60 DAYS TO 30 DAYS: Thailand Halves Visa-Free Stay For Indian Tourists In New Crackdown

2 min learnNew DelhiUp to date: Sep 1, 2026 08:43 PM IST

Thailand has revealed new guidelines lowering visa-free stays for vacationers from 60 days to 30 days, together with for Indian passport holders. The Inside Ministry notification was revealed within the Royal Gazette on August 31, changing the 60-day visa-exemption scheme launched in 2024.

The Royal Gazette, signed by Prime Minister and Inside Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, units out a brand new listing of 60 nations and territories whose passport holders can enter Thailand for tourism with no visa and stay within the nation for as much as 30 days.

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Journey Advisory · International Desk

Thailand Visa-Free Keep: What Adjustments for Indians?

Visa-Free Vacationer Keep — Transition Rule


60
Days till Sept 14


30
Days from Sept 15

✓ India Stays Visa-Exempt


What Occurs to Your Journey?


Travelling Earlier than September 15
The 60-day vacationer entry scheme continues uninterrupted.


Travelling From September 15
Most visa-free vacationer keep is capped at 30 days.


Wish to Keep Longer Than 30 Days?
Apply for the suitable Thai e-Visa prematurely through the official Thai e-Visa portal.


Official steering: The Thai Embassy notes that Indian travellers desirous to enter for greater than 30 days after September 15 can apply for an applicable e-Visa.


!Already in Thailand? Don’t Panic


Your current permitted keep is not going to be minimize to 30 days. Individuals who entered earlier than the brand new guidelines take impact can stay till the expiry of the keep granted at entry.


Outdated vs. New System








Outdated System New System (From Sept 15)
60 days length 30 days length
93 nations / territories 60 nations / territories
Tourism + sure short-term actions Tourism-focused solely
Launched July 2024 Takes impact Sept 15, 2026


Which 60 International locations Are Coated?

International locations and territories eligible for the 30-day visa-free keep (India highlighted):

Australia

Austria

Bahrain

Belgium

Bhutan

Brunei

Bulgaria

Canada

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Rep.

Denmark

Estonia

Fiji

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Indonesia

India ★

Eire

Israel

Italy

Japan

Jordan

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malaysia

Maldives

Malta

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Oman

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Qatar

Romania

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Slovak Rep.

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan

Turkey

Ukraine

UAE

UK

USA


?Why Thailand Is Reforming Guidelines

Thai authorities sources cite 4 operational drivers:


Safety & Oversight


Worldwide Reciprocity


Cut back Overlapping Privileges


Clearer e-Visa Integration


Land-Border Entry Rule


Visa-exempt entries through land-border checkpoints are restricted to 2 instances per calendar 12 months. Exiting and re-entering by land to reset the clock is now not permitted.

Thailand

Cambodia / Malaysia

ThailandLast exempt entry


Sources: Royal Thai Embassy advisory (Aug 2026) · Thai Ministry of International Affairs · Tourism Authority of Thailand · Reuters

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Why has Thailand decreased the visa-free keep?

Thailand’s Cabinet approved an overhaul of its visa-exemption system in Could, citing nationwide safety, tourism and financial pursuits, reciprocity, overlapping visa privileges and the supply of its e-Visa system. Thai media have additionally reported considerations that longer visa-free stays have been being misused by some international guests.

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Thailand had launched 60-day visa exemption in 2024

Thailand launched its 60-day visa-exemption scheme in July 2024, increasing eligibility to passport holders from 93 nations and territories, together with India. The scheme coated tourism, enterprise engagements and pressing or ad-hoc work, and allowed immigration authorities to grant an extension of as much as one other 30 days at their discretion.

What prompted Thailand to tighten visa-free guidelines?

For a number of years, Thailand has allowed guests from 56 nations to remain within the nation for 30 days, and two years in the past the visa-free exemption was prolonged to 60 days and eligibility expanded to 93 nations. The Thai authorities have mentioned that because of longer stays within the nation, there’s been a rise in unlawful actions by international nationals, Bangkok Publish reported.

What does the change imply for Indian vacationers?

Indian passport holders will proceed to have the ability to enter Thailand with out acquiring a visa prematurely for tourism, however their permitted visa-free keep shall be decreased from 60 days to 30 days underneath the brand new system.

Indians who wish to keep in Thailand for longer than 30 days can apply for an applicable Thai e-Visa, in line with the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi.

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