India has introduced a visa fee waiver for Thai nationals travelling to the country for tourism, making it easier for visitors from Thailand to plan short trips to India.
Under the new arrangement, Thai tourists can apply for a 30-day e-Tourist visa without paying a visa fee. The facility will remain available until December 31, 2027, or until further orders.
Thai tourists get double-entry facility
The Embassy of India in Bangkok announced the new arrangement on September 11. Thai nationals travelling to India for tourism can now obtain the e-Tourist visa on a gratis basis.
The visa comes with double-entry permission, allowing visitors to enter India twice during its 30-day validity period. This gives travellers greater flexibility if their itinerary involves leaving and returning to India within the validity period.
The fee waiver is specifically for tourism-related travel and is part of efforts to make travel between India and Thailand more accessible.
India-Thailand travel gets easier
The announcement comes as both countries introduce measures aimed at simplifying travel for tourists from each other's markets.
For Thai nationals planning a holiday in India, the new arrangement removes the usual visa fee while retaining the existing e-Tourist visa process. The facility is scheduled to continue through the end of 2027 unless the Indian government changes the policy earlier.
The Embassy of India in Bangkok shared details of the arrangement on September 11, providing Thai travellers with information about the new visa facility.
Thailand to waive visa requirement for Indians
The move also comes just days before Thailand's new visa exemption arrangement for Indian tourists takes effect on September 15.
Under the policy announced by Thailand's Ministry of Interior, Indian ordinary passport holders travelling for tourism will be allowed to enter Thailand without a visa and stay for up to 30 days.
However, Indian travellers have been advised to carry a passport valid for at least six months, confirmed return tickets, hotel reservations and a clear itinerary.
Tourists must also complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 72 hours before arrival.
Those travelling under the visa exemption should additionally carry at least THB20,000 in cash per passenger and keep their travel documents ready for immigration checks.