Thai Visa for Indians: All You Need to Know

When I was preparing to backpack across Thailand for two months, I went through a seamless Thai visa for Indians process. Even though the application process was fairly simple, the information online was actually quite haywire and took me a a few weeks to get access to all relevant and correct information. This was especially hard because a lot of visa agents’ websites don’t even offer services for Thailand visa for Indians. In fact, some websites give outdated or straight-up incorrect information.

That’s why, I decided to write this blog about Thai visa for Indians based on my actual and true experiences of travelling to Thailand and applying for a Thailand tourist visa for Indians.

Indians, unlike many Western countries, are not exempt from travelling to Thailand without a visa. I actually only became aware of how other Western countries travel visa free to Thailand because I met one French woman on a snorkel tour in Koh Lanta and she was quite surprised to know that there was a Thai visa for Indians!

🏝️Visiting Thailand? Here are a few quick links at a glance:
✈️Book Flights: Skyscanner for cheapest deals
🚤Book Transfers: 12goAsia
🛌Book Hotels: Booking and Expedia for best deals
🤳Best Thailand Tours: GetYourGuide, and Viator
🩺Global Travel Insurance: SafetyWing
🧴Sunscreen: Thank You Farmer (Reef Safe), Foxtale (SPF 70)

Visa on Arrival – Thai Visa for Indians

There is a Thai Visa On Arrival (VOA) for Indians. To apply for Thailand on arrival visa for Indian, you need to fill out the form at the arrivals hall at the Thai airport you’re landing in, and attach physical copies of the documents required. But this Thai visa for Indians can only be availed if the following requirements are fulfilled:

• The visit is strictly for tourism purposes.
• Thai Visa on Arrival is valid only for 15 days.
• The passport should be valid for 3 months.
• You must have proof of hotel booking in Thailand.
• You must have return flight tickets within 15 days of arrival. Open flight tickets are not valid. 
• You must have proof of funds of 10,000 Thai Baht per person and 20,000 Thai Baht per family.
• You must have a passport size coloured photograph no more than 6 months old.
• A Visa on Arrival fee of 2,000 must be paid upon entry for a Thailand visa cost for 15 days. This is accepted in cash in Thai Baht only.

Thai e-Visa on Arrival for Indians

You also have the option of choosing to apply for the Thailand toursit Visa on Arrival online to save time upon your arrival in Thailand.

This VFS link is the only official link to apply for the e-VOA. You will need to first sign up on their system, then upload all necessary documents and pay the visa fees online. After the process is completed, you will receive your e-VOA within 5 working days.

You can also apply for the express VOA through the website to get your visa within 24 hours, at an added cost.

Please note: The VFS website can be slow and crashes often. Be prepared with a stable internet connection, or just do the physical paperwork in Thailand itself instead.

At present, Thailand visa on arrival checkpoints for e-VOA is only at four international airports in Thailand:

• Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok
• Don Muaeng International Airport, Bangkok
• Chiang Mai International Airport
• Phuket International Airport

Thai Visa on Arrival for Indians – Extension

The Thailand tourist Visa on Arrival can also be extended for an extra 7 days from the Immigration Office. Here are the documents required for the extension of Thai visa on arrival for Indians:

• Physical copy of completely filled TM. 7 application form
• Copy of passport
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Application fee of 1,900 Thai Baht in cash

To apply for a visa extension, you must fill out the application and submit it in person at the Immigration Office in Bangkok. Here is the complete address:

How to Apply: 60-Day Single Entry Thai Visa for Indians

If you are travelling for over 15 days to Thailand, you can apply for the 60 day Tourist Visa (TR) Thailand from India beforehand. This visa will allow you entry for up to 60 days in Thailand. This is the visa I applied for and carried with me during my two-month backpacking trip across Thailand.

To apply for a Thai visa for Indians, you can choose to submit all required documents at a VFS Global Office, or at the Thai Consulate or Embassy, depending on where you live:

• The Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi
• The Royal Thai Consulate General, Chennai
• The Royal Thai Consulate General, Kolkata
• The Royal Thai Consulate General, Mumbai

If you do not live in any of the above mentioned cities, you can choose to apply for a Thai visa for Indians through a VFS Global office which is located in most tier one and tier two cities across India.

