PATTAYA, Thailand – The Thai government is considering restoring 15-day visa-free entry for Indian tourists as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the regional tourism market. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to submit a proposal to the Cabinet in July to reinstate India to the Por.15 category, allowing Indian nationals to enter Thailand without a visa and stay for up to 15 days. The proposal follows a Cabinet decision on May 19, 2026, to review Thailand’s visa policies. Under the revised rules, the previous 60-day visa exemption for eligible foreign visitors was reduced, while Indian nationals reverted to using the Visa on Arrival (VOA) scheme, which requires an application and a fee upon arrival.
The minister also said the government plans to address visa disparities affecting several European Union member states that currently do not receive visa exemptions. Under the proposal, citizens of Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Malta would be granted 30-day visa-free entry, bringing Thailand’s policy more closely into line with EU standards. Meanwhile, private-sector organizations from Thailand’s Andaman provinces have urged Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to reconsider the current visa rules, warning that requiring Indian visitors to obtain a Visa on Arrival and pay the 2,000-baht fee could discourage travel and push business to competing destinations.
Business groups said the policy particularly affects India’s lucrative meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market, as well as destination weddings. Between 2023 and 2025, Thailand hosted more than 600 Indian wedding events, generating over 8 billion baht in revenue. Industry representatives fear that additional visa costs and procedures could prompt organisers to choose other countries instead.
