Thailand Visa On Arrival waiver: My best Visa-free experience
In this blog I will share my best Visa-free experience and the boarding & arrival procedure that I went through after the implementation of Thailand Visa On Arrival waiver scheme applicable from November 10, 2023 as per the Thailand Embassy. Before telling you about my personal experience, Here is some general info about this new rule.
Thailand Visa extension update as of May 7, 2024:Klook.com
Thailand has extended their Visa exemption program for India & Taiwan for another six months. Now travellers from India & Taiwan can travel without a visa to Thailand until November 11,2024 for 30 days.
Is Thailand visa-free for both Indians and Taiwanese? What are the current rules regarding Visa On Arrival waiver in 2024?
The Thailand Embassy has announced that holders of Indian and Taiwanese passports can visit Thailand for leisure purposes and stay for up to 30 days without requiring a visa.
Yes, if you possess an Indian or Taiwanese passport, you can fly directly to Thailand without the need to apply for a visa. This decision has been made to enhance tourism in Thailand. However, you will still need specific travel documents, which I will explain below.
Source: https://newdelhi.thaiembassy.org/en/content/visa-exemption-india?cate=614489badd57933bb40edbf2
From when the Thailand Visa-free scheme for Indians & Taiwanese applicable?
The Thailand visa-free scheme for India and Taiwan is applicable from November 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024. I hope this period might get extended based on the tourist inflow.
Update: Since Thailand has extended this program for another 6 months starting from May 10, 2024. Visa Exemption is now applicable till November 11, 2024 for India & Taiwan.
I flew to Thailand right after the announcement. I’ll be sharing my experience and the procedures that I went through as an Indian tourist in the next few parts of the blog.
What are the documents required for Thailand Visa On Arrival for Indians & Taiwanese in 2024?
Even though there is no Visa required for Indians & Taiwanese, you’ll be asked to show few documents such as,
- Passport
- Boarding pass
- Return flight booking details
- Your hotel booking details.
- 10,000 baht cash, if you are an individual(not in my case,you’ll know next).
Is it mandatory to carry 10,000 Thai baht cash in 2024 when you visit Thailand as an Individual tourist?
The answer is no if you are an Indian or Taiwanese tourist.
Because In my case, I was asked to show only the Passport, Boarding pass, Return flight details, hotel booking details and not the 10,000 Thai baht cash or my bank balance.
But I would suggest you to carry a minimum of 5,000 to 8,000 baht, depending upon the number of days you plan to stay. Also, try to use the currency exchange in your home country itself, as the exchange rates are much cheaper.
To give you an Idea, I stayed in Thailand for 5 days, and 8,000 baht was good enough for the entire trip.
Is it mandatory to carry 2 passport size photos when you visit Thailand as a tourist in 2024?
You won’t be asked to fill out a Visa On Arrival form if you are from India or Taiwan. There is no need to carry passport-size photos.
In case you are from a country that is not eligible for the Visa-free scheme and you forgot to carry photos, no worries. There will be a photo booth near the immigration counter at Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok. They will likely ask for 50-100 baht for the photo.
Since I didn’t receive proper updated information about this when I travelled, I did carry the photos but never used them.
Entering Thailand without a Visa in 2024. Here is my experience.
I travelled to Thailand in the month of November on the 16th, 2023. Yes, within a week after the new visa-free scheme came into effect. Thailand is my first country (hopefully, many to come) as a tourist. I’ll share my experience right from flight boarding to arrival.
Boarding experience from Chennai, India:
Document verification at Immigration check during Boarding:
I boarded the flight from Chennai International airport, India.
As mentioned above, the immigration officer asked me for my boarding pass and passport, and also requested proof of the return flight and proof of accommodation (I had the printouts ready, so make sure to have them on hand when you board).
They didn’t inquire about whether I had enough cash or proof of my bank balance.
But what was I informed before boarding the flight regarding the Thailand Visa On Arrival document requirements?
When I checked with some YouTubers, the Embassy website informed us that one needs to carry two passport-size photos (Thailand passport standards), proof of accommodation, 10,000 baht cash, and a return flight ticket.
However, it is not completely true when it comes to India or Taiwan, and this information is still not updated when you search for it on Google.
Questions they ask at Immigration check during boarding:
The immigration officer just asked, “Where are you going, Gokul?” Yes, exactly the same. I replied, “Bangkok, Thailand.” That’s all.
After this, the regular formalities—biometric, photo capture, etc.—were done. Once the formalities were completed, the immigration officer stamped the exit on my passport. The immigration process was just a piece of cake.
You might be asked questions such as:
- “Which city/country are you going to?”
- “What is the reason for the visit?” etc.
Since you don’t require a visa for Thailand, the immigration process will be very simple. And there you go, you’ll get the exit stamp on your passport.
Arrival experience in Bangkok, Thailand:
No Visa On Arrival application form needs to be filled.
When I arrived at Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok, even though there is no visa required after November 10, 2023, I was expecting that I would be asked to fill an application form for entry formalities. However, I wasn’t asked to fill any application form at the Visa On Arrival (VOA) counter. I just skipped the Visa On Arrival counter and moved to the Immigration check.
So, you won’t be asked to fill any application form at the Visa On Arrival counter; you can directly proceed to the immigration check with your passport.
Document Verification at Immigration Check on Arrival:
It is similar to the boarding experience in India. I was asked to show the passport, proof of return flight, and proof of accommodation. Even in Bangkok, they didn’t ask if I had 10,000 baht cash in hand or proof of bank balance.
Questions They Ask at Immigration Check on Arrival:
After showing the required documents to the immigration officer, the regular biometric and face scans were done. This time I was not asked any questions such as the purpose of the visit; no questions were asked. This varies from one person to another.
Post this, you’ll be given the entry stamp for the next 30 days as a tourist. This process will be completed within a maximum of 5 minutes. There you go; you’ll get your entry stamp for 30 days on your passport.
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Conclusion
As you have read above, the immigration checks during boarding and arrival will be a piece of cake. Now that you are aware of the latest procedures, you need not worry anymore. I hope you’ll have a great holiday experience in Thailand.
I hope you find this article helpful. Leave your comment if you find this helpful.
Nice.