Thailand visa costs are by far the most frequently searched question we receive from people in the UAE planning a trip, and the straightforward truth is that the main fee is seldom the one that matters most. What you pay depends on your passport, since many nationalities pay nothing at all, and the amount you need to show at Bangkok immigration varies.
This is the full cost picture for UAE residents in 2026. For a quote for your specific nationality and travel dates, our Thailand visa services team for UAE residents will give you one number.
The three numbers that make up your total cost
Any visit to Thailand from Dubai includes up to three financial components, and confusion over them can lead to very different amounts.
• The fee required for the government visa is paid to the Royal Thai authorities via the official e-Visa portal. Nationals exempt from the visa requirement pay nothing.
• The service charge: the amount that a visa agency in Dubai will charge you to prepare, submit, and follow up on your application, although it is optional and only worthwhile depending on the complexity of your case.
• Evidence of funds. This is not a payment, but money you must be able to show you have. This causes more problems for travelers than the fee ever does.
Thailand e-Visa government fee for UAE residents
Thailand has introduced a fully electronic visa system, so UAE applications are now made via the official Thai e-Visa website instead of sending a passport to the embassy. The single-entry tourist visa allows a stay of up to 60 days, and the visa is valid for three months from the date it is issued. The multiple-entry tourist visa (METV) is valid for six months and allows unlimited entries, with each entry being limited to 60 days.
Fees are listed in Thai baht and vary slightly by post, so check the amount quoted on the portal when you apply. After you complete the application form, processing usually takes a few working days, but allow extra time, as resubmissions after a document inquiry are common and will reset your time limit.
What Dubai visa service charges and what you get
The service fee should secure three things: knowledge of the route your passport entitles you to, a package of documents that won’t raise questions, and someone to follow up on the application if it stalls. If an organization is merely retyping your information into the same public portal you could use yourself, you are paying only for convenience, which is a legitimate purchase. Still, you should be aware of that.
Before paying the fee, find out what it includes. At our Dubai office, the fee covers the eligibility check, document preparation, filing, tracking, and arrival card submission. If a traveler doesn’t need a visa, we will let you know that you don’t need our services.
The costs nobody quotes you
• Photographs to the correct specification – a small cost, but a rejected photo costs you days.
• Birth certificate: When a birth or marriage certificate is needed, document attestation and translation are required, especially in the case of family applications.
• Travel insurance is not required by law for tourists but is strongly recommended and at times asked for.
• Onward or return ticket. You must hold one, and immigration does check. If you plan to book the return leg once you arrive, budget for it now.
• Accommodation: book accommodation for at least the first night(s).
• The cost of getting it wrong – a refused application means rebooking flights and hotels, and a denied boarding at Dubai airport means losing the fare entirely.
Visa-exempt travelers: the fee is zero; the TDAC is not optional
Thailand allows many nationalities to enter without obtaining a visa. In this case, your visa costs zero, though you still must complete some paperwork.
Travelers who are entering Thailand are required to file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 72 hours before their arrival; the form is available free of charge on the official website and covers all members of your group, including infants, and it is becoming more common for airlines to verify it at Dubai check-in. If a website asks you to pay for the TDAC, then it is not the official one.
A warning on this matter: in May 2026, Thailand’s Cabinet decided to reduce the visa exemption from 60 days to 30 days, but as of now, the change has not yet appeared in the Royal Gazette, and the 60-day visa stamp still applies. If your visit requires a stay longer than 30 days, confirm the situation before booking. In our comparison of the Thailand visa on arrival and the e-Visa, we explain the details of each route.
Proof of funds: the number that actually catches people
Thai immigration may require evidence of sufficient funds, typically stated as 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht per family for entry without a visa, and 20,000 baht for those holding a tourist visa. Although the money is not actually collected, it has to be shown, in cash or on a card, if an immigration officer asks.
Enforcement is irregular, which is exactly the reason why it catches people by surprise—travelers hear that no one is ever checked, and then suddenly they are. Take the evidence.
Full cost table
| Cost element | Visa-exempt traveller | Tourist e-Visa (single entry) | METV |
| Government visa fee | Nil | Set in THB – confirm on the official portal | Higher than single entry |
| TDAC arrival card | Free, mandatory | Free, mandatory | Free, mandatory |
| Agency service fee | Usually unnecessary | Optional | Optional |
| Proof of funds to show | 10,000 THB per person / 20,000 THB per family | 20,000 THB | 20,000 THB |
| Return or onward ticket | Required | Required | Required |
| Accommodation proof | Required | Required | Required |
| Stay permitted | Per exemption rules – confirm current position | Up to 60 days | Up to 60 days per entry, 6 months validity |
How to budget a Thailand trip from Dubai
If you follow these steps, you will not be surprised. Start by mapping your route, since this will determine whether you need a visa fee. Next, include the TDAC; even though it is free, you have to book it in advance. Then set aside the proof-of-funds amount for each traveler to ensure it’s available on the day in question. After that, book the return ticket before you leave, rather than after you arrive. Finally, add the agency fee if you wish.
For families, the figures are higher than most people anticipate because both the proof-of-funds amount and the visa fee are charged per person. The guide on visas to Thailand for families traveling from Dubai includes the extra documents needed for children.
Get one number instead of a table.
Send us your nationality, your travel dates, and how many people are traveling, and we will come back with a single all-in figure—or tell you that you do not need a visa and can file the arrival card yourself. Our full Thailand visa services page from the UAE lists the document requirements, and our Dubai office in Deira handles applications every working day.
SDTT Travel has been handling visa applications for people living in the UAE from its office in Dubai at the Al Masraf Building on 51 Baniyas Road in Deira, and it also has offices in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. You can reach us by phone on 04 528 3000, message us on WhatsApp at +971 4 528 3000, or speak with one of our travel experts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of a Thailand visa when applying from Dubai?
It depends on your passport; some nationalities can enter without a visa and pay no fee. If you need a tourist visa, you must pay a government fee in Thai baht through the official e-Visa website, plus any agency fee. Check the current amount when you apply.
Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card free?
Yes, the TDAC is available on the official Thai website and is compulsory for all travelers; you must submit it within 72 hours before arrival. Any website that charges money for it is not official.
How much money should I have when going through Thai immigration?
The figure most often quoted is 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht per family for visa-exempt entry, and 20,000 baht for those with a tourist visa. The fee is not collected, but you must be able to show you can afford it if questioned.
For how long may I remain in Thailand on a tourist visa?
A single-entry tourist visa allows a stay of up to 60 days, the visa being valid for three months from the date it is issued. The lengths of stay for visitors exempt from requiring a visa have been reviewed in 2026, so check the latest details before booking a trip longer than this.
Do I need a return ticket for a trip to Thailand?
Certainly, you need a return or onward ticket, and immigration will check it. It’s better to book it before you fly than to plan on arranging it when you arrive.
Can SDTT Travel give one total price?
Certainly, please send us your nationality, the dates, and the number of travelers via WhatsApp, and we’ll provide a single figure that includes the government fee, our service charge, and the amount you’ll need to show at immigration.