India Medical Visa for Thai Citizens: Requirements, Fees & Application

The Indian Medical Visa allows Thai citizens to enter India for receiving medical treatment at recognized Indian hospitals including surgery, organ transplants, and specialized procedures. This visa category offers 60-day (triple entry) with triple entry privileges. Thai passport holders are eligible to apply online through India's e-Visa portal, eliminating the need to visit the Embassy of India in Bangkok. Up to two accompanying persons can apply for Medical Attendant visas linked to the primary medical visa holder. The hospital letter must be from a recognized institution and specify the estimated treatment duration.

Thai citizens must prepare the following documents before starting their application: 1. Valid passport (6+ months validity, 2 blank pages) 2. Recent passport-sized photo (white background) 3. Letter from Indian hospital confirming treatment plan 4. Medical diagnosis documents from home country 5. Proof of sufficient funds for treatment and stay 6. Doctor referral letter All documents must be in English or accompanied by certified English translations. Thai passport holders should ensure their passport has at least six months of validity from the intended date of arrival in India. The hospital letter is the most critical document — it must be on the hospital's official letterhead and clearly state the proposed treatment, expected duration, and estimated cost.

The standard e-Visa fee for Thai citizens is approximately 3000 THB (THB). This covers the government processing fee for the Medical Visa category. Fees are in THB. Thai bank cards (Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn, SCB) with Visa/Mastercard work. PromptPay and TrueMoney are not accepted. Enable international online transactions through your banking app before applying. Additional service charges may apply depending on the processing speed selected. Fee structures are set by the Indian government and are subject to periodic revision. It is advisable to check the official portal for the most current fee at the time of application. Fees are non-refundable once the application is submitted, regardless of whether the visa is approved or denied.

The Medical Visa application for Thai citizens follows these steps: 1. Visit the official Indian e-Visa portal and select "Medical Visa" as the visa category. 2. Fill in personal details, passport information, and travel itinerary. 3. Upload your passport scan and photograph meeting Indian specifications. 4. Review all information carefully for accuracy. 5. Submit payment of 3000 THB via credit or debit card. 6. Receive confirmation and tracking number via email. 7. Download your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) once approved. Standard processing takes 72 to 96 hours (expedited processing available). Apply at least 4-7 business days before your planned departure from Thailand to account for any delays. The ETA is electronically linked to your passport number — carry a printed copy for reference at immigration.

Thai citizens holding an Indian Medical Visa are permitted to stay for a maximum of 60 days during each visit. This stay limit applies to all nationalities equally for the Medical Visa category. Overstaying your visa is a serious immigration violation that can result in fines, detention, and future visa denials. With triple entry, you may enter India up to three times during the visa validity period.

India is within a few hours of Thailand time, with IST (UTC+5:30) being close to UTC+7 (ICT). This means Indian business hours largely overlap with Thai business hours, making real-time communication with Indian visa support straightforward. Thai Airways, Air India, IndiGo, and Thai Smile operate direct flights from Bangkok to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. Flight time is approximately 4 hours. Upon arrival in India, Thai citizens should proceed to the e-Visa immigration counter (separate from regular visa lines) at the airport. Have your printed ETA, passport, and return ticket ready. Immigration processing typically takes 15-30 minutes. India uses the metric system, drives on the left side of the road, and the local currency is the Indian Rupee (INR). For medical visa holders, many hospitals offer airport pickup services — confirm this with your treating hospital before departure.

Thai applicants may enter their Thai national ID card number (13 digits) instead of the passport number. These are different documents. Also, ensure the name on the application exactly matches the English transliteration in the Thai passport. Other frequent errors that affect Thai applicants include: applying too close to the travel date (allow at least 4-7 days), uploading compressed or cropped passport scans that obscure the machine-readable zone, and providing inconsistent information between the application form and passport. Medical visa applicants should ensure the hospital name in the application exactly matches the name on the hospital letter. Discrepancies between the two documents cause delays. Double-check every field before submission — corrections after submission are not possible.

Depending on your travel purpose, Thai citizens may also consider other Indian e-Visa categories: [Tourist Visa](/guide/india-tourist-visa-for-thai-citizens), [Business Visa](/guide/india-business-visa-for-thai-citizens), [Conference Visa](/guide/india-conference-visa-for-thai-citizens), [eMedical Attendant Visa](/guide/india-medical-attendant-visa-for-thai-citizens). Each visa type has specific eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and stay limits. Thailand and India share Buddhist heritage — many Thai travelers visit Bodh Gaya (where Buddha attained enlightenment), Sarnath, and Varanasi. Medical tourism from Thailand to India is also growing, particularly for specialized surgeries. Choosing the correct visa category is essential — applying under the wrong category leads to rejection and loss of the non-refundable application fee.