Thailand cuts visa-free stay for Indian tourists to 30 days from September 15

Indian tourists travelling to Thailand will be allowed to stay visa-free for up to 30 days from September 15, 2026, as Bangkok rolls out a revised entry regime that reduces the existing 60-day exemption by half. The change is part of Thailand’s broader restructuring of visa privileges for foreign visitors, aimed at maintaining easier tourist access while tightening immigration screening and preventing misuse of long visa-free stays.

Under the revised scheme, Indian ordinary passport holders will remain eligible to enter Thailand without obtaining a tourist visa in advance. Travellers who enter Thailand before the new rules take effect will be allowed to remain until the expiry of the period originally granted to them. Indians planning to stay for more than 30 days after the revised system comes into force will have to obtain an appropriate visa.

Documents needed at entry

Indian travellers using the visa exemption must carry a passport with sufficient validity, along with proof of accommodation and a confirmed return or onward ticket showing that they will leave Thailand within the permitted period. Immigration authorities can also seek additional documents or question travellers about their purpose of visit and itinerary.

Visitors must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate funds for their stay. Thai authorities have prescribed a financial requirement of 20,000 baht per person or 40,000 baht per family. Immigration officers retain the discretion to seek proof of funds at the point of entry.

TDAC remains mandatory

Indian tourists must also complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or TDAC, before entering the country. The online arrival form can be submitted within 72 hours before arrival and applies to foreign visitors entering Thailand by air, land or sea. Travellers are required to provide details including passport information, travel plans and accommodation in Thailand.

The visa-free facility is meant for tourism and does not authorise Indians to take up employment in Thailand. Those travelling for purposes not covered by the exemption must obtain the appropriate visa before departure. Travellers merely transiting through Thailand must also ensure that they possess the necessary visas and other documents required for their onward journey and final destination.

Thailand overhauls visa regime

Thailand had introduced a 60-day visa exemption covering a much larger group of countries and territories in July 2024 as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The government subsequently decided to revise the system, citing economic and security considerations, reciprocity and the need to ensure that visa privileges are used for their intended purpose.

Under the new framework, India remains among the countries receiving visa-free access for up to 30 days. The decision reflects India’s importance to Thailand’s tourism economy, with Indian travellers among the country's significant international visitor markets. Thai government data cited during the policy revision put the average stay of Indian visitors at around 7.17 days per trip.