BREAKING: Thailand ends 60-day visa-free for Indians — May 2026 update

Thai Cabinet on 19 May 2026 officially approved scrapping the 60-day visa-free entry scheme that had been in place since November 2024. The rule reverts to 30 days visa-free for over 90 countries including India.

Sources: Al Jazeera reporting "Thailand to slash tourist visa-free stays" (May 20, 2026), BBC reporting "Thailand cuts visa-free stay period for more than 90 [countries]" (May 20, 2026), VisasNews and OraVisa Visa Updates (May 19-20, 2026). The Thai Cabinet decision is dated 19 May 2026.

What changed for Indian passport holders:

- Was (Nov 2024 – May 2026): 60 days visa-free per entry, multi-entry within 6 months - Is now (post-19 May 2026): 30 days visa-free per entry - If you need 31–60 days: apply for a TR (Tourist Visa) at the Thai embassy in Delhi/Mumbai/Chennai BEFORE flying. Fee approximately THB 2,000 (~₹4,800), processing 5–7 working days.

Why Thailand reversed:

The 60-day rule was a 2024 tourism push to recover from COVID-era visitor declines. Thailand's tourism authority reviewed the impact in early 2026 and concluded:

1. Overstay rates climbed — visitors using the 60-day window for unofficial digital-nomad work 2. Tourism revenue per visitor dropped — longer stays didn't translate to proportionally more spend 3. Border-run cycling — flights to KL/Singapore for visa resets created enforcement headaches

Impact on Indian travelers:

- Short trips (under 30 days): No change. 90% of Indian tourist trips to Thailand are 5–14 days. The 30-day window covers comfortably. - Long stays (digital nomads, snowbirds): Need to pre-apply for a TR visa. Adds ₹5,000 fee + 1-week paperwork lead time. Multi-entry version exists at higher fee. - Backpackers doing SE Asia loops: If Thailand was your hub for 6 weeks before scattering to Cambodia/Vietnam/Laos, you now need either (a) a TR visa, or (b) a different hub (Malaysia and Singapore still offer 30 days visa-free, and Vietnam still has 45).

When does it take effect?

The Cabinet ratification on 19 May 2026 is the policy decision. Actual implementation in the immigration system typically takes 2–4 weeks. As of writing (21 May 2026), travelers landing at Suvarnabhumi/Don Mueang are still getting 60-day stamps in some cases. By mid-June 2026, the 30-day stamp should be universal. Travelers booking flights from June onwards should plan for 30 days.

What to do if you have a trip booked between now and mid-June:

1. Trip is 30 days or shorter: No action needed. You'll still be fine even if the 30-day rule lands during your stay. 2. Trip is 31–60 days: Apply for a TR visa NOW as insurance. If you land and they still give 60 days, great — return the TR visa unused. If they give 30 days, you're covered. 3. Trip is 60+ days: TR visa is now mandatory. Apply 2–3 weeks before flying.

NoMadYa's Thailand visa guide has been updated with the new 30-day rule. Thailand 7-day template still works — 7 days is well under the 30-day limit.

Most Thailand trip articles published before today still say "60 days." That's outdated as of 19 May 2026.