Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stay for Indian Travellers From 60 Days to 30

Thailand's government has revoked its 60-day visa-exemption scheme for tourism and replaced it with a revised scheme allowing a maximum stay of 30 days, a change that took effect on 15 September 2026 and applies to Indian passport holders among 60 covered countries and territories. The revised rules were published in Thailand's Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and came into force 15 days later, according to Thai government notices and travel-industry reporting.

What has changed

Indian nationals continue to be able to enter Thailand for tourism without applying for a visa in advance, so the exemption itself has not been withdrawn, unlike an earlier proposal reported to have considered moving Indian travellers onto a paid visa-on-arrival arrangement instead. What has changed is the length of stay: entries from 15 September 2026 onward are capped at 30 days, down from the 60-day allowance that applied before the change.

Who it affects, and who it does not

Travellers who entered Thailand under the previous 60-day exemption before 15 September 2026 are reported to be able to remain until the expiry of the period granted to them on arrival; the shorter 30-day limit applies to entries made on or after that date. Indian travellers already mid-trip in Thailand under the old allowance should not be affected retroactively, though anyone in that position should confirm their own entry stamp and permitted stay directly with Thai immigration.

Why it matters for planning

The change is most relevant to travellers who had been building longer Thailand stays, extended family visits, multi-city trips or slower travel itineraries, around the previous 60-day window. A 30-day cap still comfortably covers most holiday itineraries, but longer stays will now need either an exit-and-re-entry, where permitted, or a different visa category applied for in advance.

This is a fast-moving area of Thai immigration policy, and further adjustments are possible. Readers should confirm current entry rules directly with the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate, or Thailand's Immigration Bureau, before finalising travel plans.

Traveller tips

• Check the exact stamp given on arrival rather than assuming a fixed 30 or 60 days, since transitional entries around the change date may carry different permitted stays.
• Travellers planning a stay beyond 30 days should look into Thailand's visa categories for longer tourism, retirement or long-stay purposes well before departure.
• Carry evidence of onward travel and sufficient funds, standard requirements for visa-exempt entry that remain unchanged.
• Rules can shift again with limited notice; confirm directly with official Thai government sources close to your travel date.