Thailand Visa for Indians (October 2026): Now 30 Days Visa-Free, Not 60

The Short Version: 30 Days, Not 60

From 15 September 2026, Indian passport holders get 30 days visa-free in Thailand for tourism — down from the 60 days we had all through 2025 and the first half of 2026. The change was published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and applies to anyone entering on or after 15 September. Visa on Arrival is no longer the route for Indians; it's straightforward visa-free entry, just shorter.

For context: we flew into Phuket on 26 June 2026 and got the full 60-day stamp without a question, same as on our three trips before that. If you've read older posts (including earlier versions of this one) saying the rules hadn't changed — that was true then. It isn't now.

For most of us flying out of Bangalore for a week or ten days, 30 days changes nothing. It only matters if you were planning a long, slow stay.

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What This Means by Trip Length

• Up to 30 days: Just go. Fill the TDAC (below), carry your return ticket and bookings, and you'll be stamped in for 30 days.
• 30–60 days: Siam Legal reports you can apply for a one-time extension of up to 30 days at a local immigration office for the standard ฿1,900 fee. It's at the officer's discretion, so don't build a trip around it without a fallback. The cleaner option is a Tourist e-Visa applied for before you fly at thaievisa.go.th.
• Remote work or long stays: The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is built for this — multi-year, up to 180 days per entry. It was the right answer even under the 60-day rule; now it's the only sensible one.
• Overland border hops: visa-exempt land entries are capped at two per calendar year for most nationalities, India included. Flying in isn't affected.

Rules like this move. Before you book a long trip, check the Royal Thai Embassy India and the TAT Newsroom.

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Where to Go — Planning by Season

Thailand has two coastlines on different weather systems, which matters a lot if you're travelling between May and October. Here's how to plan around it.

October Onwards — Andaman and the North Open Up

Once the southwest monsoon clears, the Andaman coast comes into its own. Phuket and Krabi are at their best from November through April — calm seas, reliable boat trips, the Andaman at its most postcard-ready. We've written about both:

• Krabi / Ao Nang — Railay Beach, the Four Islands, the tide-cave trail most people miss
• Koh Lanta — slower, quieter, genuinely good for remote work; best November–April

Our November 2025 trip — Ao Nang, eight nights at a villa on Koh Lanta, out through Phuket — was the cheapest per night of our four. Here's what each trip actually cost us in INR.

Bangkok and Chiang Mai work year-round — neither is coastal, so the monsoon doesn't affect them the same way. Bangkok as a 2–3 day bookend on either side of a southern trip is hard to beat. Chiang Mai is worth a dedicated trip in itself, particularly November–February when the weather is cool and clear.

July, August, September — Gulf Coast is Your Best Bet

The southwest monsoon hits the Andaman side hard during these months — Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Lanta see rough seas, rain, and cancelled boat trips. The Gulf of Thailand coast, where Koh Samui and Koh Phangan sit, is on a different weather pattern and stays largely dry and sunny during the same period. That's what we did in June–July 2026, and it worked well.

Koh Samui is the natural base — good infrastructure, its own airport (USM), and enough variety to fill a week easily. For the beach, Lamai over Chaweng — less touristy, better for swimming, quieter evenings.

Koh Phangan is under an hour from Samui by catamaran. It's less developed, slower-paced, and worth more than the three nights we gave it.

Getting there — two routes:

• Bangkok → Surat Thani → ferry: Fly BLR–BKK, then a domestic flight or overnight train to Surat Thani on the Gulf coast. Direct ferries run from Surat Thani to both Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
• Phuket → fly into Koh Samui: Fly BLR–HKT, then a short Bangkok Airways flight to Koh Samui (USM). This is the route we took. It's quick, but the 55-minute Phuket–Samui leg cost us ₹25,090 for two — the ferry-and-bus route is far cheaper if you have the time.

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Before You Fly — The Short Checklist

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Sources

• Thailand Public Relations Department — revised visa policy for 65 countries and territories
• TTG India — Thailand cuts visa-free stay to 30 days (8 Sept 2026)
• Siam Legal — Royal Gazette publication, effective date and extension rules
• Royal Thai Embassy India
• Thailand e-Visa portal
• TDAC registration