Bangkok’s food and shopping, Phuket’s beaches and the islands around Krabi make Thailand a popular holiday from Pakistan. Before you book anything, check the Thailand visa for Pakistani passport holders. You now apply online through the official Thai e-Visa system.
This guide covers how the e-Visa works, the documents Thai missions ask for and what to do before you fly. It also explains the rules for Pakistanis living in the UAE or Saudi Arabia. Voyfaro does not issue visas or influence decisions. Rules change, so check the official pages in the Sources list before you apply.
Thailand visa for Pakistani passport holders: quick answer
- Do you need a visa? Yes, on an ordinary passport. Pakistan is not on the visa exemption or visa on arrival lists in the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs summary effective 15 September 2026.
- Where to apply: online at thaievisa.go.th. The Royal Thai Embassy in Islamabad has used this system since 1 January 2025.
- Apply from where you are: the Thai missions in Pakistan require you to be in Pakistan for the whole process. Pakistanis living in the UAE or Saudi Arabia apply through the Thai missions there.
- Processing time: about 14 working days after the fee is received, according to the Islamabad embassy.
- Genuine bookings only: fake tickets or hotel bookings lead to rejection, and the applicant or agent may be blacklisted.
- Print your e-Visa: the Islamabad embassy says mobile copies are not accepted.
How the Thai e-Visa works
The official website: thaievisa.go.th
The official application site is thaievisa.go.th. As general guidance, type the address yourself. Unofficial look-alike sites exist and may add their own service fees.
The Islamabad embassy says anyone can apply on their own, without an agent. It also warns applicants not to pay extra money to anyone who claims connections to get a Thai visa.
Apply from the country where you are
Your application goes to the Thai mission that covers the place where you are when you apply.
| Where you are | Thai mission | What the official page says |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Embassy in Islamabad or Consulate-General in Karachi | Be in Pakistan for the entire process. Upload proof of current location, such as a rental agreement, utility bills or Pakistan immigration stamps. |
| UAE | Embassy in Abu Dhabi or Consulate-General in Dubai | Upload a valid UAE residence visa or Emirates ID. Applications made from Thailand or outside the UAE are rejected. |
| Saudi Arabia | Embassy in Riyadh or Consulate-General in Jeddah | The Jeddah consulate says you must be living in Saudi Arabia when you apply, with a valid iqama or Saudi national ID as proof. |
As general guidance, stay in the same country until you get a decision. Live in the Gulf but staying in Pakistan for the whole process? Ask the Islamabad embassy or Karachi consulate first which mission should handle your application.
Visa types: tourist vs transit
For a holiday, choose the Tourist Visa (TR). The Ministry lists the transit visa for a stopover in Thailand longer than 12 hours.
Documents Pakistani applicants are usually asked for
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the documents below for a tourist visa. The e-Visa form shows the exact list for your category, so follow it.
Passport, photo and proof of current location
- Passport biodata page. Thai missions in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh ask for 6 months’ validity from your entry date.
- Photo taken within the last 6 months. The Islamabad embassy specifies JPG/JPEG, up to 3 MB.
- Proof of current location. In Pakistan, a rental agreement, utility bill or immigration stamps. In the UAE, a residence visa or Emirates ID. In Saudi Arabia, an iqama or Saudi national ID.
Flight and hotel bookings must be genuine
You need a travel booking confirmation and proof of accommodation. That can be a hotel booking or an invitation letter from family or friends in Thailand.
The Islamabad embassy is direct: if any document is found to be fake or fraudulent, the application will be rejected. The applicant or their travel agent may also be blacklisted. As general guidance, avoid “dummy tickets” sold only for visa files.
UAE residents face stricter ticket rules. The Abu Dhabi embassy asks for confirmed round-trip tickets. The Dubai consulate says tickets must be issued by the airline, and agency or email bookings are not accepted.
Tip: You need real bookings before you get a decision. Look for flexible fares and hotels with free cancellation, and read the terms before you pay.
Proof of funds and bank statements
The Ministry’s visa-types document lists financial evidence of no less than 20,000 Thai baht for a tourist visa. Examples are bank statements for the last three months or a sponsor letter.
Older Islamabad embassy guidance from before the e-Visa (last updated November 2022) asked for a one-year bank statement. Upload what the e-Visa form asks for, and contact the embassy if you are unsure. As general guidance, large unexplained deposits just before applying can raise questions.
Step-by-step application
- Create an account on thaievisa.go.th and confirm your email. One account can cover you and family members, up to 10 applications at a time.
- Choose the visa category and fill in the form. Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport.
- Upload documents: passport page, photo, proof of location, bookings and financial evidence.
- Pay the fee. The Islamabad embassy’s FAQ (March 2025) says you pay in cash at the embassy’s Visa Gate, with your application confirmation. For Karachi, check the consulate’s own instructions. The UAE missions say fees are paid online through the official portal only. Fees are non-refundable.
- Track your application in your account.
- Receive the approved e-Visa by email.
Processing time
- Pakistan: about 14 working days after the fee has been received and acknowledged (Islamabad embassy).
- UAE: up to 3 to 10 working days (Abu Dhabi embassy), or up to 5 to 20 days (Dubai consulate). Dubai suggests applying at least 20 to 30 days before departure.
- Saudi Arabia: up to 10 working days (Jeddah consulate), or usually 10 to 15 working days (Riyadh embassy). Both suggest applying at least 4 weeks before travel.
Do not apply too early either. The Riyadh embassy warns against applying more than 3 months ahead, because the visa may expire before your trip.
Approval email: print it and carry it
The Islamabad embassy says to print the e-Visa and show it at flight check-in and to Thai immigration on arrival. Mobile or electronic copies will not be accepted. As a precaution, carry two printed copies.
