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Thailand visa guide

Thailand Visitor / Tourist Visa

Thailand for Indians: visa-free entry for tourism of up to 30 days since 15 September 2026, with the Tourist (TR) e-Visa for longer stays.

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Visa-free entry needs no processing; just file the TDAC 3 days ahead
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Thailand Visitor / Tourist Visa — overview

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Indian passport holders do not need a visa for a holiday in Thailand of up to 30 days. Under Thailand's visa exemption scheme, in force for Indians from 15 September 2026, you fly in with your passport, a ticket out, your hotel booking and cash of THB 20,000 per person, after filling in the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online.

For a stay longer than 30 days, or a purpose the exemption does not cover, apply online for the Tourist (TR) e-Visa at thaievisa.go.th. It allows 60 days per entry and costs ₹3,000 for a single entry (checked 14 Oct 2026). There is no embassy visit.

Do Indians need a visa for Thailand, and which one?

No, not for a holiday of up to 30 days. Indian ordinary passport holders can enter Thailand without a visa for tourism and short-term business engagements, under Thailand's 30-day visa exemption scheme. The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi says it took effect on 15 September 2026 and stays in force until further announcement. It replaced the longer 60-day exemption that applied before.

There is nothing to apply for and no visa fee. What you do need before flying is the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which every passenger must complete online. At the airport, the immigration officer decides whether to admit you. Thailand's embassies say a stay under the exemption can be extended by up to 30 more days, at the immigration officer's discretion.

Thailand for Indian tourists at a glance

Holiday up to 30 daysVisa exemption from 15 Sep 2026
No visa needed
Extension in ThailandAt the immigration officer's discretion
Up to 30 more days
Before you flyFree; submit 3 days ahead
Thailand Digital Arrival Card
Cash to carryTHB 40,000 per family
THB 20,000 per person
Longer holiday₹3,000 single entry, checked 14 Oct 2026
Tourist (TR) e-Visa, 60 days per entry
Where a visa is applied forFully online; no embassy visit
thaievisa.go.th

Royal Thai Embassy New Delhi, Thai e-Visa (MFA) and TDAC (Immigration Bureau), checked 14 Oct 2026

You need a visa only when the trip goes beyond the exemption: a stay of more than 30 days, or a purpose it does not cover. For a longer holiday, the visa is the Tourist (TR) e-Visa, which allows 60 days per entry. Work of any kind needs a work permit; the TDAC terms say plainly that foreigners may not work unless granted one.

Where do applicants from Punjab apply?

For a visa-free holiday, nowhere. Your only form is the TDAC, on the Immigration Bureau's site, tdac.immigration.go.th. Its own title reads "Official Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) – No Fees Required", so any site that charges you for it is not the official one. Submit it 3 days before you arrive. Every passenger needs one, children included.

If you need a TR visa, you apply online on the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs' e-Visa site, thaievisa.go.th. The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi says that since the e-Visa system came into effect on 1 January 2025, all applicants must apply through that website. You do not visit the embassy or hand over your passport. The steps:

  1. Create an account.
  2. Fill in the application form.
  3. Upload the supporting documents.
  4. Pay the visa fee.
  5. Wait for the visa to be processed.
  6. Receive the e-Visa confirmation by email, print it and show it to the airline and to Thai immigration.

You can apply only while you are outside Thailand, so a visa cannot be arranged once you are there.

Which documents depend on your situation?

For visa-free entry, nothing is submitted in advance, but the officer at the desk can ask to see it. Carry it in your hand luggage. For a TR e-Visa, you upload the documents listed on the e-Visa site.

