Thailand has approved 30-day visa-free entry for Indian visitors after an earlier proposal to end visa-free access caused confusion and contributed to a drop in arrivals from the country.
At a glance:
· Current rule (before this decision): Indian tourists could stay in Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days.
· May 2026: The Thai cabinet approved a proposal to overhaul its visa policy. Under that proposal, India would lose its 60-day visa-free stay and, at one stage, appeared set to lose visa-free access altogether. The announcement created confusion, even though it was never implemented.
· Now: The government has reversed course. Instead of ending visa-free travel, it has confirmed that Indian visitors will continue to enter Thailand without a visa, but the maximum stay will be reduced from 60 days to 30 days.
The previous proposal, approved by Thailand's cabinet in May but never implemented, would have removed visa-free entry for visitors from India as part of wider changes to the country's visa policies. Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the uncertainty led to fewer Indian arrivals.
"The cabinet therefore approved a 30-day visa-free entry to align with the travel behaviour of Indian tourists, who represent a large market for Thailand," Surasak told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting. "If problems arise from this measure in the future, the government can review it then."
Indian travellers, currently Thailand's third largest source market after China and Malaysia, are still allowed to stay for up to 60 days without a visa. The newly approved policy will instead allow 30-day visa-free stays.
The move follows Thailand's earlier proposal to reduce the number of countries eligible for visa-free entry from 93 to 54.
Deputy government spokeswoman Ploytalay Laksameesangchan said Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta and the Maldives will also receive 30-day visa-free entry. She added that extending the policy to all 27 European Union member states could support Thailand's negotiations for Schengen visa exemptions for Thai passport holders.
The government said it is also tightening oversight of visa-free travel as part of efforts to prevent foreigners from misusing the system for illegal activities and to address concerns from local businesses.
Tourism generated nearly US$50 billion from 33 million international visitors in 2025. Thailand had welcomed more than 16 million visitors in 2026 as of 4 July 2026.