The new Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which will replace paper cards from May 1, will help improve the screening of transnational criminals in addition to making arrivals more convenient for visitors, say immigration officials.
Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, head of the Immigration Division 2 at Suvarnabhumi Airport, stated that the updated clearance process will apply to all travelers entering via sea, air, or land routes.
Visitors are required to submit their applications no later than three days prior to their intended arrival in Thailand. Starting from April 28, those planning to arrive on May 1 can begin submitting their requests through the TDAC website.
The TDAC will take the place of the TM6 paper card, previously required for all visitors to complete upon arrival at immigration. The utilization of TM6 forms was halted last year as officials revamped the process.
This updated system is significantly improved due to its simplicity and ease of use,” stated Pol Maj Gen Choengron. “The digital version of the arrival card can be accessed at any time and from any location, unlike previously when it was only provided by airline or airport personnel.
The TDAC system will additionally be connected to the agency’s fingerprint database. This connection enables immigration officials to verify the criminal histories of travelers from abroad, as mentioned by him.
With both systems linked, data about foreign tourists’ stated places of stay during their time in Thailand are directly transmitted to the bureau’s database, circumventing the typical process of manually entering this information into the computer system, according to Pol Maj Gen Choengron.
National Police Chief Kittharath Punpetch stated on Friday that the Immigration Bureau’s updated system aims to boost efficiency and hinder gangs from utilizing the nation as a hub for illegal operations.
The practice of using Thai ‘stand-in’ individuals to manage businesses controlled by foreigners, particularly Chinese ones, is rising up the security priority list, according to Pol Gen Kittharath.
The Chinese government along with its embassy in Bangkok has expressed readiness to provide assistance to Thailand in tackling individuals who exploit the nation, he stated.
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