How to Apply Thailand Visa from India Step by Step: The 9 to 12 Step Walkthrough

Indians applying for a Thailand visa in 2026 follow one of three numbered processes depending on the trip length and entry pattern. For stays under 60 days, no visa is needed at all under the visa-free scheme; only the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is filed online before flying. For longer single-entry trips, the e-Visa channel through thaievisa.go.th costs 4,900 rupees and runs across 9 to 12 numbered steps over roughly 4 to 6 weeks. For Multiple-Entry Tourist Visas (METV) and business visas, you submit in person at the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi or one of the consulates, with VFS Global as the intake agent in five Indian cities. This is the canonical step-by-step walkthrough. For the wider context on fees, validity, and timelines, start with our Thailand visa guide for Indians.

Visa-free entry

0 rupees, up to 60 days stay, only TDAC needs registration before arrival

e-Visa fee (single entry)

4,900 rupees, paid online at thaievisa.go.th, valid 90 days, stay up to 60 days

METV fee

12,250 rupees, embassy submission only, 6-month validity, multiple entries

Total typical out-of-pocket cost

Around 7,100 rupees for a complete e-Visa application from India

Official processing window

5 to 10 business days for e-Visa, 7 to 14 days realistically in peak season

Recommended start time

4 to 6 weeks before flight for e-Visa, 8 weeks for METV, 3 to 4 weeks for visa-free

If you only read this section

If your trip is under 60 days and single-entry, do not bother applying for any visa. The visa-free scheme covers you. Register the Thailand Digital Arrival Card on tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours of departure, carry your return ticket, hotel booking, and proof of funds at immigration, and walk in. You save 4,900 rupees and a week of paperwork. If your trip is over 60 days, or you want multiple entries within six months, the e-Visa or METV is necessary. The single most missed step across both paid channels is the Thailand-spec photograph on a pure white background; budget the 200 rupees and get it done at a passport-photo studio before you start the form. The total cost for an e-Visa application end to end, including VFS service, photos, bank stamp, and travel insurance, lands around 7,100 rupees.

The full application process from India

The right channel depends on the trip. The decision tree is short. Under 60 days and single entry, take the visa-free route. Over 60 days or anything single-entry past two months, take the e-Visa. METV or business, take the embassy route. Each channel has its own numbered process below.

Channel one: the e-Visa, 12 numbered steps

This is the most common paid path for Indians. It is fully online. The 4,900 rupee fee is paid by card or net banking on the official portal. No VFS visit, no embassy queue, no biometrics for first-time applicants under the current 2026 rules.

