Thailand THIM Immigration Management System
One of the new changes coming to Thailand is the new THIM application. THIM stands for Thailand Immigration Management System. It is expected to replace or improve the current TDAC arrival card system.
Right now, travelers coming to Thailand must fill in arrival details before entering. With THIM, frequent travelers should not need to enter the same information again and again. It should save your passport and travel profile, so next time the process becomes faster. They say the goal is to make the arrival process much quicker, possibly under a few minutes. And very important, this should be free. Be careful of websites that are asking money. Even on TDAC, everything is free.
One of the advantages of this system is for the people who come to Thailand again and again. There would be no need to put in all the basic information, your passport, your dates, and your birth date. The only thing that you are going to change is your travel dates. So, if you are coming to Thailand a lot, this will be really helpful, and definitely they say that this will save a lot of time. Even less than 1 minute to pass immigration.
THIM Could Make Repeat Thailand Arrivals Faster
Now, this application is not only good for tourists, but also for expats living in Thailand. I usually visit Samut Prakan Immigration Office to report 90 days, for extensions, for renewal visas, and also to get a re-entry permit.
So, what could possibly help this THIM for the expats living in Thailand? They say that maybe in future things like 90-day reports, visa extensions, and re-entry permits will become easier online. Any app that saves one trip to the immigration deserves respect.
Now, this application could be officially starting from October 1. Take that into consideration, but still, if you are coming to Thailand and you want to enter Thailand, then you have to apply for TDAC, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
Thailand TDAC and Fast Track Warnings
Another update is the fast track. A lot of people are getting scammed. There are lots of unofficial websites. Be careful. Some of these offers are not official. Before paying anyone, check only official airport or government channels. If THIM works properly in the future, many travelers may not even need the fast track service.
