Thailand is my most visited country, I have been there 11 times as I write this. On all my previous trips, my point of entry was Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok. And if you enter from Bangkok, that is where you get your visa on arrival for Thailand. However, on the most recent trip my daughter, Chhavi and I traveled via Singapore for a vacation at Koh Samui. Getting a visa on arrival at Koh Samui on Indian Passport was a breeze!
Koh Samui is a beautiful, small airport, much different from the regular ones we encounter. It looks more like an open air tropical resort than an airport. As you climb down the stairs of the plane, carts with open sides carry you to the main building.
As there are only a few flights landing at Koh Samui, the lines at the passport control are much shorter than Suvarnabhumi Bangkok. I think a lot of nationalities do not need visa to enter Thailand, so when Chhavi and I came in to passport control area, there was hardly any queue at visa on arrival counters.
There were exactly two families on the visa on arrival counter- us and one more! The other family was waiting for something, so I had all the counters to myself! As I have been to Thailand many times, I know they accept only Thai Baht for the fee. It is 2000 per person at the moment.
I paid the fee for both of us, got the receipt and proceeded to the passport control. There was a short queue, which was nothing compared to what I see in Bangkok. I was offered the express counter for additional payment of 200 Baht per person, but I did not use it. In Bangkok I almost always use the express queue as the wait time is anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes.
We stood in the queue for about 10 minutes, got our passports stamped. We ran to the luggage counter to get our bags.
Our holiday has started! It was that easy for us to get the visa on arrival at Koh Samui! We had a good time in Koh Samui.
That was quick one ? Mridula
Thanks for sharing ?
Yes such a contrast from Bangkok queues 😀
interesting informative post with awesome pictures capturing
Thank you so much!
Interesting Information
Thank you!
thank you so much,
nice article
Thank you Shilpa!
That’s helpful.
Thank you!
Perfect article. Exactly what I wanted to know, which many other sites didn’t answer well for me. Thanks.
Thank you so much, I am glad this of help to you.
profound…just the info we were looking for…thank you mridula
Thank you so much!
Hello Mridula. Thanks for this very useful information. Am travelling the exact same way soon and am trying to fill up the online VOA form. The drop down on Arrival Airport options does not seem to allow for anything but Suvarnabhumi International Airport. So I can fill in all other details but I can’t get the tab to read Samui Airport. Any clue how I can fix this? The flight number is the one that lands in Koh Samui anyway. Should I just go ahead and fill in the rest?
The VOA is available only at Suvarnabhumi but don’t worry just download and fill in a normal form and present it to the officers at Samui. It is less crowded at Samui and you will get the visa.
Dear Mridula,
Thank you for the informative post. Appreciate the info. Had a query on getting Thai Baht in Samui airport for the purposes paying for the Thai Visa. Can we convert currency to Baht at the airport or is it better to convert it at India . Grateful for the information thnx..Nadeem
Hi Nadeem, I am sorry I did not try converting currency at the Samui airport, so not sure. I had Thai Baht when I landed there. Though I am sure they would have an option at the Samui too. They surely do have exchange options at Suvarnabhumi.
I am going in November.Thanks for information.
Wish you a fabulous trip!
Hi Mridula, I am travelling to Ko Samui via Singapore. I have booked my flights in Singapore airlines (from chennai to Singapore and Singapore to Ko samui). The transit time between two flights is 4 hours only. Do I need to have Visa? Did u have?
If you are on the same airline your bags will be through checked-in, you don’t need a transit visa in Singapore.
Hi Mridula – thanks for the information. Had a quick question – do you have to fill in the online visa application form or can you fill one in at the Koh Samui airport? Many thanks!
Hi Minti, the online form works only for Suvarnabhumi Bangkok! You can download the normal form and fill it or you can fill it at the airport too.
Hi Mridula, we are flying to Ko Samui via Singapore and planning to have VOA. I want to know what documents we require for that and how much Thai currency is required to show for visa purpose.
