Thailand Visa Rule Change: What Indian Travelers Should Check Before Booking

Thailand has approved a major revision of its visa-exemption and visa-on-arrival rules, creating uncertainty for Indian travelers who have recently been able to enter Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days.

The practical message for travelers is simple: Indian passport holders should not assume the 60-day visa-free arrangement will remain available for trips after the new rules take effect. However, the change is not yet being treated by Thailand’s official India-facing visa page as immediately implemented.

What has officially changed?

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Cabinet approved revisions to the country’s visa exemption and visa-on-arrival schemes on 19 May 2026. The official announcement says the measures include revoking the 60-day visa exemption scheme for all 93 countries and territories, introducing a new 15-day visa-exemption category for three countries or territories, and reducing the visa-on-arrival list to four countries or territories.

The key timing detail is important: the official MFA announcement says the details and criteria will be set out in Ministry of Interior announcements, published in the Royal Gazette, and will take effect 15 days after publication.

What does this mean for Indian travelers?

Indian ordinary passport holders have been listed under Thailand’s 60-day visa-exemption scheme since July 2024. Thailand’s Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi currently states that the 60-day visa exemption for Indian ordinary passport holders for tourism and short-term business engagements remains effective until further announcement.

That means travelers should treat the policy as approved but transitional: if you are entering Thailand before the effective date of the revision, the existing permission should still apply. The MFA announcement also says foreigners already in Thailand under the current visa-exemption schemes, and those who travel before the effective date, may stay until the expiry of their permitted period of stay.

For trips after the new rules take effect, Indian travelers should check the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi, the official Thai e-Visa system, and airline guidance before booking non-refundable flights or hotels.

Will Indian visitors need Visa on Arrival?

Thai travel-industry reporting says Indian tourists are expected to move from the 60-day visa-free system back to a Visa on Arrival arrangement, similar to the pre-2024 system. Bangkok Post and The Thaiger report that the VoA fee is 2,000 baht, and that an e-visa option may also be available.

Because the official India-facing embassy page still says the 60-day exemption remains effective until further announcement, travelers should treat the Visa on Arrival details as likely but still worth verifying against official Thai sources before travel.

What travelers should do now

• Check your travel date. The new rules take effect only after the relevant Ministry of Interior announcements are published in the Royal Gazette and 15 days have passed.
• Verify your entry option close to departure. Use the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi and Thailand’s official e-Visa website rather than relying only on social media or travel-agent summaries.
• Budget for possible visa costs. If Indian travelers are moved to Visa on Arrival, secondary reporting currently cites a 2,000 baht VoA fee.
• Do not overstay. The policy revision is being framed partly around reducing misuse of visa-free stays, including overstays and work without the correct permission.
• Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Thailand’s official TDAC system says foreign travelers must submit arrival-card information within three days before arrival.

Who is most affected?

The change matters most for Indian travelers planning longer holidays, wellness stays, repeat trips, remote-work-style stays, or flexible itineraries that relied on a 60-day visa-free entry. Short holidaymakers may still be able to travel with limited disruption if a 15-day exemption or Visa on Arrival option applies, but they should confirm the final rule before departure.

The issue is national rather than destination-specific: it affects entry into Thailand as a country, not only Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, or other popular destinations.

Bottom line

Thailand has approved a rollback of the broad 60-day visa-exemption framework, and Indian travelers are likely to lose the simple 60-day visa-free entry option once the new rules are formally in force. As of the latest official India-facing embassy update checked for this article, the 60-day exemption for Indian ordinary passport holders remains valid until further announcement, so travelers should watch for the Royal Gazette effective date and official embassy updates before making final plans.