Planning a long Thailand holiday? There is an important change you need to know before booking your trip.
Thailand has reduced the maximum visa-free stay for foreign visitors from 60 days to 30 days.
The new rule applies to passport holders from 60 countries and territories, including India.
The change was announced by Thailand’s Ministry of Interior in the Royal Gazette on August 31 and will come into effect from September 15, 2026.
Indian tourists can still enter Thailand without a tourist visa. However, they will now be allowed to stay for a maximum of 30 days under the visa exemption.
What Are the New Thailand Visa Rules?
Under the updated rules, Indian passport holders can continue to travel to Thailand for tourism without applying for a tourist visa in advance.
But there is a major change in the permitted stay.
From September 15:
Indian travellers can enter Thailand without a tourist visa for tourism.
The maximum visa-free stay will be 30 days instead of 60 days.
Travellers who want to stay longer than 30 days will need to obtain the appropriate visa or follow another permitted immigration route.
So, if you are planning an extended Thailand holiday after September 15, make sure you have the required visa or permission before travelling.
Land Border Travellers Face Another Restriction
The new rules also apply to people entering Thailand through land-border checkpoints, not just those arriving by air.
Travellers entering through land borders are generally permitted only two visa-exempt entries per year.
This means frequent travellers who regularly cross into Thailand by land will need to pay particular attention to their entry history.
What Does This Mean for Indian Tourists?
Thailand remains a visa-free destination for eligible Indian tourists, but the shorter stay period could affect those planning longer holidays.
If your trip is within 30 days, the new rule should not change the basic visa-free arrangement.
However, anyone planning to stay beyond 30 days will need to make additional visa arrangements.
With the new rules taking effect on September 15, travellers planning a Thailand trip later this year should check their stay duration carefully before finalising their plans.
