Important Update – Thailand Government has waived off Visa on Arrival fees till Apr 30′ 2020 . With Exemption, Fee of 2,000 baht, or nearly Rs 4,400, is waived for travellers from 21 countries, including India. To experience Thailand Visa on Arrival experience, I applied for Visa on Arrival twice during my Vietnam Trip in Dec’18 (I had transit time of 10 hours at Bangkok Airport both during onward and return flights). While it took me almost 2 hours to go through Visa on Arrival Process (due to heavy rush) but Visa on Arrival was completely free. No Fee charged !! Hope this helps you plan your Thailand trip!!
Please note that this blog is only about the process and requirements on getting Thailand Visa on Arrival for Indian Tourists. Process remains almost the same for citizens of all 21 countries who are eligible for Thailand Visa on Arrival.
Click here to read all blogs from our Thailand backpacking trip.
Please click below to directly go to a specific section in our blog –
- Thailand Visa – 3 Different Ways to Get Your Thailand Visa
- Eligible Countries List
- Thailand Visa on Arrival Process at Bangkok Airport
- Documents required for Thailand Visa on Arrival
- Thailand Visa on Arrival Fees
- Thailand Visa on Arrival Time Taken
- Immigration Experience: Visa on Arrival
- Thailand Visa on Arrival for Indian Tourists
- Thailand’s Immigration Points for Visa on Arrival
- Thailand E-Visa on Arrival (Online Visa on Arrival)
1. Thailand Visa – 3 Ways to Get Thai Visa
(Go to the Top) There are 3 ways that you can apply and get your Thailand Visa. As of now, only first 2 processes are available for getting Thailand Visa for Indians while Thai Government has announced launch of E-Visa in 2019. A quick summary of each process is below – (Read more: Thailand Visa for Indians – Visa Types, Fees and How to Apply ) –
- Thailand Visa on Arrival for Indians –We have covered getting Thailand Visa on Arrival process in this blog. This is a 15 day Visa issued to citizens from selected 21 countries once you land in Thailand. You can submit your documents, pay Visa fees and get your Thailand Visa at airport or any of 48 immigration points once you land there.
- Thailand Online Visa on Arrival (E-Visa on Arrival) – Recently Thai Government launched an E-Visa on Arrival facility. You can apply for your Visa on Arrival online and get pre-approval. Once you land in Thailand, just head to E-Visa counter and get your Visa on Arrival. (Read more – Thailand E-Visa on Arrival – Should you even apply online for Visa on Arrival? )
- Apply for Thai Visa beforehand in India – In case, you are looking for a longer duration Visa or do not want to stand in queue after landing in Thailand, you can apply for Thailand Visa from India beforehand. Usually fees for this kind of Thailand Visa is also lesser compared to getting your Thailand Visa on Arrival. Read more – How to get your Thailand Visa in India (Bangalore/Chennai)
- Thailand E-Visa (To be launched) – Thailand Government has announced that they would launch Complete E-Visa in 2019 (rather than E-Visa on Arrival). Plan is to launch it for China, Britain and France citizens in 2019. Once launched, this will be your complete 60 days Visa (Visa on Arrival is valid only for 15 days) and you can directly head to immigration once in Thailand (skipping all Visa on Arrival processes). When launched, Thailand E-Visa applications will be made via https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ but foreigners will also still be able to apply for a visa in person at a Thai embassy or consulate.
In this blog, we have covered requirements and process for applying Thailand Visa on Arrival (Method 1). In case, you are looking to get your Visa beforehand in India (Method 2), you may read our blog here – Apply for Thailand Tourist Visa in India (Bangalore/Chennai) – Indian Tourists
2. Eligible Countries List
(Go to the Top) Citizens from following 21 countries are eligible to apply for Thailand Visa on Arrival (15 days validity) for temporary visit (including Tourist Visa) –
| S. No. | Country | S. No. | Country |
| 1 | Andorra | 12 | Maldives |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 13 | Malta |
| 3 | Bhutan | 14 | Mauritius |
| 4 | China | 15 | Papua New Guinea |
| 5 | Cyprus | 16 | Romania |
| 6 | Ethiopia | 17 | San Marino |
| 7 | Fiji | 18 | Saudi Arabia |
| 8 | India | 19 | Taiwan |
| 9 | Kazakhstan | 20 | Ukraine |
| 10 | Latvia | 21 | Uzbekistan |
| 11 | Lithuania |
3. Thailand Visa on Arrival Process at Bangkok Airport
(Go to the Top) Bangkok Visa on Arrival process is pretty simple both at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang International Airport. Once you land in Bangkok, there is a separate zone marked for Visa on Arrival Application. You can easily find the same or ask any airport employee and they will direct you.
