The short answer
Least to most paperwork: Thailand (visa-free), Sri Lanka (free online ETA), Bali (visa on arrival), Vietnam and Egypt (online e-visas), then Europe (Schengen visa with an in-person appointment). The first three need nothing more than a form or two before you fly. Europe needs two months.
Why this matters now: the Indian passport rose to 84th on the October 2026 Henley Passport Index, but the number of places Indians can enter visa-free or on arrival fell from 57 to 55. And "visa-free" lists lump together places that still want an ETA, an arrival card or a fee at the airport. For planning a trip, the useful question isn't the count, it's how much each destination actually asks of you, and how early.
At a glance
| # | Destination | Entry | Visa cost | Start by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thailand | Visa-free | Free | 3 days before |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | Free ETA | Free | 1 week before |
| 3 | Bali | Visa on arrival | ~₹3,500 incl. levy | 1–2 weeks before |
| 4 | Vietnam | E-visa | ~₹2,200 | 2–3 weeks before |
| 5 | Egypt | E-visa | ~₹2,900–3,200 | 3–4 weeks before |
| 6 | Europe | Schengen visa | ~₹9,000 + charges | 8–10 weeks before |
Rupee figures are approximate at October 2026 exchange rates. Fees are government fees only and exclude card or service charges. Check the official portal for each country before you apply.
Destination by destination
1. Thailand
Visa-free, up to 30 daysNo visa at all for a holiday of up to 30 days (cut from 60 on 15 September 2026). The only form is the free TDAC digital arrival card on tdac.immigration.go.th, filed by each traveller within 72 hours of arrival.
- Cost:
- Free
- Lead time:
- Nothing to apply for. File the TDAC in the 3 days before you land.
- Our group trip:
- Thailand 2027, 20–26 Jan, 20–26 Feb, 20–26 Mar 2027 · from ₹52,000
2. Sri Lanka
Free online ETA, 30 daysApply for the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) on eta.gov.lk. It's free for Indian passport holders and covers a 30-day tourist stay. Airlines check it at boarding, so it must be approved before you fly. Ignore lookalike sites that charge for it.
- Cost:
- Free
- Lead time:
- Apply at least a week before you fly.
- Our group trip:
- Sri Lanka 2027, Five departures, 31 Jan – 11 Apr 2027 · from ₹58,000
3. Bali, Indonesia
Visa on arrival (or e-VOA), 30 daysIndians aren't visa-free in Indonesia, but the visa is a formality: pay IDR 500,000 at the airport or buy the identical e-VOA online beforehand. It's valid 30 days and can be extended once. On top of that, pay the IDR 150,000 Bali tourist levy and fill in the free All Indonesia arrival card in the 3 days before you land.
- Cost:
- IDR 500,000 visa (~₹2,700) + IDR 150,000 Bali levy (~₹800)
- Lead time:
- Buy the e-VOA a week or two ahead to skip the airport queue.
- Our group trip:
- Bali 2027, Six departures, 22 Jan – 24 Apr 2027 · from ₹56,000
4. Vietnam
E-visa, up to 90 daysFully online on evisa.gov.vn: upload a passport scan and photo, pay, and download the approval letter. No embassy visit. Processing slows down before the year-end rush, so don't leave it to the last week.
- Cost:
- US$25 single entry (~₹2,200)
- Lead time:
- 3–5 working days to process. Apply 2–3 weeks ahead.
- Our group trip:
- Vietnam 2027, 10–17 Jan, 27 Feb – 6 Mar, 12–19 Mar 2027 · from ₹59,999
5. Egypt
E-visa, 30 daysApply online on visa2egypt.gov.eg. It needs more documents than Vietnam (passport, photo, and sometimes hotel and flight details), and a rejected document means reapplying, so leave room for a second attempt. Ordinary Indian passport holders flying from India can't count on a visa on arrival.
