Thailand has performed a last-minute policy U-turn that will be welcomed by Indian holiday-makers and MICE organisers. Speaking after Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul confirmed that Indians will continue to enjoy visa-free entry but, effective mid-August, the maximum stay will be trimmed from 60 days to 30 days. The change follows a slump of nearly 20 % in Indian arrivals after earlier signals that the exemption would be scrapped altogether. Under the revised rules, Indian citizens can still enter Thailand with just a passport, return ticket and proof of funds, but those planning longer stays—common for destination weddings, IT workations or yoga retreats—must seek the appropriate e-Visa or apply at a Thai mission before travel. Over-staying the new 30-day limit will incur fines of THB 500 per day and can lead to a re-entry ban of up to five years. For India-based tour operators the announcement removes weeks of uncertainty and allows packages for Diwali and Christmas to be repriced confidently. Airlines are expected to restore promotional fares on the lucrative Delhi–Bangkok and Mumbai–Phuket sectors within days. Corporate travel managers, however, should audit existing bookings: employees scheduled for more than 30 days on training or project assignments will need a Non-Immigrant ‘B’ or ‘ED’ visa before departure. Thailand counted 1.9 million Indian visitors in 2025, making India its third-largest market after China and Malaysia. The government hopes the tweaked policy will revive demand while addressing concerns that longer visa-free windows were being misused for illicit work and grey-market trading. A review of the impact is slated for Q1 2027. Companies sending staff to Thailand should update their mobility policies now: ensure passport validity of six months, confirm that health insurance meets Thailand’s inbound requirements, and build in processing time (currently five working days in Mumbai and Delhi) for the new visa categories when stays exceed 30 days.
Source: NDTV Profit
