Thailand Visa for Indian Passport Holders in Dubai — Complete Guide 2026

Yes — but for 30 days, not 60. From 15 September 2026 Indian ordinary-passport holders are eligible for visa-exempt entry to Thailand for stays of up to 30 days, for tourism only. This is a unilateral exemption Thailand grants (the India–Thailand bilateral exemption treaty covers only diplomatic and official passports, not ordinary passports), so Indian nationals — regardless of whether they are UAE residents or travelling from any other country — can still arrive at any Thai international airport and receive an entry stamp directly at immigration, with no advance visa, no embassy visit, and no government fee. ⚠️ The previous 60-day exemption, announced on 15 July 2024, was revoked by a Ministry of Interior announcement published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and signed by the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior on 26 August 2026. Entries on or before 14 September 2026 still receive 60 days.

This is an important distinction from many other destinations where Indian passport holders must apply for a visa in advance. For Thailand, you simply need a valid Indian passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity, proof of onward or return travel, and sufficient funds for your stay. Immigration officers at Thai airports may ask to see these documents, so it is important to have them ready.

Even though Indian passport holders do not need a pre-arranged visa for Thailand, you should carry several documents to ensure smooth immigration clearance at the Thai airport. Immigration officers have the discretion to ask for proof of accommodation, return travel, and financial means. Having these documents ready avoids delays and demonstrates that you are a genuine tourist.

Indian passport holders have two routes into Thailand, suited to different trip durations. The visa exemption is the standard route and, from 15 September 2026, covers tourist holidays of up to 30 days with no visa and no government fee — it covered 60 days for entries on or before 14 September 2026. The tourist e-Visa is necessary for stays exceeding the exempt period, and for any purpose other than tourism. The Electronic Visa on Arrival is not one of your routes — Indian nationals are visa-exempt and are not eligible for it; the Visa on Arrival list published on 31 August 2026 covers only Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.

Arriving at a Thai airport as an Indian passport holder using the visa exemption is straightforward, but knowing what to expect helps you prepare. Immigration clearance at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports typically takes 20 to 45 minutes during peak hours, though this can extend to over an hour during holiday periods. Understanding the process in advance makes the experience smoother.

1. 1Complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before you travel — it replaced the paper TM6 card — at tdac.immigration.go.th. Fill in your Indian passport details, hotel address in Thailand, and flight information, and save the QR code for immigration.
2. 2Join the queue marked for foreign passport holders at immigration. Indian nationals using the visa exemption go through the regular immigration line, not the eVOA or visa-on-arrival counter.
3. 3Present your Indian passport, completed arrival card, return flight booking, and hotel reservation to the immigration officer.
4. 4The officer will stamp your passport with the visa-exempt entry permission: 30 days for entries from 15 September 2026, and 60 days for entries on or before 14 September 2026. Verify that the stamp shows the correct entry date and the number of days permitted.
5. 5The TDAC is digital, so there is no paper departure card to retain — keep your TDAC QR code accessible in case it is requested when leaving Thailand.
6. 6If the immigration officer asks about your funds, show your bank statement or cash. This is rare for Indian nationals but can happen.

If you plan to stay in Thailand longer than the visa-exempt period, you will need a tourist visa (TR). Since 1 January 2025 these are applied for online through the official Thai e-Visa portal (thaievisa.go.th) — in-person submission at the Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi has been discontinued. The tourist e-Visa grants 60 days of stay, extendable by 30 days inside Thailand at a local immigration office — a total maximum of 90 days. OraVisa can prepare and submit your e-Visa application from Dubai.

1. 1Gather all required documents: passport (6+ months validity), a recent digital passport photo, UAE residence visa copy, Emirates ID copy, bank statement (3 months), employment letter, return flight booking, and hotel reservation.
2. 2Create an account and complete the tourist e-Visa application online at the official Thai e-Visa portal (thaievisa.go.th), selecting the United Arab Emirates as your country of residence.
3. 3Upload your documents and digital photo, then pay the visa fee of USD 40 (~AED 147) online by card.
4. 4Track your application status online; the e-Visa is typically issued within 3 to 5 working days and delivered electronically — there is no passport sticker and no embassy visit.
5. 5Carry a printed or digital copy of your approved e-Visa with your passport when you travel. OraVisa can prepare and submit the full application on your behalf.

Indian nationals applying for the tourist visa face minimal difficulty at the Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The approval rate is very high provided documents are complete. OraVisa recommends the tourist visa if your stay will exceed the visa-exempt period — 30 days from 15 September 2026 — or if you are travelling for a purpose the tourism-only exemption does not cover; for shorter tourist trips, the free visa exemption is simpler and more cost-effective.

One of the major advantages for Indian nationals visiting Thailand is the cost — or rather, the lack of it. Under the visa exemption there is no government visa fee at all, for stays up to 30 days from 15 September 2026 (up to 60 days for entries on or before 14 September 2026). Only the tourist e-Visa route, for stays beyond that or for non-tourism travel, carries a fee — detailed below.

From 15 September 2026 the visa exemption gives 30 days rather than 60, and it is granted for tourism only — so more Indian travellers will now need a visa, particularly those combining a trip with medical treatment, extended family visits, or Muay Thai training camps. Understanding the extension rules and the specific scenarios where a visa is actually required helps you plan correctly.

To stay beyond the visa-exempt period, which is 30 days for entries from 15 September 2026, you can visit a Thai Immigration Bureau office inside Thailand and apply for a 30-day extension. The fee is widely reported as THB 1,900 (approximately AED 200), and the process typically takes a few hours. You will need your passport, a completed TM7 extension form, a passport photo, and proof of accommodation. Extension of stay is governed by a separate instrument that the 26 August 2026 announcements do not cover and that OraVisa has not been able to retrieve, so treat this as discretionary practice rather than an entitlement: it is granted at the discretion of the immigration officer, is not guaranteed, and should not be relied on to recover the 60 days the exemption used to give.

While most Indian passport holders can travel to Thailand without any visa assistance, OraVisa provides dedicated support for situations where professional guidance is valuable — particularly tourist visa applications for longer stays, multiple-entry visa planning, and combining Thailand with multi-country Asian itineraries.

• Tourist visa application handling — we prepare and submit your documents at the Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi so you never need to leave Dubai
• eVOA application review — we ensure your online application is error-free and your photo meets Thai immigration standards
• Extension guidance — we advise on the in-Thailand extension process if you need more than the 30 days the exemption gives from 15 September 2026
• Multi-country trip planning — combining Thailand with Vietnam, Cambodia, or Malaysia? We handle all visa requirements for the full itinerary
• Immigration document preparation — we provide a pre-departure checklist tailored to Indian nationals to ensure smooth Thai immigration clearance