1. Confirm eligibility. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in Thailand, not from the date of application. Two completely blank pages are required for the visa label and entry stamp. Indians often miscount validity from the wrong date and discover the gap only after paying the fee. Allow a day to verify before starting.
2. Gather all documents. Eight mandatory items: passport, photo, return ticket, hotel booking, stamped bank statement, cover letter, ITR or salary slips, NOC for salaried. The full breakdown lives in our documents checklist. Pull these together before you open the portal. The form has a 30-minute session timeout.
3. Get a Thailand-spec photograph. Walk into any local studio and ask for “Thailand visa photo, pure white background, 4 by 6 cm”. You pay around 200 rupees and get a digital file plus prints. Off-white Aadhaar and PAN photos do not pass. Detailed specs in our photo specifications guide.
4. Get a stamped 3-month bank statement. Visit your home branch in person and request a stamped statement for visa purposes. Net banking PDFs do not count. HDFC, ICICI, Axis, and Kotak typically issue same-day; SBI and cooperative banks take 3 to 5 working days. The statement should show a balance above 1,00,000 rupees maintained throughout. Format details in our bank statement format guide.
5. Create your account on thaievisa.go.th. Go to https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ and click “Apply now”. Register with an email you will check for at least 30 days; the portal sends critical updates here. Use a personal Gmail, not a work email you might lose access to. The verification email arrives within 5 minutes.
6. Fill the e-Visa application form. The form runs to roughly 8 sections covering personal details, passport, contact, travel plan, accommodation, financial details, employment, and declaration. Match every field exactly to your passport spelling, including middle names. Travel dates must be the actual ticket dates. The form takes 45 to 90 minutes the first time.
7. Upload supporting documents. Each file must be under 3 MB; PDF and JPG only. Use any free compressor (smallpdf, ilovepdf) to bring large scans below the limit. The system rejects oversized files with a generic error. Upload all eight mandatory documents in the slots provided. Allow 30 minutes.
8. Pay 4,900 rupees online. Payment runs through the portal’s gateway. Indian credit cards, debit cards, and net banking from major banks all work. Keep the payment confirmation email; it carries your reference number. Some Indian cards trigger an OTP loop that times out; if your first attempt fails, switch to a different card or net banking.
9. Track via reference number. Once paid, you get a reference number by email. Log in and check status under “My applications”. Status flow: Submitted, Under Process, Decision Made, Approved or Rejected. Official processing is 5 to 10 business days; peak season (October to February) runs 7 to 14 days. Do not start worrying before day 8.
10. Download the approved e-Visa to your phone. Once approved, the PDF is emailed and available in the portal. Save it offline, email it to yourself, and keep a Google Drive copy. Indian carriers including IndiGo and Air India ask to see the e-Visa at the boarding gate before issuing the boarding pass.
11. Register the Thailand Digital Arrival Card 72 hours before flight. Go to https://tdac.immigration.go.th/ and submit the TDAC. Mandatory since May 2025 for everyone arriving in Thailand. The form takes 10 minutes and is free. You receive a QR code by email; save it on your phone.
12. Print backup copies of everything. Print the e-Visa PDF, TDAC QR code, hotel booking, and return ticket. Bangkok immigration occasionally still asks to see physical copies, particularly for first-time travellers from India.

Channel two: visa-free entry, six numbered steps

Free, fast, and the right call for almost every short tourist trip. Indians have had this route since November 2023 under the scheme currently extended through end-2026. Under 60 days, single entry, no fee. The catch is that immigration officers can still ask for the same supporting documents an embassy would. So gather them anyway.

1. Confirm trip is under 60 days and single-entry. Count from arrival date to departure date inclusive. Cross-check with our no-visa travel guide. Anything over 60 days needs the e-Visa.
2. Verify passport validity and blank pages. Same rule as the e-Visa: six months validity from arrival date plus two blank pages. Verify on the front data page before booking the ticket.
3. Carry the supporting documents anyway. Immigration at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang can ask for return ticket, hotel booking, and proof of funds (10,000 baht per person or 20,000 per family). Having these in hand cuts your interview to under two minutes.
4. Register the TDAC 72 hours before flight. tdac.immigration.go.th, free, 10 minutes. Mandatory regardless of visa status. The airport TDAC kiosk is for fixes, not first submissions.
5. Print everything. TDAC QR code, return ticket, hotel booking, bank statement summary. Hand baggage.
6. At immigration, present passport and TDAC QR. The officer scans the passport, scans the QR, asks one or two questions, and stamps you in for 60 days. Check the date on the stamp; some travellers get a 30-day stamp by error and only notice when they overstay.

Channel three: METV and business visa via embassy or VFS, eight numbered steps

This is the in-person route. METV gives you a six-month validity with multiple 60-day entries; business visa requires an invitation letter from a Thai company. Both demand original document submission and biometric capture at the consulate or VFS Global centre.

