The death of paper arrival cards: Why millions of travelers are now checked before they board

More than 1.52 billion international tourist trips were taken in 2025, the highest number ever recorded, according to UN Tourism. As global travel continues to grow, one part of the journey is quietly changing: the paperwork. Across Asia, governments are replacing the paper arrival cards once handed out on flights with digital declarations that travelers must complete before they fly. In some countries, airlines now check these forms before passengers are even allowed to board.

Digital arrival cards don't replace visas, but they have become an essential part of international travel. As more countries move to paperless border controls, travelers need to know which destinations require them, when to submit them, and what mistakes to avoid.

This guide covers the digital arrival cards you'll need in 2026, who needs them, and how they work. As requirements vary by destination and nationality, always check the latest official guidance before you travel.

What is an Arrival Card

An arrival card is a short form that immigration uses to gather details not found in your passport. It’s not a visa and doesn’t guarantee entry. Border officials at your destination make the final decision. In most countries, you’ll still need the correct visa or visa exemption along with your arrival card.

A few things are true almost everywhere: the form is usually submitted within 72 hours before arrival. Once submitted, you receive a QR code or PDF confirmation to save. It is always important to ensure that each passenger, including infants and children, receives their own arrival card. With that in mind, here’s how it works country by country.

Vietnam - Digital Arrival Card (VDAC)

Who needs it: Most foreign travelers arriving by air, including both visa-exempt passengers and visa holders.

When to submit: Before boarding. It’s recommended to complete it at least 3 days before departure.

What to know: Vietnam’s Digital Arrival Card is new for 2026. It became required at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat airport in April 2026, and other airports will follow. The card replaces the old paper slip, and you’ll get a QR code by email to show when you arrive.

It is not a visa: passengers still need a valid Vietnamese visa, e-Visa, or visa-exempt status. It’s single-entry, and every passenger needs their own, children included.

Learn more: Vietnam Digital Arrival Card

Thailand - Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

Who needs it: All non-Thai nationals arriving by air, land, or sea, including passengers who don’t need a visa.

When to submit: Within 72 hours before arrival.

What to know: The TDAC has replaced the old paper TM6 card, which is no longer accepted anywhere. You’ll get a QR code confirmation to show at immigration. Each card is single-entry, so you need a new one for every trip. If you’re just transiting and not clearing immigration, you usually don’t need one.

The most common reasons applications get held up are a mismatched passport number, a name that doesn’t exactly match the passport, or an incorrect arrival date.

Learn more: Thailand Digital Arrival Card

Singapore - SG Arrival Card (SGAC)

Who needs it: Almost all foreign visitors arriving by air, land, or sea, including those who are visa-free.

When to submit: Within 72 hours before arrival.

What to know: The SGAC also serves as an electronic health declaration, and airlines check it at the gate before you board. Without it, you might not be allowed to board. The card is linked to your passport, so immigration can see it when you scan your passport on arrival. It’s single-entry and expires when you leave, so you’ll need a new one each time you visit.

Passengers staying strictly within the airport transit area generally don’t need one.

Learn more: Singapore SG Arrival Card

Malaysia - Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)

Who needs it: Most foreign visitors, arriving by air, land, or sea, including overland crossings like the Johor-Singapore Causeway.

When to submit: Within 3 days before arrival

What to know: The MDAC isn’t a visa. Depending on your nationality, you might still need a visa or qualify for visa-free entry. Some groups are exempt, like Singaporean citizens, diplomatic and official passport holders, Malaysian permanent residents, Long Term Pass holders, and certain border pass holders.

It’s single-entry. If you forget to complete it before arriving, you may have to fill it out on your phone before you can even join the immigration queue.

Learn more: Malaysia Digital Arrival Card

India - e-Arrival Card

Who needs it: All foreign travelers and OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) cardholders. Indian passport holders are exempt.

When to submit: Within 72 hours before arrival.

What to know: India’s e-Arrival Card has replaced the paper disembarkation form used on flights since the 1960s. Now, you also need it at certain seaports and land borders. It doesn’t replace a visa.

Travelers still need a valid eVisa, paper visa, or OCI card. Families traveling together on the same flight and staying at the same address can often submit a consolidated application (up to five people) that generates a single master QR code. Save your confirmation as soon as it’s issued.

Learn more: India e-Arrival Card

Philippines - eTravel Registration

Who needs it: Everyone entering or leaving the Philippines, including Filipino citizens and children.

When to submit: Within 72 hours before your flight.

What to know: The Philippines eTravel system combines the arrival card, health declaration, and customs form into one registration for air or sea arrivals. After you submit it, you’ll get a QR code. A green code lets you use the express lane, while a red code just means you’ll have a manual check when you arrive. You can still travel with either code.

