Entry Requirements
If you hold a passport from UAE, you must submit a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before entering the Kingdom of Thailand. The TDAC replaced the paper-based TM6 form and is now required for all international arrivals — regardless of your visa status or purpose of travel.
As an Emirati citizen, you are eligible for visa exempt (30 days) entry. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry. The TDAC collects your personal details, travel information, and accommodation address in Thailand.
⚠️ Common Issue for Emirati Passport Holders
Passport expiry rules — this is the most common reason for TDAC rejections from Emirati travelers. Our system automatically detects and corrects these issues before submission, ensuring your arrival card is accepted without delays at immigration.
How to Apply
- 1Have your UAE passport ready with at least 6 months validity from your planned entry date.
- 2Complete the online form on TDAC.info with your personal details, travel itinerary, and accommodation address in Thailand.
- 3Our team reviews your submission for errors and you receive your approved QR code via email before your departure.
- 4Present your QR code at Thai immigration upon arrival — no paper forms needed, skip the queues.
Visa Status
Emirati citizens: Visa Exempt (30 Days). No visa application required for tourist stays within the allowed period.
Visa Duration for Emirati Citizens
Emirati passport holders can stay in Thailand for 30 days from 15 Sep 2026 under the current visa exemption. Extensions are available at local Immigration offices.
Flights to Thailand from UAE
- Dubai (DXB) → Bangkok
- Abu Dhabi (AUH) → Bangkok
Common TDAC Mistakes by Emirati Travelers
- Arabic name transliteration must match passport MRZ exactly
- UAE passport numbers are 9 digits
- Ensure passport validity of 6+ months
Auto Gates at Suvarnabhumi: UAE Passports Can Use the Arrival Gates
The arrival auto gates at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport now serve 33 countries and territories, up from two (Singapore and Hong Kong), and UAE is one of them. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports confirmed this on 30 October 2026. The rollout is phased, so an eligible passport does not guarantee an open gate on every flight: if no gate is open for you, use a staffed counter.
When the arrival gate will take you
- You enter visa-free. The gates are for travellers under the visa exemption. If you hold a visa, you still clear immigration at a staffed counter.
- You have visited Thailand before. The gate matches a face scan against biometrics already on file, so first-time visitors give their biometrics at a staffed counter.
- You filed your TDAC before landing. The gates do not replace the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Since 15 October 2026 the TDAC confirmation email shows ELIGIBLE or MANUAL PROCESSING for the gate.
- Your TDAC matches your passport. The gate reads the passport chip and checks it against your arrival record, so a different name spelling, passport number or date of birth sends you to a staffed counter.
Leaving Thailand is a separate system: the departure Auto Channel at Suvarnabhumi is open to e-passport holders of all nationalities. Arrival gates at Don Mueang and Phuket are planned but not yet confirmed as open.
Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi
For visa enquiries beyond the visa exemption period, contact the Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Visit Embassy WebsiteThe 90-Second Version
What Immigration Checks on Emirati Passports
- Passport validity. The rule that catches Emirati travellers: six months from entry, measured against the passport, not the Emirates ID. Check children's passports especially — they are issued for shorter terms.
- First-night address. Asked of Gulf families routinely; the TDAC requires it too. Villa bookings need the full address, not just the island.
- Return or onward ticket. Expected; a Phuket departure on an open-jaw ticket is fine.
- Medication. Carry prescriptions for any controlled medicines; Thai customs treats codeine and some sleep aids as controlled.
Your Name on the TDAC
Staying Longer Than 30 days
Practical Notes for Emirati Travellers
- Cards. UAE-issued Visa and Mastercard work everywhere cards are taken; Apple Pay is accepted in Bangkok malls. Cash is still needed for taxis and markets — every Thai ATM charges a flat 220 THB on foreign cards.
- Halal and prayer. Prayer rooms at Suvarnabhumi before and after immigration; halal dining is concentrated around Sukhumvit Soi 3–5 in Bangkok and widely available in Phuket.
- Season. UAE summer holidays coincide with Thailand's rainy season; Samui and the Gulf-of-Thailand islands are drier than Phuket from June to October.
- Help in Thailand. The UAE Embassy is in Bangkok; the Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai handle visas for stays beyond the exemption.
Sources
The facts on this page were checked against these primary sources. Each link opens the publisher's own website.
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) portal, Immigration Bureau — tdac.immigration.go.th
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand — mfa.go.th
- Royal Thai Government Gazette (Ratchakitcha) — ratchakitcha.soc.go.th
- Thai Customs Department — customs.go.th
- World Health Organization (WHO): international travel advice — who.int
Links checked on 8 October 2026.
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