Bangkok Visa on Arrival Section
Just reach to the Visa on Arrival Application Zone and get in a line with all your documents (refer next section for Thailand Visa on Arrival Document Requirements). Please note that all members for which visa is required have to be in the queue.
Bangkok Visa on Arrival Application line usually remains pretty long and you have to wait for at least an hour for your turn. I travelled Thailand again in Dec’18 during my trip to Vietnam and at that point, Thailand Visa on Arrival was free (Thailand Government has waived off Visa on Arrival fee for limited period till Apr’19), so line was pretty long and it took me close to two hours to submit my Visa documents and get through Immigration.
Thailand Visa on Arrival Priority Line
There is also a Priority Line in which you can get your Visa on Arrival processed very fast (~10 minutes) by paying an additional fee (usually 200 Bahts per person). Elderly people/People with disabilities/Pregnant Women/those travelling with kids also get an entry to the Priority line. Please request security personnel over there.
Once you submit your documents, you are given a token and asked to wait in next section. For me, my Thailand Visa was processed within 5 minutes post document submission and my token number was called to collect my passport with Thailand Visa Stamped.
Separate Immigration Counters
Once you get your Visa stamped, you can proceed to next section – Immigration Counters. There are separate Immigration counters just for people with Visa on Arrival and you move pretty fast through immigration counters here. It took me another 10 minutes to get my Thailand Immigration stamp.
Here is my passport with Thailand Visa on Arrival and Thailand Immigration Entry stamp.
4. Documents required for Thailand Visa on Arrival
(Go to the Top) Here are the document requirements for Thailand Visa on Arrival and key tips for keeping the same ready in advance. Please keep TM 88 and TM 6 Forms pre-filled to save your time at Airport and move fast through Visa on Arrival Application queue.
Passport
Of course, you need your passport. Only important thing that you need to notice is that your passport should have at least 30 days validity.
Form TM 88 (Thailand Visa on Arrival Application Form):
You can get this form from Visa on Arrival Counter at Bangkok Airport. Form TM 88 is your Thailand Visa Application Form. You have to fill it up for all adults while details of minor children can be mentioned in the same form.
We will suggest to download Thailand Visa Application form in advance from Thailand Immigration Website (Link here) and keep filled up forms ready. This will save you time at Bangkok Airport and also help move quickly in Visa on Arrival line 😉 .
Here is the picture of Application Form and also quick tips for how to fill Thailand Visa on Arrival application form.
- Address in Thailand – You can provide Hotel address in Thailand where you are staying.
- Person(s) Reference in Thailand – You may leave this section blank
Photograph – One
You will need one photograph sized 4×6 cm taken within last 6 months. Though no extra photographs are required, still will suggest to keep few with you. There is also a booth near Visa on Arrival counter (Bangkok) where you could get your photographs at 200 Bahts.
Onward and Return Tickets
You should have both your arrival tickets and return tickets print out with you. You will be required to submit a copy of the same. Please note that your return ticket should be confirmed and with a return date within 15 days (since Thailand Visa on Arrival is issued only for maximum 15 days)
Please note that open one way tickets do not qualify at all. Travelling overland out of Thailand by train, bus, to neighboring countries (Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar etc) is also not accepted as proof of exiting Thailand and you may be asked to show your return flight ticket on entering Thailand. And in case, you do not possess a return flight ticket to show that you will be exiting Thailand within 15 days of entry, there are chances that you would be most likely refused entry. In such case, you may apply for your Thailand Visa in advance. Read more – How to get your Thailand Tourist Visa in India (Bangalore/Chennai)
Hotel/Hostel Booking for your stay in Thailand
You should have a print out of your hotel/hostel booking in Thailand for initial days of stay. We usually use www.booking.com to book our hotel and take print outs for Visa application. They help you book with no pre-payment and provide an option to cancel your booking till last day, thus providing us flexibility to change our plans even after getting our Visa.
Thailand Visa on Arrival Cash Requirements
For getting Thailand Visa on Arrival, you need to show the proof of having 10,000 Baht per person/20,000 Baht per family as means of living for your stay in Thailand. You may carry this in any currency and not necessarily in Bahts. Also, you need not carry this much cash, but only the proof that you have enough money to sustain yourself for your Thailand Trip.
