South East Asia Visa Guide for Indians: Country-by-Country Requirements, Fees & Application Process (2026)
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-22
Indians do not need a south east visa for most short trips across the region. Eight of the ten countries that matter for backpackers give Indians either visa-free entry or a cheap visa on arrival at the airport.
This south east visa guide covers every country Indians realistically visit on a mainland + island loop, with fees, stay duration, and the exact application link for each, all verified against the official immigration portals on 22 July 2026, including the recent Vietnam e-visa fee reduction to $25. If you are planning a multi-country trip, the visa comparison for Indian passport holders has a single-table breakdown that prints well. For the broader digital-nomad angle, see Digital Nomad Southeast Asia for Indians.
Quick Answers: The Whole Region on One Page
| What | Answer | Price (INR) | Fee (local) | Stay | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Visa-free | Visa Exemption | Free | 60 days | On arrival |
| Vietnam | e-Visa required | e-Visa | ₹2,085 (~25 USD) | 90 days, multiple entry | evisa.gov.vn |
| Cambodia | e-Visa or VoA | e-Visa / VoA | ₹3,000 (~36 USD) | 30 days | evisa.gov.kh |
| Laos | e-Visa or VoA | e-Visa | ₹2,500 (~30 USD) | 30 days | laoevisa.gov.la |
| Malaysia | Visa-free | Visa Exemption | Free | 30 days | On arrival |
| Singapore | e-Visa required | eVisa | ₹1,900 (~30 SGD or ~$22.00) | 30 days | singaporeevisa.sg |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Visa-on-Arrival | VoA | ₹2,918 (~500,000 IDR or ~$30.00) | 30 days | On arrival or evisa.imigrasi.go.id |
| Philippines | Visa-free | Visa Exemption | Free | 30 days | On arrival |
| Myanmar | e-Visa required | e-Visa | ₹4,170 (~50 USD) | 28 days | evisa.moip.gov.mm |
| Brunei | Visa-free (social visit) | Visa Exemption | Free | 14 days | On arrival |
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Print a paper copy of every e-visa approval letter. Border officers at smaller airports and overland crossings sometimes have flaky Wi-Fi and cannot pull your approval up themselves. A printed sheet is the difference between a 2-minute exit and a 45-minute argument.
Thailand: Visa-Free for 60 Days (Indians)
Indians currently get 60-day visa-free entry to Thailand. This is the rule as of last verified. There is no fee, no form to fill in advance (the old TDAC form was retired), and no proof of onward travel is technically required, though carrying a printed flight out is cheap insurance.
Step-by-Step: Arriving in Thailand
- Book your flight in. No pre-arrival form is required for the visa exemption.
- At immigration, hand over your passport. The officer stamps 60 days.
- Walk out. No queues at a secondary desk, no fee counter.
Extensions and Overstay in Thailand
Extensions cost ₹5,451 (~1,900 THB or ~$56.47) at any Thai immigration office (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket all have one). Overstay fines are ₹1,434 (~500 THB or ~$14.86) per day, capped at 20,000 THB. Going over 90 days without extending can get you flagged for blacklisting on re-entry.
Common Mistakes Indians Make in Thailand
- Paying an agent for a “Thailand e-visa” that does not exist for tourist entries. If a website offers you one, it is reselling you a non-immigrant visa you do not need.
- Forgetting that 60-day stays reset per entry, not per calendar year. You can fly out to Myanmar for a night and come back in for another 60 days.
For the granular walkthrough, see Thailand visa on arrival for Indians.
Vietnam: 90-Day e-Visa (Indians)
Indians need a Vietnam e-visa before flying in. The official portal is the only legitimate place to apply; the 90-day, multiple-entry e-visa costs ₹2,085 (~25 USD). Processing takes 3 business days, often faster.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Vietnam e-Visa
- Go to evisa.gov.vn.
- Upload a passport-style photo (white background, no glasses) and a scan of your passport bio page.
- Pay ₹2,085 (~25 USD) by credit or debit card.