Before you fly: Thailand Digital Arrival Card
Since 1 May 2025, all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online. Submit it within 3 days before arrival on the Immigration Bureau’s site, tdac.immigration.go.th. It is not a visa, so you still need your e-Visa.
The Riyadh embassy notes that immigration officers make the final entry decision. They may ask for your printed e-Visa, your TDAC QR code and proof of funds, such as cash or bank statements. Keep these in your hand luggage, with your return ticket and hotel confirmation.
Common reasons applications get delayed or refused
General guidance, based on the official warnings above:
- Applying while outside the country of the mission you apply to
- Missing proof of current location
- Fake or unconfirmed bookings
- Hotel dates that do not match flight dates
- A name that does not match the passport’s machine-readable zone (MRZ)
- Adding a father’s or mother’s name to the name fields, a rejection reason the Riyadh embassy lists
- Choosing the wrong visa category
- Paying copycat sites or “agents with connections”
- Applying too close to your travel date
Planning your Thailand trip
Flights from Pakistan to Bangkok and Phuket
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is the main international airport. Some airlines use Don Mueang (DMK), and Phuket (HKT) serves the beach resorts. Compare direct options, where available, with one-stop routes via Gulf or Asian hubs, and check baggage. Compare flights from Pakistan to Thailand.
Hotels in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Krabi
Your hotel dates should match your flight dates, as both go into your application. Compare hotels in Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi.
eSIM for Thailand
A travel eSIM gives you data for maps and ride apps on arrival. Your Pakistani SIM can stay in the phone for bank codes, but check roaming charges first. See Thailand eSIM options or read eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM.
Travel insurance
Private hospital bills can be expensive for visitors, and island trips and scooter rides add risk. Check the medical limit, exclusions for motorbikes and water sports, and your trip dates. Compare travel insurance for Thailand.
Tours and island transfers
Phi Phi day trips, Bangkok temple tours, attraction tickets and airport transfers from BKK or HKT can all be booked ahead. Partners include Klook, GetYourGuide and Kiwitaxi.
Weighing up another short break in Asia? Read our guides to the Malaysia eVisa for Pakistanis and the Sri Lanka ETA for Pakistanis.
How Voyfaro can help
- Visa: we point you to official Thai sources and explain them in plain English. We do not apply for, issue or guarantee visas. See our visa guidance.
- Bookings: we help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs, insurance, tours and transfers. Partners include Agoda, Booking.com, Trip.com, Airalo, EKTA, Klook and Kiwitaxi.
- You stay in control: you book and pay directly with the partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
- Questions? Contact us with your city, dates and who is travelling.
Quick checklist
- Passport with at least 6 months’ validity from your entry date
- Applying from the country where you are, with proof of location
- Account on thaievisa.go.th, not a copycat site
- Name entered exactly as in your passport
- Genuine flight and hotel bookings with matching dates
- Financial evidence as the e-Visa form asks
- Fee paid and application tracked
- e-Visa printed (two copies)
- TDAC submitted within 3 days before arrival
- eSIM, insurance and airport transfer sorted
FAQ
What is the Thailand e-visa fee for Pakistani citizens?
It depends on the visa type and number of entries. The Islamabad embassy’s fee page was last updated in November 2022, so confirm the current amount with the embassy or in the e-Visa system. Fees are non-refundable.
How long does the Thailand e-visa take from Pakistan?
The Islamabad embassy estimates about 14 working days after the fee has been received and acknowledged. Apply well before your travel date.
Can Pakistanis living in the UAE apply for the Thailand e-visa from Dubai?
Yes, if you live in the UAE and are there when you apply. Upload a valid UAE residence visa or Emirates ID and pay online through the official portal.
Can Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia apply for the Thailand e-visa?
Yes, if you live in Saudi Arabia and apply from there. The Jeddah consulate asks for a valid iqama or Saudi national ID as proof of residence.
Is there a Thailand visa on arrival for Pakistanis?
No. The Ministry’s 2026 visa on arrival list does not include Pakistan. Get your e-Visa before you travel.
How many days can a Pakistani stay on a Thai tourist visa?
The Ministry lists a 60-day stay for the Tourist Visa (TR). A single-entry visa is valid for 3 months, so you must enter within that time. Extensions are decided by Thai immigration.
What bank statement is needed for a Thailand visa from Pakistan?
The Ministry lists at least 20,000 baht in financial evidence, such as three months of bank statements or a sponsor letter. Follow the e-Visa form’s checklist.
Sources
Official pages we checked in October 2026:
- Thailand e-Visa, Official website of Thailand Electronic Visa
- Royal Thai Embassy, Islamabad, FAQs on Thailand’s e-Visa and the FAQ document, March 2025 (PDF) (start date, location rule, fake documents, photo, payment, processing time, printing)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Islamabad, Visa fees and legalization fees (last updated November 2022)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Islamabad, 10 questions about Thailand visa for Pakistan and Afghanistan passport (last updated November 2022, before the e-Visa)
- Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Types of visa (PDF) (tourist and transit visa documents, stay and validity)
- Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The revision of Thailand’s visa exemption and VoA schemes, 2026 (PDF), effective 15 September 2026
- Royal Thai Embassy, Abu Dhabi, Thai e-Visa
- Royal Thai Consulate-General, Dubai, e-Visa
- Royal Thai Embassy, Riyadh, Guidelines for visa applications through the Thai e-Visa system (common mistakes, passport validity, timing and arrival checks)
- Royal Thai Consulate-General, Jeddah, Visa information (Saudi residence rule and processing time)
- Thai Immigration Bureau, Thailand Digital Arrival Card manual
- Royal Thai Embassy, London, Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) required from 1 May 2025