Indian VISA Application in Bangkok

As always my planning for this trip was haphazard and lazy. By booking flights less than 2 weeks in advance, without checking the VISA situation, I am left with a last minute scramble for a VISA. First I find for British Passport holders there is an excess fee for an Indian VISA Application. While Fanfan (Thai) only pays 1,700 Baht; myself being British pay 4,000 Baht. Extortionate? Check here for list of Indian VISA fees. In truth I wouldn’t have booked the flights knowing this. With added fees (below) the VISA cost near double the flights from Bangkok to India (Kolkata). On the plus side I do get to see India which I wouldn’t have bothered with knowing the situation in advance. Anyway this is the process for Indian VISA Application in Bangkok. Easily done online, by yourself, without help from agents etc. Click below banner to start the easy online application.

Some of the stranger questions; visible identification marks e.g. moles, birthmarks or as I put none. Also a particularly hard question for travellers; Countries Visited in Last 10 Years which gives enough space for less than our past years’ travels. Add the more prominent VISAs in your passport and you should be fine (we were).

The Indian VISA Services Office (Asoke)

Once the online application form is complete, print it and bring with other documentation (listed below) to the India VISA Services Office (or IVS for short). The IVS office is located on the far end of the Asoke Road (Sukhumvit 21) just before the bridge crossing to Petchaburi. You will find it on the left when coming from the Asoke Interchange station. Get there by MRT (Sukhumvit, Exit 3) or BTS (Asoke). The main Asoke road pictured below. For the lazy you maybe better with a quick taxi or motorbike. The building is called the 253 Asoke Building (also pictured below). Take the elevators to the 22nd floor and the offices are directly next to them. The building also sits opposite Rutnin Eye Hospital if that’s of any help.

What You Need?

Documentation for the Indian VISA Application in Bangkok:

Completed Visa Application Form (must be completed online and printed)
Two recent colour photographs (2 x 2 inch, no exceptions).
Two Photocopies of Passport Photo Page (for non-Thai include copy of current Thai VISA in passport)
Reference form (for non-Thai only; can be obtained and completed at the VISA application office).
Copy of return flight ticket
Copy of hotel booking (we booked the first two nights)

Additional Fees?

If details are wrong on the application will need to be edited and printed again by the Indian VISA offices. We paid 175 Baht each after screwing up both our application forms. Where we got it wrong? For tourist VISA the ‘Period of VISA’ must be ‘6 months’ even if planning to stay only days. ‘Number of Entries’ must be ‘Double’ not ‘Single’. You can also get photographs printed (250 Baht) at the VISA Application office and print outs of the ‘reference form’ (5 Baht per photocopy). Below is what I paid. 4000 Baht for VISA and 485 Baht for God knows what. Full VISA fees for British Citizen equal 4,485 Baht. For Thai Citizens 1,785 Baht. On top of that you need to pay 250 Baht for Courier Services even if you plan on picking up your passport in person. Also a 60 Baht SMS Fee. My additional fees coming to a grand total of 475 Baht. Remember all fees (and processes) can change overnight so use only as guidance.