THIM and Thailand’s digital arrival process: What foreign travellers and employers need to know

THIM remains in a trial phase and its functionality may continue to evolve. Foreign nationals and employers should therefore monitor developments while continuing to comply with existing immigration requirements. 

What is THIM? 

THIM is an application developed by Thailand’s Immigration Bureau that brings together selected immigration-related services for foreign nationals, including: 

• Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) registration 
• User profile and account management • Digital identity verification (KYC) 
• Notifications and immigration alerts 
• Links to selected government services, including Tourist Police support 

As THIM remains in a trial phase, some features may have limited functionality or availability.  

How THIM relates to TDAC 

TDAC is Thailand’s digital arrival reporting system, which travellers use to submit information before entering to Thailand. THIM is a broader mobile platform that includes access to TDAC and may support additional immigration services. 

Before travelling, foreign nationals should check the latest TDAC requirements, including filing windows, exemptions and official submission channel. Entry requirements may change and a successful TDAC submission does not by itself guarantee permission to enter Thailand. 

Implications for employers 

Employers that sponsor foreign employees, business visitors, assignees and intra-company transferees should monitor developments relating to THIM as the platform evolves. Recommended actions include: 

• Maintain alternative processes for time-sensitive immigration filings or travel arrangements. 
• Keep screenshots, confirmation emails and reference numbers as evidence of submission. 
• Monitor official Immigration Bureau updates before changing internal mobility or immigration procedures. 
• Continue to verify that employees hold the correct visas, work permits and supporting approvals regardless of any THIM or TDAC submissions. 

THIM and TDAC are not immigration approvals 

Neither THIM nor TDAC provides permission to enter, live or work in Thailand. TDAC is an arrival reporting requirement, while THIM is an administrative platform. Travelers must still obtain any visa, work permit, re-entry permit, or other approval required for their circumstances before travelling. Individuals should also retain evidence of any digital submissions in case verification is required.  

Forvis Mazars perspective 

THIM is a voluntary registration platform, not a new immigration requirement, and its long-term value will depend on how much functionality the Immigration Bureau ultimately builds into it. 

For frequent travellers and expatriates, the near term benefit is convenience: a stored profile should reduce the need to re-enter the same information on each TDAC submission. 

Public information on planned features and data safeguards remains limited. For now, we recommend continuing existing immigration procedures unchanged and treating THIM as a platform to monitor rather than adopt. We will revisit this application as functionality and official guidance develop. 

References (in Thai): 

• Thai Immigration Bureau, THAI IMMIGRATION (THIM) Application. 
• Royal Thai Police, Welcome to Thailand, Welcome to THIM. Retrieved from the official Royal Thai Police Facebook page. 
• Immigration Bureau, “Guideline for Thailand Digital Arrival Card”. Retrieved from the Immigration Bureau.