Thailand SMART Visa for Indian Professionals and Founders

This guide is for Indian specialists, senior professionals, investors and startup founders weighing a longer Thai stay. Facts are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15, mainly the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi, its September 2026 e-Visa FAQ and the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). For every other Thai visa type, start with our Thailand visa hub for Indian passport holders.

What is the SMART Visa, and which sub-type fits you?

The Embassy's e-Visa catalogue places the SMART Visa in its "Other" group, next to the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), the Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa and the Privilege Entry Visa. It is split into five lettered sub-types:

• T – talent: highly skilled specialists.
• I – investors.
• E – senior executives.
• S – startup founders.
• O – the spouse and children of a SMART holder.

Each sub-type has its own qualifying conditions, such as minimum salary, investment or business endorsement. Our verified dataset does not include those thresholds, so we do not quote them here. Before you pay, confirm the current criteria for your sub-type with the Royal Thai Embassy's visa page, because e-Visa fees are non-refundable in all circumstances.

How much does the SMART Visa cost in rupees?

The Embassy charges by the year of validity. The rate is INR 30,000 for each year:

If you file through VFS Global instead of on your own, VFS adds a service charge of INR 500 per application. The Embassy's e-Visa FAQ allows you to apply yourself or through a processing company, travel agent or other representative, but the Embassy is not responsible for incomplete applications filed by representatives.

How do you apply from India, step by step?

Since 1 January 2025, every Thai visa for applicants in India is applied for online. The Embassy's September 2026 FAQ sets out the process:

1. Create an account at thaievisa.go.th and verify your email. One account can file up to 10 applications at a time, so you can include your spouse and children under the O sub-type.
2. Choose the category and check eligibility for your SMART sub-type.
3. Upload your passport bio page and a colour photo taken within the last 6 months, JPG/JPEG up to 3 MB. The Embassy's "common mistakes" note asks for 630 x 810 pixels, ICAO standard, with the face filling 80-85% of the photo on plain white.
4. Enter your details exactly as in your passport. Leave the middle-name field blank.
5. Upload proof of current location in India, such as a house agreement, Aadhaar card or monthly electricity bill, plus your supporting documents.
6. Pay offline. The Embassy accepts no cash: pay by bank transfer or UPI to its DBS Bank account, or by cash deposit at a DBS branch, then email the slip and the Payment Info Summary to thaievisa.del@gmail.com. Consulates-General publish their own payment options.
7. Track and print. Check status by logging in. The granted e-Visa arrives by email; print it and show it to the airline and to Thai immigration, because copies on phones are not accepted.

Thai visas are issued only to applicants who stay physically present in India throughout the e-Visa process, so do not plan a scouting trip abroad while your file is open.

Which Thai mission handles your application?

You apply to the mission that covers where you are located in India:

A Bengaluru founder therefore files with the Consulate-General in Chennai. Note that VFS Global put application acceptance at its Bengaluru centre on hold from 6 August 2026.

SMART, LTR, DTV or Non-B: which route suits a professional or founder?

Several Thai routes overlap for Indians moving work or capital to Thailand. The Embassy and BOI publish these figures for the alternatives:

• Long-Term Resident (LTR): a 10-year visa costing INR 140,000 at the Embassy. The Work-from-Thailand Professionals and Highly-Skilled Professionals groups need average personal income of USD 80,000 a year over two years (USD 40,000-80,000 with a qualifying master's degree). BOI gives a qualification result within 20 working days of complete documents.
• Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): five years, multiple entry, 180 days per entry, INR 30,000. It targets digital nomads, remote workers and freelancers working for clients abroad.
• Non-immigrant B: for business or employment, INR 7,000 single entry, INR 13,500 for one-year multiple entry or INR 30,000 for three years. Employment needs a Thai employer qualified to hire foreigners and a WP.3 or BOI approval letter.

Whichever visa you hold, Thai rules say foreigners may not work unless granted a work permit. The 30-day visa exemption for Indian ordinary passport holders, in force from 15 September 2026, covers tourism and short business engagements only, which is useful for meetings before you commit to a long-stay route.

How long does it take, and when should you apply?

The Embassy states approximately 14 working days from the date it receives your visa fee payment, for every e-Visa type. The clock starts at payment, not at upload, so pay promptly; the Consulate-General in Kolkata asks for the fee within 14 days of a complete application. Add the 14 working days to your planned start date, then allow for the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, which must be submitted 3 days before arrival.

Mistakes that cost SMART applicants money

• Paying before confirming you meet your sub-type's criteria; fees are not refunded, even if you withdraw.
• Filing with the wrong mission for your state.
• A photo that misses the 630 x 810 pixel ICAO format.
• Showing the e-Visa on a phone at check-in instead of a printout.
• Leaving India while the application is still being processed.

If you are travelling to Thailand for meetings or investor visits first, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, priced from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the complete set. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or send us a message.

Frequently asked questions

Can my spouse and children join me on a Thailand SMART Visa?

Yes, the Embassy's SMART category includes an O sub-type for family members. One thaievisa.go.th account can file up to 10 applications at a time, so you can lodge their applications alongside yours. The Embassy fee table lists a single SMART Visa rate of INR 30,000 per year of validity.

Does a SMART Visa let me work in Thailand straight away?

Check the conditions of your sub-type with the Embassy before you start work. Thailand's general rule, repeated on the Digital Arrival Card notice, is that foreigners may not work unless granted a work permit.

Can I apply for a SMART Visa while on a visa-free trip to Thailand?

Not from India's e-Visa system. The Embassy issues Thai visas only to applicants who remain physically present in India throughout the e-Visa process, and you apply to the mission covering your location in India.

Is the SMART Visa fee refundable if I am refused?

No. The Embassy's checklists state that visa fees are non-refundable in all circumstances, including when an e-Visa application is withdrawn. Confirm your eligibility before paying INR 30,000 or more.