- Cost:
- US$30 today, reportedly US$33 from 1 Jan 2027 (~₹2,900–3,200)
- Lead time:
- 5–7 working days. Apply 3–4 weeks ahead.
- Our group trip:
- Egypt, 24–30 Jan and 21–27 Mar 2027 · from ₹1,09,999
6. Central Europe (Schengen)
Schengen visa, applied in personThe only one on this list with an appointment, biometrics at a visa centre, bank statements, an ITR, a leave letter and insurance. Appointment waits double or triple in peak season, and the service charge varies by country and visa centre.
- Cost:
- €90 (~₹9,000) + visa-centre service charge + mandatory travel insurance
- Lead time:
- 8–10 weeks before departure in December and January.
- Our group trip:
- Central Europe ft. Christmas & New Year, 22 Dec 2026 – 2 Jan 2027 · ₹1,27,500 till 22 Oct
Prices are land packages per person at the current booking tier and rise as departure gets closer. Bali visa and levy figures from Wego and the Bali Hotels Association; passport ranking from Business Today.
How to pick, if paperwork is the deciding factor
Booking last-minute?
Thailand, Sri Lanka or Bali. None of them needs anything you can't sort out in the last week, so a group can decide in a WhatsApp chat and still make it.
First trip abroad?
Thailand is the gentlest start: no fee, no approval to wait for, short direct flights from most Indian metros. A new passport with no stamps is no problem.
Happy to fill in one form online?
Vietnam and Egypt open up. Both are fully online with no embassy visit; you just need to apply a few weeks out rather than a few days.
Got two months and the documents?
Europe is worth it, but it's the only trip where the visa decides the timeline. If you're eyeing a December departure and don't have an appointment yet, check slots today.
One rule for all six: your passport
Every destination above expects a passport valid for at least six months from the date you arrive, with a couple of blank pages. If yours expires before late 2027, renew it first. Passport Seva appointments can take weeks in some cities, and no visa, ETA or arrival card can be filed against a passport you're about to replace.
FAQ
Which countries can Indians visit without a visa in 2027?
The October 2026 Henley Passport Index counts 55 destinations Indians can enter visa-free or with a visa on arrival or ETA, including Thailand, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan and Fiji. Of the places we run group trips to, Thailand is genuinely visa-free (up to 30 days, with a free TDAC arrival card), Sri Lanka needs a free online ETA, and Bali gives a paid visa on arrival.
What is the easiest international trip for Indians visa-wise?
Thailand. There's no visa to apply for and no fee for stays of up to 30 days. The only paperwork is the free TDAC digital arrival card, filed online within 72 hours before you land. Sri Lanka is a close second: the ETA is free, but you need it approved before boarding.
Is Bali visa-free for Indians?
No. Indians need a visa on arrival, which costs IDR 500,000 (about ₹2,700) and lasts 30 days, extendable once. You can pay at Bali airport or buy the same visa online as an e-VOA before you fly. There's also a separate IDR 150,000 Bali tourist levy and a free All Indonesia arrival card to complete before landing.
Which visa takes the longest to get from India?
The Schengen visa, by far. It needs an in-person appointment and biometrics, and in December and January appointment waits can double or triple. Plan to submit 8–10 weeks before departure. The e-visas for Vietnam and Egypt take about 3–7 working days.
Where does the Indian passport rank in 2026?
84th on the October 2026 Henley Passport Index (published 9 October), shared with Algeria and Mauritania, up from 85th. Visa-free and visa-on-arrival access fell to 55 destinations, from 57 a year earlier. The rank rose because other passports fell further, not because Indians gained access.
Does Party Passport apply for my visa?
No. Visas, ETAs and arrival cards are personal applications, and every traveller files their own, in their own name, on the official portal. The guides linked above walk through each application step by step, and if you have a question about your specific departure, message us on WhatsApp.
Start with the easy one
Thailand 2027 is visa-free and starts at ₹52,000. Or browse every departure and pick by date.