Thailand cuts visa-free stay for Indians from 60 to 30 days from September 15

Thailand is set to halve the visa-free stay permitted for Indian tourists from 60 days to 30 days, with the revised rules coming into effect on September 15, 2026.

Indian passport holders will continue to enjoy visa-free entry for tourism, but the maximum stay allowed without obtaining a visa will be reduced under Thailand’s revised visa-exemption policy. The change was formally published in the Royal Gazette on August 31.

The 60-day visa-free facility had been in place since 2024 and was part of Thailand’s broader effort to boost international tourism. Under the new arrangement, India is among the countries whose citizens will be eligible for visa-free tourist stays of up to 30 days.

What the new Thailand visa rules mean for Indians

Indian tourists travelling to Thailand before September 15 will be able to stay for the period granted to them under the existing rules. Those entering after the new policy takes effect will be permitted to stay visa-free for up to 30 days.

Travellers planning to stay in Thailand for longer than 30 days will need to apply for the appropriate Thai e-Visa, according to the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi.

Thailand is also tightening rules for visa-exempt land-border entries, with such crossings generally limited to two entries per calendar year under the revised framework.

Why Thailand is changing the visa policy

Thailand’s government has said the revisions are aimed at improving immigration management, preventing misuse of visa privileges and addressing security and economic concerns. The changes also seek to eliminate overlapping visa privileges under the principle of “one country, one entitlement.”

For Indian travellers, the key takeaway is that Thailand remains visa-free, but the maximum stay without a visa will drop from 60 days to 30 days from September 15.