Edited by: Bhawna Nijhawan
Thailand is known worldwide as the land of smiles. Visiting Thailand is a blissful experience because of its abundant natural beauty. Many people consider Thailand to be a bucket-list vacation destination, thanks to its stunning landscapes, lush tropical jungles, gourmet street food, and palm-lined beaches. The Land of Smiles won’t disappoint, no matter what your reason for visiting is!
However, a trip to Thailand can only be enjoyable when it is properly planned, and in my opinion, the first step to doing that would be getting a visa. Basically, there are two ways for an Indian to apply for a Thailand Visa; either you must apply prior to your travel date or you can take advantage of the Visa on Arrival (VOA) option (a maximum stay of 15 days is allowed).
Have you been wondering how to get a Thailand Visa On Arrival? I’ve got you covered! Let me tell you everything you need to know about the Visa On Arrival for Indians in Thailand.
What Are The Eligibility Requirements To Get A Visa On Arrival In Thailand?
Thailand offers Visa On Arrival to citizens of 19 countries so they can enter Thailand without having to apply for a regular Tourist Visa at a Thai Embassy. However, visa on arrival is only available to those travelers who meet the following requirements:
1. You are a citizen of one of these 19* approved countries.
2. Your trip to Thailand is solely for tourism purposes.
3. You hold a valid passport with an expiration date beyond 30 days.
4. You can provide a verified address for your accommodation in Thailand. It can be a hotel or an apartment too.
5. It is necessary to have a confirmed return ticket departing Thailand within 15 days. Your entry will probably be denied if you don’t have a flight ticket showing you’re leaving Thailand within 15 days.
6. You must provide proof of at least 10,000 Thai Baht for single travelers, or 20,000 Thai Baht for families during your stay in Thailand.
7. A fee of 2,000 THB must be paid upon entry. Only Thai currency is accepted for payment.
List of 19 countries eligible for the Visa on Arrival
The following 19 countries are approved for visas on arrival in Thailand. In case you are a citizen of one of them, you are good to go.
1. India
2. Bhutan
3. China
4. Cyprus
5. Ethiopia
6. Fiji
7. Georgia
8. Bulgaria
9. Papua New Guinea
10. Romania
11. Saudi Arabia
12. Taiwan
13. Uzbekistan
14. Vanuatu
15. Kazakhstan
16. Malta
17. Mexico
18. Nauru
19. Mauritius
What Are The Documents Required For A Visa On Arrival For Indians In Thailand?
In order to obtain a Thailand Visa On Arrival, you must present the following documents to the immigration counters:
1. A valid Indian passport that is valid for at least another 30 days after the date of entry.
2. A copy of the Thai Visa On Arrival Application Form.
3. A recent passport-size photograph (2 inch x 2 inch) on a white background.
4. A confirmed return travel ticket with a date within the next 15 days.
5. Proof of your accommodation in Thailand such as hotel reservations.
6. Bank statements from the past six months may also be required
7. Any other mandatory documents depending on the visa category, like letters, approvals, references, etc, if applicable.
How to Apply for a Thailand Visa on Arrival for Indians?
It is imperative for a traveler to carry the above-mentioned documents with them when traveling from India to Thailand. Following the steps below to apply for a visa on arrival when you enter Thailand:
1. In Thailand, Indians must apply for Visas On Arrival at the immigration counter once they reach the country.
2. The immigration officer will ask you to fill out the application form and present your passport as well as other documents at the immigration desk.
3. After that, they will verify your documents and ask you a few questions about your trip. For instance, why are you visiting Thailand? How long will you stay in the country, where will you stay, what will you do during your stay?
4. Ensure that all questions are answered honestly and, if possible, show additional documentation to support your answers.
5. You will receive the visa and entry stamps once the Thai authorities approve your answers.
6. Once your passport has been stamped with the entry stamp along with the visa, you will be able to enter Thailand and enjoy your stay there.
