Thailand: THIM app officially launches after pilot phase

After several months in a pilot phase, the THIM application has now been officially launched in Thailand.

On September 25, 2026, the Immigration Bureau, which operates under the Royal Thai Police, officially launched the Thai Immigration Application (THIM), presenting it as a future “Digital Gateway” designed to support foreign nationals before they arrive, during their travels and throughout their stay in the country.

The app itself is not new to travelers. As early as May 29, VisasNews reported on THIM and its initial features, while the Immigration Bureau was still testing the new tool.

The September 25 announcement therefore primarily marks the platform’s official launch and gives authorities an opportunity to provide more detail on how they intend to expand THIM.

Police Lieutenant General Panumas Boonyalug, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said that “THIM application was developed with the aim of making entry into and stays in Thailand more convenient, faster, safer, and more seamless for foreign nationals.”

The goal goes beyond simply making arrival procedures easier. According to the immigration chief, “immigration services are being developed into a digital platform that can be continuously expanded with additional services,” while maintaining a balance between service efficiency, security standards, data accuracy and protection, and support for Thailand’s tourism sector and economy.

More than 600,000 downloads since August 1, 2026

The Immigration Bureau says THIM has been available for download on the App Store, Google Play and Huawei AppGallery since August 1, 2026.

Since then, the app has recorded more than 600,000 downloads and over 580,000 users, meaning registered users account for 97.2% of total downloads, according to figures released by Thai authorities.

The two main features currently highlighted are the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) and Explore Thailand. Eventually, the Immigration Bureau wants THIM to become a single platform bringing together a wider range of procedures related to entering and staying in Thailand.

THIM does not replace the TDAC

For travelers, the basic rule has not changed: THIM is not a new entry requirement in addition to the Thailand Digital Arrival Card.

The TDAC remains Thailand’s official digital arrival card for foreign travelers who are required to complete it, and it is still directly available through the Immigration Bureau’s official portal.

THIM provides an additional way to complete and submit the TDAC through the app, while also giving users access to other travel- and stay-related services. The Immigration Bureau explicitly confirms that the TDAC remains available on its website and that THIM offers another channel for completing the requirement.

In other words, the official launch of THIM does not mean travelers have to complete two arrival cards. Anyone who has already submitted a TDAC through the official portal does not need to file another one simply because the THIM app has now been formally launched.

VisasNews had already explained this distinction in June in an article detailing the difference between THIM and the TDAC requirement for travel to Thailand.

Stay extensions, 90-day reporting and Visa on Arrival among planned services

The Immigration Bureau’s announcement also provides a clearer picture of the services expected to be gradually added to THIM.

Authorities plan to integrate immigration appointment booking, the “Certificate of Stay,” Visa Extension, 90-day reporting and Visa on Arrival at authorized immigration checkpoints.

These features are, however, planned for a later stage. The announcement does not provide launch dates or indicate that they are already available through the app.

For now, THIM is therefore centered mainly on the TDAC and Explore Thailand. But the newly detailed roadmap confirms the Immigration Bureau’s ambition to gradually turn the application into a central digital hub for multiple immigration procedures affecting foreign nationals in Thailand.

At the same time, the TDAC is becoming increasingly integrated into Thailand’s arrival process. It is currently one of the requirements for using automated immigration gates, or eGates, upon arrival at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Since September, the eGates have been available to travelers from 33 nationalities, following the addition of 31 countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia and numerous European countries.

The development comes as Thailand has also recently changed its entry rules. Since September 15, 2026, new visa-exemption and Visa on Arrival rules have been in effect, including shorter visa-free stays for several nationalities, although an additional extension can still be requested in Thailand.

E-passports, facial checks and identity verification

The Immigration Bureau also provided additional details on the technologies used to verify users’ identities.

THIM can read information stored in an electronic passport and its embedded chip using NFC technology. The system also uses Liveness Detection and Face Comparison to strengthen identity verification.

According to Thai authorities, information is protected at several levels, including encryption during transmission and storage, separation of biometric data from other personal information, access controls and system activity logs.

The app also runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS) Asia Pacific (Bangkok) cloud infrastructure. The Immigration Bureau says threat detection, security monitoring and encryption technologies are used to protect information processed through the platform.

Explore Thailand aims to support travelers during their stay

THIM is not intended to be limited to immigration procedures.

The Explore Thailand feature already gives users access to various benefits and coupons offered by private-sector partners. These can be redeemed using a QR code or promotional code, depending on each partner’s terms and conditions.

In the future, the Immigration Bureau plans to expand the feature with more information on tourist attractions, accommodations and activities available in Thailand.

Several Thai companies and international groups operating in the country took part in THIM’s official presentation, including The Mall Group, GrabTaxi Thailand, True Corporation and Minor International.

This tourism component complements the app’s administrative functions: the stated goal is to support foreign nationals from the time they prepare to enter Thailand through the various services and procedures they may need during their stay.