Thailand to cut visa on arrival fees by 50 percent for citizens of India, 18 other countries

With a view to attracting more tourists, Thailand on 22 November reduced the visa on arrival fees for tourists from India and 18 other nations.

Henceforth, the visa on arrival fees will be INR2, 000 (1,000 baht) for Indian tourists. Earlier on 27 September, the Kingdom of Thailand had increased its visa fees to 2,000 baht. But the country’s economy is dependent heavily on overseas tourists. It is expected that the new move would give an impetus to this sector by luring more tourists.

The Press Trust of India quotes the Thai Tourism Ministry as saying that the fees would be pared to 1,000 baht.

Visa on arrival is offered by Thailand currently to citizens of Andorra, Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Ethiopia, Latvia, the Maldives, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mauritius, Lithuania Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Cyprus, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

The Cabinet also decided to extend the long–stay visa for foreign nationals aged at least 50 to 10 years. These tourists must, however, report to immigration police once every three months.

According to Col Apisit Chaiyanuwat, vice minister at the Thailand Prime Minister’s Office,  the long-stay visa will initially be valid for five years after which tourists can renew it for five more years. The fee for these visas is INR20, 000 (10,000 baht)

To be eligible for long-stay visas, foreigners should have a minimum monthly salary of 100,000 baht or a bank deposit of not less than 3 million baht. These salary levels have to be maintained for a minimum of one year after receiving the visa.

In addition, they should be covered under health insurance for $1,000 for outpatient care and $10,000 for inpatient care per policy annually.

The amended rule aimed to boost health and wellness tourism is in accordance with the policy of the government, it was reported.

Apsit added that their target countries for long-stay visitor visas were China, the United States, Australia, England, France, Canada, Japan, Norway, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Taiwan and Germany, apart from India.

If you are planning a trip to Bangkok or any other places in Thailand, approach Y-Axis to avail guidance to file for a tourist visa from one of its 19 offices located in India.