With the new method, Indian passport holders would not have to make in-person visits for visa applications; formerly, they had to visit Thai embassies or consulates for business and other non-tourist visits, Available to all Indian nationals, the e-Visa provide a more quick approach to apply online.

Apart from this new e-Visa program, the current 60-day visa exemption for Indian visitors would stay in force. Indian citizens visiting Thailand for leisure can still gain from the exemption and enjoy visa-free access for up to 60 days. The Thai government underlined that the e-Visa system will be used as an option for people who require a visa for other purposes, including business, education, or family trips, not to replace the visa exemption.

Applying for the e-Visa requires visiting the official website (https://www.thaievisa.go.th), where one may complete the application form either personally or with a representative. Though this may vary depending on certain circumstances, the processing period for e-Visas is projected to take up to 14 working days from the receipt of the visa fee. The Thai government is providing an offline payment alternative for the visa cost in an effort to accept a larger spectrum of candidates; although more specifics on this option will be made public shortly.

Given the large number of Indian people visiting Thailand, the e-Visa system's debut fits the country's continuous attempts to upgrade travel and tourism infrastructure, One of Thailand's main suppliers of international visitors is India , hence the government is eager to simplify the visa application procedure to draw even more guests.

India comes in third place in terms of visitor count to Thailand, according to Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of Tourism and Sports for Thailand, With 1.25 million of them from India, a total of 21.8 million foreign visitors had visited Thailand as of August 11, 2024 Following Chinese visitors at 4.4 million, this remarkable statistic ranks Indian nationals as the second-largest group of foreign visitors to Thailand, With 3.02 million visitors, Malaysia ranks also highly on the list.

Since it removes the need for real consulate visits and offers a faster and more practical application process, the e-Visa system is likely to increase the flood of Indian visitors even more, The new method will provide even more freedom for people with other goals for their vacation, such business excursions, conferences, or family visits, as Indian nationals already enjoy a 60-day visa exemption for tourism, One of Thailand's most significant travel markets, India, will benefit from this extension of the e-Visa facility as a positive move forward in the country's attempts to boost tourism and deepen relations with it.

The implementation of the e-Visa system for Indian citizens from January 2025 and the ongoing visa exemption for visitors mark a victory for both visitors and Thailand's tourism business. Simplifying the visa application will probably help Thailand attract more visitors from India, a major market, and enable travel to the nation to be even more practical and easy.

Thailand to Introduce E-Visas for Indian Nationals Starting January 1

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