Latest news with #ThailandDigitalArrivalCard
NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Explained: How The Jump In India's Passport Ranking Can Benefit Travellers
India has made its biggest-ever leap in the global Henley Passport Index, climbing eight spots to rank 77th in 2025. With this move, Indian passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 59 destinations. This is a record high. The Henley Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can visit without a prior visa. In terms of travel freedom, India still lags behind top-ranking nations like Singapore (1st, 193 destinations), Japan, and South Korea, but the gap is slowly narrowing. India's upward movement places it ahead of several neighbouring countries and marks a significant step toward greater global travel access. Why A Stronger Passport Matters - And How Indian Travellers Can Benefit A stronger passport can benefit frequent flyers, business travellers, students, and even leisure tourists. Here are some of the advantages: Less paperwork: A stronger passport can mean fewer embassy visits and reduced money spent on agent fees Faster travel planning: It is easier to book last-minute trips to specific destinations if you have a stronger passport. This is because you won't have to worry about long, drawn-out visa application processes. Cost savings: If your passport allows you to travel visa-free or apply for e-Visas, this can translate to no visa fees or courier charges in many cases. More opportunities on a global scale: A strong passport can broaden your horizons, literally. Spontaneous vacations, international layovers, and longer stopovers become possible. In general, a stronger passport can help with smoother border entry and better chances for future visa approvals elsewhere. Countries Indian Passport Holders Can Visit Visa-Free Indian passport holders can currently travel visa-free to these destinations (subject to change based on bilateral policies): Africa Angola Kenya Madagascar Mauritius Rwanda Senegal Asia Bhutan Iran Kazakhstan Macao Malaysia Nepal Philippines Thailand* Oceania (Pacific Islands) Cook Islands Fiji Kiribati Micronesia Niue Vanuatu Caribbean Barbados Dominica Grenada Haiti Jamaica Montserrat St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago British Virgin Islands Note that the "visa-free" label may come with stipulations. Each country may have different rules. For example, Indian passport holders wanting to travel to Thailand need to apply for a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) three days in advance of their planned date of arrival in the country. Countries Indian Passport Holders Can Visit With Visa On Arrival In addition to visa-free countries, these nations offer visa-on-arrival (VOA) facilities for Indian travellers: Africa Burundi Cape Verde Islands Comoro Islands Djibouti Ethiopia Guinea-Bissau Mozambique Namibia Sierra Leone Somalia Tanzania Zimbabwe Seychelles* Asia Cambodia Indonesia Jordan Laos Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Qatar Sri Lanka Oceania (Pacific Islands) Marshall Islands Palau Islands Samoa Timor-Leste Tuvalu South America Bolivia Caribbean St. Lucia VOA typically requires valid return tickets, proof of stay, and sufficient funds. Duration and cost may vary by country. There may be additional or unique requirements in some cases. For instance, Indian passport holders receive a visitor's permit upon arrival in Seychelles, rather than a regular visa. Accordingly, they need to apply for this Travel Authorisation (TA) before their trip. Key Tips to Keep in Mind 1. Always check entry rules on official embassy or consulate websites before making your travel plans. Regulations may change at any time. Remember, visa-free doesn't mean document-free. 2. Never forget to carry printed travel proof related to accommodation bookings, return tickets, financial means, etc 3. Note that some countries offer fast-track eVisas that still need pre-approval online. 4. If possible, maintain a strong travel history. Doing so can help with future visa approvals for highly sought-after destinations in Europe or North America. India's rise in the Henley Passport Index reflects a meaningful shift in how Indian travellers will be received around the world. With access to 59 destinations visa-free or on arrival, international travel is now more accessible than ever for Indian passport holders. Whether you're planning your next beach holiday, business trip, or solo adventure, the good news is that your passport now opens more doors than ever before. If you need to renew your passport soon, check out our detailed guide on this topic.
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Families to get priority at major airports
Thailand is welcoming young travellers and families with a priority check-in channel at airports in major cities during school holidays in China and summer in Europe. The shǔ jià yú kuài tú jìng, or the "Happy Chinese Summer Channel", programme has been launched at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket and Chiang Mai airports, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, Commander of Immigration Division 2. The initiative aims to boost convenience for travellers from China, as well as those from entering from North America and Europe passing through airport immigration during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, and the low season of tourism in Thailand, he said. A dedicated lane will be provided for travellers who come as a family with a clear travel plan, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron. They must be able to declare a return date and accommodation and have no history of visa runs, or short trips made to a neighbouring country to extend their stay, he said. The number of Chinese families travelling to Thailand has increased, and they can look forward to better treatment under this change. In every 1,300 Chinese who arrive in Thailand, 600 of whom are 12 years old or younger, and often travel with their parents or grandparents, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron. About 1,000 travellers of other nationalities who come as a family visit Thailand every day, half of whom are 12 years and younger. The dedicated lane has reduced check-in times from 40 minutes on average down to just 15, he said. Feedback from travellers who have taken part in the programme has been very positive, he added. However, some visitors have complained about the need to fill out the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Airport immigration has rejected over 10,000 arrivals since January as part of an effort to crack down on foreign criminals, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron.
