India e-Visa for Thai Citizens 2026: Online e-Tourist Visa, Documents, Photo Rules and Common Mistakes

India e-Arrival is not your ETA

The government e-Visa portal says foreigners and OCI holders can submit an e-Arrival card within 72 hours before arrival through boi.gov.in, Indian Visa Online or the official Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app. This records arrival information; it is not a visa and does not replace an ETA.

Choose tourist, business or another category from the actual activity. The minimum four-day application lead time is measured against arrival and is not a four-day approval promise. Recheck the application window and authorised entry point for the selected category before committing to travel.

What the India e-Visa is, and how it differs from a regular visa

The e-Visa is an electronic visa applied for and delivered fully online. It covers tourism, family visits, short business, conferences and short medical treatment. Thai passport holders are eligible for the e-Tourist Visa category.

The key difference: no passport submission and no embassy visit. However, an e-Visa is valid only at designated airports and seaports. If you plan to enter overland, or your purpose is not covered by an e-Visa, you must apply for a regular visa at the Embassy of India in Bangkok.

• 100% online — no passport submission
• Approval is an ETA sent by email; print and carry it
• Entry only through designated airports and seaports
• Passport must be valid at least 6 months from the date of arrival in India

Files and information to prepare before the form

The online system requires a scanned passport bio page (PDF) and a digital front-facing photo (JPEG) meeting specific size and quality rules. Blurry files, glare or cropped edges are common reasons applications stall or are refused.

Every form field must match the passport exactly, including middle names, date of birth and passport number. Prepare your first accommodation in India, a rough itinerary and emergency contact details before starting, because the form spans several pages and can time out.

• Passport bio page scanned as a legible PDF
• Front-facing photo, white background, no glasses, JPEG
• Name spelled exactly as in the passport, including middle names
• First accommodation, travel dates and port of entry

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Frequent problems are names that do not match the passport, wrong-size photos, choosing an e-Visa category that does not match the purpose, and applying too close to the travel date. Many lookalike agent sites mimic the official portal and charge high fees — apply only through the Government of India domain (indianvisaonline.gov.in).

If an application is refused, the fee is not refunded and the system rarely gives detailed reasons. Recheck every field against the passport and documents before reapplying, and disclose your travel history truthfully.