1. Decide METV or business. METV suits tourists planning multiple Thailand trips within six months: digital nomads, frequent business travellers without formal sponsorship, and Indians visiting family. Business visa requires a Thai-company invitation letter.
2. Book the appointment. For VFS, go to https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/tha/ and select your city. Slots open at 11 AM IST most weekdays. During peak season, Mumbai BKC and Delhi Connaught Place slots fill within 24 hours.
3. Assemble the document file. Original passport plus all standard documents in our documents checklist, plus METV extras: 12 months of bank statements and a clear travel pattern. For business, add the Thai company invitation, commercial registration, and a covering letter from your Indian employer.
4. Pay the visa fee in the right format. METV fee is 12,250 rupees; business visa is 4,900 rupees. Embassies usually require a demand draft. VFS Global accepts cards or cash plus a 1,200 rupee service fee per application.
5. Submit at the appointment. Reach the centre 15 minutes early. Carry originals plus one set of photocopies. The officer reviews the file in 15 to 20 minutes. If anything is missing, the file is returned same day with a checklist; you fix and rebook.
6. Biometric capture. First-time applicants give fingerprints and a fresh photograph. Takes 5 to 10 minutes. No glasses, no headwear except religious. Children under 12 are typically exempt.
7. Track the application. VFS gives a reference number on a slip. Track at https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/tha/. Statuses: Submitted, At Embassy, Decision Made, Ready for Collection.
8. Collect the passport with visa label. METV and business visas return as a physical sticker. Collection by applicant or authorised representative with collection slip, authorisation letter, and ID copies. Collection windows: 14:00 to 16:00 at the embassy, business hours at VFS.

Booking the appointment for in-person submissions

If your route is METV or business, the appointment is the bottleneck. The portal at https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/tha/ handles all five Indian VFS centres. Slots refresh on weekday mornings around 11 AM IST. During October through February, Mumbai BKC and Delhi Connaught Place slots are gone within hours.

If no slots are visible, three options work. Try a sister city: Pune applicants commute to Mumbai BKC; Hyderabad to Bangalore Whitefield; Ahmedabad to Mumbai. Second, refresh across several mornings; cancellations open mid-week windows. Third, switch to the e-Visa if your trip allows single-entry within 60 days.

Mumbai BKC at the Trade Centre is the most efficient centre and typically has shorter waits than Delhi Connaught Place.

What happens at the biometric appointment

VFS or embassy intake takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on the queue. Reach 15 minutes early. Carry only your visa file, phone, and wallet; laptop bags are held outside in lockers.

The document review counter checks every page against a printed checklist. The officer looks for the pure-white photo, bank stamp, cover letter signature, and matching dates across ticket, hotel, and form. If anything is off, the file is handed back same day with a yellow note. You can rebook within 30 days without paying again.

After acceptance, biometrics happen in a separate booth: fingerprints, a seated photograph against the white wall, signature on a tablet. Total 5 to 10 minutes. Then pay the visa fee and the 1,200 rupee VFS service charge and walk out with a tracking slip.

Tracking the application from India

For e-Visa applicants, tracking is at https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ under your account. Status updates roll over once a day, overnight Indian time. Refreshing every hour does nothing.

For embassy and VFS applicants, https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/tha/ has a tracker using your reference number and date of birth. Status flows: Application Received at VFS, At Embassy, Decision Made, Ready for Collection. Once you see Decision Made, expect collection within 1 to 2 working days.

When to start worrying. For e-Visa, do not chase before day 10. After day 14, email the visa section at https://newdelhi.thaiembassy.org/. For METV, allow 14 to 21 working days before chasing.

The cost of applying, line item by line item

Item	Cost in rupees	Notes
e-Visa fee, single entry	4,900	Paid online at thaievisa.go.th
VFS service charge	1,200	Per-application fee at VFS Global centres for METV and business
Photo (set of 4)	200	Indian photo studios charge between 150 and 250 rupees
Bank statement stamp fee	100	Some banks charge a small fee for stamped statements
Travel insurance, basic 7-day	800	Recommended though not strictly required
METV fee (alternative to e-Visa)	12,250	Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa, embassy only
Total typical for e-Visa route	7,100	Sum of e-Visa fee, VFS service if applicable, photos, bank stamp, insurance

The single biggest cost is the visa fee itself. Everything else combined is 2,200 rupees. Indians sometimes try to save the 200 rupees on a fresh photo by reusing an old one, then pay 4,900 a second time when the application is rejected. Worth saying plainly: take the photo at the studio.

When to start versus when to fly

Working backwards from your flight date is the right way to plan. Three reference timelines.

e-Visa, 4 to 6 weeks before flight. Six weeks gives buffer for a documentation request and a payment glitch. Five weeks is the comfortable middle. Three weeks is risky during peak season. Two weeks is unsafe; switch to visa-free if the trip allows.

