From 21st July 2026, Indian passport holders can easily get a Visa on Arrival (VoA) when they land in Thailand. It costs THB 2,000 (around INR 5,740) and allows you to stay for up to 15 days. Please note, this visa cannot be extended.
The VoA is not the same as the visa exemption that was withdrawn in May 2026, and it is not the same as the tourist e-visa; this page explains exactly how the Thailand VoA for Indians works, what to carry, and when the e-visa is the better choice (Thai Immigration Bureau, accessed 2026-07-21; 1 THB = INR 2.87 on 2026-07-20).
This guide is from Zurich Kotak General Insurance, an IRDAI-registered general insurer in India and part of the Zurich Insurance Group. For the complete picture of every entry route, start with our Thailand visa for Indians guide, and sort your travel insurance for Thailand before you book.
Travelling to Thailand? Get covered before you fly. A Visa on Arrival gets you in; travel insurance for Thailand covers the trip you are about to pay for.
Exemption, visa on arrival, e-visa: which one is this?
Here’s a quick guide to understand Thai visas for Indians:
- A visa exemption means you don’t need a visa at all.
- A Visa on Arrival (VoA) is a paid visa you can get at the airport for up to 15 days.
- A tourist e-visa is a paid visa you apply online for, before your trip, and it’s valid for up to 60 days.
Why does this matter? It affects how much you pay, how long you can stay, and what documents you need to carry. For Indians, Thailand had a 60-day visa exemption from 2024. But on 19th May 2026, the Thai Cabinet decided to withdraw this exemption, moving Indians back to the Visa on Arrival (VoA) category. Later, in July 2026, a 30-day exemption was approved, but it wasn’t in effect yet as it awaited publication in the Royal Gazette (as of 21st July 2026, according to the Indian Embassy in Bangkok and Travel and Tour World).
So, as of now, Indians need to use the paid VoA option at the airport. This VoA process, explained on this page, is not the same as the free visa exemption. For updates on the exemption status, check our "Is Thailand visa-free for Indians?" page.
How the Thailand visa on arrival works for Indians?
The Thailand VoA is a single-stage airport process: you land, fill the VoA application, present your documents and the fee at the Visa on Arrival counter, and receive the stamp before you clear immigration. Here is the full sequence as it stands on 2026-07-21:
1. Complete the TDAC before you fly. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is mandatory for every foreign arrival, is free, replaced the paper TM6, and must be submitted within 72 hours before arrival at the official portal tdac.immigration.go.th ; it produces a QR code immigration checks on entry (Thai Immigration TDAC portal, accessed 2026-07-21). The TDAC is separate from the VoA.
2. Land at an eligible international airport and follow signs to the Visa on Arrival counter, which is before the main immigration desks. The VoA is issued at Thailand’s major international airports, not at every land border (Thai Immigration Bureau, accessed 2026-07-21).
3. Present your documents and one photo, complete the short VoA form, and hand over the fee.
4. Pay THB 2,000 in Thai baht cash. The Visa on Arrival fee is THB 2,000 (about INR 5,740), payable in baht; carry cash, as card facilities at the counter are not reliable, and queues can be long when several flights land together.
5. Receive the stamp for up to 15 days and proceed to immigration, where your passport, TDAC QR code and supporting documents are checked.
Documents you need for the Thailand VoA
Carry these in physical form for the Visa on Arrival counter; missing any one is the usual reason a traveller is turned back to the e-visa route. As of 2026-07-21, the Thai Immigration Bureau requires (Thai Immigration Bureau, accessed 2026-07-21):
Requirement | Detail |
Passport | Valid at least 6 months beyond arrival, with at least 2 blank pages |
Photograph | One recent photo, 4.5cm x 3.5cm |
Return ticket | Confirmed onward or return ticket departing within 15 days of entry |
Accommodation | Proof of where you are staying (hotel booking or a Thai address) |
Proof of funds | Cash of about THB 10,000 per person or THB 20,000 per family, shown if asked |
Fee | THB 2,000 in Thai baht cash |
TDAC | QR code from tdac.immigration.go.th , filed within 72 hours before arrival |
Note the separate cash-on-hand advisory: the Indian Embassy in Bangkok advised on 2026-07-02 that entry travellers should be able to show funds and carry cash, subject to random immigration checks (Indian Embassy Bangkok advisory, accessed 2026-07-21). The full document set for a tourist trip, including the e-visa version, is on our Thailand tourist visa documents page, and the exact photo specification is on our Thailand visa photo size page.