Bangkok Post
4 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Immigration expands fast lanes at Thai airports as student tourism picks up
Thai immigration authorities have expanded their fast lanes at the country's international airports to accommodate not only Chinese students and families, but also growing numbers of international school holidaymakers. Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, commander of Immigration Division 2, said the extended service comes as more foreign families arrive in Thailand during the summer break – particularly from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada – coinciding with the country's low tourist season. Immigration police recently set up 'Happy Chinese Summer Channel' lanes for Chinese students' families at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket airports to welcome them to Thailand during their school holidays. According to Pol Maj Gen Choengron, while the number of Chinese student visitors still forms the largest group — averaging around 1,300 arrivals per day, 600 of whom are children aged under 12 — the number of non-Chinese students and their families is climbing steadily, currently averaging 1,000 daily arrivals, with about 500 of them being children. 'The fast lanes are now being utilised more broadly to support smoother processing for family groups visiting for tourism. Students and their families typically arrive with clear travel plans, confirmed accommodation and return tickets, and have no prior record of visa misuse or 'visa runs'', Pol Maj Gen Choengron said. 'The special lanes have reduced immigration queue times for these family groups from a peak of 40 minutes to just 15 minutes during busy periods. Priority lanes are also being provided for elderly foreign travellers, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.' The initiative has received positive feedback from the groups, including praise for improved service and perceptions of Thailand as a family-friendly destination. However, they noted some inconvenience with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, prompting plans for further system improvements. Meanwhile, Thai nationals continue to benefit from automated passport clearance and the Thai passport-holders lanes, typically waiting no longer than five minutes. Despite efforts to boost tourism during the low season, Pol Maj Gen Choengron emphasised that border security remains the top priority. Since January, more than 10,000 foreign nationals have been denied entry due to concerns over illegal activities or links to so-called "grey" groups. The fast-lane initiative, he stressed, is aimed at supporting genuine tourism while maintaining strict screening protocols.
Economic Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Thailand welcomes over 1 million Indian tourists by mid-2025
Thailand has crossed a significant tourism milestone, receiving more than one million visitors from India by mid-June 2025, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). This marks a rapid recovery from the pandemic downturn and reaffirms Thailand's enduring appeal as a year-round travel latest surge builds on a record 2024, when Thailand hosted over 35 million international tourists, including 2.1 million from India. The early arrival figures for 2025 reflect India's rising outbound travel trend and underscore the growing resilience of bilateral tourism of Thailand's key attractions is its wide-ranging appeal: vibrant cities like Bangkok, cultural centres such as Chiang Mai, and beach destinations including Phuket and Krabi. Indian travellers also enjoy wellness retreats, luxury escapes, and rich culinary experiences—from street food stalls to fine-dining restaurants. Visa facilitation and smoother entry procedures have boosted the arrivals. Indian nationals can now stay visa-free for up to 60 days, and all foreign visitors, including Indians, use the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which speeds up immigration processing. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) TAT has responded with targeted strategies aimed at promoting high-value, sustainable tourism. Initiatives include joint promotions, trade events, influencer engagement, and roadshows in various Indian cities to encourage longer, more immersive stays and higher spend per traveller. With the peak travel season approaching, TAT expects the number of Indian tourists to climb further in the second half of 2025. India continues to rank among Thailand's most important source countries for international tourism.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Time of India
Thailand welcomes over 1 million Indian tourists by mid-2025
Thailand has crossed a significant tourism milestone, receiving more than one million visitors from India by mid-June 2025, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). This marks a rapid recovery from the pandemic downturn and reaffirms Thailand's enduring appeal as a year-round travel destination. This latest surge builds on a record 2024, when Thailand hosted over 35 million international tourists, including 2.1 million from India. The early arrival figures for 2025 reflect India's rising outbound travel trend and underscore the growing resilience of bilateral tourism ties. One of Thailand's key attractions is its wide-ranging appeal: vibrant cities like Bangkok, cultural centres such as Chiang Mai, and beach destinations including Phuket and Krabi. Indian travellers also enjoy wellness retreats, luxury escapes, and rich culinary experiences—from street food stalls to fine-dining restaurants. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 나눔도 당신처럼 아름답게, 유니세프 팀 팔찌 유니세프 지금 기부하기 Undo Visa facilitation and smoother entry procedures have boosted the arrivals. Indian nationals can now stay visa-free for up to 60 days, and all foreign visitors, including Indians, use the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which speeds up immigration processing. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) TAT has responded with targeted strategies aimed at promoting high-value, sustainable tourism. Initiatives include joint promotions, trade events, influencer engagement, and roadshows in various Indian cities to encourage longer, more immersive stays and higher spend per traveller. Live Events RECOMMENDED STORIES FOR YOU Even 'White Lotus' buzz isn't reviving Thailand's tourism slump Travelling to Thailand soon? The government has issued a health alert you must be aware of With the peak travel season approaching, TAT expects the number of Indian tourists to climb further in the second half of 2025. India continues to rank among Thailand's most important source countries for international tourism.
