Your complete guide to a Thailand visa for Indians
With just a short flight from India, Thailand is one of the popular destinations for Indians. Here’s a quick guide to what Indians should know about getting a visa for Thailand.
Do Indians need a visa for Thailand?
Yes. Indians need a visa to visit Thailand. Thailand offers a visa on arrival for Indian citizens online if the visit is for tourism and does not exceed 2 weeks.
But if you’re looking to stay in Thailand longer than 2 weeks, or you're going for business or other non-tourist reasons, Indian passport holders must apply for a Thailand visa through VFS Global, the official partner of the Thai Embassy in India.¹
Types of Thai Visas
Thailand offers various types of visas for Indians. They include visas for long-term stay, tourist, and transit visas. Here are the most common visas:²
Thailand tourist visa for Indians
The Thailand tourist visa is for tourists and those entering the country for medical treatment. The tourist visa can be for a single entry into the country, or you can pay more for multiple entries.³
Tourists visiting Thailand for 15 days or less can opt for a Visa on Arrival. Otherwise, you must apply for a regular tourist visa by submitting an application in person which lets you stay in Thailand for up to 60 days per stay.
Thailand work visa for Indians
The Work Visa is a long-term non-immigrant visa for Indian citizens employed in Thailand. The different categories of Thailand work visas include:⁴
- Category B - Employment
- Category F - Working with Special Agency
- Category IB - Working with a company under BOI
- Category O - Working with NGO or public charity organization
The Category B visa is also for Indian passport holders who are going to Thailand for business, having a business meeting, or training.
The Work visa can be issued as a single entry visa or for multiple entries, depending on the work contract and need. Check out the later section about what documents you will need for a Thailand work visa.
Thailand visa on arrival for Indians
Thailand offers visa on arrival to Indian citizens arriving at the following airports in Thailand.⁵
- Suvarnabhumi International Airport
- Don Mueang International Airport
- Chiang Mai International Airport
- Phuket International Airport
Visa on arrival is only for Indian passport holders that are staying in Thailand for 15 days or less. You can either apply for the e-visa on arrival before you leave for Thailand or get the visa at the designated immigration desk once you arrive. Getting the visa beforehand online can help you avoid long lines and make the immigration process at the airport faster.⁵
Do Indians need a transit visa for Thailand?
Yes. Indians need a transit visa for Thailand for layovers that are more than 12 hours long. This visa is issued to Indian citizens who travel in transit through Thailand en route to another country or to re-enter India when traveling from other countries.
If your layover is shorter than 12 hours and you are not leaving the airport, you do not need a transit visa. If you require a transit visa, you need to apply through the visa processing partner, VFS Global, a minimum of 15 working days before you travel to Thailand.⁶
How much does a Thailand visa cost for Indians?
The visa on arrival for Indian passport holders can be completed online before your trip or at the Thai airport. The cost is 2,500 Thai Baht, and you need to be able to pay by card if applying online. The visa fee can otherwise be paid in person at the airport. A regular e-visa on arrival can be issued in 72 hours. If you want an e-visa on arrival quickly, you can pay THB 4,500 for an express service that can issue a visa in 24 hours.
All other visas, including tourist visas for stays longer than two weeks, can be paid for in Indian rupees through VFS Global.
| Type of visa | Type of Entry | Cost in Indian Rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Visa | Single Entry | INR 2,500 |
| Tourist Visa | Multiple Entry | INR 12,000 |
| Medical Treatment Visa | Single Entry | INR 2,500 |
| Work Visa | Single Entry | INR 5,000 |
| Work Visa | Multiple Entry | INR 12,000 |
| Transit Visa | Per Entry | INR 1,900 |
Visa fees verified on 4 June 2023.
Applicants from Delhi, Chandigarh, and Jalandhar have to pay an additional service charge of INR 500 on top of the fees listed above.
Thailand visa requirements for Indian citizens
Here are the general documents required for a Thai visa.¹¹
- Valid Passport with at least 1 page available, valid for at least 30 days after your stay in Thailand.
- Hotel reservations: You must present a confirmation letter or receipt in color from the hotel or accommodations in Thailand (not a travel agency), and the check-in and out dates must match your travel dates.
- Flight tickets: You must show your flight tickets with the matching name on your application.
- Bank Statement: The statement must be from an active bank account with at least one transaction within the last seven days. You must show a minimum bank balance of 10,000 THB per person or 20,000 THB per family.
- Photographs - Two color photographs (3.5 x 4.5 cm) in the specific format. The photo size for the e-visa on arrival is 4 x 6 cm.
For an e-visa on arrival, you will need to make sure all the documents and copies of your passport are in formats to upload to the online application.
How to apply for a Thailand visa from India
A visa on arrival requires that you either apply online on the Thailand e-visa website a few days before your trip or that you apply in person at one of the airports when you arrive.
If you are applying for a longer tourist visa or a business or work visa, the application process is through VFS Global. This process requires you to download and complete an application and then submit it in person at the respective visa application center. You can choose from any of the four centers depending on where you live in India.
- The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi
- The Royal Thai Consulate General Chennai
- The Royal Thai Consulate General Kolkata
- The Royal Thai Consulate General Mumbai
Here is how to apply for a Thailand visa with VFS Global.⁹
- Head to the VFS Global website for Thailand in India.
- Click on the link for the Thai embassy or consulate for your region in India.
- Choose your type of visa and check your eligibility. Review the documents you need, the fees, and other information for the application process.
- Download the visa application form. Complete it and take a printout.
- You can visit the visa application center in your city and submit the completed application form and the required documents.
- You can pay the visa application fee at the visa application center by cash or credit or debit card.
- Receive your payment receipt.
You can track your application online using your details or the reference number of your application. Once the visa decision is made, you can visit the visa application center to collect your passport with the visa enclosed.
How long does it take to get a Thai visa?
For an e-visa on Arrival, the visa can take 24 to 72 hours to be processed. Express e-Visa on Arrival is available for visas to be issued within 24 hours. If you apply for a Visa on arrival at the Thai airport, the officials can issue you a visa in-person immediately after going through your paperwork.
The processing time for a regular Thailand Visa for Indians is 4 to 6 working days from the complete application submission at the visa application center.¹²
How long is a Thailand visa valid?
Thailand Visa validity depends on the individual category of visa.¹³
| Type of visa | Validity of the visa | Validity from stay |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Visa - Single Entry | 3 months | Stay not more than 60 days |
| Tourist Visa - Multiple Entry | 6 months | Stay not more than 60 days |
| Work Visa - Single Entry or employment | 3 months | Stay not more than 90 days unless the Immigration Bureau instructs otherwise |
| Work Visa - Multiple Entry | 6 months or 1 year | Stay not more than 90 days unless the Immigration Bureau instructs otherwise |
| Visa on Arrival | 15 days | Stay not more than 15 days |
| Transit Visa | 3 months | Stay not more than 30 days |
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Sources used for this article:
- Thailand Visa for Indians - VFS Global official website
- Thailand Visa for Indians - Different types of visas
- Thailand Visa for Indians - Tourist Visa
- Thailand Visa for Indians - Work Visa
- Thailand Visa for Indians - E-Visa on Arrival
- Thailand Visa for Indians - Transit Visa
- Thailand Visa for Indians - Visa Fees
- Thailand Visa for Indians - General Requirements
- Thailand Visa for Indians - Visa Application
- Thailand Visa for Indians - E-VOA application
- Thailand Visa for Indians - General documents
- Thailand Visa for Indians - Processing Time
- Thailand Visa for Indians - Validity
Sources verified on 4 June 2023.
Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash
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