Thailand and Vietnam Tighten Digital Arrival Card Rules as Southeast Asia Moves Away From Paper Entry

Southeast Asian destinations are completing a shift away from paper immigration forms in 2026, with digital arrival cards now required well before landing rather than filled out on the plane. Most systems ask travelers to submit passport, itinerary and accommodation details online 72 hours ahead of arrival.

Thailand’s Digital Arrival Card, paired with its existing 60-day visa exemption for eligible passport holders, is now enforced at major airports, with officials citing faster immigration lines as the primary benefit for compliant travelers. Vietnam continues to require its separate 90-day e-visa for most nationalities, at a $25 government fee.

A new wrinkle for Vietnam in 2026: an e-visa application listing Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport as the entry point can no longer be used to land in Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City, closing a loophole travelers previously used to keep options flexible. Officials say names must also exactly match the passport’s machine-readable zone.

Travel advisors are warning clients booking multi-country Southeast Asia itineraries this fall to build in extra lead time for the paperwork, since a rejected or mismatched digital arrival submission can mean a scramble at check-in. Airlines have begun blocking boarding for passengers without a confirmed digital arrival record on file.

Sources: Travel And Tour World, Sunset Browser