Do Indians Need a Visa for Thailand? 2026 Entry Rules

The rules changed twice in under two years, and many older pages still describe a visa on arrival or a 60-day exemption. Below is the position as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026, drawn from the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi, the Royal Thai Consulates-General in India and the Thai Immigration Bureau. For fees, centres and checklists for every Thai visa, see our Thailand visa guide for Indians.

Is Thailand visa-free for Indians right now?

Yes, within limits. Under Thailand's revised visa exemption scheme, effective 15 September 2026, Indian ordinary passport holders may stay up to 30 days without a visa. The exemption covers two purposes only: tourism and short-term business engagements. It remains in force until the Thai government makes a further announcement.

Three conditions are built into that sentence. The exemption is for ordinary passports. It is capped at 30 days. And it is purpose-bound: if you plan to study, work, retire or stay longer than 30 days, you need the matching visa before you fly.

Is the 60-day exemption or visa on arrival still available?

No. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata's January 2025 guideline described a 60-day exemption for Indians; the Embassy's September 2026 revision set it at 30 days.

Visa on arrival has also gone for Indians. Under the scheme effective 15 September 2026, Thailand's Visa on Arrival (15 days, THB 2,000) covers only citizens of Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Mumbai's visa-on-arrival page, last updated 6 January 2025, still lists Indian passport holders for a 15-day VoA, but the Embassy's later announcement supersedes it. Do not plan a trip around that older page.

What must you do before flying under the exemption?

One step is compulsory for everyone: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). It is free, it is filed online with the Thai Immigration Bureau, and the TDAC site says foreigners must submit it 3 days in advance of their arrival date. Use only the official site.

Keep your trip inside the exemption's purpose. Tourism and short business engagements such as meetings are covered. Employment is not: the TDAC notice states that foreigners are not allowed to work unless granted a work permit.

When do you still need a Thai visa, and what does it cost?

You need a visa if you will stay longer than 30 days, visit for a purpose outside tourism and short business, or want multiple long visits. The Royal Thai Embassy and all Consulates-General in India have charged these fees since 27 April 2026:

A tourist visa makes sense when your holiday runs past 30 days, because it allows a stay of up to 60 days. The DTV is aimed at remote workers, freelancers and people joining activities such as Thai boxing or cooking classes. Visa fees are non-refundable in all circumstances, including when you withdraw an e-Visa application.

How does the Thai e-Visa work from India?

Since 1 January 2025, every Thai visa for applicants in India is applied for online at thaievisa.go.th. You can apply yourself or through processing companies such as VFS Global, BLS International or DU Digital, or a travel agent. The only exception is the Privilege Entry Visa for Thailand Elite members, which goes through the Embassy or Consulates-General directly.

• Where you are matters. You must be physically present in India throughout the e-Visa process, and you apply to the mission covering where you are located, with proof such as a house agreement, Aadhaar card or monthly electricity bill.
• Payment is offline. The Embassy accepts no cash: you pay by bank transfer or UPI to its DBS Bank account or by cash deposit at a DBS branch, then email the slip.
• Timing. The Embassy's e-Visa FAQ (September 2026) gives approximately 14 working days from receipt of the fee payment.
• Print it. The granted e-Visa arrives by email. Show a printed copy to the airline and to Thai immigration; copies on phones are not accepted.

Which Thai mission handles your state?

VFS Global runs centres in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune, but application acceptance at the Bengaluru centre has been on hold since 6 August 2026.

Before you book: entry-rule mistakes to avoid

• Relying on the old 60-day figure or the Mumbai VoA page. The 30-day limit applies from 15 September 2026.
• Planning paid work or a job trial on visa-free entry. A work permit is required.
• Leaving the TDAC to the airport counter instead of filing it online in advance.
• Filing an e-Visa with a middle name entered. The Embassy asks you to enter your given name and surname exactly as in the passport and leave the middle-name field blank.
• Uploading a casual photo. The e-Visa needs a colour ICAO-standard photo, 630 x 810 pixels, on a plain white background.

For a Thailand trip that does need a visa, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set. Reach us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or via our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is travel insurance mandatory for Indians visiting Thailand?

Travel insurance is not listed as mandatory on the Thai Embassy and VFS pages for regular tourist entry. Some long-stay visas set their own insurance rules, such as the retirement O-A visa, which asks for cover of at least USD 100,000 or THB 3,000,000.

Can I apply for a Thai e-Visa while I am abroad on another trip?

No. The Royal Thai Embassy's e-Visa FAQ says Thai visas are issued only to applicants physically present in India throughout the e-Visa process. You also apply to the mission that covers where you are located.

Does visa-free entry cover a business meeting in Bangkok?

Yes, short-term business engagements are covered within the 30-day exemption. Being employed or working in Thailand is different and needs a Non-immigrant B visa (INR 7,000 single entry) plus a work permit.

Will I get my Thai visa fee back if I withdraw my application?

No. The Embassy's checklists say visa fees are non-refundable in all circumstances, including when an e-Visa application is withdrawn.