The Royal Thai Embassy in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter is Thailand's embassy in Saudi Arabia. It handles Thai visas for foreign residents of the Kingdom and, unusually, for residents of Lebanon as well. It is one of two Thai career missions in Saudi Arabia; the other is the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Jeddah.
Most applicants here are expatriates on an Iqama, not Saudi citizens. Saudi passport holders do not need a visa for a short holiday. Everyone else applies online through the Thai e-Visa portal, and the embassy's rule is strict: you must be living in Saudi Arabia or Lebanon when you apply, and you must prove it.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Thai Embassy, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| Address | Diplomatic Quarter, P.O. Box 94359, Riyadh 11693 |
| Phone | +966 11 488 1174, 488 0797, 488 0300, 488 1507 (a temporary number, +966 11 230 9044, also appears in the site header) |
| Fax | +966 11 488 1179 |
| [email protected] (general and visa inquiries); [email protected] is listed for visas | |
| Office hours | Sunday to Thursday, 08:30–16:30 (09:00–15:00 during Ramadan) |
| Consular services | 09:00–12:00 |
| Weekend | Friday and Saturday |
| Who can apply | Holders of a Saudi residence permit (Iqama), and residents of Lebanon |
| How to apply | Online only, at thaievisa.go.th (since 19 March 2024) |
| Stated processing time | Up to 10 working days; 8–12 weeks for Afghan and Iraqi passports |
The embassy publishes a P.O. Box, not a street number. Its older address page (last updated November 2022) lists office hours of 08:00–15:00; the separate Working Hours page gives 08:30–16:30, which is the one we show above. Consular hours are 09:00–12:00 on both.
Which Areas This Mission Covers
The embassy's e-Visa page says: "Passport holders of all nationals with residence permits (Iqama) in KSA and Lebanon can apply for the e-visa through Royal Thai Embassy in Riyadh." Applications are rejected if you cannot show you are in Saudi Arabia or Lebanon when you apply.
Saudi Arabia is split with Jeddah, but loosely. The embassy's visa-exemption notice tells applicants "in the western part of Saudi Arabia" that they can apply at the Thai Consulate-General in Jeddah. Neither mission publishes a list of provinces. Jeddah's own visa page accepts any Iqama holder in the Kingdom. If you live in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, the centre or the north, Riyadh is the natural choice. If you live in Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah or elsewhere in the west, choose Jeddah.
Lebanon. Thailand's honorary consulates, including the one in Lebanon, have not been authorised to issue visas since 28 May 2021, the embassy says. Residents of Lebanon therefore apply online and choose Riyadh.
Do You Need a Visa?
Saudi passport holders are on the 30-day visa-exemption list that took effect on 15 September 2026. You can visit for tourism for up to 30 days without a visa, and extend once by up to 30 days at a Thai immigration office for 1,900 THB (see the visa exemption extension guide). The Jeddah consulate's visa page states the same 30-day stay for Saudi passports.
Conditions that apply to every exemption entry:
- The exemption is for tourism. Business or work needs a visa.
- Officers may ask for 20,000 THB per person or 40,000 THB per family in funds, plus an onward ticket.
- Entries over land borders on the exemption are capped at twice per calendar year.
- File the Thailand Digital Arrival Card at tdac.immigration.go.th within three days before arrival.
The embassy's own exemption notice (dated 2022–2023) still describes older rules. The list that matters now is the one in force since 15 September 2026. See visa exemption and the 30-day rule change.
Residents holding other passports follow the rules for their nationality, not for Saudi Arabia. For example, Indian and Filipino passports are on the 30-day list, while Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Egyptian passports need a visa. Indian nationals should note that Immigration Division 1 caps tourism extensions at 7 days for nine nationalities, India among them. The visa finder checks your passport.
You need the embassy (through the e-Visa portal) for a Tourist Visa, a Non-Immigrant visa for business, study or family, the DTV, or legalisation of documents.
