Speaking in parliament on 9 April 2026, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered a top-to-bottom review of the country’s generous 60-day visa-waiver programme that currently benefits travellers from 93 nations, including India. The announcement—published by policy-tracking site Times of Visa on 11 April—links immigration overhauls to a broader anti-money-laundering crackdown. While no immediate rule change was enacted, the government signalled that background-screening standards, permitted length of stay and financial threshold requirements are all on the table. Tourism officials are lobbying for a grace period, warning that sudden curbs could undercut Thailand’s goal of 1.8 million Indian arrivals in 2026. India is already the kingdom’s second-largest source market after China. Security agencies argue that loose entry controls have enabled transnational scam syndicates to base call-centre operations in resort towns. Proposed fixes include shrinking visa-free stays to 30 days, mandatory outbound-ticket proof and tighter hotel registration audits. Should the cabinet endorse the review, new conditions could be unveiled as early as June. For Indian business-travel planners, the uncertainty complicates scheduling of MICE events in Bangkok and incentives in Phuket. Travel-management companies recommend that groups travelling after July build in extra processing time for a pre-approved e-visa, prepare bank statements and monitor policy bulletins from Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Airlines may also update boarding-gate document checks with little warning.
Source: Times of Visa
