Thailand Officially Launches THIM App: Digital Gateway for Immigration, TDAC and Future Services
Updated: 1 hour ago
BANGKOK, September 25, 2026 — Thailand's Immigration Bureau has officially launched the Thai Immigration Application (THIM), a digital platform designed to serve foreign nationals before arrival, during their journey, and throughout their stay in the kingdom.
The app was formally presented on 25 September 2026 by Police Lieutenant General Panumas Boonyalug, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, following several months of pilot testing.
What THIM Is Designed to Do
The stated goal goes beyond simplifying arrivals. According to the Immigration Bureau, the app represents a shift toward treating immigration services as a continuously expanding digital platform.
"The THIM application was created to make entering and staying in Thailand more convenient, quicker, safer, and smoother for foreign nationals."-Police Lieutenant General Panumas Boonyalug, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau
The Bureau frames the objective around four pillars: procedural efficiency, security, data accuracy and protection, and support for Thailand's tourism sector.
Download and Adoption Figures
THIM has been available on the App Store, Google Play and Huawei AppGallery since 1 August 2026.
Metric | Figure |
Downloads since 1 August 2026 | More than 600,000 |
Total users | More than 580,000 |
User-to-download ratio | 97.2% |
The Two Features Live Today
Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
The TDAC remains the official digital arrival card for foreign travellers and stays directly accessible on the Immigration Bureau's official portal.
THIM provides an additional channel for completing and submitting the TDAC. The Immigration Bureau explicitly confirms that submitting through THIM does not require a second declaration. A traveller who has already filed the TDAC on the official portal does not need to repeat the process simply because the app has launched.
Explore Thailand
The second active feature provides access to benefits and discount coupons offered by private partners. Users redeem them via QR code or promotional code, subject to each partner's terms.
The Immigration Bureau plans to expand this section with information on tourist sites, accommodation and activities across Thailand.
Upcoming Services: What Comes Next
The September announcement confirmed which procedures will eventually be folded into THIM. These features are slated for a later phase, and no launch dates have been specified.
Planned Feature | Description |
Appointment booking | Scheduling with immigration services |
Certificate of Stay | Official residency confirmation |
Visa Extension | Extension of stay applications |
90-Day Declaration | Mandatory reporting for long-stay foreign nationals |
Visa on Arrival | Processing at authorised checkpoints |
The roadmap signals the Immigration Bureau's ambition to make THIM a central digital portal for multiple formalities concerning foreigners in Thailand.
Security and Technology
The Immigration Bureau provided detailed information on how THIM verifies identities and protects data.
Identity Verification
Technology | Function |
NFC chip reading | Reads data from electronic passports |
Liveness detection | Confirms the user is physically present |
Face comparison | Matches the user's face to passport data |
Data Protection Measures
According to Thai authorities, information is protected through:
Encryption during transmission and storage
Separation of biometric data from other personal data
Access rights controls
Logging of system activities
The platform operates on Amazon Web Services (AWS) Asia Pacific (Bangkok) cloud infrastructure, with threat detection and security monitoring in place.
How THIM Connects to Thailand's Broader Entry Changes
The launch arrives alongside two significant developments in Thailand's immigration landscape.
eGates Expand to 33 Nationalities
Since September 2026, automated immigration gates at Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi Airport have been available to travellers from 33 nationalities, following the addition of 31 countries including France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada.
The TDAC is one of the requirements for using these eGates.
New Visa Rules Since 15 September 2026
Thailand's visa exemption and visa-on-arrival rules changed on 15 September 2026, including a reduction in the visa-free stay period for several nationalities, with the possibility of extension while in the country.
What Travellers Need to Understand
The most important practical point: THIM does not add a new mandatory step.
Question | Answer |
Do I need to fill out two arrival cards? | No. THIM and the TDAC portal serve the same requirement. |
Is THIM mandatory? | No. The TDAC remains available on the official portal. |
Can I use THIM for visa extensions now? | Not yet. Those features are planned for a later phase. |
Does THIM replace the TDAC? | No. It is an additional channel for submitting it. |
Read Also
Quick Reference Summary
Aspect | Details |
App Name | Thai Immigration Application (THIM) |
Official Launch | 25 September 2026 |
Available Since | 1 August 2026 |
Downloads | Over 600,000 |
Users | Over 580,000 |
Live Features | TDAC, Explore Thailand |
Planned Features | Appointments, Certificate of Stay, Visa Extension, 90-Day Declaration, Visa on Arrival |
Platforms | App Store, Google Play, Huawei AppGallery |
Cloud Infrastructure | AWS Asia Pacific (Bangkok) |
Official Resources
Resource | Link |
Thai Immigration Bureau | |
TDAC Official Portal | |
Thai e-Visa Portal |
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