The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi made a significant announcement regarding the introduction of Thailand e-visa services for Indian passport holders beginning on January 1, 2025. The objective of the new system is to simplify visa applications, enabling applicants to make payments using an offline payment method, according to a statement issued by the embassy. In the meantime, regular Indian passport holders are still entitled to a 60-day visa exemption for tourist and short business trips. However, individuals opting for the e-visa will be required to pay a non-refundable visa fee, for which relevant Embassy and Consulate-Generals will supply details on offline payment alternatives. The processing time for the e-visa is estimated to be around 14 days following receipt of the visa fee. Applicants must submit their applications through Thailand’s authorized e-visa platform. The embassy has also stated the deadlines for the transition to the new e-visa system.
Effective December 16, 2024, ordinary passport applications filed through processing agencies will no longer be accepted. Meanwhile, applications from diplomatic and official passport holders submitted directly to the Embassy or Consulate-Generals will be considered until December 24, 2024. Thailand remains a popular destination for Indian visitors, with its lively cities and picturesque islands attracting millions of tourists annually.
Beloved locations like Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui continue to be preferred by Indian visitors. Furthermore, the country has become renowned as a center for Indian weddings and honeymoon vacations. In 2019, over 2 million Indian tourists visited Thailand, marking a significant increase from previous years.
Thailand’s reputation as a leading travel destination for Indians has been reinforced by its swift post-pandemic recovery, which has significantly bolstered the nation’s tourism-dependent economy. The embassy also emphasized that Indian citizens have the option of obtaining a visa upon arrival to assist with eleventh-hour travel plans. With the introduction of the new e-visa alternative, Thailand is determined to uphold its reputation as one of the premier travel destinations in Southeast Asia while enhancing the travel experience for Indian visitors. As Thailand gets ready to launch the e-visa system, travelers are advised to stay informed via official channels for any updates or procedural modifications.
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