Thailand Visa for Indians
India passport holders · Updated 2026-07-05
Yes — Indians need a visa for Thailand again. The 60-day visa-free entry that started in July 2024 was scrapped in the May 2026 immigration overhaul. You now have two routes: a visa on arrival at the airport (15 days, 2,000 THB cash) or the 60-day tourist e-visa applied for online before you fly. For anything longer than a two-week holiday, the e-visa is the one you want.
Indian travelers had almost two years of visa-free Thailand. That window closed when the Thai cabinet approved a sweeping revision of its entry rules on 19 May 2026, moving India to the short list of visa-on-arrival countries alongside Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.
The practical impact depends entirely on trip length. A one-week Phuket holiday works fine on the visa on arrival. A three-week trip, a workation, or a visit to family already living here does not — 15 days is a hard limit, and the VOA cannot be extended except in genuine emergencies like hospitalization.
Entry rules for Indians at a glance
| Entry rule | Visa on arrival |
|---|---|
| Stay on arrival | 15 days (VOA, 2,000 THB) |
| Longer trips | 60-day tourist e-visa (apply online before travel) |
| Passport validity | 6+ months on arrival |
| Arrival card | TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) — required for all arrivals since Feb 2026 |
| Last verified | 2026-07-05 |
Thailand visa options for Indians
| Visa | Best for | Stay | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist Visa (SETV / METV) | Trips of 2-9 months | 60 days per entry (+30 ext.) | Funds: 20,000 THB (SETV) / 200,000 THB bank (METV) |
| Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | Remote workers & digital nomads | 180 days per entry, 5-year visa | 500,000 THB funds + remote income proof |
| Retirement Visa | Age 50+ settling in Thailand | Up to 1 year, renewable | 800,000 THB bank or 65,000 THB/month income |
| Marriage Visa (Non-O) | Spouses of Thai nationals | 90 days → 1-year extensions | 400,000 THB bank or 40,000 THB/month income |
| Education Visa (ED) | Students & language learners | 90 days + extensions while enrolled | Enrollment at an approved Thai school |
| Non-Immigrant B (Work) | Employees of Thai companies | 90 days → 1-year extensions | Thai job offer + work permit |
| Long-Term Resident (LTR) | High earners, wealthy pensioners | 10 years, annual reporting only | USD 80,000/yr income (category-dependent) |
| Thailand Privilege (Elite) | Convenience seekers with budget | 1 year per entry, 5-20 year membership | 650,000-5,000,000 THB membership fee |
Visa on arrival for Indians: how it works now
The VOA counter is available at major international airports including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket and Chiang Mai. You pay 2,000 THB in Thai baht cash — card payments are not accepted at most counters, and the exchange desks near the VOA queue give poor rates, so bring baht from India or exchange a small amount before the counter.
Immigration officers can ask for proof of funds: 10,000 THB per person or 20,000 THB per family. The Indian embassy in Bangkok has explicitly advised travelers to carry this in cash after several Indians were refused entry. Also have your return ticket and hotel booking printed or downloadable — the officer decides on the spot, and slow hotel-app logins do not help your case.
- Passport valid 6+ months, one free page
- 2,000 THB fee, cash only
- One passport photo (4x6 cm)
- Confirmed return or onward flight within 15 days
- Accommodation proof for the full stay
- 10,000 THB per person / 20,000 THB per family in funds
- TDAC completed online before landing
The 60-day tourist e-visa: the better option for most trips
The tourist e-visa gives you 60 days per entry and is applied for entirely online at thaievisa.go.th — no embassy visit, no passport surrender. The fee is roughly 1,000 THB paid in rupees at the current rate, and processing typically takes 3 to 7 business days. Apply at least two weeks before departure to leave room for document queries.
You upload a passport scan, photo, accommodation booking, return flight and a recent bank statement. Applications get refused for blurry scans and statements that show a large deposit landing the day before — immigration wants to see a normal, stable balance. Once approved, the visa arrives as a PDF; carry a printed copy.