How to Apply
- Be in Saudi Arabia or Lebanon. Keep your Iqama (or Lebanese residence evidence) ready to upload.
- Register at thaievisa.go.th and choose the Royal Thai Embassy, Riyadh.
- Upload genuine documents. The embassy warns that false documents lead to rejection, a report to the authorities and a possible future entry ban.
- Pay online. Visa fees are non-refundable whatever the outcome.
- Wait up to 10 working days. Incomplete files take longer. Apply at least four weeks before you travel, but not more than three months before departure.
- Print the approval email for the airline and Thai immigration.
The embassy does not check application status for individual applicants. Use your dashboard on thaievisa.go.th. Our e-Visa guide walks through the portal.
Fees. The Riyadh embassy does not publish a riyal fee table on its site. The portal shows the amount before you pay. (The Jeddah consulate's undated, paper-era Tourist Visa page last published 160 SAR for a single-entry tourist visa; treat the portal's figure as final.)
Practical Notes
No in-person submission. Since 19 March 2024 you no longer bring your passport or original documents to the embassy. Consular hours (09:00–12:00) are for other services such as legalisation.
Afghan and Iraqi passports take far longer. The embassy states 8–12 weeks for these nationalities. Plan accordingly.
DTV applicants. From 31 August 2026 the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires DTV applicants to apply where they are a national or permanent resident, and to add a criminal record clearance certificate. The Riyadh embassy has not said whether an Iqama counts as permanent residence. Ask by email before paying the fee.
Ramadan. Office hours shorten to 09:00–15:00. The embassy posted its 2026 holiday list as a download on its Working Hours page in May 2026. Check it before you plan a visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Saudi citizens need a visa for Thailand?
Not for tourism of up to 30 days. Since 15 September 2026, Saudi passport holders are on Thailand's 30-day exemption list. The stay can be extended once by up to 30 days at a Thai immigration office for 1,900 THB.
Can I apply at the Thai embassy in Riyadh on a visit visa?
The embassy accepts e-Visa applications from people with a Saudi Iqama, and from residents of Lebanon. You must be in one of those two countries when you apply. Visitors without residence should apply in their country of residence.
Should I apply to Riyadh or Jeddah?
The Riyadh embassy directs applicants in the western part of Saudi Arabia to the Jeddah consulate. Neither publishes a formal province list. Pick the mission nearer to where you live, and email it if you are unsure.
How long does a Thai e-Visa take in Riyadh?
Up to 10 working days once your file is complete. Afghan and Iraqi passport holders should allow 8–12 weeks.
Do Lebanese residents apply through Riyadh?
Yes. The embassy says residents of Lebanon apply online through the Riyadh embassy. Thailand's honorary consulate in Lebanon has not been allowed to issue visas since May 2021.
What are the Thai embassy's hours in Riyadh?
Sunday to Thursday, 08:30–16:30, with consular services from 09:00 to 12:00. During Ramadan the office works 09:00–15:00. Friday and Saturday are the weekend.
Can I check my visa status by phone?
The embassy asks applicants to check status on thaievisa.go.th and says it cannot check status for everyone. Email [email protected] for specific visa questions.
Sources
- Royal Thai Embassy, Riyadh: E-Visa Applications (eligibility, processing time)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Riyadh: Working Hours and Holidays
- Royal Thai Embassy, Riyadh: Address
- Royal Thai Embassy, Riyadh: Visa Exemption, Visa on Arrival, Visa for Tourists (Jeddah referral, Lebanon note)
- Royal Thai Consulate-General, Jeddah: Visa Information (30 days for Saudi passports)
- Royal Thai Consulate-General, Jeddah: Tourist Visa (fee)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Doha: Tourist Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival (list effective 15 September 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Brasília: Adjustment of supporting documents for DTV applications (31 August 2026)
- TAT Newsroom: New 30-day and 15-day visa exemption rules from 15 September