mentioned at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. But, and this is a big but, expect potentially long queues if you have to use these. This is very much an emergency option and absolutely not the recommended approach. Plan A is to do it before you leave home to avoid the stress and queues on arrival.

It’s worth noting that Thailand is following a trend here. This move to digital arrival cards is becoming a standard practice globally and aligns Thailand with neighbours like Singapore, which has its SG Arrival Card, and Malaysia, with its MDAC. It’s all about modernising, streamlining processes, and collecting data digitally.

For the absolute official details or if you have complex questions, always refer to the official sources. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card Portal itself is the primary place, and you should find a user guide and an FAQ section there.

To boil it all down for your readers heading to Thailand from May 1st, 2025: The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is mandatory for foreign nationals, and you must complete it before you arrive. The best approach is to do it within the 3-day window before travel, fill it out online, get your QR code, save it on your phone, and print a copy. Being prepared will make your arrival in Bangkok or elsewhere in Thailand much smoother. And perhaps pack a little extra patience, as any new system might have initial bumps, especially processing millions of travellers.

It’s interesting to see how travel is rapidly moving towards digital processes – boarding passes, visas, now arrival cards. It makes you wonder what’s next! But for now, the TDAC is the key thing to focus on for your upcoming trip.