What actually changed
As of 15 September 2026, Indian passport holders still get free, visa-exempt entry to Thailand — that part hasn't changed. What did change: the stay limit dropped from 60 days to 30 days, and the previously-floated plan to charge a visa-on-arrival fee was dropped entirely. So the honest summary is: it got simpler and stayed free, it just got shorter.
The one genuinely new step is the TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) — a free online form every traveler must fill in themselves, within 72 hours before landing. It replaced the old paper arrival card, and unlike a group booking, it can't be filled in on your behalf by whoever's organizing the trip.
Does this affect a normal group trip?
For almost everyone booking a Party Passport Thailand trip, no. A typical 6-7 day island-hopping trip across Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Krabi — or a 4-5 day Tomorrowland Thailand trip — is well inside the new 30-day window. The shorter cap only actually matters if you're planning to stay a month or longer, which would need a proper visa or a formal extension instead of visa-exempt entry.
What you need to do before you fly
1. Check your passport
Valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates — the standard rule for most international entry, unrelated to this update.
2. Fill in your own TDAC
Within 72 hours of your flight, on Thailand's official arrival card site. Each traveler in your group needs to do this individually — it takes a few minutes per person.
3. That's it
No visa application, no fee, no embassy visit. Land, show your TDAC confirmation and passport, and you're through immigration.
FAQ
Do Indians need a visa for Thailand now?
No. From 15 September 2026, Indian passport holders still get free visa-exempt entry to Thailand — but the stay limit dropped from 60 days to 30 days. There's no visa fee and no visa-on-arrival process to go through anymore for a stay under 30 days; you just need a valid passport and a completed TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card).
What is the TDAC and when do I fill it in?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is a free online form every non-Thai traveler must submit individually, within 72 hours before landing in Thailand. It replaced the old paper arrival card. Each traveler in a group needs to fill in their own — it can't be done on someone else's behalf, and it isn't something a trip organizer can submit for you.
Does the 30-day limit affect a normal Thailand island-hopping trip?
No. A typical 6-7 day Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, or Krabi group trip is well under the 30-day cap. The shorter limit only matters if you're planning to stay in Thailand for a month or longer, in which case you'd need a proper visa or a formal extension, not the visa-exempt entry.
Does this change anything for Tomorrowland Thailand 2026?
The trip dates (10-14 December 2026) are unaffected — a 4-5 day festival trip is nowhere near the 30-day cap. The only real change is the TDAC: every traveler now needs to remember to fill it in themselves within 72 hours of their flight, since it's a newer step than the visa process people may already know.
Planning a Thailand group trip?
See current departures, pricing, and the Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 group trip.