Thailand’s Cabinet has rescinded the temporary 60-day visa-exemption granted to Indian nationals last year, reverting arrivals from India to the pre-2024 visa-on-arrival (VoA) regime with a 15-day stay and a 2,000-baht fee, effective immediately, local media reported on 15 June. The Tourism and Sports Ministry will nevertheless propose a limited 15-day visa-waiver for Indians to soften the impact on inbound visitor numbers. Thai authorities said the rollback aims to curb instances of overstaying and unauthorised employment but insisted demand from India—the kingdom’s third-largest source market—should remain resilient because of competitive pricing and extensive direct flights.
![Thailand drops India from 60-day visa-free list; visa-on-arrival returns]()
Travellers looking to minimise hassle can turn to VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) for help securing Thai e-visas and other travel documents online; the service walks applicants through every requirement, files the paperwork on their behalf, and offers real-time status updates—an efficient option for both corporate mobility managers and holiday-makers adapting to the revised VoA rules.
Indian travel firms, however, warned that group-tour lead-times could lengthen as passengers gather documents for VoA and queue at airport counters. For business travellers, the change means last-minute trips may now require carrying a printed confirmation of funds (10,000 THB per person), hotel bookings and a return ticket. Companies should build extra buffer time into itineraries, particularly at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Phuket, where VoA counters see peak-season congestion. Frequent flyers may prefer the e-visa, which costs 1,000 THB but allows pre-clearance. Mobility managers should update travel-approval workflows and employee briefings. Indian nationals already in Thailand on the 60-day exemption can stay for their permitted duration but must exit and re-enter under VoA rules if travelling after the effective date.
Travellers looking to minimise hassle can turn to VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) for help securing Thai e-visas and other travel documents online; the service walks applicants through every requirement, files the paperwork on their behalf, and offers real-time status updates—an efficient option for both corporate mobility managers and holiday-makers adapting to the revised VoA rules.
Indian travel firms, however, warned that group-tour lead-times could lengthen as passengers gather documents for VoA and queue at airport counters. For business travellers, the change means last-minute trips may now require carrying a printed confirmation of funds (10,000 THB per person), hotel bookings and a return ticket. Companies should build extra buffer time into itineraries, particularly at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Phuket, where VoA counters see peak-season congestion. Frequent flyers may prefer the e-visa, which costs 1,000 THB but allows pre-clearance. Mobility managers should update travel-approval workflows and employee briefings. Indian nationals already in Thailand on the 60-day exemption can stay for their permitted duration but must exit and re-enter under VoA rules if travelling after the effective date.
