Thailand is launching a new immigration app to cut airport processing times

Thailand’s airport queues may soon get a lot shorter. The country’s Immigration Bureau is preparing to launch a new mobile app called THIM, short for Thailand Immigration Management, designed to help foreign visitors submit their arrival details before entering the country.

The app is currently available in a trial phase on both iOS and Android, with a full official launch expected by August 2026. The goal is simple: speed up immigration processing, reduce congestion at checkpoints and make arrival admin less troublesome. 

What is the THIM app?

THIM is a new mobile immigration app for foreign nationals travelling to Thailand. It allows visitors to register key arrival details digitally before departure, including passport information, travel plans and accommodation details.

The app is designed to work with Thailand’s Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, which was introduced in 2025 and is currently completed through a web-based platform. According to reports, the existing TDAC system has already been used by more than 10 million visitors.

What does the app do?

THIM allows travellers to fill in their arrival card details before landing in Thailand. It can also scan passport information using a phone camera with AI-powered optical character recognition. The technology can read all three data layers: the machine-readable zone, the biographical page, and the embedded chip. This means less manual typing - especially when you're panic-filling your details at immigration. 

The app will support group registrations too, allowing details for up to 10 travellers to be submitted together – useful if you're travelling with your family.

For frequent visitors, THIM should also make repeat trips easier. Instead of filling in all required fields every time, travellers will be able to save their profile and update details such as flight number, accommodation and return date for future visits.

Will it replace the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?

Under the new THIM system, travellers only need to complete a full registration once. For future visits, users only need to update a handful of details, such as travel information, reducing the process to around one or two minutes. When arriving in Thailand, travellers simply present their passport at immigration. Officers can immediately see that the digital registration has already been completed, eliminating the need to cross-check a separate QR code.

Will travellers still need a visa?

Yes, if their nationality or travel purpose requires one. THIM does not replace visa applications, long-stay immigration processes or requirements such as 90-day reporting for eligible foreign residents.

What happens at immigration?

Once THIM is fully operational, travellers reportedly will not need to present a separate QR code at immigration. Their details should be synced into the immigration system and accessed by officers when their passport is scanned.

What languages will THIM support?

The pilot version reportedly supports English, Russian, Japanese and Chinese, with plans to expand to 15 languages.

Eventually, Thailand wants THIM to become a wider immigration “super app”, covering document requests, immigration appointments and even access to a 24/7 tourist police hotline. 

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