Thailand visa for Indians: 30-day visa-free entry

Do Indians need a Thailand visa in 2026?

No visa is required for an Indian citizen travelling on an ordinary passport for a tourism stay of no more than 30 days. Thailand’s government published the revised measures in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and brought them into force on 15 September 2026.

This is a visa exemption, not a visa on arrival. India was removed from the visa-on-arrival list when the new exemption took effect. If you plan to work, study or stay longer, choose the relevant visa through the official Thai e-Visa system before travelling.

Thailand entry choices for Indian passport holders

Purpose	Suitable route	Stay
Tourism	Visa-free entry	Up to 30 days
Longer tourism	Apply for an appropriate visa before travel	As granted
Work, study or another purpose	Relevant visa category	As granted

What changed in September 2026?

Older guides may still say Indians receive 60 visa-free days or can buy a visa on arrival. Those rules are out of date for arrivals from 15 September 2026. The current tourism exemption is 30 days, and India no longer has an overlapping visa-on-arrival option.

Travellers who entered before the change could remain until the date stamped by immigration. New travellers should plan around the current 30-day limit and check the official Thai government notice again shortly before departure.

What is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?

The TDAC is an online arrival form that replaced the paper arrival card. Foreign travellers arriving by air, land or sea generally complete it within the three-day window that includes the arrival date. Submission is free at tdac.immigration.go.th.

You will need passport details, travel information, an address in Thailand and health information when prompted. The system sends the submitted details and QR code to your email. Save an offline copy, but remember that the TDAC is not a visa and does not guarantee admission.

Example TDAC timing

Arrival in Thailand	Earliest practical submission date
10 October	8 October
20 December	18 December
1 January	30 December

What documents should Indian travellers carry?

Carry the passport you used for the TDAC and make sure it is valid for the trip. Keep your confirmed return or onward journey, first accommodation address and enough evidence of funds accessible. Immigration may ask about the purpose and length of the visit.

• Ordinary Indian passport in good condition
• TDAC confirmation and QR code
• Return or onward ticket
• Accommodation booking or host address
• Travel insurance details, if purchased
• Evidence that you can support the stay

Airlines may conduct their own document checks before boarding. Names and passport numbers should match across tickets, bookings and the TDAC.

Is Thailand visa-free entry free?

Thailand does not charge a visa fee for the 30-day tourism exemption, and the official TDAC is also free. You still pay normal trip expenses such as flights, hotels, insurance and local transport. Avoid websites that imitate the TDAC portal and charge a service fee for the free form.

Can you extend the stay?

Do not build a trip around an assumed extension. Immigration decides any extension under the rules and circumstances applying to the traveller. If you already know you need more than 30 days, use the official e-Visa information to choose an appropriate visa before departure.

What happens at immigration?

Present your passport and follow the officer’s instructions. Check the permission date recorded at entry and leave by that date. A visa exemption permits travel to the border; the immigration officer makes the admission decision.

For a straightforward holiday, keep the itinerary consistent with tourism. A one-way ticket, unclear address or plan that resembles employment may lead to further questions.

How should you plan the rest of the trip?

For budgets, see Thailand trip cost from Kolkata. Compare another easy beach trip in Andaman vs Maldives, or read Singapore visa for Indians if you are combining countries.

How should families submit the TDAC?

The official system supports individual and group submissions. A parent or another traveller can enter details for family members, but every name, passport number, date of birth, flight and accommodation field must be accurate. Review each traveller before submitting.

Children also need the arrival information required by the system. Keep every acknowledgement accessible during airline check-in and arrival, preferably both online and offline.

What if your travel plans change?

The TDAC portal has an update function for editable travel information. Use it if flight or accommodation details change and follow the portal’s instruction if a field requires a fresh submission. Avoid repeated paid submissions through unofficial websites.

If the passport changes after booking, update the airline and submit details for the passport you will carry. A mismatch can slow document checks.

What does 30 days mean?

The permission recorded by immigration controls the last day. Do not calculate it only from flight times or assume that a late arrival adds a day. Plan to depart comfortably before the authorised stay expires.

A side trip does not guarantee a fresh admission. Repeated entries are assessed by immigration and the exemption is for genuine tourism, not employment or de facto residence.

What should you check before leaving India?

Confirm that the passport is undamaged, the ticket name matches and the onward plan fits the stay. Save the TDAC, accommodation contact and insurance details offline. Check Thai rules for controlled medicines and carry supporting prescriptions where required.

This guide is general travel information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules can change, and the official Thai government and immigration websites control.

Do you need proof of funds and accommodation?

Immigration may ask how you will support the visit and where you are staying. Keep the first hotel booking or host address, a return or onward ticket and access to funds. The documents should match the trip you describe.

If you are visiting several cities, a simple itinerary helps explain the plan. Keep confirmation numbers and contact details available without mobile data.

What if you enter by land or sea?

The 30-day exemption is a national rule, but checkpoint procedures and hours vary. The TDAC also covers land and sea arrivals. Confirm that the crossing accepts foreign travellers and that transport operates on the chosen date.

Check the neighbouring country’s exit and re-entry rules separately. Thailand’s exemption does not settle the immigration requirements of Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia or Myanmar.

Sources we checked

Checked on 6 October 2026. Official sources win if anything here differs.

• Thailand PRD: revised visa measures effective 15 September 2026
• Thailand PRD: India included in 30-day exemption
• Thailand Immigration: TDAC official FAQ
• Thailand e-Visa

Rules checked October 2026. We re-check every 90 days. Spotted something out of date? Write to hello@holidaycrest.com.