The visa fee is 2000 Baht per person. They usually ask for return tickets and hotel booking. I have never been asked for the proof of financial means so not sure. Please check the embassy website.
Mridula, this was some important information, thank you for that.
I have booked my tickets from mumbai to koh samui via Singapore (Singapore airlines).
And return is from surat thani to Mumbai via bangkok.
So I will have to just get visa at koh samui. Correct?
Yes you will remain in transit in Singapore and visa will happen at Koh Samui. Have a great trip!
Hi Mridula, thanks for your earlier reply. One more thing I want to know. Can we get the application form at Samui airport itself?
Yes Neeta you can get the form at the Samui Airport.
Hi,
Was the visa available because you came via Singapore or is it available even if we travel via Bangkok? I plan to travel via Bangkok and if I can skip the queue and take the connecting flight to Koh Samui where I process the visa, I will end up having the same experience as you.
Hi, no if you fly via Bangkok you have to take the visa there.
Hi Mridula, I am also planning for same trip , does travelling from Singapore airlines require transit Visa at Singapore airport, can you just brief on travel from Delhi to Koh Samui
Also on check in baggages, I hope it will directly sent to Koh Samui.
There is no transit visa required if you are flying the same airline throughout. If your Delhi Singapore Koh Samui is on Singapore airline you do not require a transit visa in Singapore. Your baggage will be through checked in to Koh Samui if it is the same airline.
Hi ,
I am traveling on 29th Nov to Thailand.
Recently thailand has announced free visa on arrival until Jan2019. So the question is i am traveling from mumbai to Bangkok and from Bangkok i have flight for Koh samui. So i will have to take visa at Bangkok or Koh samui ? I will land Bangkok at 7am and 8am (within 1 hr ) i have Koh samui flight.
If you are landing at Bangkok immigration happens there. Tell the staff about your next flight and they will assist you. Have a great trip.
Hey same here can you share your experience.
Hi mrudula
I am travelling koh samui from mumbai on 15 dec 2018 and my flight is mumbai-bkk-koh samui with layover time of 1:45 at bangkok svarnabhumi airport, i was worried whether it is enough time to apply VOA and get into my next flight to koh samui.
Talk to the ground staff, they will help you out. They make sure connecting passengers get on to their flights.
Will i manage to get visa on arrival or do you suggest toapply visa from here
Thanks Mridula!! Helpful information..
Thank you. Just the information I was looking for.
Thank you, have a great trip!
Is visa on arrival at Ko Samui airport is free of cost.?
No the usual visa fee apply!
The drop-down menu of the official e-visa website for Thailand doesn’t show Koh Samui airport as an option. My wife and I are travelling directly from Singapore to Koh Samui, so what do you suggest we do with reference to the visa?
You can apply for Visa on Arrival at Koh Samui do check again.
Its very informative , I’m travelling from Bangalore to koh Samui this month and was worried since I’ve the connecting flight from Singapore, however your post helped me find answers to all my question. Keep up.
Thanks.
Thank you so much for the feedback, have a great trip!
Hi Mridula,
I am travelling to Koh Samui via Singapore this october 2019. Since the Visa fee is waived off and (VOA) is free for indians until october 31st, i was wondering if i just need to have valid passports & sufficient fund, for my journey.
Based on the above comments i understand , we need to fill in VISA form and submit photographs once i touchdown in koh samui airport.
I just thought to check and confirm if not having any visa would be a problem in singapore airport checkin, since i will be travelling via singapore and i do not need singapore transit visa since i am flying with singapore airlines carrier so ideally i will only have my passport on me and no visas.
Again, thank you for all the comments and feedbacks you been providing, really helps fellow travellers.
You would still fill the form at Koh Samui, only you will not give the money as the fee is waived! There would be no problem at Singapore if you plan to remain in the airport and have the flights on the same carrier like Singapore Airline and Silk Air!
Very crisp and helpful
Thanks for the info