This is a big shock for Indians visiting Thailand. Making important changes, Thailand has removed India from its Visa-Free Entry List. Indian tourists were availing this facility from the year 2024, but now they will not get this facility. Under the revised visa measures approved by the Thai Cabinet on May 19, India will now fall under the ‘Visa on Arrival’ (VoA) category, replacing Thailand’s visa-exemption regime.
This decision has come at a time when Thailand is withdrawing its comprehensive 60-day visa free policy, which was started with the aim of promoting tourism after the Corona epidemic. The Thai government said the changes were part of a broader review of visa waiver and entry measures related to security and immigration concerns.
In which category has India been placed now?
Giving an official update, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said the Cabinet has given its approval to “the amendment of Thailand’s visa waiver and VoA scheme”. The revised measures include “cancelling the 60-day visa waiver scheme for all 93 countries and territories” and “revising the VoA, as well as limiting the list of eligible countries and territories to 4 countries (reduced from 31).”
India is now one of only four countries to be placed in the revised VoA category. Apart from India, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia are other countries.
This change in Thailand creates many different categories for foreign travelers. Thailand will now provide a 30-day visa exemption to citizens of 54 countries and territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Singapore and several European countries. Apart from these, a separate visa exemption of 15 days has been started for Seychelles, Maldives and Mauritius. However, India is no longer in the list of visa free countries.
Rules will be implemented after the order is issued
The revised measure is expected to come into effect 15 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette of Thailand. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry also clarified that travelers who are already in the country under previous exemption rules, or who were planning to travel before the new measures came into effect, “will remain entitled to stay in Thailand until their previous period of stay ends.”
According to the ministry, after the new rules come into force, travelers will have to enter Thailand either under the “new exemption”, “under any bilateral agreement”, or by applying through Thailand’s e-Visa system.
Why is Thailand making visas stricter?
The change comes less than two years after Thailand massively expanded visa-free access in July 2024. At that time, travelers from more than 90 countries, including India, were allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days without a visa, as part of a strong campaign to revive tourism.
But now Thai officials have linked the change to growing concerns about illegal activities involving foreign nationals. Tourism Minister Surasak Funcharoenvorakul had already confirmed that this step was taken after the arrest of several foreigners. These criminals were accused of crimes ranging from drug-related crimes and sex-trafficking to running hotels and schools without proper permits.
What does this mean for Indian travelers?
Indian travelers will now have to apply under the ‘Visa on Arrival’ system to go to Thailand or use Thailand’s e-Visa system.
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