Thailand's THIM App: A Guide for Long-Stay Travellers and Nomads

Thailand's THIM App: What Long-Stay Travellers and Digital Nomads Need to Know

Thailand's Immigration Bureau has launched THIM, a new official mobile app that moves the country's digital arrival card onto your phone. For backpackers on a two month trip it is a small convenience. For long-stay travellers and digital nomads who cross the Thai border several times a year, it is the start of a single place to handle arrivals, trips and, eventually, the paperwork that used to mean a morning queuing at an immigration office.

THIM is still in a trial phase, with a full official launch expected in August 2026 and a wider expansion of its features from 1 October 2026. Here is what the app does today, why it matters more if you are staying long-term, and what to expect next.

What is the THIM app?

THIM (the Thailand Immigration Management system) is an official app from Thailand's Immigration Bureau, built in partnership with Amazon Web Services and Digital Identity Co. It lets travellers submit their arrival information before they land, complete the digital arrival card on their phone, manage upcoming trips, update personal details, and add family members or group travellers to a single application. It is available on the App Store and Google Play.

How does THIM relate to the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)?

THIM is the mobile front end for the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, the TDAC, which has been mandatory for foreign arrivals since 1 May 2025. The official TDAC portal remains the primary system, and THIM simply gives you an easier, app-based way to file the same arrival card. You still complete a TDAC for every entry, but THIM lets you do it from your phone, reuse your saved details, and the Immigration Bureau says the whole process takes under three minutes.

Why does THIM matter if you are staying in Thailand long-term?

THIM matters most for repeat and long-stay travellers because it is built around people who arrive more than once. The features that save the biggest amount of time on a long trip are:

• Pre-filled information for repeat travellers, so you are not retyping passport and trip details on every entry.
• Automated passport reading and e-KYC identity verification, which cuts manual data entry and reduces rejected forms.
• Trip management and deadline notifications, useful when you are juggling visa runs and re-entries across the year.
• Group and family applications, so couples and families filing together do it once rather than form by form.

Thailand's Immigration Bureau has also said it wants THIM to grow into a broader immigration platform covering visa extensions, the 90-day residence notification that long-stay foreigners must file, and automated border procedures for more nationalities. If that arrives as planned, the recurring admin that defines long-stay life in Thailand could move into one app.

Many long-stay nomads pair the convenience of THIM with the multi-entry Destination Thailand Visa. If that is your plan, read our Thailand DTV visa guide for who qualifies and how to apply.

When is the THIM app rolling out?

THIM is in a trial phase now, available to download on iOS and Android, with a full official launch expected in August 2026 and a wider expansion of its features from 1 October 2026. During the trial the official TDAC website stays the main reference point, so if anything in the app does not work for your nationality yet, file your arrival card online as usual. The rollout has been reported by The Nation Thailand and The Star, and the feature set and list of supported nationalities are expected to grow through 2026.

How do you use THIM, and what languages does it support?

You download THIM from the App Store or Google Play, verify your identity with the in-app e-KYC and passport scan, then submit your arrival details before you fly to Thailand. The app currently supports English, Russian, Japanese and Chinese, and officials plan to expand it to 15 languages. Keep your passport handy for the first setup, since the automated passport reader fills in most of your profile from it.

Crossing into other countries on your travels? Several now use the same pre-arrival system. See how Vietnam's digital arrival card and China's online arrival card work before you fly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Thailand's THIM App

Is the THIM app mandatory for entering Thailand?

No. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is mandatory for foreign arrivals, but THIM is just one way to file it. You can still complete the TDAC on the official portal at tdac.immigration.go.th. THIM is an optional, more convenient app-based route to the same arrival card.

Does THIM replace the TDAC website?

Not during the testing phase. The TDAC website remains the primary system while THIM is rolled out. THIM files the same digital arrival card from your phone and saves your details for next time, but the official portal is still the fallback if the app does not yet support your situation.

Can I use THIM for my whole family or travel group?

Yes. THIM lets you add family members or group travellers to a single application, so you file once for everyone instead of completing a separate arrival card per person. This is one of the bigger time savers for couples, families and groups arriving together.

Will THIM handle visa extensions and 90-day reporting?

Not yet, but it is on the roadmap. Thailand's Immigration Bureau has said it wants THIM to expand into visa extensions, the 90-day residence notification, and automated border procedures for more nationalities. For now these are still handled through existing immigration channels.

Which app stores is THIM available on?

THIM is available on both the App Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android. Search for the official Thailand Immigration Management app and check the developer is the Immigration Bureau before downloading.

If you are settling into Thailand for the long haul, tracking your spending matters as much as your paperwork. BudgetBro helps long-stay travellers and digital nomads log expenses in over 160 currencies, set trip budgets, and see where the money goes, all in one place. Always check the official Thai Immigration Bureau website for the latest entry rules before you travel, as requirements can change at short notice.