  • Visa-free holiday, up to 30 days

    What to carry or upload
    Passport, TDAC confirmation, return or onward ticket within your 30 days, hotel bookings, and cash or its equivalent of THB 20,000 per person (THB 40,000 per family)

  • Holiday longer than 30 days (TR e-Visa)

    What to carry or upload
    Passport biodata page, photo taken within six months, travel booking confirmation, proof of accommodation, and financial evidence of at least THB 20,000, such as bank statements for the last three months or a sponsorship letter

  • Visiting family living in Thailand, under 60 days (TR)

    What to carry or upload
    Personal details of the family member in Thailand: ID card, or passport with the visa page or stay permit

  • Medical treatment, under 60 days

    What to carry or upload
    A letter of appointment from the hospital or medical centre

  • Training course such as diving, Thai boxing, Thai massage or cooking (TR)

    What to carry or upload
    A letter of acceptance from the institute or company running it

  • A trip paid for by a parent or relative

    What to carry or upload
    A sponsorship letter from the person paying, alongside their bank statements

The e-Visa site also asks for a document showing where you are when you apply, such as a valid visa or proof of paid airline tickets or accommodation, and tells applicants to check the embassy's website for any extra documents it requires.

How much is the Thailand visa fee for Indians?

For a visa-free holiday there is no fee, and the TDAC is free. If you need a visa, the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi lists the Tourist (TR) visa at ₹3,000 for a single entry valid 3 months, and ₹13,500 for a multiple-entry visa valid 6 months, each allowing 60 days per entry (checked on 14 October 2026). The e-Visa site says visa fees are not refunded. Extending a stay inside Thailand carries an immigration fee of THB 1,900, paid at an immigration office. Our filing fee is shown at the top of this page.

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

Visa-free entry takes no processing at all. Complete the TDAC in the 3 days before you arrive, and that is the only deadline.

For a TR e-Visa, apply well ahead. The e-Visa site sets no fixed processing time, and the embassy may ask for an interview or more documents before it decides; in practice a decision usually takes from a few days to about two weeks. Apply at least three weeks before you fly, from India, and keep flight bookings changeable until the confirmation email arrives.

Two dates matter if you are planning around the rule change. Trips that start on or after 15 September 2026 get the 30-day exemption, not 60. If your holiday is longer than 30 days and you do not want to rely on an extension, get the TR e-Visa before you leave.

Why do Thailand visas get refused for Indian applicants?

For most Indians the real risk is not a visa refusal but being turned back at check-in or at the immigration desk. These are the documented causes.

No ticket out within 30 days

The exemption allows 30 days. A one-way ticket, or a return dated after day 30, leaves nothing to show that you will leave on time. Airlines check this at check-in in India, because they are penalised for carrying a passenger who is refused entry. Buy the return or onward leg first.

No money to show

Thai embassies state that travellers under the visa exemption scheme must have cash, or its equivalent, of THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family. Carry cards plus some cash, and be ready to show it.

Skipping the TDAC

The arrival card is compulsory for all passengers and must be submitted 3 days ahead. It is free and takes minutes, so there is no reason to be held up for it at the airport.

A purpose the exemption does not cover

The exemption is for tourism and short business engagements. Work needs a work permit, and a stay beyond 30 days needs a visa or an approved extension. Saying you have come to work, or carrying papers that suggest it, invites a refusal.

An e-Visa file without proof

On the TR e-Visa, the site asks for financial evidence of at least THB 20,000, accommodation proof and travel bookings, and says submitting an application does not mean a visa will be granted. Upload complete, readable documents the first time; the fee is not refunded.

Overstaying is the costly mistake. Thailand fines overstayers for each day and, past certain limits, bans re-entry for years, and that record can surface when other countries ask about past refusals or removals.

Tips for a stronger file

  • Book the return first. Your ticket out should fall within 30 days of arrival unless you hold a visa.
  • Use only official sites. TDAC at tdac.immigration.go.th and visas at thaievisa.go.th. Both are government sites; the TDAC is free.
  • Carry the cash rule, not just cards. THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family, in cash or its equivalent.
  • Print your first hotel booking. Officers may ask where you are staying; an address and phone number on paper settles it quickly.
  • Check the passport. Keep at least 6 months of validity and two blank pages.
  • Know the 90-day rule. The TDAC terms say a foreigner staying longer than 90 days must report their place of stay to immigration every 90 days. It only matters on a long-stay visa, but it is the law.
  • Plan the extension, if you need one. Apply at an immigration office before your 30 days run out. It is granted at the officer's discretion, so do not book flights that depend on it.

