UAE Visa for Thai Citizens: New Visa on Arrival Rules 2026

Do Thai citizens need a visa for the UAE? It depends. As of 25 June 2026, Thai passport holders can get a visa on arrival — but only if they hold a valid residence permit from one of nine countries. Everyone else needs a pre-arranged UAE visit visa before flying. White Sky Travel, a licensed Dubai travel agency, helps Thai travellers with both routes — from AED 450, processed in 2–3 days.

New for 2026: UAE visa on arrival for Thai citizens

On 25 June 2026, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) added Thailand to its visa-on-arrival list, alongside Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa. There is one key condition: your nationality alone is not enough.

Thai ordinary passport holders (and accompanying family members) can receive a visa on arrival only if they hold a valid residence permit from one of these nine countries:

• United States, United Kingdom, or any EU member state
• Canada, Australia, or New Zealand
• Japan, South Korea, or Singapore

If you qualify, two options are issued at the airport: a 14-day visa for AED 100 (extendable once for a further 14 days) or a 60-day visa for AED 250 (single stay, not extendable). Your Thai passport must be valid at least six months.

Don’t hold a qualifying residence permit? Then you’ll need a pre-arranged UAE tourist visa before you travel — which is simple, and we handle it for you (see below).

UAE tourist visa types & fees for Thai citizens

Visa	Entry	Stay	Enter within	Price
48-Hour Transit	Single	48 hours	—	AED 250
96-Hour Transit	Single	96 hours	—	AED 360
30-Day Tourist Visa	Single	30 days	60 days of issue	AED 450
60-Day Tourist Visa	Single	60 days	60 days of issue	AED 650
30-Day Tourist Visa	Multiple	30 days	60 days of issue	AED 800
60-Day Tourist Visa	Multiple	60 days	60 days of issue	AED 1,000

All prices include VAT and processing. Not sure which fits your trip? Message us and we’ll help you choose.

How the UAE visa validity works

• 60 days to enter: once issued, your visa is valid to enter the UAE within 60 days.
• Stay activates on arrival: your 30 or 60 allowed days start counting from the day you enter, not the issue date.
• Multiple entry: works the same way — once you enter, your allowed days activate and you can travel in and out of the UAE freely within them.

Documents required

• A clear copy of your Thai passport bio-data page (valid at least 6 months).
• A copy of your passport external cover page — mandatory for all UAE visa applications since September 2025.
• A recent passport-size photo with a white background.
• A round-trip (two-way) flight ticket.
• A hotel reservation for your stay.

Don’t have a ticket or hotel yet? We can provide a round-trip ticket and a hotel reservation for your visa application, so you can apply now and finalise plans later.

Renewing your visa without leaving the UAE

• 30-day visa: renew up to 3 times, 30 days each.
• 60-day visa: renew up to 2 times, 30 days each.

After your renewals are used, stay longer with an airport-to-airport visa change or a visa change by bus — both arranged by White Sky Travel.

Processing time & insurance

Most UAE tourist visas for Thai citizens are processed in 2–3 working days. Your visa comes with COVID-19 coverage insurance included; if you’d like emergency medical travel insurance, add a plan through our insurance quote tool.

Getting to the UAE from Thailand

There are direct flights from Bangkok to Dubai (around 6.5 hours) with Emirates, Thai Airways and flydubai, plus connecting options on Etihad and others. We can book your flights with Tabby or Tamara monthly payments alongside your visa — see flight booking options.

Bringing family or friends from Thailand?

If you’re already in the UAE and want to bring family or friends from Thailand, we handle everything under one roof — visa, flights, hotels and insurance — with monthly payments via Tabby, Tamara or a UAE credit card, spread over up to 12 months.

Frequently asked questions

Can Thai citizens get a UAE visa on arrival now?

Yes, since 25 June 2026 — but only if you hold a valid residence permit from the US, UK, an EU member state, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea or Singapore. Eligible travellers get a 14-day visa for AED 100 or a 60-day visa for AED 250 at the airport. Without a qualifying permit, you need a pre-arranged visa.

I don’t have a residence permit abroad — can I still visit the UAE?

Yes. Most Thai travellers apply for a pre-arranged UAE tourist visa before flying. We process 30-day and 60-day visas (single or multiple entry) for you in 2–3 working days.

How much is a UAE visa for Thai citizens?

A 30-day single-entry visa is AED 450 and a 60-day single-entry is AED 650. Multiple-entry visas are AED 800 (30-day) and AED 1,000 (60-day). Transit visas are AED 250 (48 hours) and AED 360 (96 hours). All include VAT and processing.

What documents do Thai travellers need for a UAE visa?

A passport bio-data page and the passport external cover page (mandatory since September 2025), a white-background passport photo, a round-trip flight ticket and a hotel reservation. If you don’t have the ticket or hotel yet, we can provide them for your application.

How long can I stay, and can I extend?

You can stay 30 or 60 days depending on the visa, counted from entry. You can renew without exiting — a 30-day visa up to 3 times and a 60-day visa up to 2 times, 30 days each — then exit and re-enter via an airport or bus visa change.

Are there direct flights from Thailand to the UAE?

Yes. Emirates, Thai Airways and flydubai fly direct from Bangkok to Dubai in about 6.5 hours, with connecting options on other airlines. We can book your flights with Tabby or Tamara.