BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s embassy in Seoul urged undocumented nationals in South Korea to seize a sweeping immigration amnesty or risk a permanent ban from the country.
Embassy issues urgent appeal
The Thai embassy in Seoul issued an urgent call to all Thais living in South Korea without valid documents, referring to an amnesty programme offered by the South Korean Ministry of Justice. The programme granted full exemption from penalties to those who reported voluntarily and flew back to Thailand, with the deadline set for the end of February 2026.
“This opportunity must absolutely be used,”
said diplomats at the embassy, warning that anyone rejecting the offer would face the full force of the law.
‘Little ghosts’ in hiding
In South Korea, undocumented migrant workers from Thailand were often referred to as “Phi Noi” or “little ghosts”, because they remained hidden without valid visas or work permits. According to official figures from the South Korean justice authorities, around 145,000 Thais had lived in the country illegally in the previous year, a number that had fallen to 120,000, according to Ambassador Tanee Sangrat. They worked mainly in factories, agriculture and the service sector in cities such as Seoul, Hwaseong and Suwon, often under precarious conditions.
Simple path to a clean departure
The amnesty procedure was designed to be simple in order to reach as many people as possible, requiring affected migrants to report to the immigration authorities before the deadline. There they received all necessary documents for a lawful and penalty-free departure, with all pending criminal proceedings dropped and fines waived. More than 8,000 Thais had already used a similar offer in the previous year and returned home without legal consequences.
Severe penalties for those who stay
Those who ignored the clemency offer took what officials described as an immense risk. In the event of a later arrest, they faced heavy fines amounting to several thousand euros. Worse still, the person would be officially placed on a blacklist, resulting in an immediate and often lifelong entry ban to South Korea.
High earnings, high personal cost
The draw behind large-scale migration to South Korea was described as straightforward: money. Despite harsh working conditions, Thais in South Korean factories earned several times the wages available at home. They sent this income back to Thailand to repay debts, build houses or pay for their children’s education, driven by a dream of greater prosperity.
Chance for a new start
Experts viewed the amnesty as a win‑win arrangement. South Korea reduced a significant part of its shadow population without costly raids and deportations, while the Thai “little ghosts” were given an honourable chance to return without a permanent stain in their passports. Many of them had transferred tens of thousands of euros back home over the years and could now use their savings to begin a new, legal life in Thailand without constant fear of immigration police.
Countdown to the February 2026 deadline
With roughly 14 months remaining, the embassy said the clock was ticking on what it described as a historic opportunity. The Thai mission planned to intensify its information campaign in the coming weeks and warned migrants against dubious “advisers” who demanded exorbitant fees for supposed solutions. Officials stressed that the only safe route was to deal directly with the official authorities, as tens of thousands of Thais in South Korea now faced a decisive choice that would shape the rest of their lives.