In Thailand, the e-visa stay can be extended once by 30 days at any immigration office for 1,900 THB, giving you up to 90 days total. That extension is routine and approved same-day at most offices.
Staying longer: DTV, work and family routes for Indians
Indian passport holders qualify for every Thai long-stay visa on the same terms as anyone else. The Destination Thailand Visa is the standout for remote workers: 5-year validity, 180 days per entry, and a 500,000 THB (about 13 lakh INR) funds requirement. Indian IT professionals working remotely for foreign clients are a large share of DTV approvals.
If you have a job offer from a Thai company, the Non-Immigrant B plus work permit is the route — your employer drives most of the paperwork. Spouses of Thai nationals use the Non-O marriage visa, and students at Thai universities or language schools use the ED visa. Each has its own page in the visa options below.
Flights, TDAC and the airport experience
Direct flights connect Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad with Bangkok, and several Indian cities with Phuket seasonally. That convenience cuts both ways: arrival halls at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang see heavy Indian traffic, and the VOA queue after a red-eye can easily add an hour versus walking straight to immigration with an e-visa.
Every traveler must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within 72 hours before arrival — it replaced the old paper TM6 form in February 2026 and airlines increasingly check it at check-in. It is free and takes about five minutes; do it when you check in for your flight and screenshot the QR confirmation.
Not sure which visa fits?
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Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Thailand?
Yes — since the May 2026 immigration overhaul, Indians need either a visa on arrival (15 days, 2,000 THB in cash at the airport) or, for longer trips, a 60-day tourist e-visa applied for online before departure. The e-visa is the safer and better-value route for most travellers.
How long can Indians stay in Thailand?
On a visa on arrival: 15 days, not extendable except in emergencies. On the 60-day tourist e-visa: 60 days, extendable once by 30 days (1,900 THB) for 90 days total. Long-stay visas like the DTV allow 180 days per entry across a 5-year validity.
What is special about the rules for Indians?
India lost its 60-day visa-free entry in the May 2026 immigration overhaul and moved to visa on arrival (15 days, 2,000 THB). The 60-day tourist e-visa is the reliable route for longer trips.
What is the TDAC and do I need it?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card replaced the paper TM6 form in February 2026. Every traveller must complete it online (tdac.immigration.go.th) within 3 days before arrival — it is free and takes a few minutes. Airlines increasingly check it at the gate.
Can Indians still enter Thailand without any visa?
No. The 60-day visa-free entry for Indian passport holders ended with the May 2026 immigration overhaul. Indians now need either a visa on arrival (15 days) or a visa obtained before travel, such as the 60-day tourist e-visa. Anyone telling you otherwise is working from outdated 2024–2025 information.
Can the 15-day visa on arrival be extended?
Effectively no. Immigration offices only extend a VOA in documented emergencies such as hospitalization or a cancelled flight. If there is any chance your trip runs past two weeks, apply for the 60-day e-visa instead — the 1,900 THB in-country extension then gives you up to 90 days.
How much does a Thailand trip visa cost for Indians in total?
Visa on arrival: 2,000 THB (about 5,000 INR) flat, cash. Tourist e-visa: roughly 1,000 THB (about 2,500 INR) paid online, plus 1,900 THB later only if you extend in Thailand. The e-visa costs half as much as the VOA and gives four times the stay.
Is the visa on arrival guaranteed for Indians?
No visa on arrival is guaranteed — the immigration officer has final discretion. Refusals happen over missing funds proof, no return ticket, or previous overstays. An approved e-visa in your passport dramatically lowers the chance of problems at the desk, which is another reason frequent travelers prefer it.
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Rules for other nationalities
Last verified 2026-07-05. Immigration rules change — we update these pages as official announcements land, and our Thailand visa news tracks changes daily. This page is general information, not legal advice.