You need a Visa on Arrival (VoA) to enter Thailand, which costs 2,000 THB (~$55) in physical cash, allows a maximum stay of 15 days, and requires you to pre-register for a free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) at tdac.immigration.go.th before flying. The previous temporary visa-free pilot has officially ended, so showing up without your pre-approved TDAC QR code or the required physical cash means immigration will deny your entry on the spot.
✅ Last verified: June 2026
Quick Answers
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa Fee | 2,000 THB (~$55) paid in physical cash at the border |
| Stay Duration | Max 15 days for Visa on Arrival (VoA) / Up to 60 days for Tourist e-Visa (TR) |
| Processing Time | 15 to 30 minutes at the counter (Expect 1 to 2 hours queue wait time) |
| Mandatory Pre-requisite | Approved TDAC QR code filled 24–72 hours before arrival |
| Official Application Link | https://tdac.immigration.go.th |
| Pre-Applied e-Visa Cost | ₹3,400 ( |
The Official Application Process Step-by-Step
Do not just pack your bags and think you can fill out forms when you land. The Thai Cabinet overhauled its entry policy, moving Indian passport holders back to the Visa on Arrival framework and making the digital entry card completely mandatory.
To sort your TDAC QR code, head over to the official portal between 24 and 72 hours before your flight. You need to upload your passport details, flight numbers, and accommodation details. Once approved, you will get a digital TDAC QR code — download this to your phone and print a copy just in case. If you do not have this QR code at the airport, staff will not even let you enter the physical VoA queue.
Next, you need to carry a specific set of hard copies to the counter. Do not rely on digital files on your phone because Thai immigration officers routinely reject soft copies if they are having a bad day. Make sure you have your original passport valid for at least 6 months with 2 blank pages, one recent $4 \times 6 \text{ cm}$ photo with a clean white background, a confirmed return or onward transportation ticket out of Thailand within 15 days, and a verifiable hotel booking voucher matching your itinerary dates.
This cash requirement is where most young Indian backpackers mess up. You must carry physical cash of at least 10,000 THB ($272) per person or 20,000 THB ($544) per family. You can carry the equivalent in INR or USD, but having physical Thai Baht makes life much easier. They do not accept Indian debit cards, forex cards, or UPI at the visa counter. If you are picked for a spot-check and cannot show the physical currency, you are going back to India on the next flight.
When you land at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK), follow the signs for “Visa on Arrival”. Show your TDAC QR code to the line manager, get into the queue, hand over your documents, and pay the 2,000 THB (~$55) fee in cash. The actual processing at the counter takes 15 to 30 minutes, but the wait time in the queue can easily stretch to 1 to 2 hours during peak flight banks.
Flight Route Logistics
Do not overthink the transit. Budget airlines run direct flights from every major Indian hub straight into Bangkok or Phuket. Booking 4 to 6 weeks early keeps prices sasta.
| Departure City | Top Airlines | Route Type | Approx ₹ One-Way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Thai AirAsia X, Thai Airways, IndiGo, Air India | Direct to BKK/DMK | ₹14,000–₹15,000 (~$148–$162) |
| Mumbai | Thai Vietjet Air, Thai Lion Air, Air India, IndiGo | Direct to BKK/DMK | ₹13,000–₹14,000 (~$132–$150) |
| Bangalore | Akasa Air, Air India Express, Thai Airways, IndiGo | Direct to BKK/DMK/HKT | ₹13,000–₹15,000 (~$138–$156) |
| Chennai | Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, IndiGo | Direct to BKK/DMK | ₹14,000–₹16,000 (~$144–$166) |
| Hyderabad | Air India Express, IndiGo | Direct to BKK/DMK/HKT | ₹14,000–₹16,000 (~$150–$168) |
Land Border Crossings & VOA Rules
If you are doing a larger Southeast Asia loop, you can absolutely get a Thailand Visa on Arrival overland. You do not need a pre-arranged approval letter for this, but you still must fill out the online TDAC portal before turning up at the border post. Indian passport holders can get a VoA at 11 designated land border checkpoints. The most common ones you will use on a backpacking trip are the Aranyaprathet Checkpoint if you are coming overland from Siem Reap, Cambodia, or the Nong Khai Checkpoint if you are crossing over the Friendship Bridge from Vientiane, Laos. You can also use the Mae Sai Checkpoint or Chiang Saen Checkpoint if you are entering northern Thailand from Laos.
