MavisHelena6948 at 22:15, 29 July 2025

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{{Short description|Diplomatic mission of Thailand in South India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox official post
|post = Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chennai
|body =
|native_name = {{lang|th|สถานกงสุลใหญ่ไทย ณ เมืองเจนไน}} {{lang|ta|தாய்லாந்துத் துணைதூதரகம், சென்னை}}
|insignia = Royal Thai Consulate-General Seal.svg
|insigniasize = 120px
|insigniacaption = [[Emblem of Thailand|Thai Garuda emblem]]
|department = [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]
|image =
|alt =
|incumbent = Racha Aribarg
|incumbentsince = 2024
|style = Consul-General
|residence =
|nominator =
|nominatorpost =
|appointer =
|appointerpost =
|termlength =
|inaugural = Suphot Yanthukij
|formation = 2005
|last =
|abolished =
|succession =
|salary =
|website = {{Official|https://www.thaiconsulategeneralchennai.com/index.php}}
}}

The '''Consulate General of Thailand in Chennai''' is the [[Diplomatic mission|mission]] of [[Thailand]] in [[South India]] representing the interests of the Thai government in the region. The other missions in the country are the Royal Thai Embassy in [[New Delhi]] and the Royal Thai Consulates General in [[Kolkata]] and [[Mumbai]]. The Chennai Consulate covers the southern states of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telangana]], [[Karnataka]] and [[Kerala]]. The current Consul General is Racha Aribarg. He succeeds Nitirooge Phoneprasert.

==Location==
The [[Chancery (diplomacy)|chancery]] premises of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chennai is located at No.116, Chamiers Road, [[Nandanam]], [[Chennai]]. with effect from 1 November 2018. Earlier, the chancery, along with the Thai Trade Office, was located at No.116, Chamiers Road, [[Nandanam]], [[Chennai]].<ref>{{cite web| title =Thai agencies in India| publisher =Thai-India Business Information Center| url =http://www.thaiindia.net/en/thai-agencies-in-india.html| access-date =16 Feb 2012| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120129053022/http://www.thaiindia.net/en/thai-agencies-in-india.html| archive-date =2012-01-29}}</ref>

==History==
Plans to establish a Royal Thai Consulate General in Chennai were implemented in 2003.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Thailand plans consulate in Chennai
| location = Chennai
| date = 18 May 2003
| url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/05/18/stories/2003051802300600.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030903134824/http://hindu.com/thehindu/2003/05/18/stories/2003051802300600.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 3 September 2003
| newspaper = [[The Hindu]]
| access-date = 16 Feb 2012}}</ref> The consulate was completed in late 2005.<ref>{{cite web
| title = 60 Years of Friendship, Thailand–India
| url = http://www.diplomatist.com/pdf/thailand.pdf
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012
| archive-date = 16 February 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100216023847/http://www.diplomatist.com/pdf/thailand.pdf
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

In November 2005, the Consulate General in Chennai opened the first Thailand Visa Application Centre in the city located at [[Anna Salai|Mount Road]], [[Teynampet]].<ref>{{cite web
| title = Thailand Visa Application Centre At Chennai
| publisher = Business Traveller
| date = December 2005
| url = http://www.businesstravellerindia.com/200512/newsstation06.shtml
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| title = Thailand visa application centre opened in Chennai
| location = Chennai
| date = 10 November 2005
| url = http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/10/stories/2005111015270700.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060526113110/http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/10/stories/2005111015270700.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 26 May 2006
| newspaper = [[The Hindu]]
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012}}</ref> A new visa application center was inaugurated by Consul-General Krongkanit Rakcharoen at [[Egmore]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite news
| last = BW Online Bureau
| title = CKGS Opens Thai Visa Application Centre in Chennai
| newspaper = BWHotelier
| location = Chennai
| date = 17 May 2018
| url = http://bwhotelier.businessworld.in/article/CKGS-Opens-Thai-Visa-Application-Centre-in-Chennai/17-05-2018-149523/
| access-date = 21 November 2020}}</ref>

On 8 October 2006, the Consulate General founded the Thai Student Associations Bangalore (ThaiSAB), a non-profit voluntary union of Thai students pursuing academic and research disciplines around [[Bangalore]].<ref>{{cite web| title =About Us| publisher =ThaiSAB| url =http://www.thaisab.in/?page_id=7| access-date =14 Feb 2012| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120215005641/http://www.thaisab.in/?page_id=7| archive-date =2012-02-15}}</ref>