Visa-free, 3 to 4 weeks before flight. No visa to apply for, but get the photo done, the bank statement stamped, and supporting documents printed. Register the TDAC in the 72-hour window before flight, not earlier.

METV or business visa, 8 weeks before flight. Slot booking alone can eat a week. Embassy processing takes 14 to 21 working days. Eight weeks is the realistic floor; ten weeks is comfortable.

The applicant’s-journey timeline for the e-Visa

• Week 6 before flight, day 1. Decide the channel. Pull out your passport and check validity. Book the flight if not already booked.
• Week 6, day 2 to 3. Visit the bank for the stamped statement. Visit the studio for the photo. Draft the cover letter.
• Week 5. Get NOC from employer. Pull ITRs from the income tax portal. Compress all documents under 3 MB each.
• Week 5, last day. Submit the e-Visa application online. Pay the 4,900 rupees.
• Week 4 to 3. Track the application. Stay reachable on the registered email in case of documentation request.
• Week 3 or 2. Approval comes through. Save the e-Visa PDF.
• 72 hours before flight. Register the TDAC. Print everything.
• Day of flight. Carry passport, e-Visa printout, TDAC QR, return ticket, hotel booking, bank statement printout. Walk in.

Common mistakes Indians make on the application

The patterns repeat across applications we have tracked.

The off-white photo background. Top reason for rejection. Aadhaar photos and home-wall photos fail the portal’s automated detection of anything darker than #F8F8F8. Fix: studio visit. Do not test whether your home wall is white enough.

Net banking PDFs in place of stamped statements. Second-most common rejection. The Thai embassy treats unsigned net banking statements as unverified. Block 30 minutes for the branch visit.

Free-cancellation hotel bookings without payment proof. The embassy occasionally asks for proof of payment for the first 3 nights from borderline files. Mix in 2 to 3 non-refundable nights at the start of your trip to demonstrate commitment.

Skipping the TDAC. Without a TDAC, you wait 30 to 60 minutes in a special queue at Suvarnabhumi while the officer processes the form manually. The 10-minute online registration before flight saves the airport delay.

Calculating passport validity from application date instead of arrival date. The Thai immigration officer counts from arrival. Renew early if you are within a year of expiry.

If your situation is different

The standard process assumes a salaried Indian adult applying for tourism. Most applicants need to adjust slightly.

Housewife applicants. Submit your spouse’s complete financial documents, spouse’s NOC matched to leave dates, marriage certificate, sponsorship letter, and family photographs. Approval runs above 95 percent with a complete spouse bundle. Rejections almost always trace to incomplete spouse documentation, not insufficient funds.

Freelancers without ITR. Submit 12 months of bank statements showing consistent client deposits, GST registration if you have one, screenshots of significant client invoices, and your professional website or LinkedIn URL. Add a covering note explaining no-ITR status. More in our ITR alternatives guide.

NRI applicants. If your country of residence has a Royal Thai Embassy or consulate, apply there. Document focus shifts to residency proof plus standard tourist documents. The visa-free benefit still applies for trips under 60 days. Our NRI guide covers country-by-country specifics.

Senior citizens above 60. Substitute pension passbook entries for salary slips, fixed-deposit certificates for ITR, and include a covering letter explaining no-ITR status if income is below threshold. Approval rate for seniors is above 96 percent.

Government employees. Include a department-issued NOC in addition to the standard leave NOC. Government NOCs take 10 to 15 working days. Plan accordingly.

What changed recently and what might change

The most significant recent change is the November 2023 visa-free scheme, extended in September 2025 through end-2026. For trips under 60 days, most Indians no longer apply for any visa at all.

The second major change is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, mandatory since May 2025 for all arrivals regardless of visa status. The TDAC replaces the paper TM.6, adding 10 minutes of online filing 72 hours before flight. The Thai cabinet was scheduled to review continuation in early 2026; check https://www.mfa.go.th/en before booking trips for the second half of 2026.