However, it is rarely checked for Visa on Arrival. I applied twice for Thailand Visa on Arrival at Bangkok Airport and no one asked me how many Bahts was I carrying for my trip. We have received the same feedback from other travellers. Still, keep some money handy in case Visa on Arrival officials ask for it.
Form TM 6: Completed arrival and departure card
Form TM 6 is your arrival and departure form for entry and exit from Thailand. You have to fill the same and submit to Visa on Arrival officials. This is returned to you along with your passport and Visa on Arrival stamp. When you will move to immigration counter, official over there will stamp it and give you a part of it which you have to again display at the time of your Exit from Thailand, so keep that safe with you.
- Address in Thailand – You can mention hotel address where you are staying in Thailand.
You may get TM 6 form in flight itself. Just ask flight attendant and they will provide you one. Fill in advance !! It sometimes gets difficult to Find TM6 form at airport, so better get one from your flight attendant itself to avoid last minute rush.
5. Thailand Visa on Arrival Fees
(Go to the Top) Thailand Visa on Arrival Fees is 2000 Bahts per person. Sometimes, Visa Fee is waived off by Thailand Government so check in advance if there is any such announcement. e.g. Thailand Government has waived off Visa on Arrival Fees till Apr’19. Please note that Visa fees is paid in Thai Bahts only.
In case, you want to avoid long queue for Visa on Arrival Application, you may also get into Priority Queue by paying extra (usually 200 Bahts per person).
Thailand Visa on Arrival Fee for Indian Tourists: Fees is same for citizens of all 21 eligible countries. Applying a quick conversion factor, it will be approximately INR 4000. Please note that Visa Fee is paid only in Thai Bahts. So please check fees in advance and carry ample Thai Bahts for your Visa on Arrival fees.
6. Thailand Visa on Arrival Time Taken
(Go to the Top) So how much time does it take to get Thailand Visa on Arrival? Depends on the time of year when you are coming to Thailand. During year end holiday season, expect to spend around one to two hours to get your Visa on Arrival processed. In case, you have any domestic connecting flight, please request officials there and usually they help you to get your Visa on Arrival faster at separate counters.
It is a pretty tiring experience to start your trip by standing in queue for 1 to 2 hours. During my recent Vietnam Trip (I had almost 10 hours transit time), I applied for Thailand Visa on Arrival on both sides and on both occasions, I was in queue for almost 1.5 hours. Also, during our Thailand Trip 2 years ago, we had connected with an Indian couple in Bangkok. They had spent around 3.5 hours to get their Visa at Bangkok airport. You may even have to alter your plans if you loose couple of hours from your schedule.
Visa on Arrival Fee has been waived off by Thailand Government till Apr’19 Exit and I was travelling solo. Therefore, I decided to stand in queue and save some bucks :). Otherwise, we will strongly suggest to apply for your Visa beforehand and start your trip on a good happy note. You may read about the process of applying for your Visa beforehand here – How to get your Thailand Tourist Visa in India (Bangalore/Chennai)
7. Immigration Experience: Visa on Arrival
(Go to the Top) Once you get your Thailand Visa stamped on your passport, then you move pretty fast. There are separate immigration counters for Visa on Arrival and queue is relatively shorter. Immigration Official will have a quick check through your documents and credentials and stamp your Visa with Immigration Entry. At the same time, he/she will also stamp your T6 form and give you a part of it. Please keep it safe with you as this slip will be required during your Exit from Thailand.
8. Thailand Visa on Arrival for Indian Tourists
(Go to the Top) Process explained below applies for citizens from all 21 countries including Indian Tourists. There is no difference in Thailand Visa on Arrival Application Process from country to country. Since Visa on Arrival is for 15 days, so it also serves as Tourist Visa for of people looking to travel to Thailand for short trip.
