Thailand: Indians still get 60 visa-free days — the 30-day rule is not gazetted yet

What the Cabinet actually decided#

On 14 July 2026 the Cabinet dropped its May proposal to move India into the Visa-on-Arrival category. Instead, India joins the 30-day visa exemption list. In the Tourism Authority of Thailand's wording: "India's eligibility will also shift from Visa on Arrival to 30-day visa exemption, reflecting its importance in terms of its economy, trade, investment, and international relations."

The package covers 65 countries and territories: 59 get 30 days visa-free, Mauritius and Seychelles get 15 days, and Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia move to Visa on Arrival. The government's Public Relations Department put it plainly on 15 July: "India's VoA will be removed to eliminate the overlapping visa privilege" — visa-free stays, VoA goes.

When does 30 days start?#

Not yet. Five Ministry of Interior announcements "remain pending publication in the Royal Gazette and will take effect 15 days after publication." As of 17 August, no publication date has been announced.

TAT is explicit about the transition: "Until the new measures take effect, current entry conditions remain in place. Foreign nationals who enter Thailand before the new measures take effect will be permitted to remain for the duration of their existing permitted stay." So if you land on a 60-day stamp before the change, you keep the 60 days.

What this means if you are booking now#

• Trip under 30 days — nothing changes for you either way. Complete the TDAC online before departure as usual.
• Trip of 31–60 days — safe only if you enter before the new rule takes effect. Watch the Royal Gazette date; from publication you have a 15-day window. After that, a stay over 30 days needs a Tourist Visa (TR) or an extension at an immigration office.
• Already in Thailand on a 60-day entry — your existing permission stands.

THIM is not compulsory — TDAC still is#

Some Indian travel sites are telling readers the new THIM app becomes mandatory "in August". TAT's own note from 11 June says the opposite: THIM "is not an additional arrival-card requirement and does not replace TDAC at this stage", and travellers "should continue to complete TDAC." The Immigration Bureau will confirm any dates itself. Until it does, the TDAC web portal is what you need — see our TDAC guide for Indians.

For the full rules, funds-on-arrival thresholds and the visa-exemption vs VOA vs e-visa comparison, see Thailand visa for Indians. We will add a layered update to this note the day the Royal Gazette publishes.

VisaGyan is an independent journal, not affiliated with any government, embassy or VFS. Verify entry rules with the Royal Thai Embassy before you fly.