Paper vs. Digital Arrival Cards: Which Countries Still Require Which in 2026?

Why This Is Still Confusing in 2026

Digital arrival cards have rolled out fast across Asia and beyond, but the transition hasn't been uniform. Some countries switched years ago and never looked back. Others still use paper for certain entry points while running digital systems for major airports. A traveler who flew to Thailand last year and assumes the same process applies to their next trip to Vietnam is often working from outdated information, and it shows at the immigration counter.

The short version: check the current requirement for your specific destination before you fly. What follows is where things stand for the countries we cover.

Countries That Are Now Fully Digital

Indonesia replaced its paper arrival and customs card with the IDAC. Every traveler submits it online before arrival, and paper forms are no longer accepted at major airports. Full process in the Indonesia IDAC Guide.

Thailand made the same shift with the TDAC, replacing the old paper TM6. See the Thailand TDAC Guide for the submission window and requirements.

Japan runs Visit Japan Web as its digital system. Paper forms are still technically available for travelers who don't use it, but the digital route is faster at nearly every major airport. Details in the Japan VJW Guide.

Countries Where the System Depends on How You Enter

Vietnam uses the PAI for most air travelers, but the requirement and process can differ slightly for land and sea entry points. If you're crossing by land from a neighboring country, don't assume the air travel process applies. See the Vietnam PAI Guide.

India separates its digital eArrival declaration from the visa process entirely, and enforcement can vary between airports. Some smaller entry points still rely more heavily on manual checks. See India eArrival vs eVisa for the distinction.

Why Some Countries Haven't Gone Fully Digital Yet

A few reasons come up repeatedly:

Smaller or regional airports sometimes lack the infrastructure to process digital declarations quickly, so paper backups remain in place as a fallback.

Land and sea border crossings are harder to digitize than airports, since there's no single checkpoint moving high volumes of travelers through a scanner or app.

Some governments are running phased rollouts, digitizing major international airports first and expanding to smaller entry points over time.

What This Means If You're Entering by Land or Sea

If your trip includes a land border crossing or a sea entry point rather than flying directly into a country's main airport, don't assume the digital process you read about applies exactly the same way. Requirements at these crossings can lag behind what's standard at major airports, and in some cases a paper form is still what's expected. Confirming the specific entry point matters here more than the country in general.

What Happens If You Bring a Paper Form to a Digital-Only Country

This is more common than it sounds, usually because a traveler read outdated information or based their prep on a previous trip. If a country has moved to a fully digital system, a paper form generally won't be accepted, and you'll need to complete the digital version on the spot, which takes longer than doing it in advance. It's a completely avoidable delay if you check ahead of time.

A Practical Way to Stay Current

Requirements change more often than most travelers expect, sometimes with only a few months' notice. Checking your destination's current process close to your travel date, rather than relying on what a friend told you or what was true last year, is the simplest way to avoid showing up prepared for the wrong system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is paper still accepted anywhere as a backup?
In some countries, yes, particularly at smaller airports or land crossings. Major international airports in fully digital countries generally no longer accept paper forms.

How do I know if my destination has switched to digital?
Check the specific guide for your destination, since this changes country by country and sometimes airport by airport. See our full destination list.

Does entering by land or sea change what's required?
It can. Digital systems are usually rolled out at major airports first, so land and sea entry points may still rely on older processes. Confirm the specific crossing you're using.

What happens if I show up with the wrong format?
You'll typically need to complete the correct version on the spot, which adds time at the border. Checking in advance avoids this entirely.