This guide is information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change, so confirm on the official government site before you travel.
Many travellers mix up an arrival card and a visa, and some scam sites use that confusion. They are different documents with different jobs.
Short answer
A visa or entry permission says you are allowed to enter a country. An arrival card is a form with your trip details that the country collects when you arrive. Being visa-free does not cancel an arrival card, and having an arrival card does not give you permission to enter.
Side by side
- Visa: permission to enter, set by your passport and the purpose of your trip. Can involve documents, fees and waiting time.
- Arrival card: a digital or paper form with passport, flight and address details. Often free and instant.
- Both: some trips need a visa and an arrival card.
Examples
Thailand's TDAC and Malaysia's MDAC are arrival cards. They are separate from any visa you may need. A traveller from a visa-exempt country may still have to submit one.
How to check what you need
- Check the visa rule for your passport on the official government site of the destination.
- Open our country page to see if an arrival card is required and when to submit it.
- Use our travel readiness check to build a personal document checklist.
Questions and answers
Is the TDAC a visa?
No. The TDAC is an arrival card. It does not give permission to enter Thailand.
Is the MDAC a visa?
No. It is an online arrival form and does not replace a visa.
If I do not need a visa, do I still need an arrival card?
Often yes. Check the country page, because visa-free entry and arrival card requirements are separate.
Travelling to Dubai or Abu Dhabi? See our UAE arrival card guide for what applies to your passport.
Sources
Facts were read in these sources on 2026-11-01. Where a source is a news report or travel guide and not the official site, we say "reported". Always confirm on the official portal.Published Nov 1, 2026 · Updated Nov 1, 2026 · How we check facts