Thailand Visa on Arrival for India: The Move to 15 Days (2026)

On 19 May 2026 , Thailand's Cabinet approved a broad overhaul of the country's visa-exemption framework. While most former 60-day visa-free countries are being moved to a shorter 30-day exemption, a small group is being treated differently: India is reported to be one of only four countries shifted out of visa exemption entirely and into a Visa on Arrival instead. The other three named in media coverage are Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.

Crucially, India is not being given the 30-day exemption that most former 60-day countries receive. Indian nationals would instead need to obtain a 15-day Visa on Arrival to enter for tourism. For a market that has grown used to arriving and staying up to 60 days with no paperwork and no fee, that is a meaningful change in both stay length and process.

This is the single most important point for anyone planning a trip right now: the change is approved but not yet legally in effect . A Cabinet decision is the green light, not the finish line. The new rule takes effect only 15 days after it is published in the Royal Gazette — and as of early June 2026, that publication had not yet happened.

Two official-side signals confirm the status quo still holds. The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi page (data-dated 21 May 2026) and an India-focused update dated 27 May 2026 both indicate that the 60-day visa exemption for Indian nationals remains active . In plain terms: today you still get 60 days visa-free; expect a switch to the 15-day Visa on Arrival once the change is gazetted.

Once the change takes effect, Indian travellers entering Thailand for tourism would do so on a Visa on Arrival rather than visa-free. Here are the core terms as reported for the new arrangement.

A few practical implications follow from these terms. Because the fee is payable in cash in Thai Baht, you should arrive with the correct amount on hand rather than relying on a card. Because it is single entry, the VOA is consumed once you enter — it is not a multiple-entry permit. And because most sources describe the 15 days as non-extendable, you should plan a trip that fits comfortably inside the window, with a confirmed onward or return flight within those 15 days.

If you arrive after the change takes effect, expect the standard Visa on Arrival documentation. These requirements are typical for VOA entries and are worth preparing in advance so your arrival is smooth.

Thailand can ask arriving travellers to show they can support themselves during their stay. This is not a new fee and not a new figure — the amounts have long existed; what changed is that enforcement reportedly resumed around May 2025. The amount differs by entry type.

In practice, you may be asked to demonstrate access to these funds in cash or via accessible means. Keep this in mind whichever route you use: while the 60-day exemption still applies, the higher figure of roughly 20,000 THB per person is the relevant one; once VOA applies, the 10,000 THB per person figure is what to prepare for. Either way, having clear proof of funds avoids stress at the immigration desk.

Fifteen days is tight for many trips, especially if you are combining cities, islands and a little remote work. If your plans need more time once the VOA rule applies, two well-established routes give Indian travellers a longer window than Visa on Arrival.

Thai e-Visa. The Thai e-Visa has been live in India since 1 January 2025, letting you apply online before you fly rather than relying on entry at the border. Single-entry Tourist Visa (TR). A standard Tourist Visa gives a 60-day stay, costs roughly 3,000 INR, and is typically extendable by a further 30 days inside Thailand. For a multi-week holiday, the TR restores much of the breathing room that the 15-day VOA removes.

If you want to spend serious time in Thailand — to work remotely, study, follow a hobby or simply live there for stretches at a time — none of the short-stay options is the right tool. The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is, and Indian nationals are eligible . It is purpose-built for exactly the people most affected by a shrinking visa-free window: remote workers, freelancers and long-stay visitors who do not want their plans dictated by a 15-day clock.

The DTV is a 5-year, multiple-entry visa that allows up to 180 days per entry , extendable by a further 180 days inside Thailand. Eligibility is based on showing proof of 500,000 THB (around $15,000) in funds. Our service starts from $139 , and we offer a 100% refund if denied — only with the optional paid Denial Protection add-on . The DTV is applied for online through the Thai e-Visa portal, and our team prepares and submits the application for you.

Thailand's 19 May 2026 overhaul singles India out: instead of a softer 30-day exemption, Indian travellers are set to move to a 15-day, single-entry Visa on Arrival costing 2,000 THB in cash. But the change is not yet in force. As of early June 2026, the 60-day visa-free entry still applies at the border, and the switch only happens 15 days after the rule is published in the Royal Gazette. The list of four affected countries comes from reputable media rather than a primary government list, so treat the details as reliable but provisional and verify before you travel.

For a short holiday, the VOA — or a 60-day Tourist Visa for a longer trip — will do the job. But if you want to spend real time in Thailand without watching a 15-day clock, the 5-year Destination Thailand Visa is the stable answer, and Indian nationals qualify. It turns a shrinking entry window into a non-issue for the next five years.