Planning a trip to Thailand? Here’s an important update for Indian travellers. Thailand has decided to continue visa-free entry for Indian passport holders, but with a key change. Under the revised policy, Indians will now be allowed to stay in the country visa-free for up to 30 days instead of the current 60-day limit.
The decision was approved by the Thai Cabinet during its weekly meeting after concerns that uncertainty over the visa policy had led to a noticeable drop in Indian tourist arrivals. Tourism Minister Surasak Pancharoenvorakul said India remains one of Thailand’s biggest tourism markets, and the move is aimed at making travel easier while supporting the country’s tourism industry.
Earlier, Thailand had proposed reducing its list of visa-exempt countries from 93 to 54, with a 30-day stay limit, creating confusion among Indian travellers. However, that proposal had not yet taken effect. To remove uncertainty and revive tourism, the government has now officially approved a 30-day visa-free entry for Indian visitors. Similar benefits have also been extended to travellers from Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, and the Maldives, taking the total number of eligible countries to 60.
The policy update also comes as Thailand tightens oversight to prevent the misuse of its visa-free system for illegal activities while balancing the needs of its tourism-driven economy. With India currently the third-largest source of tourists for Thailand after China and Malaysia, the country hopes this move will encourage more Indian travellers while ensuring a secure and sustainable tourism framework.
