Thailand visa for Indian passport holders: what you need to know

Indian passport holders can enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, as verified on 9 Oct 2026. That makes Thailand one of the simplest short-haul trips to plan, but there is one extra step you must not skip: every traveller has to file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before arriving. Here is exactly what the rules mean, what to have ready, and where to double-check before you book.

The visa rule, plainly

The rule for Indian passports is simple. You get a visa exemption for tourism and can stay for up to 30 days. Thailand shortened this from 60 to 30 days for arrivals from 15 September 2026, so if you last travelled to Thailand before that date, do not assume you still have 60 days. A longer past stay does not carry over, and the clock is now shorter.

Think about what 30 days really means for your plans. If you are flying to Phuket, Krabi or Bangkok for a week or two of beaches, temples and food, you are comfortably inside the limit. If you had a longer itinerary in mind, such as travelling slowly through the north and the islands over six or seven weeks, the exemption will not cover you. Work out your dates first, then decide what arrangement you need.

The exemption is for tourism only. If you plan to work, study, volunteer in a way that counts as work, or stay beyond 30 days, the visa exemption does not apply. In those situations you need a different path, so do not rely on the tourist exemption for anything other than a genuine holiday.

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

Even though no visa is required, Thailand still asks every traveller to complete an online arrival card. This is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, and the rule is specific: file it online within 3 days before arriving. Treat it as part of your flight checklist, not something to remember last minute at the boarding gate.

The card asks for basic details about you, your flight and your stay. Have these ready before you open the form, so you can fill it in one sitting without hunting for documents.

• Your passport, valid for at least six months from your arrival date
• Details of your flight into Thailand, such as the flight number and date
• Details of where you will stay, such as the name and address of your first hotel
• A working email address, so you receive your arrival card confirmation

Fill the card carefully. A wrong passport number or a misspelt name can cause delays at immigration, and nobody wants to fix paperwork after a long flight. When it is done, keep the confirmation handy, ideally saved on your phone and printed once as backup. Your airline or the immigration officer may ask to see it, so have it reachable before you land, not buried in your bag.

The timing matters too. The card must be filed within 3 days before you arrive, so do not try to do it a month in advance. If you are flying on a Saturday, the window opens a few days earlier in the week. Set a reminder for two or three days before your departure so the timing works out naturally.

What to have ready before you fly

A little preparation at your end makes arrival smoother. Sort these before you head to the airport, and the whole process becomes routine rather than stressful.

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with blank pages for stamps
• Your confirmed flight details and hotel booking, which you will need for the TDAC
• A return or onward ticket showing you will leave Thailand within 30 days
• Proof of accommodation in Thailand, such as your hotel confirmation
• Your completed TDAC confirmation, saved on your phone and printed once
• Travel insurance, which is not mandatory for entry but is strongly worth having for any international trip
• Some cash in Thai baht to cover the first day or two, in case cards do not work at first

A return or onward ticket is worth carrying because immigration can ask how and when you plan to leave. The 30-day exemption comes with the expectation that you are leaving within that window, so having your exit flight booked makes this easy to show.

A little local currency also smooths the first few hours. You may want a snack at the airport, a taxi, or a SIM card before you find an ATM. Having some baht in hand means you are not searching for a money changer the moment you land.

How the exemption affects a typical trip

For most Indian travellers, the 30-day rule is more than enough. A common first trip covers a few days on the beaches, some island trips, and a city tour. For example, a 4-night, 5-day break that splits two nights in Phuket and two nights in Krabi, with a Phi Phi Islands speedboat trip with lunch, a Krabi 4 Islands speedboat trip with lunch, and a Phuket city tour, sits well inside the 30-day window.

For a trip like that, expect a starting price around ₹28,199 per person, twin sharing, international flights not included for 4 nights, priced on 8 Oct 2026, valid through 7 Nov 2026. International flights, travel insurance, meals not listed in the inclusions, airport transfers not listed in the inclusions, and personal spending are separate from that package price.

Points to keep in mind

Rules change, as the recent shift from 60 to 30 days shows. The safest habit is to check the current rules shortly before you book and again before you fly. The visa rules page for Indian passport holders is the place to do this, and it also covers the other countries you might be planning, which helps if you are comparing Thailand with another destination.

One more thing to remember: the exemption is linked to your arrival date, not the date you booked. If your plans slip by a few days, recheck that your total stay still fits inside 30 days. A small date change on the flights can quietly push you over the limit.

In short, the paperwork is light: a valid passport, a completed TDAC, a return ticket, and a clear plan that keeps your stay within 30 days. Sort those, carry the right documents, and your arrival in Thailand should be straightforward.