New requirement for entering Thailand - starting with Australia

[Jun]

My understanding this requirement for those who do not have any kind of visa

That is my understanding too.
However, they have just extended visa free allowances to 60 days. So the ETA will be needed for most tourists from the affected countries.

My expectation is that an ETA for any European country would be via a website that works and is easy to use.

On the other hand, Thailand has a track record of producing clunky and unreliable web services. Possibly with corruption involved as well.

Thailand already tried an ETA once, known as the "Thai Pass", during covid. Approval was supposed to be instant & automatic, but frequently was not. At least one board member made use of a service where you contact an agency, pay some tea money and then it was approved within a few minutes.

[Jun]

I presume this is the correct link for the TDAC (ETA):
https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/home

I understand this is to be completed UP TO 3 days before arrival. For my usual overnight flights from Europe, that means up to 2 days before departure.

[Gaybutton]

For my usual overnight flights from Europe, that means up to 2 days before departure.

Yes, that is the correct link.

Maybe they expect people to complete the arrival card at the airport while waiting for their flight to Thailand . . .

[Jun]

Maybe they expect people to complete the arrival card at the airport while waiting for their flight to Thailand . . .

If necessary, I'd do it using the WiFi at Suvarnabhumi airport.

However, given my total distrust of Thai immigration IT systems, I'd prefer to do it 7 or more days in advance of the trip.

During covid, I've experienced clunky systems that did not function as they were supposed to. Instant approvals that were not instant, etc.
I'm not alone with that. In one instance, another board member found a third party who successfully expedited the slow Thai Pass approvals. For a fee, of course.
Also, you keep telling me the 90 day address report system keeps failing.

[Gaybutton]

Also, you keep telling me the 90 day address report system keeps failing.

Yes, that's what's been happening, at least with me. Sometimes the online system approves the report and sometimes it rejects it - and that is despite that the only difference between the reports I send in online are the submission dates. I never know whether it will be an approval or rejection. I wonder what the odds would be in Las Vegas.

One thing I've noticed - the longer it takes for the response to arrive, the more likely it will be a rejection.

As for that digital arrival card, the best I can tell you is I have seen nothing to indicate any system failures - yet. But I think a great many more people use that system than submit 90-day address reports, and so far it seems to be working correctly. That's good news and encouraging.

Of course, if I do see any reports about the system failing I will certainly post about it - and how passengers were then dealt with.