India Has Waived e-Tourist Visa Fees for Thai Nationals Through the End of 2027

India will waive the visa fee for Thai nationals applying for its 30-day, double-entry e-Tourist visa, under a measure the Indian Embassy in Bangkok announced in a press release dated 11 September 2026. The waiver runs until 31 December 2027 and is aimed at strengthening tourism links between the two countries, which already sit high on each other's outbound travel lists.

What actually changes

This is a fee waiver rather than a visa-free arrangement: Thai travellers still need to apply through India's official e-Visa portal and receive an e-Tourist visa before departure, but they will no longer pay the processing fee that would otherwise apply to the 30-day double-entry category. The application process itself, including required documents and processing times, is unchanged.

View on Google Maps →

Why this matters beyond Thai travellers

The waiver is a reciprocal gesture in a relationship that already runs the other way for Indian travellers: Thailand is one of the most visited international destinations for Indians, and the two countries have been steadily easing entry requirements for each other's citizens over the past few years as both work to rebuild inbound tourism numbers. For readers with Thai friends, family or business contacts wanting to visit India, it removes one of the smaller but real frictions in planning a trip.

Part of a broader pattern

India has been adjusting its e-visa fee structure more generally through 2026, including reduced rates for several e-Tourist visa categories, alongside separate reciprocal arrangements with individual countries. The Thailand waiver fits that pattern: a targeted, time-limited concession rather than a permanent change to India's general visa fee schedule.

Traveller tips

• This waiver applies specifically to Thai passport holders applying for India's 30-day, double-entry e-Tourist visa category.
• An online application through India's official e-Visa portal is still required; only the visa fee itself is waived.
• The arrangement is confirmed to run until 31 December 2027, though such waivers have been extended or adjusted before with limited notice.
• Always confirm current visa fees and categories on India's official e-Visa portal before applying, rather than relying on this or any other secondary summary.