Immigration Expands Automated Passport Control to 33 Nations, Usage Soars 186%
Thailand's Immigration Bureau has expanded automated passport control lanes to travelers from 33 countries at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket airports. Since the September launch, daily usage has jumped 186 percent, with Singaporeans, Hong Kong residents, and South Koreans among the top users, significantly reducing entry queues and congestion.
The Immigration Bureau has upgraded its Automated Border Control (ABC) service to enhance convenience, reduce waiting times, and accelerate immigration clearance. In partnership with Airports of Thailand PLC, the bureau has installed 39 arrival and 67 departure automated lanes at Suvarnabhumi Airport, with services extended to Don Mueang and Phuket airports.
Under Order No. 196/2026 dated August 24, 2026, entry eligibility has been expanded from two to 33 nationalities and territories for passport holders exempt from visas or holding electronic visas under certain conditions. The eligible countries include:
Asia: South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia Middle East: United Arab Emirates Oceania: Australia, New Zealand Americas: Canada Europe (24 countries): Greece, Belgium, Malta, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Portugal, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Ireland, Norway, France, Latvia, Sweden, Hungary, Netherlands, Finland, Spain, and Austria.
Passengers who have registered for the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) will receive email notification of their eligibility for automated lanes. Since the expanded service launched on September 18, 2026, daily users have surged from an average of 744 to 2,125, a 185.6 percent increase.
Between September 18 and October 31, 2026, a total of 94,760 foreign nationals used the service. The top five nationalities were Singapore (21,684), Hong Kong (14,259), South Korea (9,615), Japan (9,538), and Malaysia (6,943). The measure helps accommodate rising passenger numbers, reduce congestion, and elevate immigration clearance to be more convenient, faster, and more efficient.
