There is good news for Indians planning a trip to Thailand.
The Thai government has confirmed that visa-free entry for Indian citizens will continue.
However, there is one important change. Indian travelers can now stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without a visa, instead of the earlier 60-day limit.
According to the government, the decision has been taken after reviewing travel patterns and tourism requirements.
Visa-Free Travel Continues with a New Stay Limit
Thailand’s Tourism Minister, Surasak Phancharoenvorakul, said that Indian citizens do not need a visa to visit the country. However, the maximum visa-free stay has now been reduced to 30 days.
Earlier, Indians could remain in Thailand for up to 60 days under the visa-free policy.
The government has clarified that only the duration of stay has changed, while the visa-free facility itself remains in place.
Why Did Thailand Change the Rules?
A few months ago, reports suggested that Thailand was considering reducing the number of countries eligible for visa-free entry.
Although that proposal was never implemented, it created confusion among Indian travelers and reportedly affected tourist arrivals from India.
The Thai government has now decided to continue visa-free travel for Indian citizens while reducing the stay period to 30 days.
Officials also said the change was made to prevent misuse of the visa-free scheme.
According to the government, some foreign nationals were using the facility for unauthorized work and violating visa rules.
India Remains an Important Tourism Market
India continues to be one of Thailand’s biggest sources of international tourists, after China and Malaysia.
Every year, thousands of Indian travelers visit Thailand for holidays, honeymoons, family vacations, and leisure trips. Keeping this in mind, the Thai government has decided to continue the visa-free entry scheme for Indian citizens.
Other Countries Also Included
The revised 30-day visa-free entry rule will also apply to citizens of Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, and the Maldives.
Thailand has also said that it may review the visa-free policy again in the future if required, depending on travel trends and other factors.
