Thailand has introduced stricter visa rules for travelers from 93 countries, including India, the US, the UK, and Australia. The government has reduced the visa-free stay period from 60 days to 30 days.
Officials say the move is aimed at improving national security and maintaining law and order.
According to Thai authorities, most genuine tourists usually complete their trips within 30 days, so the new rule is not expected to hurt regular tourism.
Relaxed Rules After Covid Led to Problems
After the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand relaxed its visa rules in 2024 to support the country’s tourism-driven economy. The decision helped attract around 33 million foreign tourists in 2025.
However, authorities say some people misused the long visa-free stay. Cases related to illegal activities, drug trafficking, visa overstays, drunken fights, and vandalism at religious places started increasing.
Many such incidents have recently gone viral on social media, raising concerns among local authorities and citizens.
Government Tightens Security Measures
The Thai government says the new visa policy is necessary to protect internal security and control misuse of the visa-free system.
Russian tourists currently make up the fourth-largest group of visitors to Thailand, and officials have reportedly issued several warnings related to visa overstays.
At the same time, the Israeli Embassy has also advised its citizens to strictly follow Thai laws due to growing controversies.
Under the new rules:
Travelers from selected countries will now get only 30 days of visa-free entry.
Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa on arrival.
Tourists entering through land borders will only be allowed two visits per year, with each stay limited to 30 days.
Visitors who want to stay longer can still apply for an extension, but the screening process will now be stricter.
The new policy will become active 15 days after it is officially published in Thailand’s Royal Gazette.
What This Means for Indian Travelers
Indian tourists planning to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days should now check visa and extension rules carefully before traveling.
Experts suggest checking updates directly from the Thai Embassy or official government websites to avoid last-minute problems during the trip.
Thailand earns a large part of its economy through tourism. Earlier, the government had also tightened rules related to cannabis use in the country.
With the new visa policy, Thailand now aims to balance tourism growth with stronger control over crime and illegal activities.
