Thailand Introduces E-Visas for UAE Residents Starting 2025

Thai Authorities anticipate that the e-visa application process for UAE residents planning their visit to Thailand from January 1, 2025, will ease and will be carried out much more conveniently. Thai government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently announced that the new system replaces a procedure,where Thai citizens previously had to visit the Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Dubai.

The concept of e-visa for international tourists is going to help increase the number of people visiting the world by making the visa process easy and accessible. Thai E-Visa: UAE residents can now apply at the official portal www.thaievisa.go.th without going through middlemen agencies. All other charges including the overhead visa fees of AED 400 (approximately $109), can only be paid through this portal.

Requirements for UAE Residents Applying for a Thai E-Visa:

• Original passport with minimum 6 months validity
• A recent passport-sized photograph is required.
• Possession of valid residential permit-Residence visa or Emirates ID
• Returning travel booking confirmation
• Hotel reservation, letter of invitation from the Thai inviting party, stamped letter from Thai Embassy or Consulate.

It has a validity of 60 days, with flexibility for the travellers and takes between five and twenty working days for processing. But since employers make their choice from the lot of applicants, it would be wiser for the applicants to write their documents in advance and apply at least a month before the date of travel.

I believe this is one of the many changes that Thailand has been implementing as a measure of marketing the country as friendly and easy to visit for tourists such those from UAE and other parts of the world.