Thailand Visa for Indians
The 2026 position for Indian passports - visa-free entry for up to 30 days, the scrapped visa-on-arrival plan explained, the e-visa for longer stays, and the mandatory TDAC arrival card.
Indian passport holders currently enter Thailand visa-free for stays of up to 30 days - no visa and no fee. Thailand approved ending visa-free entry in May 2026 but scrapped that plan in July before it ever took effect; the lasting change is that the allowance is 30 days, down from the earlier 60. Every traveller must still complete the TDAC digital arrival card before arrival, and stays beyond 30 days need an e-visa from thaievisa.go.th. Rules moved twice this year - verify on the official portal close to travel.
Thailand's rules for Indian passports changed twice in 2026, and most advice online is stuck on one announcement or the other. The current position is good news: Indians enter visa-free for up to 30 days. The widely reported plan to end visa-free entry and charge a visa on arrival was approved in May - and scrapped in July before it ever took effect.
This page covers what actually stands: the 30-day visa-free entry and what it asks of you, the e-visa route for longer stays, and the TDAC arrival card every traveller must file. Because the policy has moved twice this year, treat the official portal - thaievisa.go.th - as the last word before you book.
Thailand Visa Requirements, Fees & Processing Time
The position for Indian citizens as it stands:
- Visa-free entry: up to 30 days, no fee. Reduced from the earlier 60-day allowance, but visa-free entry itself stands.
- The visa-on-arrival plan: scrapped. Thailand's cabinet approved ending visa-free entry on 19 May 2026, but the change was never enacted and was dropped in July 2026 after visitor numbers fell. No visa on arrival is needed.
- Longer stays: an e-visa from the official portal at thaievisa.go.th covers tourist stays beyond 30 days
- TDAC: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card is mandatory for every traveller, filed online before arrival
- Passport: at least six months' validity from arrival, with blank pages
One honest caveat: after two reversals in one year, this is a policy worth re-checking on the official portal a week before you fly.
What you need for visa-free entry
Visa-free does not mean paperwork-free. Immigration expects:
- A passport valid at least six months beyond arrival
- A confirmed return or onward flight within your 30 days
- Proof of accommodation for at least the first nights
- The TDAC confirmation - filed online before you land
- Proof of funds if asked (a card and bank app suffice in practice)
Overstaying the 30 days is taken seriously - fines apply per day, and repeat overstays bring entry bans. If your trip might run long, take the e-visa route instead.
Staying longer than 30 days: the e-visa
- Go to the official portal - thaievisa.go.th - and create an account.
- Choose the tourist visa, fill the application with passport details, dates and accommodation.
- Upload documents - passport data page, a recent photo, return flight, hotel bookings, and proof of funds if asked.
- Pay the fee online - the portal shows current pricing for Indian applicants.
- Wait for the approval email, print it, and carry it with your passport.
- File the TDAC before arrival - it applies on every route, visa-free included.
The short version
The clean 2026 summary: Indians fly to Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days - the scare headlines about a mandatory visa on arrival describe a plan that was scrapped before it started. Keep six months on your passport, file the TDAC, book a return within 30 days, and take the e-visa only if you are staying longer. Check thaievisa.go.th the week you fly - this rule has moved twice this year. Plan the rest of the trip in Tripmojo and keep the group's documents in one place.
Rules change - double-check your exact passport and travel dates with the visa checker, then plan the rest of the trip in Tripmojo.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Thailand?
Not for stays up to 30 days - Indian passport holders currently enter visa-free at no cost. Stays beyond 30 days need an e-visa from the official portal, and every traveller files the TDAC arrival card either way.
Did Thailand end visa-free entry for Indians?
It approved ending it on 19 May 2026, then scrapped the plan in July 2026 before it took effect. The lasting change is the allowance dropping from 60 days to 30. No visa on arrival is required.
How long can Indians stay in Thailand without a visa?
Up to 30 days per visit. If your trip may run longer, apply for the e-visa on thaievisa.go.th before flying rather than risking an overstay.
What is the TDAC and do I need it?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card - a mandatory online arrival form for every traveller, on every entry route including visa-free. File it before you fly and carry the confirmation.
What documents do Indians need for visa-free entry to Thailand?
A passport with six months' validity, a return or onward flight within 30 days, accommodation proof, the TDAC confirmation, and funds for the trip if immigration asks.
Written and fact-checked by Tripmojo’s editorial team. Drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed by Simran Raheja before publishing. Visa rules change - always confirm with the official source before you book.
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