Thailand Spouse and Dependant Visa for Indians: Joining Family

This guide uses the Embassy's fee table, its Non-immigrant O checklist and its September 2026 e-Visa FAQ, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For tourist visits, the visa exemption and every other category, start with our Thailand visa hub for Indians.

Which Thai visa does a spouse or child need to join family?

Thailand's dependant category is the Non-immigrant O visa. VFS lists it as 'Category O (Family member/dependant)' in Kolkata and Chennai, and VFS Mumbai shows 'Dependent visa O' in 3-month and 1-year versions. The Embassy checklist is written for the spouse, parent or child of a person employed in Thailand.

A short holiday with family does not need this visa. Indian ordinary passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism and short-term business from 15 September 2026 until further announcement. A stay longer than that, or a move to live with a working spouse or parent, needs a visa before you fly.

Three related cases use different routes:

• Married to a Thai citizen: VFS lists a separate 'Category O (Married with Thai citizen)'. Its checklist is not covered here, so check the Embassy's Non-immigrant checklists before applying.
• Joining a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) holder: the spouse and dependent children of DTV holders are eligible for the DTV itself.
• Joining a Long-Term Resident (LTR) holder: the LTR scheme admits a spouse and children under 20, at most 4 dependants per holder.

What does the family member in Thailand have to provide?

Most of the O checklist comes from the person you are joining and their employer, not from you. The Embassy's Non-immigrant O checklist (25 Feb 2021) asks for:

• An invitation letter from the company or organisation employing your spouse, parent or child in Thailand.
• Copies of that person's work permit and passport. Their visa and work permit must be valid for at least 90 days.
• The employer's recent business certificate, issued within 6 months and in Thai.
• A BOI letter if the employer is promoted by Thailand's Board of Investment.

From your side, the checklist adds a passport valid for more than 6 months, the signed form, two colour photographs, a confirmed inbound ticket and your own six-month bank statement. Relationship proof is central: a marriage certificate for a spouse or a birth certificate for a child, in English, plus a letter confirming the relationship from the Indian Embassy or an Indian authority.

How much does the dependant visa cost?

New fees took effect at the Royal Thai Embassy and all Consulates-General in India on 27 April 2026. The Embassy's older checklists still show demand-draft fees, so follow the current table:

Visa fees are non-refundable in all circumstances, including when an e-Visa application is withdrawn. If you submit through VFS, its service charge is INR 500 per application.

How do you file the dependant e-Visa from India?

Since 1 January 2025, every Thai visa for applicants in India is applied for online at thaievisa.go.th. The Embassy's e-Visa FAQ sets out the sequence:

1. Create an account with email verification. One account can file up to 10 applications at a time, so one login can cover you and your children.
2. Choose the Non-immigrant O category and upload your passport bio page and a colour photo taken within the last 6 months (JPG/JPEG, up to 3 MB).
3. Upload the supporting documents above, plus proof of your current location in India, such as a house agreement, Aadhaar card or monthly electricity bill.
4. Pay the fee as your mission requires. 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.
5. Track the status by logging in. The granted e-Visa arrives by email; print it, because copies on phones are not accepted at check-in or by Thai immigration.

The Embassy quotes approximately 14 working days from the date it receives the fee payment. You must be physically present in India throughout the e-Visa process, and you apply to the mission covering where you live:

Can a dependant work in Thailand?

A dependant visa is for living with your family member. Thai rules state that foreigners are not allowed to work unless granted a Work Permit. If you plan to take a job, the employer-led route is the Non-immigrant B (Employment) visa, which needs its own invitation, contract and WP.3 or BOI approval.

Mistakes that delay a dependant application

• Expiring documents in Thailand. If your spouse's visa or work permit has less than 90 days left, the checklist condition is not met.
• Name errors on the e-Visa form. Enter your given name and surname exactly as in the passport and leave the middle-name field blank.
• Relationship papers only in a regional language. The checklist asks for certificates in English.
• Forgetting the arrival card. All passengers must complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card at tdac.immigration.go.th, submitted 3 days in advance of arrival.
• Choosing a closed centre. VFS put application acceptance at its Bengaluru centre on hold from 6 August 2026.

If your file needs supporting travel papers, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa applications. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp us on +91 95230 91018 or reach us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I travel to Thailand with my spouse without a dependant visa?

Yes, for short visits. Indian ordinary passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism and short-term business from 15 September 2026 until further announcement. Longer stays need a visa obtained before travel.

How long does the Thai e-Visa take for a dependant?

The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi states approximately 14 working days from the date it receives the visa fee payment. The clock starts at payment, not at submission.

Can I file the O visa for my children on my account?

Yes. One thaievisa.go.th account can file up to 10 applications at a time for you and your family, and it can be reused later. Each person still needs their own documents and fee.

Is there a Thai visa on arrival for Indian spouses?

No. Under the scheme effective 15 September 2026, Thailand's Visa on Arrival covers only Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. Indians use the 30-day exemption or apply for a visa in advance.