Thailand’s Immigration Bureau is testing THIM, a new mobile app designed to help travelers manage their arrival formalities.
Presented by authorities as a future immigration “super app,” THIM is intended to allow international travelers to submit their arrival information before entering Thailand, building on the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) which is already mandatory.
Developed for the Thai Immigration Bureau in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Digital Identity Co., THIM, short for Thailand Immigration Management System, aims to simplify pre-arrival procedures. The app notably allows travelers to submit certain information in advance, reducing the need for paper forms and helping streamline checks upon arrival.
At this stage, however, the system does not appear to be a nationwide replacement for the current process. According to the information currently available, THIM is being introduced as part of a testing phase, ahead of a possible expansion of its features and use starting October 1, 2026.
THIM also comes as Thailand reviews its entry rules, with authorities preparing to reduce the visa-free stay period from 60 to 30 days for most affected travelers.
An app to prepare for arrival in Thailand
Available on the App Store and Google Play Store, THIM is presented as the official app of Thailand’s Immigration Bureau. Its app description says travelers can enter the required information before landing, so it can be securely transmitted and ready for verification upon arrival.
The app also relies on an e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) system. This electronic identity-verification process checks the information provided by users against the data in their passport. In the case of THIM, the goal is to make traveler registration more reliable, reduce data-entry errors, and help immigration officers carry out checks more efficiently.
THIM also highlights several practical features. Travelers can complete a digital arrival card, manage upcoming trips, update certain information, and receive notifications related to deadlines or changes. The app also includes a group application feature, allowing family members or other travelers to be added to the same process.
This approach is intended to make repeated travel to Thailand easier. According to details released around the launch, the app relies in part on automated passport reading and an initial registration process designed to avoid travelers having to re-enter the same information on future trips.
The app currently supports English, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese, with additional languages expected to be added in the coming months.
A complement to the TDAC digital arrival card
THIM follows the rollout of the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, which became mandatory on May 1, 2025, for foreign travelers entering Thailand by air, land, or sea.
For now, travelers should not interpret THIM as the end of the TDAC requirement. The official portal, tdac.immigration.go.th, remains the reference point for Thailand’s digital arrival card, which must be completed before entering the country.
The mobile app appears instead to be designed to make the process smoother, especially for frequent travelers, families, or groups. Over time, it could also become a mobile access point for several immigration services, beyond the arrival declaration alone.
Toward a broader platform for foreigners in Thailand
Thai authorities want THIM to become more than just a mobile arrival card. The app is being presented as a platform that could gradually bring together several immigration-related procedures.
Possible future features include visa extension applications, 90-day residence notifications for some foreigners living in Thailand, and automated border-crossing procedures for more nationalities.
That direction is in line with Thailand’s efforts to speed up checks while strengthening border security. The country receives tens of millions of international visitors every year and is seeking to reduce processing times on arrival without easing immigration checks.
Major General Pratya Prasarnsuk, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, noted that Thailand’s immigration system handles about 30 million international tourists each year and said the border experience should reflect “the modern, welcoming nation we are”. According to him, the adoption of cloud technology is intended to reduce processing times while strengthening national security capabilities.
Digital Identity Co., Ltd. also describes THIM as a digital service hub designed to evolve. Its CEO, Natakorn Tanachaihirun, summarized the aim by saying that “the border is Thailand’s front door” and that the app was created “to make sure it’s wide open and secure at the same time.”