The e-Visa fee at 4,900 rupees and METV fee at 12,250 rupees have held steady through 2024, 2025, and the first half of 2026. Any change typically comes with a 30 to 60 day notice.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Thailand from India in 2026?

Not if your trip is 60 days or shorter and single-entry. The visa-free scheme covers Indian passport holders through end-2026. You still need to register the TDAC 72 hours before flight, and carry return ticket, hotel booking, and proof of funds at immigration. For longer trips or multiple entries, the e-Visa or METV is required. Confirm against our eligibility criteria guide.

How long does the e-Visa application take to process?

Official processing is 5 to 10 business days. Recent applicants from Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore report 7 to 14 days during peak season. Do not worry before day 10. After day 14, email the visa section at the Royal Thai Embassy New Delhi with your reference number. Plan to submit 4 to 6 weeks before flight.

Can I apply for the e-Visa myself or do I need an agent?

You can self-apply. The portal is in English and the documents are standard. Travel agents typically charge 1,500 to 3,000 rupees extra on top of the 4,900 rupee fee. The agent’s value is real only if you have a complex employment history or a previous rejection. For a salaried Indian with clean documents, self-apply.

What is the difference between the visa-free scheme and the e-Visa?

Visa-free covers trips up to 60 days, single entry, no fee. You walk in with a return ticket and TDAC. The e-Visa covers stays longer than 60 days or single-entry trips with extra validity buffer; 4,900 rupees, 90 days validity, 60-day stay. Most Indian leisure travellers fit the visa-free profile.

Can I get a Visa-on-Arrival in Thailand?

Indians no longer use the VOA counter. Since November 2023, Indians get visa-free entry directly. If your trip is over 60 days, you must apply for the e-Visa from India before flying.

What if my e-Visa is delayed past my travel date?

Email the embassy with your reference number at least 3 days before flight. If your trip is under 60 days, switch to the visa-free route by registering the TDAC and flying without the e-Visa. The 4,900 rupees is not refundable. If your trip is over 60 days, postpone the flight; airline date-change fees are 1,500 to 3,000 rupees on Indian carriers.

Can I apply for an e-Visa with a passport expiring in 5 months?

No. The Thai requirement is at least 6 months validity from the date of arrival, not from the date of application. Renew first through Passport Seva (7 to 30 days for normal renewal). Do not submit hoping the rule will be waived.

Do I need biometrics for the e-Visa?

Not for the standard e-Visa. The application is fully online. METV and business visa applicants give biometrics at the embassy or VFS centre. Children under 12 are typically exempt. If you have given biometrics for a previous Thai visa within 5 years, recapture may be waived.

What is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?

The TDAC is an online immigration form mandatory since May 2025. It replaces the paper TM.6. Register at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours of your flight; free, 10 minutes. You receive a QR code by email. Without the TDAC, you face long manual processing queues at Bangkok immigration.

How much money do I need to show for the Thailand visa?

The Thai embassy expects a balance above 1,00,000 rupees maintained throughout the last three months. Immigration officers can ask for proof of 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 per family for visa-free arrivals. Full breakdown in our bank balance guide.

What happens if my e-Visa application is rejected?

Read the rejection reason carefully and address that exact issue before reapplying. The 4,900 rupee fee is not refundable. The recommended waiting period is at least 6 months. Build new travel history with destinations like Vietnam or Sri Lanka in the meantime.

Can I extend my stay in Thailand once I am there?

Yes. Both visa-free entry and the e-Visa allow a 30-day extension. File form TM.7 at any Thai immigration office, pay 1,900 baht, submit a passport copy and photograph. Decided same day. Apply at least 7 days before your current stay expires. Overstays cost 500 baht per day, capped at 20,000 baht.

Where this guide gets its data

This guide was last verified against the Thailand e-Visa Official Portal on 30 April 2026 by the VisaGuide India editorial desk. We update every guide quarterly and within 7 working days of any rule change. If you spot a fee that has changed or a rule we have missed, email editorial@visaguideindia.com.