9 Thailand’s Immigration Points for Visa on Arrival
(Go to the Top) Here is the list of immigration check-points where you can apply and get Visa on Arrival –
| S.No. | Immigration Point | S.No. | Immigration Point |
| 1 | Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok | 25 | Sattahip Habour Immigration Checkpoint, Chonburi |
| 2 | Don Muang International Airport, Bangkok | 26 | Khlong Yai Immigration Checkpoint, Trat |
| 3 | Chiangmai International Airport, Chiangmai | 27 | Pong Nam Ron Immigration Checkpoint, Chanthaburi |
| 4 | Phuket International Airport, Phuket | 28 | Aranyaprathet Immigration Checkpoint, Sakaeo |
| 5 | Hatyai International Airport, Songkhla | 29 | Mukdahan Immigration Checkpoint, Mukdahan |
| 6 | U Tapao Airport, Rayong | 30 | Tak Immigration Checkpoint, Tak |
| 7 | Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint, Chiengrai | 31 | Padang Besar Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla |
| 8 | Chieng Saen Immigration Checkpoint, Chiengrai | 32 | Su-ngai Kolok Immigration Checkpoint, Narathiwat |
| 9 | Chieng Khong Immigration Checkpoint, Chiengrai | 33 | Nong Khai Immigration Checkpoint, Nong Khai |
| 10 | Betong Immigration Checkpoint, Yala | 34 | Bueng Kan Immigration Checkpoint, Bueng Kan |
| 11 | Sadoa Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla | 35 | Phibun Mangsahan Immigration Checkpoint, Ubon Ratchathani |
| 12 | Samui Airport, Surat Thani | 36 | Tha Li Immigration Checkpoint, Loei |
| 13 | Sukhothai International Airport, Tak Immigration Checkpoint | 37 | Nakhon Phanom Immigration Checkpoint, Nakhon Phanom |
| 14 | Bangkok Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Bangkok | 38 | Nan Immigration Checkpoint, Nan |
| 15 | Sri Racha Immigration Checkpoint, Chonburi | 39 | Ban Prakob Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla |
| 16 | Mabtaput Immigration Checkpoint, Rayong | 40 | Khuan Don Immigration Checkpoint, Satun |
| 17 | Nong Khai Immigration Checkpoint, Nong Khai | 41 | Tak Bai Immigration Checkpoint, Narathiwat |
| 18 | Samui Immigration Checkpoint, Surat Thani | 42 | Bukit Tal Immigration Checkpoint, Narathiwat |
| 19 | Phuket Immigration Checkpoint, Phuket | 43 | Samut Prakan Checkpoint, Samut Prakan |
| 20 | Satun Immigration Checkpoint, Satun | 44 | Kanchanaburi Land Border Checkpoint, Kanchanaburi |
| 21 | Krabi Immigration Checkpoint, Krabi | 45 | Prachup Khiri Khan Checkpoint at Hua Hin Airport, Prachup Khiri Khan |
| 22 | Songkhla Harbour Immigraion Checkpoint, Songkhla | 46 | Phusing Land Border Checkpoint, Sisaket |
| 23 | Chiangrai Airport Immigration Checkpoint, Chiangrai | 47 | Satun Checkpoint at Koh Lipe Marine Port, Satun |
| 24 | Surat Thani Airport Immigration Checkpoint, Surat Thani | 48 | Trang Airport, Trang |
10. Thailand E-Visa on Arrival (Online Visa on Arrival)
(Go to the Top) Thailand E-Visa means applying for Visa on Arrival online and get pre-approval for your Visa on Arrival. Recently, Thailand Government launched E-Visa on Arrival facility. You can apply for your Visa on Arrival in advance online even before landing in Thailand and can get online pre-approval. Once you land in Thailand, just head to E-Visa counter (A separate counter next to Visa on Arrival counters) and get your Visa on Arrival approved. Since this is online pre-approval for your Thailand Visa on Arrival, so fees are same as for Thailand Visa on Arrival i.e. 2000 Bahts per person. However, there is an additional fee of 525 Bahts for online processing if you apply for E-Visa on Arrival online. Thailand Immigration has launched a dedicated website where you can apply for Thailand E-Visa on arrival – https://www.evisathailand.com/.
We do not suggest applying for Thailand Visa on Arrival ‘online’. Rather we will suggest to apply for your Visa on Arrival once your land in Thailand since you can get in priority line just by paying paying 200 Bahts while online Visa on Arrival fee is 525 Bahts. You can read more about the process of applying Visa on Arrival online and why we we do not recommend it here on our separate blog – Thailand Visa on Arrival Online (Thai E-Visa on Arrival) – Should you even apply online for Visa on Arrival?
We hope that this helps you plan your Thailand Trip better and get your Thailand Visa on Arrival faster. Please feel free to drop us comments in case you need more information or have any additional points to add that we missed here.