India and Thailand are making travel easier in both directions. As of September 14, 2026, Thai nationals can apply for an Indian e-Tourist visa free of charge — the fee has been waived until the end of 2027. The reverse direction is even simpler: Indian travelers already enter Thailand visa-free for stays of up to 30 days.
What exactly changed
India has zeroed out the visa fee for Thai citizens applying for an e-Tourist visa. The visa itself remains a 30-day, double-entry permit — meaning you can cross the Indian border twice within its validity. The waiver is in effect until December 31, 2027.
- Who it applies to: Thai nationals only.
- Visa type: e-Tourist visa, 30 days, double entry.
- Validity of the waiver: through the end of 2027.
- Cost: no fee (the previous fee amount is not specified in the source).
How to apply
India's e-visa is processed online through the official government portal. You apply before your trip, not on arrival. The exact processing time is not stated in the source — plan for standard e-visa timelines and don't leave your application to the last few days before departure.
You'll need a valid passport, a photo, and proof of your travel purpose. Since the fee is waived, there's nothing to pay at the application stage — but that doesn't cover other costs: hotel bookings, insurance, return tickets.
The other direction: Thailand for Indians
Indian tourists continue to enter Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days. This makes the India–Thailand route effectively reciprocal: Thais fly to India on a free e-visa, Indians fly to Thailand visa-free.
The payment side of the trip
Even when the visa fee is zero, most expenses still land on your card. What to keep in mind:
- Hotel bookings. Many hotels in India and Thailand place a pre-authorization hold on your card at check-in. It's not a charge, but the amount is frozen for the duration of your stay — keep a buffer on the card.
- Refunds. If a booking is canceled, the hold isn't released instantly — it can take several banking days. With a virtual card, the process is usually more transparent: you can see exactly when the hold is lifted.
- Currency nuances. India uses the rupee, Thailand the baht. Pay in the local currency rather than your home currency if the terminal offers a choice — the acquirer's conversion rate is usually worse.
- eSIM and taxis. A local eSIM and rides (Ola/Uber in India, Grab in Thailand) are easiest to pay for with a card linked to the app. A virtual card with a sufficient balance works well here.
What it means in practice
For Thai tourists, India just got cheaper by the amount of the visa fee — a noticeable saving for family trips. For Indians, nothing changes: Thailand remains visa-free for 30 days. The key is not to confuse the two: the free e-visa applies specifically to Thai citizens, not to everyone flying from Thailand to India.
If you're planning a trip to India or Thailand, check the requirements on the official portals in advance and make sure your card is accepted for bookings and on-the-ground payments.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
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