Thailand will roll out an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system in India starting January 1, 2025. However, the 60-day visa exemption for Indian passport holders for tourism and short business purposes will remain effective until further notice.
In a notice, the Thai embassy stated that applicants, who are non-Thai nationals, must apply for all visa types via the website https://www.thaievisa.go.th. Applicants can submit their applications themselves or through a representative.
The visa application process will include offline payment options. Specific details on payment methods will be provided by the embassy and its consulates. The embassy also emphasised that visa fees are non-refundable in all cases.
The processing time for visa applications is estimated to be within 14 working days from the date of receipt of the visa fee.
For those seeking regular visas under the current system, applications for ordinary passports must be submitted to the designated visa processing companies by December 16. Diplomatic and official passport applications should be submitted to the embassy or consulate-general by December 24.
ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORISATION: BENEFITS
The ETA will allow a single entry and be valid for up to 60 days. Visitors can extend their stay by 30 days if needed.
Those with an ETA can use automated immigration gates at checkpoints. By scanning the QR code on their ETA, travellers will be able to clear immigration more quickly.
The new system will also track the stays of visa-exempt nationals. Those who overstay their authorised period may face penalties, including daily fines.