What the Thailand visa online is
The Thailand visa online, also called the e-Visa, lets foreign nationals travel to Thailand for tourism, business or other purposes. You apply from home on the official e-Visa website instead of visiting an embassy or consulate. The application includes a digital copy of your passport and a passport-sized photograph, so the visa photo is one of the first files to prepare. For the US-only format, see our Thailand visa photo page for US applicants.
Thailand visa photo size explained
The photo size for the Thai e-Visa is 35×45 mm, or 3.5×4.5 cm. In our template the head size is about 34.5 mm from the chin to the top of the head, with about 3 mm between the top edge of the photo and the hair. That leaves a close crop: the face fills most of the frame, with the shoulders just visible. The official sample photo on the e-Visa website shows how the head, shoulders and background should look. A print at 600 DPI keeps the photo sharp at this size if you also need a paper copy.
Photo for the online upload
You fill in the application form on the website and upload the photo together with the other documents. A photo file that is cropped to the wrong size, too dark or blurry can hold up your application, so check the visa photo before you submit it. A scan of an old printed photo is not the same as a fresh digital photo: it often loses sharpness and colour. Our online photo maker gives you a digital file in the right size, ready for the upload.
How to apply for the e-Visa
- Check that your nationality can apply for the Thailand visa online on the official e-Visa website.
- Gather digital copies of your documents, including the visa photo.
- Click "Apply Now", fill in the application form and upload the documents.
- Pay the fee by credit or debit card and keep a record of the payment.
- Submit the application and keep the reference number from the confirmation email.
- Wait for processing; you can check the status with your reference number.
- Receive the e-Visa by email and print a copy to show on arrival.
Documents that go with the photo
The visa photo is one part of the online application. You also need digital copies of:
- A passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry.
- Your travel itinerary, such as flight bookings.
- Proof of accommodation, such as hotel reservations.
- Financial proof, such as bank statements.
You also need a valid email address, a computer, tablet or smartphone with internet access, and a modern browser.
Processing time and validity
Processing for the Thailand visa online typically takes 3-5 business days. The e-Visa is usually valid for a stay of up to 60 days, depending on the type issued. To stay longer, apply for an extension at the Immigration Bureau in Thailand before it expires. It is valid for entry through designated international airports and land border checkpoints listed on the official website.
Getting the photo size and crop right
With a home photo, size and crop usually take the most work. A phone camera takes a wide photo in a different shape, so the photo has to be cropped to the 35×45 mm size, a portrait frame slightly taller than it is wide. The crop decides the head size: crop too wide and the head looks small in the photo; crop too tight and the top of the hair or the chin is cut off. Our tool finds your face in the photo and places the crop so the head is about 34.5 mm tall with about 3 mm above the hair, close to the proportions of the official sample photo. You get a Thailand visa photo that matches the required size without measuring anything yourself.
Photo size in pixels and printing
The visa photo size is given in millimetres, so the number of pixels depends on the resolution. At 600 DPI, a 35×45 mm photo is about 827×1063 pixels. A visa photo file at this size stays sharp on screen and in print. If you also need paper copies of your visa photo, print the file at 600 DPI on photo paper and cut it to the exact size. A print shop or a home printer both work, as long as the photo is printed at its real size and not scaled to fit the page. Check a printed visa photo with a ruler: it should measure 35 mm across and 45 mm in height.
Visa photo checklist
- Correct photo size: 35×45 mm, with the head about 34.5 mm tall.
- Plain light grey background, no shadows or patterns.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
- Head straight and centred in the photo.
- Glasses off to avoid glare, and your full face inside the frame of the photo.
- Sharp colour photo with no filters.
