Thailand Visa Options 2026: Tourist, Retirement and Digital Nomad Visas
Visa facts checked against official sources on 7 October 2026.
For a short holiday, Indian passport holders do not need a visa for Thailand: since 15 September 2026 the visa exemption allows up to 30 days. Longer or different stays need a visa, applied for online at thaievisa.go.th. This guide sets out the main options and what the official sources say about each.
Key fact
Every visitor must complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 3 days before arrival, whether or not they need a visa.
Options at a glance
| Your plan | Option | Stay | Official fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday or short business trip | Visa exemption | Up to 30 days | No visa fee |
| Longer or planned holiday | Tourist e-visa, single entry | As granted | INR 3,000 |
| Several visits in six months | Tourist e-visa, multiple entry | Valid 6 months | INR 13,500 |
| Remote work or long stays | Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | 180 days per entry; valid 5 years | INR 30,000 |
| Retirement, aged 50 or over | Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) | Up to 1 year | See the Embassy fee list |
| High earners, investors, specialists | Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa | 10 years (5 + 5) | THB 50,000 if issued in Thailand |
Fees in rupees are those listed by the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi. The Embassy updated its fee list in 2026, so check it before you pay.
1. Visa exemption and tourist e-visa
- Visa exemption: up to 30 days for tourism or short business, for Indian ordinary passport holders. It was 60 days until 15 September 2026.
- Tourist e-visa: INR 3,000 for single entry or INR 13,500 for a six-month multiple-entry visa, applied for only on thaievisa.go.th. Allow about 14 working days.
- Carry a passport valid for at least 6 months, a return or onward ticket, your accommodation details and proof of funds.
2. Retirement: the Non-Immigrant O-A visa
The Thai foreign ministry describes the Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) visa as being for applicants aged 50 or over who want to stay in Thailand for up to one year without working. It carries financial and health-insurance requirements, which the ministry lists on its O-A page.
An earlier version of this article described the ten-year O-X visa as the retirement route. The O-X visa is open only to a limited list of nationalities, so check the ministry’s page before planning around it.
3. Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
- Valid for 5 years with multiple entries.
- Each entry allows a stay of up to 180 days.
- The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi lists the fee as INR 30,000.
- The document and financial requirements are set out on the official e-visa site; read them before applying, because the fee is not refunded.
4. Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa
The LTR visa is run by the Thailand Board of Investment. It is granted for five years and can be extended for another five if you still qualify.
| Category | Main requirement |
|---|---|
| Highly-skilled professionals | Income of US$80,000 a year |
| Work-from-Thailand professionals | Income of US$80,000 a year, working for an established overseas company |
| Wealthy global citizens | US$1 million in assets and US$500,000 invested in Thailand |
| Wealthy pensioners | Aged 50 or over with passive income of US$80,000 a year |
The processing fee is THB 50,000 when the visa is issued in Thailand. Spouses and children under 20 can apply as dependants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not for a stay of up to 30 days for tourism or short business. The visa exemption has been 30 days since 15 September 2026; before that it was 60 days.
The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi lists INR 3,000 for single entry and INR 13,500 for a six-month multiple-entry visa.
Up to 180 days per entry. The visa is valid for 5 years with multiple entries.
Yes. Complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before you arrive.
Official sources
- Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi: visa
- Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi: consular fees
- Thailand official e-Visa
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand: Non-Immigrant Visa O-A
- Thailand Board of Investment: LTR visa
Need help with a Thailand visa?
See the entry rules, fees and documents in our Thailand guide, checked against official sources.
Read the Thailand visa guide