Thailand announces temporary visa exemption for India and Taiwan

Thailand has announced a temporary visa exemption for tourists from India and Taiwan. This change will take effect from November 10, 2023 and will remain in effect until May 10, 2024. Tourists from these countries will now not need a Thai visa to enter Thailand. This temporary exemption joins about 60 other countries whose citizens also do not need a visa.

This decision follows other changes to Thailand's visa policy. As part of these changes, temporary visa exemptions were granted to citizens of China and Kazakhstan. From November 10, 2023, these benefits will become permanent.

Prime Minister Sretta Thavisin confirmed the news at a press conference after the cabinet meeting. This decision has been taken to increase the number of international tourists to Thailand.

India, where the middle class population reaches about 350 million, is showing increasing interest in Thailand as a tourist destination. In the first nine months of 2023, about 1.26 million Indian tourists visited Thailand. This figure is projected to reach 1.55 million by the end of the year. There has also been an increase in the number of tourists from Taiwan.

The temporary change in Thailand's visa policy for travelers from India and Taiwan means that for the next 6 months, citizens of these countries will not need a visa to visit Thailand. The visa exemption will be valid for stays of 30 days or less. If Indian and Taiwanese nationals plan to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days, they will need a visa. The same applies to those who plan to work or study in the country. Citizens from India and Taiwan are advised to apply for a travel visa if they plan to stay in Thailand for an extended period of time.