Thailand Visa Tips for the Indian Traveller

Thailand, the Indian traveller’s favourite first international getaway, requires just as much effort as travelling to another city in India. We’ve all been eyeing Thailand since forever, and the Visa on Arrival just makes it so much simpler to get to. If you want to add fuel to plans of partying nice, and relaxing at some of the world’s most picturesque beaches, this detailed Visa Guide to Thailand is going to make you want to book your tickets immediately!

There are two kinds of Visa if you are travelling to Thailand. The more recent one being the far more convenient, Visa on Arrival. Read on to find out about both kinds of visas.

The Procedure for Visa on Arrival in Thailand

Indian passport holders who are visiting Thailand for Tourism and plan to stay no more than 15 days in the country can avail the Visa on Arrival service from and of the 32 designated channels of Immigration checkpoints including Phuket International Airport. Depending on the passenger traffic, the process can take anywhere between 10 minutes to an hour.

The Visa on Arrival service is available 24 hours at each of these international airports in Thailand:

Phuket International Airport

Don Muang Airport, Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi International Airport

Samui Airport, Surat Thani

Chiangmai International Airport

Hatyai International Airport, Songkla

Note: If you enter Thailand by land via Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia without a prior visa, you shall be granted a Visa for only 15 days. 

Indian passport holders will require the following documents to avail the Visa on Arrival service: 

•    Airline Boarding Pass

•    A passport that is valid for at least 6 months following your departure date with at least 2 remaining unused pages for any necessary entry and exit stamps that may be issued

•    A completed visa application form available at Immigration checkpoints in Thailand

•    One recent photograph of 4 x 6 centimetres headshot not older than 6 months

•    A confirmed airline ticket showing the departure from Thailand within 15 days of the date of entry. Land exit from Thailand will disqualify you for Visa on Arrival.

•    A completed Arrival-Departure card, which the airline staff will distribute before landing in Thailand

•    The travellers will need to carry 20,000 TBH or 500 USD in cash per person as a proof of means of living in Thailand.

•    Visa on Arrival application fee of 2,000 Baht*

Apply For Visa before You Travel

If you’re in Thailand for longer than the 30 days that Visa on Arrival allows, you can also pre-emptively apply for Visa to the Royal Thai Embassy.
You can get a regular Visa from the Royal Thai Consulate General which is in three cities – New Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. Your passport will come back to you in 3 working days after your application is fully complete.* 

The main documents and details required for the long-form Visa are as follows:

1.    Passport (with 10-year validity) which remains valid for 6 months from the date of departure. Please note that the passport booklet should have a minimum of 2 blank pages for official use.

2.    Three Passport size photographs (of 35 X 45 mm with white Background on matte finish paper & 80% face area). Please make sure your teeth are not visible. If you wear eyeglasses, please wear transparent/white lenses while getting the picture clicked. Embassies usually reject photographs of subjects wearing coloured lenses.

3.    Cover letter from the ‘main applicant’ or the person incurring journey expenses explaining the reason for travel.

4.    Visa application form, duly filled and signed by the passenger(s).

5.    If you’re a businessman, a cover letter on a business letterhead of your company stating your position and length of service. 

6.    Last 3 months’ personal bank statements in original on banks’ stationary. The account balance should be INR 40,000/- per person, and the bank Statement should be stamped by the bank.

7.    Air tickets and hotel vouchers.

Please note that an NOC letter from the person bearing your expense and his national ID proof will also be required. 

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Read more: Countries offering Visa on Arrival to Indians

*Please check the list of to-be-submitted documents with the checklist provided to you by the visa agency before applying for the visa. Also, please check the official websites of visa information for any changes in the rules and fees. 

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