India has made travel to the country easier for Thai tourists by waiving the visa fee on 30-day e-Tourist visas with double-entry facilities. The Embassy of India in Bangkok announced the arrangement on September 11, saying it will remain in force until December 31, 2027, or until further government orders.
Thai nationals travelling to India for tourism can apply online through the official Indian e-Visa portal without paying the visa fee, but the move does not mean visa-free entry; travellers still need an approved e-Tourist visa before arrival.
The announcement comes just as India hosts the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, where Thailand is participating as a BRICS partner country. India says the visa concession is intended to make travel more accessible and support tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
The measure also comes amid deeper India-Thailand engagement in tourism, connectivity, trade and culture. Thailand has described itself as a potential bridge between ASEAN and BRICS, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow saying Bangkok wants to advance “connected and purposeful partnerships”.
Visa Waiver Opens New Travel Window
Under the new arrangement, eligible Thai nationals can obtain a 30-day e-Tourist visa without paying a visa fee, with permission to enter India twice during the visa’s validity. The facility is specifically for tourism and must be accessed through India’s official online e-Visa system.
The Embassy of India in Bangkok shared the announcement on X on September 11, stating that the gratis double-entry arrangement will continue until the end of 2027 unless further orders are issued.
The distinction between a free visa and visa-free travel is important. Thai tourists will still have to complete the e-Visa application process and receive the required electronic authorisation before travelling. What India has removed is the visa fee, not the visa requirement itself.
The move could particularly help short-term tourists who may have been deterred by additional travel costs or paperwork. The double-entry provision also gives visitors greater flexibility, allowing two entries into India during the 30-day validity period, subject to the conditions of the visa.
The timing also gives the announcement added diplomatic significance. India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow is leading the Thai delegation. Bangkok has said he will reaffirm Thailand’s readiness to act as a bridge between BRICS and ASEAN.
Tourism Ties Hold Major Potential
The visa concession comes against a striking imbalance in tourism between the two countries. According to the Embassy of India in Bangkok, around 130,000 Thai tourists visited India in 2025, a year-on-year decline of about 7%. In the opposite direction, Thailand received around 2.48 million Indian tourists in 2025, an increase of roughly 17%, making Indians the country’s third-largest visitor group.
The difference highlights the opportunity for India to attract more Thai travellers. India and Thailand already have strong air connectivity, with the Indian Embassy saying the countries are linked to more than 15 Indian cities through over 500 weekly flights, although the number varies seasonally. Major airlines operate routes between the two countries.
The potential market extends beyond conventional holidays. Thailand and India share centuries-old cultural and Buddhist links, giving destinations such as Bodh Gaya and other sites associated with Buddhism particular relevance for Thai visitors. At the same time, Indian cities, heritage destinations, wellness centres, food experiences and leisure destinations could benefit from greater visibility among Thai travellers.
The announcement is also not India’s first attempt to make travel easier for Thai nationals. India had previously extended a gratis 30-day e-Tourist visa arrangement for Thai nationals until June 30, 2026. The latest decision effectively provides a new and significantly longer window, with the concession now scheduled to continue through December 2027.
A Broader Push For Connectivity
The visa move arrives as India and Thailand seek to deepen engagement beyond tourism. Thailand became a BRICS partner country in January 2025, with Bangkok identifying tourism, trade, investment and people-to-people ties as areas where the partnership could create greater opportunities.
Speaking at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi in May, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stressed the importance of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, while saying Thailand was ready to serve as a “bridge between ASEAN and BRICS” and promote practical cooperation that responds to people’s needs.
The wider regional backdrop is also worth noting. Thailand continues to be a major destination for Indian travellers, with its tourism authorities recording 2.48 million Indian arrivals in 2025. At the same time, Thailand has retained visa-free access for Indian tourists while reducing the permitted stay to 30 days from September 15, 2026.
This means both countries are looking at travel facilitation as part of a wider tourism and connectivity strategy. For India, attracting more Thai visitors could support airlines, hotels, local businesses, heritage destinations and the wider tourism economy. For Thai travellers, removing the Indian visa fee lowers one of the costs associated with planning a trip.
Importantly, while the announcement coincides with the BRICS Summit, there is no official indication that the visa concession was a BRICS Summit decision. It is more accurately understood as a bilateral tourism facilitation measure announced amid a period of stronger India-Thailand and wider regional engagement.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Travel is more than movement between two countries; it is also a way for people to understand one another. Making legitimate tourism easier can create opportunities for cultural exchange, local livelihoods and stronger people-to-people relationships. India and Thailand already share deep historical connections through Buddhism, culture and trade, and easier travel can help turn those historical links into contemporary connections.
At a time when geopolitical conversations often focus on borders, competition and strategic interests, measures that allow ordinary people to meet, explore and learn from each other offer a more human dimension to international relations.
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