The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) confirms that Thailand’s Cabinet has approved updated visa measures, granting Indian citizens a 30‑day visa exemption, pending publication in the Royal Gazette.
This follows the Cabinet’s earlier approval in May to replace the 60‑day visa exemption measure introduced in July 2024. For India, the latest update ensures smoother entry, better screening, and simplified categories.
Thailand’s new principle of ‘one country, one entry category’ places India firmly in the 30‑day visa exemption group, reflecting economic ties, security assessments, and reciprocity. Each country or territory will be assigned to one category: 30-day visa exemption, 15-day visa exemption, or Visa on Arrival.
In total, 65 countries and territories including India will be covered under the updated measures. Of these, 59 countries and territories will be eligible for a 30-day visa exemption, including India, Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, and the Maldives. This aligns visa exemption treatment across all 27 European Union member states, supporting international relations, discussions on Schengen visa exemption for Thai nationals, and related economic agreements.
India’s eligibility will also shift from Visa on Arrival to 30-day visa exemption, reflecting its importance in terms of its economy, trade, investment, and international relations, as well as the longer average length of stay by Indian visitors, at around 7.17 days per trip.
While Mauritius and Seychelles receive 15‑day exemptions, and Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia remain on Visa on Arrival, India now enjoys the more favourable 30‑day exemption.
Indian travellers must continue using Visa on Arrival until the new measures take effect. Those entering before implementation can stay for the duration of their permitted visa.
Separate bilateral and related entry arrangements will continue to apply where relevant, providing visa exemption periods of 90, 30, or 14 days, depending on the applicable agreement or arrangement. Travellers should check the entry conditions that apply to their nationality before travelling.
Indian travellers must continue completing the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online. Enhanced screening will ensure smoother entry and secure verification of records. Efforts will continue to connect relevant agency databases, enabling risk assessment at the point of departure and helping ensure that entry privileges are used for their intended purpose.
