Amazon Web Services, Digital Identity Co Ltd and the Thai Immigration Bureau have partnered to develop the Thailand Immigration Management System (THIM), the country's first web and mobile platform for this sector.
The app is designed to modernise immigration services for Thailand.
THIM is scheduled to launch on Oct 1.
The Immigration Bureau wants THIM to become a "super app" for foreigners in Thailand, reducing paperwork for expats and long-stay workers while paving the way for automated airport channels for tourists.
The bureau previously relied on manual blue slips and outsourced data entry. Last year it introduced the web-based Thailand Digital Arrival Card, which processed more than 10 million travellers.
However, frequent visitors complained they had to re-enter all 20 fields for every trip.
With THIM, travellers complete their full profile only once. On future visits, they need to update just a few details, such as the flight number and return date.
The bureau said the process can reduce arrival card completion time to about three minutes.
The app is available now for pilot downloads and uses an electronic know your customer (KYC) process to verify user information against passport details.
Travellers do not need to show a QR code at immigration counters, according to the bureau. Their data syncs directly with the bureau's system, allowing officers to confirm the completed digital form when they scan a physical passport.
The app supports English, Russian, Japanese and Chinese, with plans to expand to 15 languages.
For expats, THIM can support 90-day reporting and official electronic document requests, reducing visits to immigration offices. Long-term visa holders, including those under Board of Investment or diplomatic status, may be able to access automated airport channels through facial recognition technology.
