Thailand is genuinely visa-free for Indians right now — and also, separately, no longer will be, at some unannounced date. Both of those sentences are accurate at the same time, which is exactly the kind of headline mess this site exists to untangle. Thailand's Cabinet has already approved ending the 60-day exemption; it just hasn't taken legal effect yet. Here's exactly where things stand.
What's True Right Now
As things stand, Indian passport holders can still enter Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days, with no fee, as part of a scheme covering 93 nationalities that's been running since July 2024. That stay is extendable once, by 30 days, at a local immigration office for a 1,900 THB fee — a 90-day ceiling in total. We covered this as part of the broader visa-free and VOA picture for Indians in 2026; this article is the deeper, single-country follow-up, because Thailand's situation changed underneath that piece.
The Rollback: Approved, But Not Yet Live
On 19 May 2026, Thailand's Cabinet approved rolling back the 60-day exemption scheme entirely, reverting most of the 93 covered nationalities to the pre-2024 baseline. Multiple Thai-government-facing sources report that India's baseline — the arrangement in place before the July 2024 trial — was Visa on Arrival, not visa-free entry. If that holds, Indians wouldn't just lose 30 days off a free stay; they'd go back to paying for a VOA stamp at the airport, the way things worked before mid-2024.
Confirmed vs. pending, exactly as it stands: Confirmed — the Thai Cabinet has approved the rollback and the direction is set. Not yet confirmed — the effective date. Thai policy changes of this kind take legal effect only 15 days after formal publication in the Royal Gazette, and as of the most recent reporting available, that publication had not yet happened. Until it does, the current 60-day exemption remains valid — but it could flip with very little public notice.
One thing Thailand's government has been explicit about: the change won't be retroactive. Anyone already in the country on a 60-day stamp, or who enters before the new rule takes legal effect, keeps their full stay.
Entry Requirements Either Way
Whether you enter under the current visa exemption or a future Visa on Arrival, immigration checks the same basics:
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond arrival, with 2 blank pages
- A confirmed return or onward ticket — open-ended tickets don't qualify, and the destination can't be a neighboring country used only to satisfy this rule
- Proof of funds: THB 10,000 per person or THB 20,000 per family, checked at the immigration officer's discretion rather than for every traveler
- Accommodation proof for your stay
The TDAC: Mandatory for Everyone
Separate from any visa question, every foreign traveler — visa-exempt, VOA, or e-visa — must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), mandatory since 1 May 2025. It's a free online form replacing the old paper TM6 arrival card, submitted within 72 hours before you arrive. It does not grant entry by itself; it runs alongside whatever visa status you're entering under. Complete it only at the official site, tdac.immigration.go.th — Thai immigration has repeatedly warned about lookalike scam sites charging a fee for a form that's genuinely free.
How to Check Before You Book
Given a Cabinet-approved change that could take effect with limited notice, don't rely on last quarter's blog post — check current status directly before you commit to flights: the Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi for the official visa position, and the TDAC portal above for the arrival-card requirement that applies regardless of what happens to the exemption.
FAQ
Is Thailand still visa-free for Indians in 2026?
Currently yes — Indians can still enter visa-free for up to 60 days. But Thailand's Cabinet approved a rollback to Visa on Arrival on 19 May 2026. It takes legal effect only after publication in the Royal Gazette, which hadn't happened as of the most recent reporting, so it could change with limited notice.
What is the TDAC and is it mandatory?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is a mandatory online pre-arrival form for all foreign travelers, regardless of visa status. Complete it within 72 hours before arrival at the official site, tdac.immigration.go.th.
How much money do I need to show at Thai immigration?
Officers may ask for proof of THB 10,000 per person or THB 20,000 per family, checked at their discretion rather than for every traveler.
Will the visa-free rollback affect trips I've already booked?
No. Thailand's government has confirmed the change isn't retroactive — travelers already in Thailand, or who enter before the effective date, keep their stamped stay.