==List of consuls general==
* Mr. Suphot Yanthukij
* Mr. Chanchai Charanvatnakit
* Mr. Somsak Triamjangarun
* Mrs. Krongkanit Rakcharoen (–2019) (First female consul general)
* Mr. Nitirooge Phoneprasert (2019–2024)<ref>{{cite news
| title = Consul General calls for stronger ties between industries in Coimbatore and Thailand
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 31 January 2020
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/consul-general-calls-for-stronger-ties-between-industries-in-coimbatore-and-thailand/article30696271.ece
| access-date = 21 November 2020}}</ref>
* Mr. Racha Aribarg (August 2024–Present)

==Functions==
In 2009, the Chennai Consulate General issued nearly 300 visas a day, while the Embassy at New Delhi ranked top by processing 600 visas per day. The Chennai Consulate General contributed nearly 20 percent of the annual flow to Thailand.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Thai Tourism woos India
| newspaper = News Today
| date = 8 July 2009
| url = http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=18032%20&%20section=9
| access-date = 29 Feb 2012
}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The Consulate General has under its control the visa application centres located at Chennai, [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]],<ref>{{cite news
| title = Visa centre for Thailand opens in Hyderabad
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Hyderabad
| date = 3 June 2011
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article2073377.ece
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012}}</ref> [[Bangalore]],<ref>{{cite news
| title = Getting Thai Visa in India becomes more convenient
| newspaper = Thaindian
| date = 19 November 2007
| url = http://www.thaindian.com/news-snippet/getting-thai-visa-in-india-becomes-more-convenient-4468.html
| access-date = 16 Feb 2012
| archive-date = 1 May 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080501174530/http://www.thaindian.com/news-snippet/getting-thai-visa-in-india-becomes-more-convenient-4468.html
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> and [[Kochi]],<ref name="TimesTravelVisaCenters">{{cite news
| last = Sengar
| first = Resham
| title = Thai visa application centres in India are now 13 in number!
| newspaper = Times Travel
| location =
| date = 25 November 2017
| url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/thai-visa-application-centres-in-india-are-now-13-in-number/as61356432.cms
| access-date = 22 October 2021}}</ref> with the Chennai Consulate assessing all applications.<ref name="TimesTravelVisaCenters"/> As of 2011, the Chennai centre was receiving 400 to 600 visa applications per day.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Thailand outsources visa applications to VFS Global in Hyderabad
| newspaper = DNA India
| location = Hyderabad
| publisher = DNA India.com
| date = 2 June 2011
| url = http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_thailand-outsources-visa-applications-to-vfs-global-in-hyderabad_1550403
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012}}</ref> In October 2022, the Consulate renewed pan-India visa application processing mandate with VFS Global.<ref>{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| title = The Royal Thai Embassy and Consulates renew pan-India visa application processing mandate with VFS Global
| newspaper = Travel Trade Journal
| location =
| date = 4 October 2022
| url = https://traveltradejournal.com/the-royal-thai-embassy-and-consulates-renew-pan-india-visa-application-processing-mandate-with-vfs-global/
| access-date = 21 February 2023}}</ref>

==Social activities==
On 11 October 2010, the Consulate General donated a set of books on cultural history, people, political hierarchy, places and economic significance of Thailand to the [[Anna Centenary Library]] at [[Kotturpuram]].<ref>{{cite news
| title = Thai consulate donates books to Anna Centenary Library
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 12 October 2010
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article825493.ece
| access-date = 14 Feb 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Thailand|India}}
* [[Embassy of Thailand, New Delhi]]
* [[List of diplomatic missions in Chennai]]
* [[India-Thailand relations]]
* [[List of diplomatic missions of Thailand]]
* [[Foreign relations of India]]
* [[Foreign relations of Thailand]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.thaiembassy.org/chennai/en/ Official website of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chennai]
* [http://www.mfa.go.th/ Kingdom of Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs homepage]
* [http://www.thaiembassy.org/ List of Thai Embassies and Consulates]

{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Diplomatic missions of Thailand}}
{{Diplomatic missions in India}}

[[Category:Diplomatic missions of Thailand|Chennai]]
[[Category:India–Thailand relations]]
[[Category:Diplomatic missions in Chennai|Thailand]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Chennai]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]

Consulate General of Thailand, Chennai - Revision history

MavisHelena6948 at 22:15, 29 July 2025