Foreigners living in Thailand deal with two address-reporting duties that are easy to mix up: the TM30, which is the duty of the landlord or host, and the 90-day report, which is the foreigner's own duty. Both come from the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), and both carry fines when missed. Here is who does what, where, and what happens if you forget.
Two duties, two people
| TM30 | 90-day report | |
|---|---|---|
| Who files | The head of the household, the owner or occupier of the dwelling, or the hotel manager | The foreigner who has stayed in Thailand more than 90 days in a row |
| When | Within 24 hours of the foreigner moving in | Every 90 days |
| Form | TM.30 | TM.47 |
| Law | Section 38 | Section 37 (5) |
| Penalty in the Act | Fine up to 2,000 baht; hotel managers 2,000 to 10,000 baht (Section 77) | Fine up to 5,000 baht plus up to 200 baht a day until you report (Section 76) |
The 90-day report only tells Immigration where you live. It is not a visa extension and does not let you stay any longer.
TM30: the landlord's or host's duty
Under Section 38, the head of a household, the owner or occupier of a dwelling, or a hotel manager who accommodates a foreigner holding temporary permission to stay must notify the immigration office for that area within 24 hours of the foreigner's arrival. Where there is no immigration office, the notice goes to the local police station.
So the duty is not limited to hotels. It covers anyone renting a house or condo to a foreigner, and Thai families whose foreign spouse or relative stays with them. The Act names the head of household, the owner and the occupier, so in a lease it is wise to agree in writing who will file.
The TM.30 form has two parts: details of the person filing and the property, then the list of foreigners with their passport details. There are three ways to file:
- In person at the local immigration office, or at the police station where there is no immigration office
- By registered mail
- Online through the Immigration Bureau's accommodation system (tm30.immigration.go.th). You first register for a user account, then add the property with supporting documents; Immigration checks the property before approving it. One account can cover several properties, and the system works on computers, tablets and phones.
Since 30 June 2020, a Royal Thai Police notification requires the filer to state the arrival date and the expected departure date. If the foreigner comes back to the same place within that stated period, a new TM30 is not needed each time they return.
The 90-day report: the foreigner's duty
Section 37 (5) requires a foreigner who stays in Thailand for more than 90 days to notify Immigration of their address when the 90 days are up, and again every 90 days after that, on form TM.47.
According to the Immigration Bureau, you may file from 15 days before the due date up to 7 days after it. The due date is printed on your previous receipt. If you leave Thailand and come back, the 90-day count starts again from the day you re-enter.
There are four ways to report:
- In person at the immigration office responsible for the area where you live
- Through another person you authorise to submit it for you
- By registered mail
- Online through the Immigration Bureau's website
In person, bring your passport, the TM.6 departure card if you have one, your previous 90-day receipt if any, and a completed, signed TM.47. By mail, include copies of the passport pages with your details and latest stamps, plus a stamped envelope addressed to yourself for the receipt.
Example: your filing window
Your last receipt says the next report is due on 10 December. You can file from 25 November (15 days before) until 17 December (7 days after) with no fine. Miss 17 December and you will have to go to the immigration office and pay a fine.
If you fly home in the meantime and come back, the old due date no longer applies: count 90 days again from the day you re-entered.
Fines if you forget
- TM30 not filed or filed late: Section 77 sets a fine of up to 2,000 baht, or 2,000 to 10,000 baht if the person who failed to file is a hotel manager.
- 90-day report after the window closes: Section 76 sets a fine of up to 5,000 baht plus up to 200 baht a day until you report. According to the Immigration Bureau, if you come forward yourself after the deadline, the fine is 2,000 baht; if you are caught not having reported, it is 5,000 baht.
Reporting as soon as you notice the mistake costs less than waiting to be caught.
How to stay on top of it
- Note the due date on every 90-day receipt and set a reminder about two weeks ahead.
- Keep every receipt, for both the TM30 and the 90-day reports.
- If you rent property to foreigners, register on the online system in advance so you can file within 24 hours when a new tenant moves in.
- Do not confuse the 90-day report with an extension of stay: your permitted stay is still the date stamped in your passport.
Talk to an immigration lawyer
For anything more complicated, such as a fine or charge for not reporting, changing visa type, or a lease that is unclear about who must file, you can describe your situation for free on Lawmanee; interested lawyers reply in the platform chat. Or browse lawyers who handle immigration matters by province and by the languages they speak.
