(Image source from: Businesstoday.in)

Thailand, a popular place for Indian tourists, has made a big change to its entry rules, which will affect how visitors prepare for their trips. The nation has ended its well-known 60-day visa-free plan for all 93 countries and regions, including India. This change is part of a larger goal to make visa rules simpler and better organized. The new plan, which got approval from Thailand's Cabinet, aims to create smoother entry processes and clearer guidelines. For Indian tourists, this change is especially important, particularly after they recently started enjoying longer visa-free stays in July 2024. On May 19, 2026, the Cabinet approved the updated visa exemption and visa-on-arrival regulations, according to the Department of Consular Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The new system follows a fresh guiding idea: "one country, one Thai visa exemption privilege. " This is meant to create clearer and more uniform rules for international visitors.

Starting now, Thailand will:

Allow just one visa exemption type for each country or area
End the 60-day visa-free plan (Phor 60) for all eligible nations
Cut the list of countries under the 30-day visa exemption plan (Phor 30) from 57 to 54
Launch a new 15-day visa exemption type (Phor 15) for three countries
Narrow down the Visa on Arrival (VOA) list from 31 countries to only four.

These changes will take effect 15 days after they are officially announced in the Royal Gazette. The 60-day visa exemption was first introduced to promote tourism and help the economy recover. However, the policy later faced criticism due to worries about security, illegal work, dummy businesses, and international crime. Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, previously mentioned that the country would reassess the policy and likely return to shorter stays for many nationalities. He said the government is now focused on attracting "high-quality tourists" rather than just increasing visitor numbers, while also considering economic gains and security issues. Travelers who are currently in Thailand under the existing visa exemption plan, or those thinking of visiting before the new rules start, will not be immediately affected. They will still be allowed to stay in the country until their allowed duration ends. After the new system starts, travelers must enter Thailand using the updated visa exemption categories, bilateral agreements, or apply through Thailand's e-Visa system where relevant.

For Indian visitors, this change is especially noteworthy. India was included in the 60-day visa exemption plan in July 2024, allowing travelers to extend their stay by another 30 days. This made Thailand a more appealing option for longer vacations. However, with the new rules, India has now moved to the Visa on Arrival category. This means Indian tourists will not have visa-free entry anymore. Instead, they can receive a visa upon arriving at specific immigration points in Thailand by providing the necessary documents. The allowed stay under this category is just 15 days, making it better suited for shorter visits.