Introduction
Knowing when to apply for a Thailand Digital Arrival Card matters because there are two different timing rules travellers often mix up: the official TDAC submission window, and VisaPal's earlier booking acceptance.
Thailand Digital Arrival Card application timing is set by Thailand Immigration for official submission. VisaPal can help you prepare sooner, but it does not change when the official system will accept a TDAC. This page explains both clearly so you can plan without confusing a pre-booking for immediate government submission.
If you still need to gather passport, travel and accommodation details, see the Thailand Digital Arrival Card requirements page first. For a broader overview, read the complete TDAC guide.
Official TDAC submission window
Thailand Immigration currently allows TDAC submission within three days before arrival, including the arrival date. Using Thailand calendar dates (Asia/Bangkok), that official window is:
- today
- tomorrow
- the following day
Official submission only
A Thailand Digital Arrival Card can be submitted through the official system only when the arrival date falls inside that three-day window. VisaPal may also process a TDAC through the official channel only once the arrival date is inside the same window.
Do not assume the official Thailand TDAC application window is seven days wide. That longer period belongs to VisaPal booking acceptance, not Thailand Immigration submission.
Why you shouldn't leave it until the last minute
Even though the official window includes the arrival date, leaving Thailand arrival card when to apply decisions until you are already travelling creates unnecessary risk.
- you may still be confirming flight numbers, hotel addresses or recent travel history
- small passport or email mistakes take time to correct
- payment, review and delivery all need to complete before you rely on the finished document
- support is easier to resolve before you are in transit
Preparing early does not mean inventing an earlier official submission date. It means having accurate information ready and, if you use VisaPal, placing a secure pre-booking so the request can be submitted as soon as it becomes eligible.
VisaPal pre-booking
VisaPal accepts assistance requests when the arrival date is from today up to seven calendar days in advance, using Thailand calendar dates (Asia/Bangkok).
Eligible now
Arrival today, tomorrow or the following day falls inside the official TDAC window and can be processed for submission normally once payment and required details are complete.
Pre-booking
Arrival three to seven days after today can be accepted as a VisaPal pre-booking. The application is held securely and is not represented as already submitted.
Arrival dates before today, or more than seven days after today in Thailand time, are outside VisaPal's current booking window. VisaPal does not claim that Thailand Immigration accepts TDAC submission seven days in advance.
VisaPal charges only for assistance. The official TDAC itself remains free through the official channel. See the Thailand Digital Arrival Card cost page for what the service fee covers, and the Terms of Use for booking conditions.
Timeline example
The example below shows how Thailand Digital Arrival Card application timing works when a traveller uses VisaPal several days before arrival.
Day -7
VisaPal accepts pre-booking
If your arrival date is up to seven days ahead in Thailand time, VisaPal can accept your assistance request as a secure pre-booking.
Day -2 to arrival
Official submission window opens
Thailand Immigration currently allows TDAC submission within three days before arrival, including the arrival date.
When eligible
VisaPal submits the TDAC
VisaPal processes and submits your application through the official channel once your arrival date is inside that window.
After processing
You receive your completed TDAC
The completed Thailand Digital Arrival Card is emailed to the address you provided during your application.
Exact processing speed still depends on complete information, successful payment, service level and official system availability. Pre-booking simply means you can prepare earlier without pretending the official window has opened early.
Common timing mistakes
Assuming Thailand Immigration accepts applications seven days early
VisaPal’s seven-day booking window is not the same as the official TDAC submission window. Official submission is currently limited to three days before arrival, including the arrival date.
Waiting until the day of travel without a plan
Leaving the form until you are already travelling can create avoidable pressure if details are missing, payment is delayed, or support is harder to reach.
Entering the wrong arrival date
Eligibility depends on the arrival date you provide. An incorrect date can put the request in the wrong booking state or outside VisaPal’s acceptance window entirely.
Applying too early for VisaPal
VisaPal does not currently accept arrival dates more than seven days ahead. If your trip is further away, wait until the date falls inside the booking window.
Treating a pre-booking as immediate submission
A VisaPal pre-booking means your details are held securely until the official window. It does not mean the TDAC has already been submitted to Thailand Immigration.
How VisaPal handles application information during this period is explained in the Privacy Policy.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply for a TDAC?
Through the official channel, Thailand Immigration currently allows TDAC submission within three days before arrival, including the arrival date. If you use VisaPal, you can start up to seven days before arrival. Requests outside the official window are accepted as secure pre-bookings and processed once they become eligible.
What is the Thailand TDAC application window?
The official application window is currently today, tomorrow or the following day, using Thailand calendar dates (Asia/Bangkok). That is the period in which the TDAC can be submitted through the official system.
Can I apply more than three days before arrival?
Not through the official TDAC system while your arrival date is still outside that three-day window. VisaPal can still accept a paid assistance request up to seven days ahead and hold it as a pre-booking until official submission becomes possible.
Does a VisaPal pre-booking mean my TDAC is already submitted?
No. A pre-booking means VisaPal has accepted your request and is holding the information securely. VisaPal submits the TDAC only when your arrival date enters the official submission window.
What if my arrival date is more than seven days away?
VisaPal cannot currently accept the application. Wait until your arrival date is within seven calendar days, based on Thailand time, then start the application.
Which time zone is used for eligibility?
VisaPal uses Thailand calendar dates (Asia/Bangkok) when deciding whether an arrival date is eligible now, a pre-booking, or outside the booking window. Do not rely only on your local device clock when planning timing.
Ready to apply?
If your arrival date is within VisaPal's seven-day booking window, you can start now. Applications outside the official submission window are securely held until they become eligible, then submitted and emailed to you.