Thailand visa & passport guide
Everything Indian passport holders need to visit Thailand — visa type, fees, processing time, documents, and the step-by-step application process.
Thailand Visa for Indian Passport Holders
Indian passport holders currently do not need a visa for tourism in Thailand. Under Thailand's visa exemption scheme (in force since July 2024 and periodically reviewed), Indians can enter for up to 60 days per visit, with a possible 30-day extension at a local immigration office. You must, however, fill the free online Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 3 days before arrival, and be ready to show a return ticket, hotel booking and proof of funds at immigration.
Visa Type
Visa-free (visa exemption, 60 days per entry) for tourism. A 60-day e-Visa via the official Thai e-Visa portal is available if you prefer a pre-approved visa, and a Non-Immigrant or long-stay visa must be taken from the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate for anything beyond tourism.
Visa Fee
Free under the visa exemption scheme. Only cost is the optional 30-day extension of stay at a Thai immigration office, typically THB 1,900 (roughly Rs 5,000). The TDAC arrival card is free. If you instead apply for a tourist e-Visa, the fee is usually in the Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 range.
Processing Time
No advance visa processing. Entry stamp is given on arrival at immigration. TDAC is submitted online within 72 hours before arrival and confirmation is instant. Tourist e-Visa, if applied for, usually takes about 5 to 10 working days.
Stay Duration
60 days per visit under visa exemption, extendable once by 30 days at a Thai immigration office. Frequent back-to-back land border entries are scrutinised.
Passport Validity
At least 6 months valid from the date of arrival, with a minimum of 2 blank pages for stamps. Handwritten or damaged passports are not accepted.
Documents Required
- Original Indian passport valid 6 months beyond arrival, with 2 blank pages
- TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) confirmation, submitted online within 3 days before arrival
- Confirmed return or onward air ticket departing within 60 days
- Hotel booking confirmation or host address for the full stay
- Proof of funds: cash or forex card equivalent to THB 10,000 per person or THB 20,000 per family (roughly Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000). Immigration can ask to see this
- Day-wise itinerary if you are travelling on a tour package
- Travel insurance (not compulsory for tourists but strongly advised)
- For children: birth certificate and parental consent letter if travelling with one parent
How to Apply
- 1Book your return flight and at least the first few nights of accommodation, since immigration checks both.
- 2Within 72 hours of your arrival, fill the TDAC on the official Thai immigration portal (tdac.immigration.go.th) and save or print the QR confirmation.
- 3Carry THB 10,000 per person in cash or a loaded forex card. Buy Thai Baht in India or exchange at Superrich/SIA counters in Bangkok rather than at airport arrival kiosks.
- 4At Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket or Krabi airport, join the immigration queue, present passport, TDAC QR, return ticket and hotel booking, and give fingerprints and a photo.
- 5Collect your 60-day exemption stamp and check the date written on it before leaving the counter.
- 6If you want to stay longer, visit an immigration office such as Chaeng Wattana in Bangkok before the stamp expires, with a photo, TM.7 form and THB 1,900.
Good to Know
- The 60-day exemption is a policy that Thailand reviews from time to time. Check the Royal Thai Embassy New Delhi website about two weeks before travel to confirm it is still in force for your travel dates.
- Visa exemption is for tourism only. Any paid work, including remote work quoted as such at immigration, needs a different visa.
- Airlines at Indian airports frequently deny boarding without a confirmed onward ticket. A one-way ticket to Bangkok is a common reason Indians get offloaded.
- Proof of funds checks are real, especially at Don Mueang and for young solo male travellers. Keep cash visible and separate, not just a bank statement on your phone.
- Do not overstay. The fine is THB 500 per day up to THB 20,000, paid at the airport, and it goes on your record.
- Carry a printed hotel voucher. Immigration officers often ask for a physical copy when the network is slow.
- E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal in Thailand and are confiscated at the airport, with fines. Leave them at home.
- Skip the touts offering 'visa help' at the airport. There is nothing to pay for entry.
- Best months for weather are November to February. April is peak heat, 35 to 40 degrees in Bangkok, though Songkran mid-April is worth planning around. May to October is the rainy off-season with cheaper packages.
- If you plan island hopping in Krabi or Koh Samui, keep buffer days. Domestic transfers and ferries get cancelled during heavy monsoon spells.
Visa rules and fees change — verify with the official embassy or immigration website before booking travel.
