The End of Paper Forms
The era of scrambling for a pen to fill out paper landing cards on the plane is officially over for two of India's favourite travel destinations. Both Malaysia and Thailand have embraced digital systems to speed up immigration, enhance security, and create
a smoother welcome for tourists. These online forms, which must be completed before you arrive, allow authorities to pre-process passenger information, reducing queues and manual data entry at the airport. While it adds one small digital step to your pre-flight checklist, it’s a crucial one that saves significant time upon landing. For Indian passport holders enjoying visa-free access, mastering these forms is the key to a hassle-free holiday start.
Malaysia: The Mandatory MDAC
Malaysia offers visa-free entry for Indians for up to 30 days, but completing the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is a compulsory step for all foreign visitors. The MDAC is an online pre-arrival registration that must be submitted within the three days leading up to your arrival in Malaysia. For example, if you land in Kuala Lumpur on August 12, you can fill out the form anytime from August 9 to August 11. The form is free and can be found on the official Malaysian Immigration Department website. Be wary of third-party sites that charge a fee. You'll need to provide your personal details, passport information, travel dates, flight number, and the address of your accommodation in Malaysia.
How to Fill the MDAC Correctly
The process is straightforward. Visit the official portal, click 'Register', and fill in the required fields exactly as they appear on your passport. One common point of confusion is the 'Last Port of Embarkation'; this refers to the last airport you departed from before flying to Malaysia, not necessarily your home city. After submission, you will receive a confirmation with a PIN via email. It is highly recommended to save a digital copy (PDF or screenshot) of this confirmation on your phone. While you are required to verify your passport at a manual counter on your first visit, subsequent trips may allow you to use the airport's autogates, provided you've completed the MDAC for that trip as well.
Thailand: Visa-Free Entry and the TDAC
Thailand's visa policy for Indians has seen some changes. After a period of offering a 60-day visa exemption, the Thai Cabinet approved a new 30-day visa-free entry rule for Indian citizens in July 2026. This move keeps India on the visa-exempt list, avoiding the previously proposed return to a paid Visa on Arrival system. Alongside this, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) has replaced the old paper-based TM6 form. The TDAC is a mandatory online form for all foreign nationals entering the country, regardless of visa status. Submission is free and should be done within 72 hours of your arrival through the official immigration portal.
Navigating Thai Immigration with the TDAC
Similar to Malaysia's system, the TDAC requires you to submit your personal, passport, and travel details online before you fly. This includes your flight information and accommodation address in Thailand. Once you submit the form, you should receive a confirmation, often in the form of a QR code, which you must present at the immigration counter upon arrival. One critical tip for Indian passport holders is to ensure the name entered on the form matches the machine-readable zone (MRZ) on your passport to avoid rejection. The digital card is not a visa; it is an entry requirement designed to make the immigration process faster and more efficient for the millions of tourists who visit Thailand each year.
