Thailand visa guide for Indians

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Lured by Thailand, the land of white elephants and Buddha, a place that so often blurs the line between real and surreal? If yes, then you must be wondering about the easiest way to get a Thailand tourist visa. Unlike some other countries, Thailand has quite a relaxed visa policy and a simple process in place. If you've been looking for information regarding the visa process, here's the most comprehensive guide to know everything about Thailand visa requirements.

Consider yourself lucky if you have an Official/Diplomatic/Service or Special Passport, since you do not need a visa for Thailand if your stay does not exceed a period of 30 and 90 days.

You should ideally apply for a visa three months before you intended date of arrival in Thailand.

The process of getting a Thailand visa for Indians

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The first step while applying for a visa is to choose between a Tourist Visa, Transit Visa and a Non-Immigrant Visa (for long-term stay). You need to apply for a Tourist Visa if you are travelling to Thailand for medical reasons and your stay does not exceed two months. There are further bifurcations of the visa required for specific purposes, like a Transit Visa if you're visiting Thailand to participate in some sports activities. A Visa on Arrival can also be sought in case your visit does not exceed 15 days.

A Tourist Visa can be extended by 30 days by visiting the nearest migration office.
Once you've chosen the type of visa required and have essential Thailand visa information, you need to fill an official Thailand visa form. This can be done online by taking a printout of the application and then visiting the Thailand Visa Application Centre in either North or South India with the completed form and your passport.

There's another alternative of submitting your application to Thailand Visa Application Centre, New Delhi, via the Blue Dart service centres at any of the following cities -

1) Agra
2)Amritsar
3) Dehradun
4) Ludhiana
5) Jaipur
6) Jalandhar
7)Guwahati

If you're applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa, submit your fee via a draft drawn in favour of Royal Thai Embassy. Your visa fee depends on the type of visa you're applying for and starts from INR 1600 (3 months Transit Visa) to INR 20000 (for a Non-Immigrant Visa for 3 years). Once you've paid your fee for a visa for Thailand, collect an acknowledgement receipt for the same.

Documents/information needed to fill the application form

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If you've chosen to fill your application form online, do remember to keep the following documents/information handy.

1) Valid Passport with validity not less than 6 months. It should have at least 2 blank pages for the use of visa authorities and other related official agencies.

2) Your address for Thailand,

3) Your itinerary for Thailand,

4) Three passport-sized photographs,

5) Recent bank statement that show a minimum balance of $ 700,

6) Details of the organisation/person who has invited you, if any.

7) Proof of employment

8) Hotel confirmation letter mentioning the applicant's name, number, full address and stay duration

P.S. It is mandatory for female applicants to get a No Objection Certificate from their fathers/husbands stating certain key facts such as who she's travelling with, that the guardian of the applicant is aware of the risks involved and has no objection to the journey to be taken and the name of the person who shall be paying for the travel expenses.

How to track your visa application?

You can track your visa application online by using your receipt number. You have the choice of collecting your passport in person or via a courier service.

There’s not fixed time frame for the processing of a Thailand visa for Indians. The time taken depends on the type of visa, the nationality of the person applying, the time of year and other key factors. It could be an overnight process, and it may even takes a few days before you get the opportunity to behold your Thai visa.