Thailand scraps 60-day free visa policy, Indians affected

Thailand has ended its 60-day visa-free policy for more than 90 countries, including India. As a result, Indian travellers may again get only a 30-day visa-free stay. The Thai government announced the decision through its official social media account. Officials said they want stronger security checks and better control over foreign visitors. They also want to stop people from misusing the extended visa-free system.

Earlier, Thailand increased the visa-free stay period to 60 days in July 2024 to support tourism. However, authorities later noticed that some visitors overstayed illegally and operated businesses without proper permits. Therefore, the government decided to review visa rules for every country separately. At the same time, officials plan to bring back stricter entry regulations for foreign travellers.

Thailand focuses on security and tourism balance

According to Thai authorities, several cases involving drug crimes, sex trafficking, and illegal businesses pushed the government to change the policy. Officials claimed that some foreign nationals used the relaxed visa rules for unlawful activities. Because of this, the government decided to tighten immigration screening and improve security measures across the country.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s foreign minister said the decision forms part of a larger crackdown on transnational crime. In addition, the government wants to balance tourism growth with national security and economic interests. Officials also pointed out that the E-Visa system now makes visa processing easier and faster. Therefore, Thailand no longer sees the need for such long visa-free stays for many travellers.

Also Read : PM Modi, Giorgia Meloni Visit Colosseum After Dinner In Rome

What Indian travellers should expect now

For Indian passport holders, the new move will likely restore the earlier 30-day visa-free entry rule. Until Thailand announces updated country-specific guidelines, travellers will follow their original bilateral agreements. However, officials said they may set different visa-free durations for different countries after further review.

At the same time, Thailand’s tourism ministry said most foreign travellers may receive visa-free stays of up to 30 days. Some countries, however, could get only 15 days of visa-free entry. Travellers can still apply for one visa extension through immigration offices. However, officials will approve extensions only after checking valid reasons. Indian tourists planning a Thailand trip should check the latest visa updates before booking their travel plans.

Also Read : “Cockroach Janta Party” Cleans Yamuna, Goes Viral