The holiday season is just around the corner, and now is as good a time as any to take full advantage of easy visa policies that many Asian countries are offering Indian travellers. Thailand has once again extended its Tourist Visa Exception Scheme for Indians till further notice, while Indonesia is offering Indian passport holders a ‘visit visa exception’. Bhutan and Nepal remain visa-free for Indians, while the Maldives allows free visas on arrival. If you’re looking to explore Central Asia, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan offer quick and smooth e-visas. It's a good time to be an Indian traveller. Here are 11 Asian countries that are easy to travel to right now.
Sri Lanka
Travellers from India can now apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) directly on an online portal, and no longer have to go through a third party. A recent update confirms that Indians are eligible for visa-free travel to Sri Lanka, allowing them to enjoy a 30 day free-visa period and a double entry permit from the date of first arriving to Sri Lanka. Indians can apply for their ETAs online before arriving in Sri Lanka. The ETA clearance typically takes up to three business days. Details here.
Malaysia
Currently, Indians travelling to Malaysia are eligible for visa-free entry into Malaysia until 31 December 2024. However, all travellers entering Malaysia will require a complete Malaysian Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)—a mandatory entry registration document. The MDAC must be completed at least three days before arrival into the country. This process can be done online along with necessary documents such as a valid passport, a return ticket, proof of sufficient funds, and required health declarations. You do not need to pay a fee for the MDAC and this document is not the same as a visa. This visa-free entry permits Indians to reside in Malaysia for up to 30 days. If you want to extend your stay beyond the 30 day limit, you will need to apply for an e-visa. Details here.
Singapore
Travellers are advised to apply for an e-visa within 30 days from the date of travel. The processing time is three working days, and the fee is Rs1,800. The visa will be valid for 30 days. Be ready with documents such as the Immigration form (Form 14A), a recent passport-sized coloured photograph, and a copy of the passport biodata page. Details here.
Thailand
Earlier this year, the Royal Thai Government extended its Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme for Indian and Taiwanese nationals from 11 May 2024 to 10 November 2024. Recently, the country announced a further extension of this scheme indefinitely, which means Indians can enjoy visa-free travel to Thailand till further notice. This holiday season would be a good time to take advantage of the facility. Earlier, Indians required a visa-on-arrival to travel to Thailand, which allowed them a stay of up to 15 days. The visa-free entry allowed Indians to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days. That limit has now been extended to 60 days. Details here.
Vietnam
Indian citizens travelling to Vietnam require a valid visa to enter the country. Indians can apply for an e-visa online, which will be processed within 5-30 working days after the immigration department receives the completed application along with the visa fee, which is currently priced between Rs.2,111 and Rs.4,223. The e-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days, after which an extension can be granted, but only from within Vietnam. Details here.
Indonesia
Denpasar, Bali, IndonesiaGetty Images/ simon long
Currently Indian passport holders can opt for a ‘visit visa exemption’ or a visa on arrival. All you need is a passport valid for six months and a return ticket. You will be exempted from a visa only if your stay spans 30 days. If you wish to extend your stay for more than a month, you will have to apply for a visa on arrival. For a visa on arrival, you will need proof of payment of 500,000 IDR (Rs2,680). The visa on arrival can be extended for 30 days. Indian passport holders can also enter Bali visa-free for a travel of up to 30 days. Details here.
Nepal
Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal. All you need are your passport or a voter ID issued by the Government of India.
Maldives
Aerial view of beach, Baa Atoll, MaldivesGetty Images / Nazim Ahmed / 500px
Indian travellers will be granted a free visa on arrival for 30 days and are exempted from any charges. The stay can be extended for 60 days at an amount of Rs3,045. Details here.
Bhutan
Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Bhutan. However, they do need an entry permit which will be obtained upon arrival. For the permit, one would need a completed application form, passport or voter ID as proof of identity and a recommendation letter from a local host. Those entering the country via road will need to get an entry permit from the Immigration Office of the Royal Government of Bhutan located on the Indo-Bhutan border opposite Jaigaon. While the entry is free of cost, visitors will have to pay an amount of Rs1,200 on arrival as sustainable development fees. Details here.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan, Samarkand, Shah i Zinda mausoleumGetty Images / Tuul & Bruno Morandi
Travellers can apply for an eVisa, with a consular fee of Rs1,700, which will be emailed to them in approximately four working days. Visitors can stay for a total of 30 days. For the eVisa, a passport and your biographical information are required. Details here.
Azerbaijan
Indian citizens can enter Azerbaijan on a tourist visa which can be obtained electronically as an e-visa. The e-visa allows for a single entry with a maximum stay of up to 30 days. Details here.
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