Last Updated: May 23, 2026, 13:16 IST1 / 6 Thailand has approved major changes to its tourist visa system, including scrapping the popular 60-day visa-free stay for Indian travellers introduced in 2024.
Until then, the current 60-day visa-free arrangement for Indian travellers remains valid.
2 / 6 Under the revised rules, Indian tourists will no longer be eligible for visa-free entry into Thailand.
The decision is part of a broader overhaul of Thailand’s visa system under a new “one country, one visa exemption privilege” policy aimed at simplifying entry rules and tightening security.
ADVERTISEMENT3 / 6 Thailand had introduced the 60-day visa exemption scheme for Indians in July 2024 to boost tourism and support post-pandemic economic recovery.
Last Updated: May 23, 2026, 13:16 IST
1 / 6 Thailand has approved major changes to its tourist visa system, including scrapping the popular 60-day visa-free stay for Indian travellers introduced in 2024.
The revised framework, approved by Thailand’s Cabinet on May 19, 2026, will move India back to the Visa on Arrival (VOA) category once the new rules officially come into effect. According to Thailand’s Department of Consular Affairs, the changes will be implemented 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette.
Until then, the current 60-day visa-free arrangement for Indian travellers remains valid.
2 / 6 Under the revised rules, Indian tourists will no longer be eligible for visa-free entry into Thailand. Instead, they will need to obtain a Visa on Arrival at designated immigration checkpoints. The permitted stay under the VOA category will be limited to 15 days or could be 30 days as it was earlier.
The decision is part of a broader overhaul of Thailand’s visa system under a new “one country, one visa exemption privilege” policy aimed at simplifying entry rules and tightening security.
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3 / 6 Thailand had introduced the 60-day visa exemption scheme for Indians in July 2024 to boost tourism and support post-pandemic economic recovery. The scheme also allowed travellers to extend their stay by another 30 days.
However, Thai authorities later raised concerns around illegal employment, nominee businesses, security issues and transnational crime linked to the expanded exemption programme.
Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul had earlier said the government now wants to focus on attracting “quality tourists” rather than simply increasing visitor numbers.
4 / 6 As part of the new structure, Thailand will:
Reduce the 30-day visa exemption list from 57 countries to 54
Introduce a separate 15-day exemption category for three countries
Limit Visa on Arrival access to just four countries, including India
Continue bilateral reciprocal visa agreements separately
According to the revised framework, India might join Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia in the VOA category.
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5 / 6 Why Your Thailand Trip Could Become More Expensive
As per reports, Indian tourists could anticipate the possible return of visa fees. Before the visa-free policy was introduced, Indian travellers had to pay around 2,000 Thai Baht for a VOA, roughly equivalent to Rs 6,000 per person.
