Thailand has scrapped its 60-day visa-free policy for all 93 countries previously covered under the scheme, including India, in a move aimed at tightening security checks and curbing crimes involving foreign nationals as reported by Hindustan Times.
Indian travellers are now expected to return to the earlier 30-day visa-free stay rule that existed before Thailand expanded the exemption period in July 2024, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
The announcement was made through a social media post on the Thailand government’s X account.
“Thailand is scrapping its 60-day visa-free policy for 90+ nations. Entry rules will revert to original bilateral terms — varying by passport. Reason: tighter security screening and cracking down on overstays. The Visa Policy Committee will review each country individually,” the post read.
As reported by Hindustan Times, the decision follows a series of high-profile cases involving foreigners allegedly linked to drug offences, sex trafficking, and operating businesses such as hotels and schools without proper permits. Thai authorities stated that some visitors were misusing the extended visa-free regime to stay illegally in the country for longer durations.
According to the official website of Thailand’s government PR department, the decision was approved on May 19 keeping national security, tourism and economic interests, reciprocity, reduction of overlapping visa privileges, and the convenience of the E-Visa mechanism in mind.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the measure is part of a broader crackdown on transnational crime. The government clarified that the revised policy is not targeted at any particular country, but at individuals exploiting the visa system.
Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said both security and economic considerations would be evaluated while revising visa criteria. Government spokesperson Rachada Dhanadirek also noted that while tourism contributes significantly to the economy, the current system had allowed some individuals to misuse the extended stay provisions, Hindustan Times reported.
Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday approved reducing visa-free stays for travellers from more than 90 countries, including the 29-nation Schengen area, the United States, Israel, and several South American nations. The revised visa-free duration will now be decided individually for each country.
According to Surasak, most foreign nationals are likely to receive visa-free stays of up to 30 days, while some countries may only be granted 15 days. Travellers will still be able to renew their visas once through immigration offices, although extensions will no longer be automatic and will instead depend on immigration officers being satisfied with the reason for a longer stay.
For Indian travellers, the move effectively signals a return to the visa-free arrangement that existed before Thailand introduced the temporary 60-day exemption in 2024. Under the earlier bilateral agreement, Indian passport holders were permitted to stay in Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days.
Until Thailand’s cabinet announces fresh country-specific guidelines, travellers from all affected countries will revert to their original bilateral agreements. For Indian citizens, this is expected to mean a 30-day visa-free stay once again unless Thailand later introduces a revised arrangement, according to Hindustan Times.
Tourism contributes more than 10 percent to Thailand’s GDP, although visitor numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels. Thailand is expecting around 33.5 million foreign tourists this year, slightly higher than the nearly 33 million visitors recorded last year. However, tourism ministry data showed that foreign arrivals declined by approximately 3.4 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
Indian travellers planning trips to Thailand are advised to check the latest visa requirements before booking travel, as further details are expected once the Thai government releases a country-by-country breakdown of the revised visa policy.
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