Thailand opens visa doors
- Thailand is offering visa‑free entry for Indian tourists for stays up to 60 days. - Officials presented the move as a measure to boost outbound leisure travel from India. - Travel reporting frames the change as a straightforward access increase likely to lift India‑Thailand leisure flows. (travelbizmonitor.com)
Indian passport holders can now enter Thailand without a visa for stays of up to 60 days. (newdelhi.thaiembassy.org) Thailand’s embassy in New Delhi says the 60-day visa exemption applies to ordinary passport holders traveling for tourism and short-term business engagements, and it remains in effect “until further announcement.” (newdelhi.thaiembassy.org) The wider policy took effect on July 15, 2024, when Thailand expanded easier-entry rules for 93 countries and territories. India was among 13 countries whose permitted stay was lifted from 30 days to 60 days. (thailand.prd.go.th) For Indian travelers, that replaces the shorter-entry regime that had governed many quick leisure trips and weekend-heavy itineraries. A 60-day window gives airlines, tour operators, and hotels more room to sell longer holidays, multi-city trips, and family travel. (thailand.prd.go.th) Thailand has been chasing Indian demand aggressively as tourism recovers. The Tourism Authority of Thailand marked its 2,000,000th Indian visitor of 2024 at Suvarnabhumi Airport on December 16, 2024, calling India a growing source market. (thailand.prd.go.th) That traffic helps explain why access rules matter. Thailand’s public-relations department said the July 2024 change was designed to make entry easier as the government prepared for more arrivals from major markets. (thailand.prd.go.th) Visa-free does not mean paperwork-free. Since May 1, 2025, foreign nationals entering Thailand have had to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within the three days before arrival. (tdac.immigration.go.th) Thai embassy guidance says that arrival-card requirement does not replace the visa exemption and does not change the 60-day rule. It is an immigration form, not a visa. (london.thaiembassy.org) Thailand also rolled out its e-visa system in India on January 1, 2025, for travelers whose plans fall outside the exemption window or purpose. For short tourist trips, though, the headline change is simple: Indians can book first and skip the visa step. (newdelhi.thaiembassy.org)
