Thailand: eGates at Bangkok Airport Now Open to Travelers from 33 Countries

Just a few days after new rules on 30-day visa-free entry took effect, Thailand is taking another step toward automated border controls. At Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the new ABC eGates (Automated Border Control) are now available to travelers from 33 countries. The expansion had already been announced this summer: On August 17, 2026, the Thai government announced that the Immigration Bureau had approved, in principle, the expansion of the Auto Gates to include 31 additional nationalities. In late August, the government confirmed that the system was being tested and that the launch was scheduled to take place within a month. The system is now operational.

The 33 eligible countries include, among others, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Travelers from one of the participating countries will in the future be able to use the automated gates upon entry instead of the traditional border control with officials. This significantly speeds up processing at the airport, as it is handled via facial recognition and passport scanning rather than a manual check at the counter.

However, simply holding a passport from one of the eligible countries is not enough. As things stand, travelers must meet four conditions simultaneously to use the eGates:

• Citizenship of one of the 33 eligible countries or territories—including, among others, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Submission of the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) prior to arrival.
• Fulfillment of additional technical and biometric requirements, which may vary depending on the equipment at the respective terminal.
• Entry at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, where the system is currently in trial operation.

For travelers who do not fully meet these conditions, the regular, staffed passport control remains available—the eGates are therefore an additional, but not mandatory, option. In any case, it remains important to submit the digital entry card in advance and correctly, regardless of whether automated or traditional immigration control is ultimately used. We assist travelers in submitting the TDAC Thailand: Digital Entry Card accurately and in a timely manner before their trip to avoid delays upon arrival.

Since Thailand’s entry requirements have changed several times in recent weeks—from the new rules on visa-free entry to the introduction of the eGates—it’s worth checking the current requirements before every trip. Depending on the purpose of the stay and nationality, different requirements may apply, such as those related to the e-Visa for Thailand or the traditional tourist visa for Thailand. We check individually for each customer which regulations apply and handle the entire application process so that travelers do not have to deal with changing regulations themselves.

Anyone planning a trip to Thailand should definitely allow sufficient lead time to submit all required documents and digital forms by the deadline. Since the rollout of eGates is taking place gradually and depends on the technical equipment at the terminals, the practical procedures on site may still change. Until then, carefully preparing entry documents remains the most reliable way to avoid wait times at the airport.