It’s required for both arrival and departure, and it’s single-entry, so a new registration is needed each way. It’s not a visa; if your nationality isn’t visa-exempt, you’ll still need the appropriate Philippine visa.

Learn more: Philippines eTravel Registration

South Korea - e-Arrival Card

Who needs it: Most foreign travelers. Anyone holding a valid K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is exempt.

When to submit: Within 72 hours before arrival.

What to know: South Korea stopped using paper disembarkation cards at the start of 2026 and now uses a fully digital system. If you’re from a visa-waiver country, you can use either a K-ETA or fill out the e-Arrival Card, which you need for each entry.

The card is linked to your passport, so there’s no physical document to carry, though it’s wise to keep a copy of your confirmation. It’s single-entry; frequent visitors often prefer the K-ETA, which covers multiple entries over a longer period.

Learn more: South Korea e-Arrival Card

Taiwan - Arrival Card (TWAC)

Who needs it: All foreign visitors without a resident certificate, including visa-exempt passengers and visitor visa holders.

When to submit: Within 72 hours before arrival.

What to know: The TWAC has replaced Taiwan’s paper arrival forms. Submit it online to get a QR code confirmation. Immigration can usually find your details by scanning your passport, but it’s best to keep a copy. If you haven’t filled it out before landing, you’ll need to use an airport kiosk before joining the immigration line.

As with the others, every passenger needs their own, and passengers remaining in the international transit area generally don’t need one.

Learn more: Taiwan Arrival Card

Indonesia - All Indonesia Arrival Card

Who needs it: All international arrivals.

When to submit: Within 72 hours before arrival.

What to know: Indonesia’s All Indonesia platform combines immigration, customs, health, and quarantine declarations into one form, replacing several separate documents. You’ll get a QR code to show at immigration and customs. It’s not a visa, so you still need a valid Indonesian visa, an approved Visa on Arrival, or visa-exempt status to enter.

Learn more: Indonesia Arrival Card

China - Digital Arrival Card (CDAC)

Who needs it: All foreign passengers entering by air, land, or sea, including minors (who can be added to a parent or guardian’s application).

When to submit: Online before departure. You receive an instant confirmation.

What to know: China’s Digital Arrival Card combines immigration and customs declarations. It’s not a visa, so if you need a visa for China, you must have that too. Show your passport and the confirmation or PDF to immigration officers when you arrive.

It’s valid for 30 days from the date of arrival and is single-entry, so you need to submit a new one for each visit. If you forget to do it ahead of time, you can usually complete it when you arrive, but it’s easier to do it beforehand.

Learn more: China Digital Arrival Card

How it works in other countries

The list above covers the arrival cards that passengers ask about most, but other countries are moving in the same direction. New Zealand now requires a Traveler Declaration within 24 hours of arrival. Cambodia uses a combined online form for immigration, customs, and health. Since start dates and rules can change, it’s important to double-check before you travel.

Not every country has switched to digital. Australia still uses a paper Incoming Passenger Card, given out before landing, for customs and biosecurity. In Japan, many passengers can pre-fill arrival and customs details online with the Visit Japan system instead of using a separate card. Some countries, such as the United States and Canada, have stopped using arrival cards and now rely on passport scans and electronic travel authorizations. The trend is moving toward digital, so expect more countries to make the switch.

The details that trip passengers up

At iVisa, we see a few patterns show up again and again when it comes to arrival cards:

• The 72-hour window is strict: If you submit your form too early, the system might not accept it. If you submit too late, you could be denied boarding. The timing is more precise than many passengers realize.
• Paper forms are a thing of the past: In most countries, you aren’t being handed out a card on the plane anymore. However, you can still complete the digital form after landing, either at a kiosk or on your phone. This often means waiting in a slower, separate line. Worth noting, though, is that more and more airlines won’t let you board unless you’ve already submitted it.
• Everyone needs their own arrival card, even children: Most countries don’t have a single-family form (except for India’s partial family option), so it’s easy to fill out your own form and accidentally forget about the kids.

The bigger picture

Arrival cards may seem like a small change, but they’re part of a bigger shift. Tasks that used to happen at the airport – like filling out forms, waiting in line, and getting a stamp – are now moving online and happening before you fly. The trend is toward digital declarations linked to your passport, checked by airlines at the gate, and combining several forms into one. More countries will likely join this move, and the days of filling out forms on the plane are ending.

For passengers, this changes how they plan their trips. Arrival cards should now be on your pre-departure checklist, right alongside booking your seat and checking your passport’s expiry date, instead of something to handle after you land.