7. It is also important to remember that the immigration department has the right to refuse a visitor’s entry. There could be a variety of reasons, for example, if you have a different reason for visiting other than tourism purposes, or you don’t have all the required documents.
How to Apply For Thailand E-Visa On Arrival?
Besides the traditional visa process, travelers can now also opt for the new eVisa On Arrival (eVOA) service to speed up and smooth out the immigration clearance process in Thailand. This service eliminates the need to wait in long lines to fill out application forms and pay visa fees at immigration counters for Visa On Arrival. To obtain an eVisa on Arrival, follow the below-mentioned steps:
1. You must fill out a simple application, upload documents, and make the fee payment online before departure.
2. The process can be completed from the comfort of your home or office through the official website, https://thaievisa.go.th/.
3. An applicant must first create an account and then submit the details, and upload a few documents along with fees when applying for an eVisa online.
4. The eVisa on arrival will be sent to the applicant by email within 24 to 72 hours.
5. Upon receiving your Thai e-visa approval, you must print out a copy so that you can show it at the immigration counters in Thailand.
After the authorities approve your eVisa on arrival, your passport will be stamped and you will be able to enter Thailand.
Thailand Visa on Arrival Fees for Indians
In the event that you are planning to travel to Thailand with a visa on arrival, you might be asked to pay a fee of 2,000 THB at the time of your entry, when you submit your application at the immigration office. The payment must be made in cash, and only Thai currency is accepted as a form of payment. It should be noted that this fee is subject to change at any time without notice.
What Is The Validity Of A Visa On Arrival For Thailand?
Thailand Visa On Arrival is valid for a maximum period of 15 days. It is not possible to extend a Thailand Visa On Arrival. It is recommended that you apply for a regular Thailand Tourist Visa if you intend to stay for more than 15 days. You will be fined if you overstay your Thailand visa upon arrival. Depending on the length of the overstay, the fine could be anywhere from 500 Thai Baht to 20,000 Thai Baht. A person who overstays for more than 90 days is also prohibited from returning to Thailand for an extended period, which can last from one year to ten years.
What Are The Financial Requirements For The Thailand E-Visa On Arrival?
In order to qualify for the Thailand eVisa, you have to meet certain financial requirements, which are listed below.
- A valid passport valid for at least another 30 days from the date of your entry
- A recent passport-size photograph
- A confirmed return travel ticket with a date within the next 15 days.
- Proof of your accommodation in Thailand such as hotel reservations.
- Funds to support yourself during your stay. Single travelers must show proof of at least 10,000 Thai Baht, and families must show proof of 20,000 Thai Baht.
- Any other documents such as bank statements, pay slips, or sponsorship letters
FAQs
What Is The Processing Time Of Thailand Visa On Arrival?
The processing time for a Thailand visa on arrival depends on how many applicants are waiting at that time. To get your passport stamped and receive your visa, you must wait in a long line to have your documents verified and submit an application form along with the fee at the immigration checkpoints. You should expect this entire process to take at least 30 minutes to 1 hour.
How long can you extend your visa on arrival to stay in Thailand as a traveler?
Thailand Visa On Arrival is valid for a maximum of 15 days, and it cannot be extended. Overstaying on your Thailand visa on arrival will result in a fine. Depending on the duration of the overstay, the fine may range from 500 Thai Baht to 20,000 Thai Baht. If you intend to stay longer than 15 days in Thailand, it is recommended that you apply for a regular Thailand tourist visa.
Are there international airports available in Thailand that provide visa-on-arrival service?
In Thailand, visa-on-arrival services are available at all major airports. This includes Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Muang International Airport, Chiangmai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Hatyai International Airport, U Tapao Airport, Sukhothai International Airport, etc. Tourists can get a visa on arrival at any one of these airports when they are entering Thailand.
Sources Used:
https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/visa-on-arrival
https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/thailand-e-visa
https://www.thaiembassy.ch/Content/Embassy/118.html
https://www.thaiembassy.com/faq/processing-time-for-visa-on-arrival
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