Thailand’s visa-free rules will change on September 15, 2026. The Consular Affairs Department of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that revised visa-exemption and visa-on-arrival measures will take effect on that date, and a related Thai government notice specifies the same implementation date. The key change is that Thailand will move away from granting all tourists the same 30-day period and from the existing 60-day system toward country-specific stay criteria.
Key Changes
Since July 15, 2024, Thailand has allowed tourists from 93 countries and territories to stay visa-free for up to 60 days for tourism, short-term business, and similar purposes. The stay could be extended by up to 30 additional days at the discretion of immigration authorities. This revision changes the existing 60-day system, meaning that from September 15, visa-free stay periods may differ by country under the new criteria.
The Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., says that after the revision, ordinary passport holders from eligible countries and territories may stay visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, short-term business, and similar purposes. However, South Korea or “Korea (ROK)” does not appear on the publicly released list of countries eligible for the new 30-day stay.
Do not interpret this as “all foreigners can stay for 30 days from September 15.”
Current Status
Based solely on the currently available official embassy materials, it is difficult to state definitively how long Korean passport holders will be allowed to stay. South Korea does not appear on the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C.’s new 30-day list, while the public page of the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul, current as of December 2025, describes a maximum 60-day stay for Korean passport holders visiting for tourism, along with the possibility of an extension.
Therefore, it is not possible to say that 30 days will definitely apply to Korean travelers from September 15, nor to conclude that the existing 60-day rule will remain unchanged. The applicable criteria may depend not only on nationality but also on whether the traveler holds an ordinary passport, whether the purpose is tourism or short-term business, and the actual date of entry.
Impact on Korean Travelers
If you are planning a trip to Thailand after September 15, confirm the stay rules applicable to your passport before finalizing flight tickets and accommodation dates. In particular, the fact that South Korea does not appear on the 30-day list means that Korean passport holders should not calculate their permitted stay based solely on that list.
The following points should be checked:
- The visa-free stay period that will apply to Korean ordinary passports after September 15
- Differences in the rules for tourism and short-term business
- How existing stay permission will be treated for travelers who enter before September 15
- The conditions for extending a stay, if an extension is available, and whether approval is at the discretion of immigration authorities
The Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., explains that the new 30-day stay may be extended by up to 30 days at the discretion of immigration authorities. This does not mean that an extension will be approved automatically, so long-term itineraries should not be finalized on the assumption that an extension will be granted.
When to Check Again
Before departure, travelers should directly check the latest guidance from the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul and the Consular Affairs Department of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The policy is scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026, but the exact stay period applicable to Korean passports and transitional rules for people who entered under the previous system are not clearly set out in the currently available materials.
In conclusion, September 15 is the date on which Thailand’s visa-free system is scheduled to change. The existing 60-day system will shift to a new country-specific framework, and South Korea is not included in the new list of countries eligible for 30 days. Korean travelers should not decide in advance that “30 days is confirmed” or that “60 days will remain”; instead, they should check the latest rules applicable to Korean passports and their stated purpose of visit immediately before departure.