Quick answer: Indian passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist trip to Thailand of up to 30 days. The limit was 60 days until 15 September 2026. Every traveller, children included, must file the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online in the 3 days before landing. Carry a confirmed return ticket that leaves Thailand inside 30 days, a hotel booking and a recent bank statement. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date.

Thailand is where most Indians head for New Year. In MakeMyTrip's booking data for 20 December 2025 to 5 January 2026, Thailand ranked first among international destinations and overtook the UAE. Vietnam also moved into the top four.

The entry rules have changed since then. From 15 September 2026, Indian passport holders get 30 days visa-free in Thailand, down from 60. Every traveller must also file the TDAC online before landing. This guide covers what applies to a trip between mid-December and early January.

Why Thailand Wins the New Year

Thailand gives you a short flight, a wide price range and a countdown party in almost every city. Four places cover most itineraries:

• Bangkok: the biggest city countdowns, rooftop bars, malls and street food.
• Phuket: beach resorts on the Andaman coast, which is in its dry season now.
• Pattaya: nightlife and beach clubs, about two hours by road from Bangkok.
• Krabi: quieter beaches and island day trips.

December to February is the cool, dry season in Bangkok and on the Andaman coast. Peak season runs through the New Year week, and flights and hotels for 28 December to 2 January sell out first.

You Do Not Need a Visa, but the Stay Limit Is 30 Days

Indian passport holders can enter Thailand without a visa for tourism for up to 30 days. The limit was 60 days until 15 September 2026. If you land on or after that date, 30 days applies. Thailand's cabinet approved the 30-day scheme for Indian passport holders on 14 July 2026, according to the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi.

Count your days from the day you land. A 7 to 10 day New Year trip sits well inside the limit. The limit matters when you stretch the holiday into a longer break.

• Staying longer: you can extend once by 30 days at a Thai immigration office, for a fee of about 1,900 baht. For a stay planned beyond 30 days from the start, apply for an e-visa before you travel.
• Work: a tourist entry does not allow work, including remote work for an overseas employer.
• Overstay: overstaying leads to fines and can lead to an entry ban.

Articles written between May and July 2026 say Indians need a visa on arrival and a fee of 2,000 baht. That plan was dropped on 14 July. Indians enter under the 30-day visa exemption.

File the TDAC Inside the 3-Day Window

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is a free online form that every foreign visitor must fill in before entering Thailand. It replaced the paper arrival card and has been compulsory since 1 May 2025. File it in the 3 days before you land. If you arrive on 31 December, file between 28 and 31 December.

1. Open Thailand's official TDAC portal. The form has no government fee.
2. Enter your passport details, your arrival flight and the address of your first stay in Thailand.
3. Answer the short health declaration.
4. Submit, then save the QR code on your phone, as a screenshot and as a printout.

Every traveller needs their own TDAC, children included. Do it at home, not at the airport. Airport Wi-Fi is slow in peak week, and you need the QR code before you reach the immigration counter. Check the web address before you enter your passport details.

The TDAC is not a visa and does not guarantee entry. The immigration officer decides at the counter.

What to Carry at the Immigration Counter

Immigration officers can ask for these five items. Keep them in one folder on your phone and a printed copy in your hand luggage.

Five Mistakes That Cause Trouble at the Counter

1. Filing the TDAC at the airport. You need the QR code before you reach immigration, and a slow airport connection will delay you.
2. Booking a one-way or open-ended ticket. The officer wants a confirmed departure from Thailand inside your 30 days.
3. Travelling with a passport that has under 6 months left. You can be refused boarding or entry.
4. Planning on 60 days. The 60-day stay ended on 15 September 2026. A trip longer than 30 days needs an extension or an e-visa.
5. Mismatched details. A wrong passport number or flight number on the TDAC causes delays. Check every field against your passport and ticket.

Where DocuPro Fits In

Thailand is visa-free for Indians, so the TDAC is the one step you must get right before you fly. DocuPro's Thailand TDAC service completes the application accurately from your passport and ticket details, prepares a document checklist for your profile and guides you through the timeline, so the form is right the first time.

The TDAC has no government fee. DocuPro's service starts at ₹999+GST.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do Indians need a visa for Thailand?

No, not for tourism. Indian passport holders can enter for up to 30 days without a visa. Every traveller must file the TDAC before landing.

2. How long can Indians stay in Thailand without a visa?

30 days per entry, for arrivals from 15 September 2026. You can extend once by 30 days at a Thai immigration office.

3. What is the TDAC, and does it cost anything?

It is Thailand's online arrival card. It has no government fee, you file it within 3 days before you land, and each traveller, including children, needs one. It is not a visa.

4. When should I file the TDAC for a 31 December arrival?

Between 28 and 31 December. File at home so the QR code is ready before you reach immigration.

5. Do I need a return ticket?

Yes. Carry a confirmed ticket that leaves Thailand within 30 days of your arrival date.

6. Is visa on arrival available for Indians?

No. Indians enter under the 30-day visa exemption.

7. Can I work remotely from Thailand on a tourist entry?

No. Work, including remote work for an overseas employer, needs the right visa.

Always verify current entry requirements on Thailand's official immigration website before applying or booking travel. DocuPro is an independent service provider, not a government agency. Our fee covers assistance only. Government fees are charged at actuals. DocuPro does not guarantee entry or approval.