Please note: Applying for a 60 day tourist visa Thailand through the VFS Global office levies an extra service fee of 500 rupees.

Application Form

Depending on which city you live in India, your Thailand tourist visa application form and process will vary slightly (even when applying through VFS).

• For North India, download this application form for the visa and submit it at the Thailand Embassy in Delhi or a VFS Office near you.
• For South India, download this application form for the visa and submit it at the Thailand Embassy in Chennai or a VFS Office near you.
• For East India, you need to fill out the online form here.
• For West India, download this application form for the visa and submit it at the Thailand Embassy in Mumbai or a VFS Office near you.

You can also review these details from the VFS Global website yourself.

Documents Required

Here are all the documents you will need before submitting your application for a 60 day single entry Thailand tourist visa for Indians:

• Application form – Applicants are required to download, print and complete the Thai embassy visa application form. (Links mentioned above).
• Photograph – The applicant’s recent, coloured passport-sized photograph (4×6 cm) no older than 6 months must be attached to the application form
• Passport – Original passport with at least six months of validity (from the date of travel) and at least two blank pages (required for visa stamping during entry and exit).
• Proof of sufficient funds – Original bank passbook or copy of bank statement not older than six months, duly attested by the bank, showing a minimum balance equivalent to $700.
• Proof of stay – You will need a confirmed booking at any hotel for the entire duration of your visa. For this, I made an unpaid, cancellable booking through booking.com which I cancelled after my visa was approved.
• Proof of air travel – You will need a confirmed copy of your air ticket both to and from Thailand. The date of departure from Thailand must be within 60 days of the intended visit.
• Visa fees in cash – Currently, the cost of Thai visa for Indians is 2,500 INR + 500 INR servicing fee in case you are applying through VFS. Make sure you have this amount ready in cash.

Download the checklist of documents required for tourist visa applications here.

It usually takes up to 5 business days to process the 60-day single-entry Thai visa for Indians. You will receive a notification through SMS and email once your visa is ready and your passport can be collected from the Embassy/ Consulate/ VFS Global Office.

Passport retrieval timings: 08:00 to 12:00, 13:00 to 15:00 (Monday-Friday)

However, please note that sometimes processing time can vary depending on your city. For me, the Thailand visa processing time in Delhi took only 3 days through VFS. Whereas, for my friend the Thailand visa process from Bangalore took close to 10 days through VFS! Similarly, the Thai visa Mumbai processing time and other cities could also be different.

Extension

You can get a maximum of 7 days extension on your 60-day single entry Thai visa for Indians. The extension process of this is the same as the extension process for visa on arrival mentioned above. You must fill out the TM. 7 application form and submit it to the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok.

Frequently Asked Questions About Thai Visa for Indians

Can I get a 60-day visa for Thailand?

Yes, you can get a 60-day Thai visa for Indians. You will have to apply for this from the Thai embassy or the consulate or the VFS Global office.

How much does Thailand visa cost for Indian?

Cost of Thai visa on arrival is 2,000 Thai Baht, whereas cost of Thai visa 60-day single entry for Indians is 2,500 INR.

What do I need for a 60-day Thai visa?

The requirements for a 60-day Thai visa for Indians are as follows:

1. Passport with 6 months validity and at least 2 empty pages.
2. Completed and signed visa application form
3. Proof of travel booking
4. Proof of Accommodation
5. Financial evidence

Is Thailand tourist visa 30 or 60 days?

The Thailand Visa on Arrival is 15 days long for Indians, with a possibility to extended 7 extra days. The tourist visa, which has to be applied from India, before your arrival to Thailand is for 60 days. 

Is Thai visa free for Indians now?

No, Thailand is not visa free for Indians. You can get a visa on arrival for up to 15 days, or apply for a Tourist Visa for up to 60 days.

Can Indians get visa on arrival in Thailand?

Yes, there is a Thai visa on arrival for Indians which you can apply for at the airport in Thailand, after landing.

For more adventures and stories from Thailand and elsewhere, follow me on Instagram!