- Wait 3 business days. The approval letter arrives by email as a PDF.
- Print the PDF, pack it with your passport, present both at Vietnam immigration.
At the Airport in Vietnam
The officer will stamp 90 days multiple entry. Land borders accept the same e-visa, but border-run trips from Cambodia to Vietnam at Moc Bai or Bavet sometimes see travellers turned back for photo mismatches, so re-check your photo against Vietnam visa photo size rules.
Common Mistakes Indians Make in Vietnam
- Photo with glasses or coloured background. The portal’s auto-rejection is silent, and you find out at the gate.
- Applying through a third-party “Vietnam visa service” that charges ₹4,826 (~50 USD) for the same ₹2,085 (~25 USD) government fee.
The full breakdown is at Vietnam visa for Indian passport holders, and the dedicated 90-day guide is at Vietnam 90-day e-visa for Indians.
Cambodia: 30-Day e-Visa or Visa-on-Arrival
Cambodia is the easiest country in the region after Thailand. Indians can either apply online in advance or walk up to the VoA counter at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or any land border.
Fees
- e-Visa: ₹3,000 (~36 USD), inclusive of processing. Apply at evisa.gov.kh.
- Visa on arrival: ₹2,500 (~30 USD) cash (US dollars only, clean unmarked bills).
- Validity: 30 days from entry, single entry.
Land Border Tips
If you are crossing from Thailand (Aranyaprathet to Poipet) or Laos (Trapeang Kreal to Stung Treng), the on-arrival counter takes USD cash and runs slow. Have small bills ready; a torn or marked ₹9,653 (~100 USD) note gets rejected more often than it should.
For the full Cambodia walkthrough, see Cambodia visa for Indians. If you are transiting, Cambodia transit visa rules cover short layovers.
Laos: 30-Day e-Visa
Laos gives Indians a 30-day e-visa for ₹2,500 (~30 USD). Apply at laoevisa.gov.la. Processing is 3 business days. The e-visa works at Wattay Airport (Vientiane), Luang Prabang Airport, and the major land borders including the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.
Land crossings at smaller posts sometimes do not accept the e-visa, so double-check which border you are using if you are crossing overland from Vietnam.
Malaysia: 30-Day Visa-Free (Indians)
Indians get 30-day visa-free entry to Malaysia as of 2026. No fee, no form, just your passport. Stays can be extended once for another 30 days at a Malaysian immigration office for around ₹2,359 (~100 MYR or ~$24.44).
For edge cases, see Malaysia visa for Indians: VoA vs eVisa and Malaysia eVisa for Indians.
Singapore: e-Visa Required
Singapore is the only major Southeast Asia destination where Indians cannot get in visa-free or on arrival. You need a pre-approved eVisa before flying.
- Fee: ₹1,900 (~30 SGD or ~$22.00) through authorised agents. Apply via singaporeevisa.sg.
- Validity: 30 days, multiple entry within the validity window.
- Processing: 3 to 5 business days.
Singaporean applications require proof of accommodation, return ticket, and sufficient funds. Travellers report the rules are stricter than Thailand or Vietnam; if your bank statement is thin or your itinerary is vague, expect a rejection.
Full details: Singapore visa for Indian passport holders.
Indonesia (Bali): Visa-on-Arrival, ₹2,918 (~500,000 IDR or ~$30.00)
Indians get a 30-day VoA for ₹2,918 (~500,000 IDR or ~$30.00). You can pay on arrival, or skip the queue by applying online at evisa.imigrasi.go.id for an extra ₹965 (~10 USD) processing fee. The VoA is extendable once for another 30 days at an Indonesian immigration office.
This is the country Indians ask about most under “Bali visa for Indians,” and the answer is simple: pay at the airport, get the stamp, walk out. Full walkthrough at Indonesia visa on arrival for Indians and the 60-day Indonesia visa guide.
