Thailand has scrapped its 60-day visa-free entry policy for more than 90 countries, including India, in a major shift aimed at tightening immigration controls and addressing concerns over misuse of extended stays. The decision, approved by the Thai Cabinet, is expected to impact international travellers, particularly tourists from India who frequently visit the Southeast Asian destination for short holidays and workations.
Under the revised arrangement, Thailand will largely revert to its earlier visa exemption framework, under which most eligible travellers were permitted to stay visa-free for up to 30 days. The 60-day exemption, which had been introduced in 2024 as part of efforts to revive tourism after the pandemic, is now being rolled back amid growing concerns about overstays and alleged involvement of some foreign nationals in illegal activities.
According to official communications cited in reports, Thai authorities said the change was driven by a need to improve national security screening, reduce visa misuse, and streamline overlapping entry categories that had created confusion for travellers. The government also indicated that some visitors had been exploiting the longer visa-free window to overstay or engage in unauthorised work and other illegal activities, prompting a broader policy review.
The revised system will not apply a uniform rule across all countries. Instead, Thailand’s Visa Policy Committee is expected to reassess each country individually and determine specific entry conditions based on security, diplomatic reciprocity, and economic considerations. However, early indications suggest that most nationalities, including India, will now receive a standard visa-free stay of around 30 days. In some cases, stays could be limited to 15 days, depending on the country.
For Indian travellers, the development effectively means a return to the pre-2024 travel regime. Before the temporary extension to 60 days, Indian passport holders were generally allowed visa-free entry into Thailand for up to 30 days under bilateral arrangements. With the rollback, Indian tourists planning vacations, shopping trips, or short business visits will likely need to adjust itineraries accordingly and plan shorter stays unless they opt for alternative visa categories.
Officials have also clarified that the policy change is not targeted at any specific nationality but is part of a wider effort to strengthen border management and align visa rules with current tourism and security priorities. Thailand, which remains one of the world’s most visited destinations, continues to rely heavily on tourism, contributing a significant share to its GDP. However, authorities have argued that balancing economic benefits with stricter compliance measures has become necessary as visitor numbers recover and diversify.
The revised rules come at a time when Thailand is also exploring broader reforms in its visa system, including digital entry processes and updated long-stay visa categories aimed at digital nomads, retirees, and remote workers. While these initiatives are expected to remain in place, the rollback of the 60-day visa-free scheme signals a clear shift toward tighter regulation of short-term tourism entry.
Travellers are being advised to check updated entry requirements before planning trips, as country-wise details and implementation timelines are expected to be formally announced in the coming weeks. Until then, existing bilateral visa arrangements are likely to continue temporarily, with full enforcement of the new rules expected after official publication in the Royal Gazette.