Visa on arrival v/s e-visa for Indians
The Visa on Arrival is the fastest option if your trip is short and up to 15 days. But, if you're planning a longer stay or want to avoid standing in long airport queues, the tourist e-visa is a better choice. Here's a clear comparison, as of 21st July 2026:
Factor | Visa on Arrival | Tourist e-visa |
Where you get it | Airport counter on landing | Online in advance at thaievisa.go.th |
Stay | Up to 15 days, non-extendable | Up to 60 days |
Cost | THB 2,000 (about INR 5,740), cash in baht | About INR 3,000 single entry ( thaievisa.go.th ) |
When to choose | Short trip, decided late, eligible airport | Longer trip, or you want it settled before flying |
On arrival | VoA queue first, then immigration | Straight to immigration with the e-visa |
Processing | Same day at the counter | About 3 to 7 working days |
If you want a stay longer than 15 days, or you would rather not queue at the counter, apply for the Thailand e-visa instead ; our walkthrough covers the official portal step by step. The full fee comparison, including agent markups, is on our Thailand visa cost for Indians page.
If it goes wrong at the border
Getting a Visa on Arrival depends on the officer. If you don’t have all the required documents, an unconfirmed return ticket, or enough money, they might refuse to issue the visa. Unfortunately, no insurance policy can change that decision.
But here’s how we can help: Zurich Kotak’s Smart Travel policy includes Visa Cost Cover. If your visa is rejected or you’re denied entry on arrival, we’ll reimburse the visa fee (but not the premium). This helps reduce the financial impact of such situations.
The rest of the policy does the bigger job on a trip where the real risk is medical: a serious motorbike injury or a sudden illness at a Bangkok private hospital can run to a large bill, payable before discharge.
The Zurich Kotak Smart Travel plan takes care of emergency medical treatment and hospitalisation when you're travelling in Asia, including Thailand. Here's what you get:
- Up to USD 100,000 cover on the Excel tier.
- Up to USD 500,000 cover on the Prime tier.
We’ve made things easy for you. Claims can be handled either cashless or through reimbursement, thanks to Europ Assistance India’s 24x7 helpline (+91 22 6734 7863).
For cashless treatment, you can use network hospitals like Bumrungrad International or Bangkok Hospital (make sure to double-check the list before heading there, as it may change).
One Thailand-specific note if you plan to rent a scooter: a two-wheeler accident claim requires a valid licence and a helmet where mandated, and because Thailand recognises the 1949-Geneva-Convention international driving permit that India issues, an Indian rider with a valid IDP who wears a helmet can meet those conditions; the rental-excess benefit still does not extend to motorcycles or mopeds. Buy the policy when you book, not at the airport.
Travelling to Thailand? Get covered before you fly. Get your Thailand travel insurance quote .
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Thailand? A: Yes, as of 2026-07-21 Indian passport holders can collect a Visa on Arrival at Thailand’s major international airports, valid for up to 15 days, for a fee of THB 2,000 (about INR 5,740) paid in Thai baht cash. It needs a passport valid for 6 months, a confirmed return ticket within 15 days, proof of accommodation and proof of funds.
Q: How much is the Thailand visa on arrival for Indians? A: THB 2,000, which is about INR 5,740 at 1 THB = INR 2.87 on 2026-07-20, payable in Thai baht cash at the Visa on Arrival counter. Carry cash, as card facilities at the counter are not reliable.
Q: How long can Indians stay on a Thailand visa on arrival? A: Up to 15 days, and the Visa on Arrival cannot be extended. For a longer stay, apply for a tourist e-visa at thaievisa.go.th , which allows up to 60 days.
Q: Is the visa on arrival the same as visa-free entry? A: No. A visa exemption is no visa and no fee; the Visa on Arrival is a paid visa (THB 2,000) bought at the airport. Indians had a 60-day exemption until it was withdrawn in May 2026; a 30-day exemption was approved in July 2026 but was still pending Royal Gazette publication as of 2026-07-21, so the paid VoA or e-visa applied in the meantime.
Q: Do I need the TDAC as well as the visa on arrival? A: Yes. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is mandatory for every foreign arrival, is free, and must be submitted within 72 hours before arrival at tdac.immigration.go.th . It is separate from the Visa on Arrival and does not replace it.