Safety Alert: Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport has a separate VoA counter queue that moves slower than the visa-free line. If your flight lands at the same time as a Singapore or Tokyo flight, budget 45 minutes from gate to taxi.
Philippines: 30-Day Visa-Free
Indians get a 30-day visa-free stamp on arrival in Manila, Cebu, or Clark. Extendable for another 29 days at a Bureau of Immigration office for around 3,000 PHP.
The wrinkle is that Indians holding a valid US, UK, Schengen, Japanese, or Canadian visa can stay longer under a different rule. See Philippines visa for Indians with US/UK visa and the full Philippines visa guide.
Myanmar: e-Visa (Tourism Status Permitting)
Myanmar’s tourism e-visa costs ₹4,826 (~50 USD) for 28 days. Apply at evisa.moip.gov.mm. Note: Myanmar’s tourism visa programme has been suspended and reopened multiple times since 2021, so before paying, check the Myanmar visa for Indians guide for the current status. As of last verified, e-visas were being issued, but rules change without notice.
Safety Alert: Multiple regions of Myanmar have active civil conflict. Before booking, check the Indian MEA travel advisory at mea.gov.in and your own government’s latest guidance.
Brunei: 14-Day Visa-Free
Brunei gives Indians a 14-day visa-free stamp on arrival. Most backpackers skip Brunei entirely, but if you are flying Royal Brunei for cheap Bangkok or Bali connections, this is a free stopover.
The Digital Nomad Angle (DNVs and the Proposed ASEAN Visa)
Two Southeast Asia digital nomad visas matter for Indians in 2026:
- Indonesia’s B211a / Remote Worker Visa: A 6-month remote work permit, separate from the tourist VoA. Requires proof of remote income (around USD 60,000/year), a local sponsor, and runs around ₹144,793 (~1,500 USD) to set up. Not cheap, but the only proper DNV in the region right now.
- Malaysia’s DE Rantau Visa: 12-month remote work pass for non-Malaysians earning at least USD 24,000/year from a foreign employer. Cheaper and faster than Indonesia’s option.
No Indian has used either en masse yet because the income thresholds are high, but they exist.
The proposed ASEAN unified visa (sometimes called the “Southeast Asia Schengen” in travel media) has been discussed at ASEAN summits since 2024 but has no firm launch date and no published fee structure as of 2026. Treat any website selling “ASEAN visas” as a scam. The full digital nomad landscape for Indians is covered at Digital Nomad Southeast Asia for Indians.
Extensions and Overstay Across the Region: A Summary
| Country | Extension office | Extension fee | Overstay fine | Blacklist risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Immigration office | ₹5,451 (~1,900 THB or ~$56.47) | 500 THB/day (cap ₹57,380 (~20,000 THB or ~$594.43)) | Over 90 days |
| Vietnam | Immigration office | Around ₹4,826 (~50 USD) | ₹18,405 (~5,000,000 VND or ~$190.67) flat | Yes |
| Cambodia | Immigration HQ, Phnom Penh | ₹4,344 (~45 USD) for 30 days | USD 10/day | Yes |
| Laos | Immigration office | USD 2/day | USD 10/day | Yes |
| Malaysia | Immigration office | ₹2,359 (~100 MYR or ~$24.44) | ₹23,587 (~1,000 MYR or ~$244.35) flat | Yes |
| Singapore | ICA office | Not extendable | SGD 50/day | Yes |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Immigration office | ₹2,686 (~500,000 IDR or ~$27.83) | 1,000,000 IDR/day | Yes |
| Philippines | Bureau of Immigration | 3,000 PHP | 500 PHP/month | Yes |
| Myanmar | N/A | N/A | USD 3/day + ₹483 (~5 USD) fee | Yes |
| Brunei | N/A | N/A | BND 10/day | Yes |
Common Mistakes Indians Make Across the Region
- Paying a third-party agent for a visa that costs half as much on the official portal. The evisa.gov.vn and evisa.gov.kh sites work fine for Indian cards. Agents add ₹1,931-₹4,826 (~20-50 USD) per visa.
