₹6,000 for Thailand visa? Mandatory visa on arrival to hurt Indian tourists’ budget

Indian travellers planning a trip to Thailand will now have to pay nearly ₹5,800 for a Visa on Arrival (VoA) after the Thai government officially ended its 60-day visa-free entry scheme for Indian citizens. The new visa rules were approved by Thailand’s Cabinet on May 19, 2026, as part of a major revision of the country’s immigration and tourism policy.

Under the updated system, Indian tourists will no longer get free entry into Thailand. Instead, they will now be allowed to enter the country only through the Visa on Arrival process for short visits. The maximum stay allowed under the new VoA system is 15 days.

The Visa on Arrival fee has been fixed at 2,000 Thai Baht (₹5,800). According to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the fee must be paid in cash and in Thai Baht directly at immigration counters. Authorities have advised travellers to exchange their currency before reaching the airport immigration area to avoid delays and inconvenience.

Thailand had reportedly introduced the visa-free entry scheme for Indian travellers in July 2024 to boost tourism and support economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. Under that policy, Indians were allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days without a visa and could also apply for a 30-day extension. 

Thailand has also removed the 60-day visa-free scheme for all 93 countries and territories that were previously eligible. At the same time, the country has drastically reduced the number of nations eligible for Visa on Arrival. Earlier, 31 countries were part of the VoA system, but now only four countries, India, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia, remain on the list.

Indian travellers can apply ‘Visa on Arrival' in two ways

The first option is the offline process at Thai international airports such as Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in Bangkok. After landing, travellers must collect and fill out the Visa on Arrival application form, submit the required documents and pay the visa fee in cash. Once the documents are verified, immigration officials stamp the passport for a stay of up to 15 days.

The second option is applying online through Thailand’s Electronic Visa on Arrival (eVOA) system Before departure. The country also offers an express eVOA service that provides a decision within 24 hours for an additional fee. This method allows travellers to avoid long queues at airport immigration counters. 

Travellers must carry a passport valid for at least six months with at least two blank pages, a confirmed return or onward flight ticket within 15 days, proof of hotel booking or accommodation, and proof of sufficient funds for the stay. Thai authorities said travellers may need to show 10,000 Thai Baht per person or 20,000 Thai Baht per family in cash as proof of financial support. A recent 4x6 cm passport-size photograph is also required.

Travellers must now complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online at least three days before entering the country. Travellers who are already in Thailand under the earlier visa-free arrangement, or those entering the country before the new rules officially come into effect, will still be allowed to stay until the end of their approved period.

Thailand has also revised visa privileges for several other countries. While the number of countries eligible for 30-day visa-free entry has been reduced from 57 to 54, nations such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Germany continue to remain in the visa exemption category. 

Maldives and Mauritius remain under a separate 15-day visa exemption system, while countries like South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile continue to enjoy reciprocal 90-day visa-free access.