India Extends Free E-Tourist Visas for Thais Through 2027 as Pilgrimage Travel Rebounds

India’s decision to extend free 30-day, double-entry e-Tourist visas for Thai nationals until December 31, 2027, removes one travel cost and gives tourism businesses greater certainty to develop the growing Thailand–India visitor market.

Thai passport holders must still apply online and receive an approved e-Tourist visa before travelling. The policy waives the visa fee; it does not permit visa-free arrival. The double-entry provision allows travellers to leave India and return during the visa’s validity, making it particularly useful for itineraries combining India’s Buddhist Circuit with Lumbini in Nepal.

Thai Arrivals Continue Their Recovery

India received 140,489 visitors from Thailand in 2024, compared with 116,060 in 2023 and 54,367 in 2022. The recovery is significant, although arrivals remained below the 169,956 recorded in 2019.

A further 57,056 Thai visitors arrived between January and April 2025, indicating continued demand. Thailand ranked among India’s 15 largest international visitor markets in 2024.

The visa extension gives airlines, tour operators, destination-management companies and hotels a longer planning horizon. Businesses can contract group programmes, reserve room allocations and promote departures well into 2027 instead of treating the waiver as a temporary campaign.

Buddhist Pilgrimage Remains the Strongest Opportunity

Religious and cultural connections make Buddhist pilgrimage the natural centre of India’s tourism offering for Thai travellers.

Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment, remains the principal destination. Sarnath, associated with his first sermon, and Kushinagar, where Buddhists believe he attained Mahaparinirvana, are essential additions to many itineraries.

Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali and Shravasti allow operators to create longer journeys instead of selling Bodh Gaya as an isolated destination. Varanasi can add cultural and spiritual experiences for groups visiting nearby Sarnath, while Delhi and Agra can introduce first-time visitors to India’s wider historical heritage.

Improved road, rail and air connectivity has made multi-destination programmes more practical. Kushinagar International Airport was developed partly to strengthen access to the Buddhist Circuit, while flights between major Indian and Thai cities provide operators with greater flexibility for both short and extended tours.

Why Double Entry Matters

The double-entry feature has commercial importance beyond convenience.

Many Buddhist pilgrimage groups want to include Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal. A double-entry Indian visa allows travellers to begin their journey in India, visit Nepal and return to India without obtaining another Indian visa.

This creates opportunities for regional itineraries connecting Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar and Lumbini. Longer programmes can generate additional hotel nights, transport bookings, guided tours and local spending across several destinations.

Hotels Must Adapt to Thai Pilgrimage Groups

The visa waiver may encourage demand, but service quality will determine whether destinations secure repeat business.

Hotels in Bodh Gaya, Varanasi, Kushinagar and other pilgrimage centres can become more competitive by offering:

1. Thai-speaking assistance or translated guest information

• Vegetarian and familiar Asian meal options

• Early breakfasts and flexible dining schedules

• Suitable arrangements for monks and religious groups

• Coordination with Thai wholesalers and Indian ground handlers

• Convenient transport for temples and heritage sites

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Operators can also add wellness, yoga, meditation, shopping, culinary and heritage experiences around the core pilgrimage journey. These additions may appeal particularly to repeat visitors and family members accompanying religious travellers.

Why It Matters

The extension strengthens people-to-people links between India and Thailand while supporting tourism across destinations beyond India’s largest metropolitan centres.

Its economic value could reach hotels, transport companies, guides, restaurants and small businesses throughout Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other areas connected to Buddhist heritage.

The policy also gives India an opportunity to position its Buddhist Circuit as a unified international tourism product rather than a collection of individual religious sites.

What’s Next

The strongest results will depend on coordinated promotion involving airlines, Indian tourism authorities, state governments, Thai tour operators, hotels and pilgrimage organisations.

Industry partners should use the period through 2027 to develop multilingual services, improve group-tour standards and promote regional India–Nepal circuits.

Travellers should apply only through India’s official e-Visa portal and confirm current entry requirements before booking. The fee waiver remains valid until December 31, 2027, or until further government orders.

Timeline

2019: India receives 169,956 visitors from Thailand
2022: Thai arrivals stand at 54,367
2023: Arrivals recover to 116,060
2024: India welcomes 140,489 Thai visitors
January–April 2025: A further 57,056 visitors arrive
September 2026: Extended visa-fee waiver confirmed
December 31, 2027: Current waiver period scheduled to end