What changed for Indians on 15 September 2026?

The visa-free stay was cut from 60 days to 30. India's Ministry of External Affairs had listed Thailand as visa-free for Indians for 60 days, and the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi announced the 30-day scheme for Indian passport holders from 15 September 2026, as part of a revision of Thailand's visa exemption and visa on arrival schemes. Thai embassies describe the new scheme as 30 days, extendable by up to 30 more days at the officer's discretion.

So a two-week holiday is unaffected. A month-long family visit now needs either a planned extension or the TR e-Visa. For background on the rules and common mix-ups, read our Thailand visa explainer for Indians, and see the Thailand country page for other trip types.

Official sources

Documents you need

8 items

  • Passport

    Valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, with at least 2 blank pages.

  • Thailand Digital Arrival Card

    Completed free at tdac.immigration.go.th, 3 days before arrival, by every passenger, visa-free travellers included.

  • Return or onward ticket

    A confirmed flight out of Thailand within your permitted 30 days. Airlines check it at check-in.

  • Cash or equivalent

    THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family, as Thai embassies state for the visa exemption scheme.

  • Accommodation

    Hotel bookings for your stay, or your host's address and details for a family visit.

  • Clear purpose

    Tourism or a short business engagement. Work needs a work permit, and longer stays need a visa.

  • TR e-Visa documents, for longer stays

    Passport biodata page, photo taken within six months, travel booking, proof of accommodation and financial evidence of at least THB 20,000.

  • Proof of current location, for the e-Visa

    A document showing where you are when applying, such as a valid visa or proof of paid tickets or accommodation.

How the process works

6 steps

Typical processing: Visa-free entry needs no processing; just file the TDAC 3 days ahead. A TR e-Visa usually takes a few days to about two weeks

  1. Step 1

    Check whether you need a visa

    A holiday or short business trip of up to 30 days needs no visa for Indian ordinary passport holders since 15 September 2026.

  2. Step 2

    Book the ticket out first

    Buy a return or onward flight within 30 days of arrival, then the outbound, and book your hotels.

  3. Step 3

    Apply for the TR e-Visa only if needed

    For a longer stay, apply at thaievisa.go.th while still outside Thailand, and print the confirmation email.

  4. Step 4

    Fill in the TDAC

    Complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online, 3 days before you arrive.

  5. Step 5

    Pack the proof

    Carry the ticket, hotel booking, TDAC confirmation and cash or equivalent of THB 20,000 per person.

  6. Step 6

    Enter, and leave on time

    The immigration officer admits you. Extend at an immigration office before your stay ends if you need more time.

Costs & fees

Transparent

Item

Amount

Visa-free tourist entry (up to 30 days)

For Indian ordinary passport holders since 15 September 2026.

No fee

Thailand Digital Arrival Card

Submit only on tdac.immigration.go.th.

Free

Tourist (TR) e-Visa, single entry

Valid 3 months, 60 days per entry. Non-refundable.

₹3,000 (checked 14 Oct 2026)

Tourist (TR) e-Visa, multiple entry

Valid 6 months, 60 days per entry. Non-refundable.

₹13,500 (checked 14 Oct 2026)

Extension of stay in Thailand

Paid at a Thai immigration office; granted at the officer's discretion.

THB 1,900

Government and third-party fees change often — we confirm the exact current amounts for your case before you pay anything.

Official sourcesLast verified

Frequently asked questions

12 answers

  • Not for a holiday of up to 30 days. Indian ordinary passport holders can enter visa-free for tourism and short-term business engagements under Thailand's 30-day visa exemption scheme, which the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi says took effect on 15 September 2026. You still must fill in the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card before arrival. A stay longer than 30 days needs a visa or an approved extension.

  • No. India's Ministry of External Affairs had listed Thailand as visa-free for Indians for 60 days, but the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi announced that the 30-day visa exemption scheme for Indian passport holders took effect on 15 September 2026. Thai embassies say the 30 days can be extended by up to another 30 days at the immigration officer's discretion.

  • THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family, in cash or its equivalent. Thai embassies state that travellers entering under the visa exemption scheme must have this amount. The officer may not ask, but if asked you must be able to show it. Carry a mix of cards and cash, plus your return ticket and hotel booking, in your hand luggage.

  • It is the online arrival form that every passenger must complete before entering Thailand, and it is free. The Immigration Bureau's site, tdac.immigration.go.th, calls itself the official TDAC with no fees required, and says foreigners must submit their arrival card information 3 days in advance of arrival. It is not a visa, and visa-free travellers need it too.

  • Yes, by up to 30 more days, if the immigration officer agrees. Thai embassies say a stay under the 30-day exemption can be extended for another period of not more than 30 days, at the officer's discretion. You apply at an immigration office in Thailand before your stay ends and pay an immigration fee of THB 1,900. Do not book flights that depend on it.

  • Nothing for a visa-free holiday of up to 30 days. If you need a visa, the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi lists the Tourist (TR) visa at ₹3,000 for a single entry valid 3 months and ₹13,500 for a multiple entry valid 6 months, each with 60 days per entry (checked on 14 October 2026). The e-Visa site says visa fees are non-refundable.

  • Online at thaievisa.go.th, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official e-Visa site. Create an account, fill in the form, upload documents, pay the fee and wait for the confirmation email, which you print for the airline and immigration. The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi says all applicants must apply through that website, and you can only apply while outside Thailand.

  • The e-Visa site lists your passport biodata page, a photo taken within the last six months, a document showing where you currently are, a travel booking, proof of accommodation, and financial evidence of at least THB 20,000, such as three months of bank statements or a sponsorship letter. Family visits add the relative's ID or stay permit; medical trips add the hospital's appointment letter.

  • Yes. Visa-free means no application, not automatic entry: the immigration officer decides at the desk. Problems usually come from a missing ticket out within 30 days, no cash to show, no TDAC, or a purpose that looks like work. Carry the ticket, the money, the hotel booking and the TDAC confirmation, and answer questions plainly.

  • Most often because of a one-way ticket. Airlines are penalised for carrying a passenger who is then refused entry, so they check for a ticket out before you board. Book the return or onward leg, dated within your 30 days, before the outbound flight, and keep the booking where you can show it at check-in.

  • No. The TDAC terms state that foreigners are not allowed to work unless granted a work permit, and the exemption covers tourism and short-term business engagements only. Paid work needs a work visa and permit, not a tourist entry. Carrying papers that suggest you have come to work can lead to refusal at the border.

  • You are fined for each day and, past certain limits, banned from re-entering for years, and the ban goes on record. Visa forms for other countries regularly ask whether you have ever been refused entry, removed or deported, so an overstay can follow you. If you need more time, apply for an extension before your permitted stay ends.

Going it alone vs filing with us

Why it matters

On your own

  • Guessing the document list — one missing or wrongly formatted paper triggers a refusal.
  • Generic cover letters copied from the internet that officers recognise and flag.
  • No read on peak rejection windows or what this visa post is strict about.
  • Government and VFS fees are non-refundable — money lost if you are refused.
  • A refusal stamp follows you and weakens every future visa application.

With Lifeset Overseas

  • An honest case assessment before you spend a rupee on government fees.
  • A file built to the embassy's exact checklist and in the exact order.
  • Weak finances, ties or purpose identified and fixed before submission.
  • Previously refused? We can rescue and rebuild the file.
  • Every case handled by one consultant, end to end.

A refusal isn't the end

Refused before?

A refusal is not a permanent bar — but it only improves if the actual reason is found and answered, and nobody can tell you a second application will succeed. If a Thailand visa has been refused, we:

  • Read the actual refusal letter and pinpoint the real gaps.
  • Advise whether to pull the officer's notes (CAIPS / GCMS) for the true reason.
  • Identify which part was weak — funds, employment, purpose or ties.
  • Tell you honestly whether to reapply now or strengthen the file first.

Visa refused? Our consultancy fee is refunded under the Refund Policy. Embassy and VFS fees are never ours to refund. Read the refund policy

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