Thailand cuts visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days for tourists from 60 countries, including India

Thailand has reduced the permitted visa-free stay for tourists from 60 days to 30 days for passport holders from 60 countries and territories, including India.

The revised rule is set out in a Ministry of Interior notification published in the Royal Gazette on August 31. It will take effect after 15 days from publication, making September 15, 2026, the effective date.

The notification allows eligible passport and travel-document holders to enter Thailand temporarily for tourism without obtaining a visa and stay for up to 30 days.

India remains on Thailand’s visa-free list

Indian passport holders will continue to qualify for visa-free tourist entry for up to 30 days under the new rules.

The other countries and territories on the list are Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Malaysia, Maldives, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Türkiye, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Land-border entries limited to twice a year

Travellers eligible for the visa exemption who enter Thailand through immigration checkpoints or land-border crossings may use the facility no more than twice in a calendar year.

The notification allows the interior minister to designate nationals who may enter Thailand through land checkpoints more than twice a year.

The new notification repeals earlier Ministry of Interior notifications dated March 4, 2019, and June 21, 2022, which governed the previous 30-day tourist visa-exemption scheme.