The rules at land borders are identical to the airports. You get exactly 15 days, you need a confirmed onward ticket within those 15 days, and you must pay the 2,000 THB (~$55) fee in physical cash. If you’re travelling with Bananarchy, we handle visa coordination and border crossings — you just show up with your passport.
Common Mistakes Indians Make
Many young travellers read outdated lifestyle blogs, pack a zero-forex card, and carry zero cash. Thai immigration offices do not have card terminals or UPI scanners at the VoA desk. If you land without 10,000 THB ($272) in physical currency, you will be forced to use the airport ATMs inside the transit zone which charge a steep 220 THB ($6) fee per withdrawal, assuming your Indian card even works in the transit area.
Immigration officers are smart yaar. They do not just glance at your printed ticket; they frequently type the PNR into their system to check if it is a live reservation. If you buy a fake “dummy ticket” from a shady online portal and it shows up as cancelled or unconfirmed, you will be detained and deported for presenting fraudulent documents.
Your hotel bookings must cover every single night of your stay until your departure date. If you have a 12-day trip planned but only booked a hostel for the first 3 nights because you wanted to “go with the flow”, the officer will stall your application. Ensure you have confirmed reservations for every date listed on your TDAC form.
What Most Guides Don’t Tell You
If you plan to enter Thailand via flight, stay for 5 days, and then take a bus to Cambodia, your onward bus ticket or open-jaw train ticket must feature a formal, confirmed international connection out of Thailand within the strict 15-day window. If you show a flight ticket back to India that is 20 days away, claiming you will spend 5 days in Cambodia in the middle, they will deny your VoA unless you have a pre-applied 60-day Tourist e-Visa.
Do not try to use standard Indian passport-size photos ($3.5 \times 4.5 \text{ cm}$). Thai immigration requires the larger $4 \times 6 \text{ cm}$ size with a stark white background. If your photo is the wrong dimensions, they will reject it and make you pay 200 THB (~$5.50) to get a fresh photo taken at an airport kiosk, adding another hour to your total transit time.
If you hate waiting in queues after a long flight, skip the VoA entirely. Apply for a regular Tourist e-Visa (TR) beforehand at https://www.thaievisa.go.th/. It costs ₹3,400 (~$36), takes 3 to 10 business days to process while you are still in India, and allows you to stay for up to 60 days. You pass through the regular immigration lines instead of the slow VoA desks.
FAQ
Can Indians get visa on arrival in Thailand?
Yes, Indians can get a Visa on Arrival at designated international airports and 11 major land border checkpoints (such as Aranyaprathet or Nong Khai) for a stay of up to 15 days. You must pay a fee of 2,000 THB (~$55) in cash and hold an approved TDAC QR code.
Is Thailand visa free for Indians?
No, Indian passport holders must obtain a Visa on Arrival (VoA) at the border/airport or apply for a regular Tourist e-Visa online prior to traveling. The temporary visa-free pilot program has concluded.
How long does Thailand e-visa take for Indians?
An official online Tourist e-Visa generally takes 3 to 10 business days to process when applied through the central portal before departing India. It gives you up to 60 days of stay instead of the 15 days allowed by the VoA.
How much does a trip to Thailand cost for Indians?
A budget-conscious backpacker trip to Thailand typically costs around ₹51,000 to ₹86,000 ($540 to $900) for a 10-day stay. This covers your budget flights, street food meals at ₹110–₹220 ($1.15–$2.30) each, and a clean dorm bed which runs around ₹800–₹1,900 (~$8.60–$20) per night.
— Subodh
Getting the TDAC QR code sorted early will save you massive drama at the immigration counter. Tight planning now pays off tomorrow, bhai.
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