Thailand Visa from India 2026: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

So the first step for any Indian traveller is deciding whether you need a visa at all. If you do, the whole application runs online through Thailand's e-Visa system, which has been mandatory for applicants in India since 1 January 2025. The details below are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Our Thailand visa page for Indians keeps the headline rules in one place.

Do you need a Thailand visa at all in 2026?

Not for a short holiday. Under the scheme effective 15 September 2026, Indian ordinary passport holders may enter visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism and short-term business, until further announcement. An older Consulate-General Kolkata guideline from January 2025 described a 60-day exemption; the 30-day rule is the current one.

Visa on arrival is no longer an option for Indians. Thailand's 15-day visa on arrival now covers only Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.

Visa-free or not, every passenger must complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which foreigners must submit 3 days in advance of their arrival date. You need a visa if you will stay longer than 30 days or travel to study, work, retire or live in Thailand.

Which Thai visa matches your trip?

These fees apply at the Royal Thai Embassy and all Consulates-General in India from 27 April 2026. Visa fees are non-refundable in all circumstances, including when an e-Visa application is withdrawn.

If you use VFS Global to file for you, its service charge is INR 500 per application, including GST. Working in Thailand also requires a work permit; the Non-immigrant B visa alone is not enough.

Which Thai mission handles your state?

You apply to the mission covering where you are physically located, and you must stay in India throughout the e-Visa process. Proof of your current location, such as a house agreement, Aadhaar card or monthly electricity bill, is part of the file.

VFS Global put application acceptance at its Bengaluru Thailand centre on hold from 6 August 2026, until further notice.

Step by step: applying for a Thai e-Visa from India

1. Create an account at thaievisa.go.th and verify your email. One account can file up to 10 applications at a time for you and your family.
2. Check eligibility and choose the category and the mission that covers your location.
3. Upload your passport bio page and photo. The photo must be colour, 630 x 810 pixels, ICAO standard, with the face filling 80-85% on a plain white background, taken within the last 6 months, as a JPG or JPEG of up to 3 MB.
4. Enter your details exactly as in the passport. The Embassy's common-mistakes note says to type the given name and surname as printed and leave the middle-name field blank.
5. Upload the supporting documents listed in the next section.
6. Pay the fee the way your mission requires. The Embassy in New Delhi 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 payment slip and the Payment Info Summary. Consulates-General publish their own options; Kolkata requires payment within 14 days of submitting a complete application.
7. Track the status by logging in to your account.
8. Print the granted e-Visa, which arrives by email, and show the printout to the airline at check-in and to Thai immigration. Copies on phones are not accepted.

You can file yourself or through a processing company such as VFS Global, BLS International or DU Digital, or a travel agent. The Embassy is not responsible for incomplete applications filed by representatives.

What documents should you upload for a tourist visa?

• Passport valid for at least 6 months with two blank pages
• Signed application form and the relevant checklist
• Return travel ticket and a confirmed hotel reservation in your name, or an invitation letter with the host's ID if staying with family or friends
• Six months' bank statements; the Kolkata checklist asks for a minimum balance equivalent to USD 700 per person or USD 1400 per family, and Chennai wants the balance to reflect consistently for six months
• For a multiple-entry tourist visa at Kolkata: a six-month bank statement showing Rs. 400,000
• Evidence of employment and regular income, such as ITR, employment letter, payslips or business registration
• A typed personal covering letter (mandatory at Mumbai)
• Copy of any previous Thai visa and immigration stamp
• Proof of your current location in India

Travel insurance is not listed as mandatory on the Embassy and VFS pages. A clear day-by-day itinerary helps the officer see the purpose of a longer trip.

How long does it take, and what slows it down?

• Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi: approximately 14 working days from receipt of the fee payment, for all visa types.
• Consulate-General, Kolkata: approximately 14 working days from the date the fee receipt is issued.
• Chennai jurisdiction: minimum 3 to 5 working days from receipt by the Consulate-General.
• Mumbai jurisdiction (tourist): Mumbai minimum 05 working days; Pune and Goa minimum 07; Ahmedabad minimum 08.

Avoidable errors add time: a name entered differently from the passport, a photo outside the pixel specification, or a fee paid late. The Embassy and Consulates-General may also ask for more documents or an interview.

For the paperwork side, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Thailand in 2026?

No. Under the scheme effective 15 September 2026, Thailand's 15-day visa on arrival covers only Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. Indians instead get a 30-day visa exemption for tourism and short-term business, and need an e-Visa for anything longer.

Is the Thailand visa fee refundable if I withdraw my e-Visa application?

No. The Embassy's checklists state that visa fees are non-refundable in all circumstances, including when an e-Visa application is withdrawn.

What is the Destination Thailand Visa?

The DTV is a five-year multiple-entry visa allowing up to 180 days per entry, costing INR 30,000. It is meant for digital nomads, remote workers and freelancers, people joining activities such as Thai boxing or cooking classes, and their spouses and dependent children.

Do I still fill the TDAC if I have a Thai e-Visa?

Yes. All passengers must complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card, whether they enter visa-free or with a visa. Foreigners must submit it 3 days in advance of their arrival date.