The changes, approved on Tuesday (July 14), are intended to maintain tourism while addressing concerns over the misuse of visa exemptions and strengthening border security, reports state news agency NBT.
Under the new rules, nationals of 59 countries and territories will be eligible to enter Thailand without a visa for tourism for up to 30 days. The revised list now includes India, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta and the Maldives, ensuring all 27 European Union member states receive the same visa-exemption arrangements.
Visitors from Mauritius and the Seychelles will be eligible for visa-free stays of up to 15 days, while Visa on Arrival privileges will remain in place for citizens of Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.
India’s previous Visa on Arrival entitlement will be removed, as Indian nationals will instead receive 30-day visa-free entry, eliminating overlapping visa privileges under what the government described as a ‘one-country, one-entitlement’ policy.
The revised measures replace the previous scheme, which granted 60-day visa-free entry to nationals of 93 countries.
Deputy government spokeswoman Ploythalay Laksameesaengchan said the changes were approved after ministers concluded the longer visa-free period had been abused in ways that violated Thai law and posed risks to national security, reported the Bangkok Post.
The new regulations will take effect 15 days after the relevant Ministry of Interior notifications are published in the Royal Gazette.
Travellers who enter Thailand before the new rules come into force will be permitted to remain for the duration of the stay originally granted on entry.
The Cabinet also approved measures to strengthen the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system by improving data sharing between government agencies to enhance background screening and risk assessment of arriving foreign visitors.
The government stressed that the changes are not intended to discourage tourism but to create a more transparent and verifiable immigration system that supports the tourism industry while safeguarding national security.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said Indian visitor numbers had previously fallen by almost 20% after visa requirements for Indian travellers were tightened. Officials noted that Indian tourists spend an average of just 7.2 days in Thailand, making a 30-day visa-free stay more than sufficient for most visitors.