- Not checking passport validity. Every country in this list requires 6 months validity beyond your entry date. If your passport expires in 5 months, you will get sent home.
- Blank pages. Most countries want at least 2 blank pages. Travellers on a 6-country loop with a stamped passport run out by country four.
- Name mismatch between passport and e-visa application. If your Aadhaar has a middle initial your passport does not, use exactly what is on the passport.
- Travelling with damaged passports. Border officers have wide discretion. Torn covers, water damage, peeling laminate = refusal at the gate.
Getting Connected the Moment You Land
You need a working SIM within 30 minutes of clearing immigration. Most arrival airports have AIS, TrueMove, Viettel, Smart, or Celcom booths before the taxi rank. Prices are similar across the region: 7-day tourist SIM with 30 GB for ₹858 (~299 THB or ~$8.89) in Thailand, ₹736 (~200,000 VND or ~$7.63) in Vietnam, ₹483 (~5 USD) in Cambodia, ₹708 (~30 MYR or ~$7.33) in Malaysia.
If you would rather not queue at the airport kiosk, Get Nomad eSIM gives you data the moment your plane lands. Activate on the ground, no passport swap required, and works across Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia on a single plan.
Related Guides
- Thailand visa on arrival for Indians: step-by-step guide, forms, fees, bank statement rules
- Thailand visa for Indian minor children: document requirements
- Vietnam visa for Indian passport holders: requirements, e-visa process, fees, visa on arrival explained
- Vietnam visa photo size for Indians: exact dimensions, background, upload rules
- Cambodia visa for Indians
- Cambodia transit visa: layover rules
- Indonesia visa on arrival for Indians: step-by-step guide to procedure, stamp, policy
- Indonesia 60-day visa guide: application, cost, extension, processing time
- Malaysia visa for Indians: VoA vs eVisa
- Malaysia eVisa for Indians: how to apply on the official immigration website, step-by-step
- Singapore visa for Indian passport holders: types, fees, and how to apply
- Philippines visa for Indians with Schengen, UK, US visa
- Philippines visa guide for Indian passport holders: requirements, types, process 2026
- Myanmar visa for Indians: requirements, costs, and how to apply
- Digital Nomad Southeast Asia for Indians
- Southeast Asia visa comparison for Indian passport holders 2026
FAQ
Do Indians need a visa for Thailand in 2026? No. Indians get 60-day visa-free entry.
Can I get a Vietnam visa on arrival with an Indian passport? No. Vietnam scrapped VoA for Indians years ago. You must apply for the e-visa online before flying.
How much is the Bali visa for Indians? ₹2,686 (~500,000 IDR or ~$27.83) for 30 days, payable on arrival.
What is the cheapest Southeast Asia visa for Indians? Thailand and Malaysia are both free. Cambodia is ₹2,500 (~30 USD) at the airport. Vietnam is ₹2,085 (~25 USD) online.
Does the proposed ASEAN unified visa exist yet? No. It has been discussed at ASEAN summits but has no launch date. Ignore any site selling it.
Can I extend my Thailand 60-day visa? Yes, once for another 30 days at any Thai immigration office for ₹5,451 (~1,900 THB or ~$56.47).
Which Southeast Asian countries give Indians the longest stay? Vietnam at 90 days (multiple entry via e-visa) is the longest single stay. Thailand and Indonesia both go to 60 days.
Subodh’s Take
If you are an Indian doing a 3-week Thailand-Vietnam-Cambodia loop, you should be paying for exactly one visa in advance (Vietnam’s ₹2,085 (~25 USD) e-visa), paying ₹2,500 (~30 USD) at the Cambodia airport, and walking into Thailand on the visa-free stamp. Total visa spend: under ₹6,000 (~$62.16) for the whole trip. Travellers who spend more than that are almost always paying for an e-visa they did not need, an agent’s markup, or a “fast-track” border service that does nothing the free counter would not. Double-check the official portal, print everything, and the rest of the trip is yours.
