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A Quick-Fire Guide to the TM30 Form: Reporting Your Stay

The TM30 form is an immigration requirement. The law governing this form aims to ensure transparency in the accommodation details of foreigners staying in Thailand.

It must be completed by the landlord of a property to report the stay of guests within 24 hours of their arrival.

You won't need to worry about this requirement if you are simply coming on holiday to stay in a hotel. Generally this is only relevant to the following people:

  • Those staying with a Thai friend
  • Those staying in any type of unlicensed (as a hotel) property
  • Those who own a home in Thailand (and reside there)
  • Those who co-own a home in Thailand (and reside there)

Why Does the TM30 Form Exist?

The form is designed to report non-Thai nationals staying in the country, be it a short-term or long-term residence.

The rules apply to any Thai national housing a foreign national in the Kingdom, but also applies to a foreigner who owns or co-owns a home in Thailand – even if they are the sole occupant.

If you stay in a condo or apartment block, the owner is required to register you.

The TM30 aims to provide effective monitoring, so foreign criminals are less likely to choose Thailand as a place to hide out. The TM30 takes immigration tracking beyond the airport or land border and to the residence of each individual.

The form is also used as a means of providing information on tourism. The number of foreigners staying in the country is tracked, as well as the most popular locations picked by foreign travelers.

The data collected can also be used to identify foreigners who work illegally in the country, as well as those who have overstayed their visas.

While some might feel the rule is an invasion of privacy, it is there to protect the country – despite its lack of proper enforcement over the years.

TM30 Law & Application

The law governing the TM30 form was introduced a long time ago alongside the Hotel Act of 2005, but has since expanded beyond hotels to cover landlords owning properties or units that are not classified as hotels.

This was necessary to include condo rentals and other unlicensed businesses that put up guests, such as those found on the likes of AirBnB. It also covers Thai individuals and families who host foreign nationals.

To reiterate: anyone who offers accommodation needs to comply with the law by reporting any foreign national staying on the property. The report must be completed not only by hotels and serviced apartments but also by landlords of private properties.

It is the landlord’s responsibility to submit the TM30, but if the landlord doesn't then the guest should raise the issue, as it is a legal requirement.

In 10 years I've never been asked for a TM30, but since stories of fines started popping up a couple of years ago, I now ensure that wherever I am stay the owner has reported my residence – except for hotels, of course.

The reason I do this is because I don't want a fine when they see my lack of registration on the computer during a visa renewal.

tm30-form-thailand

This is the TM30 form. You can fill one out at immigration or report online.

Who Needs to Be Registered?

If you're staying in a hotel or other business licensed to receive guests then that business will report your stay for you. Indeed, tourists won't even know this reporting has happened.

However, if you are on a long-stay visa and plan on extending (a retirement extension, for example), immigration requires you to have submitted a TM30 within 24 hours of arrival, whether on your behalf by a landlord or yourself as a property owner. So do make sure it is done.

The TM30 is divided into two separate forms. The second form allows the landlord to register multiple people. So if you are staying as part of a group at non-licensed accommodation, your landlord can report you all on the same form.

Some of you might wonder: should I still report myself if I have a yellow house book (tabien baan) or co-own the property I’ll be staying in?

The answer is yes. Even if you own or co-own the house, you must complete the form within 24 hours of arriving at the property – be it online or at immigration.

If you are staying in a friend’s house, your friend still needs to submit the TM30 form. The same applies to any foreigner who is married to a Thai and carries a Thai visa.

Short Stays Away from Home

You might be wondering whether you need to report your residence every time you leave home for a short break and return just a few days later.

This depends on whether or not you return within the period of stay specified on the last TM30 you submitted.

If you return within the period specified on the TM30 then you don't need to submit a new one. If you return after the period specific on the TM30 then you do need to submit a new form.

So if you go to stay with a friend for a few days, you won't need to report when you return home, if, for example, your most recent TM30 specifies that you will be staying in your home property for a further 3 months.

The same rule applies to your landlord, if you are staying in a rented property.

In this instance, your friend is still required to report your stay, as a hotel would. This is because, in accordance with Section 37 (2) of the Thailand Immigration Act of 1979, your latest place of residence must be reported and logged in the immigration database.

Whether or not people actually comply with this rule is a separate issue, and let's face it, most people don't.

Remember, you don't need to worry about reporting if you go to stay at a hotel or guest house because they take care of this for you.

TM30 Requirements

To report your stay, you'll need the following:

  • Copy of your passport’s photo page
  • Copy of your passport visa page
  • Copy of your departure card

The landlord will need:

  • Copy of his/her title deed
  • Copy of the rental contract

Remember: Each time you visit Thailand a TM30 needs to be filed, because your arrival number will change.

Also note that the TM30 is not the same as 90-day reporting. However, you may be fined if you go to file your 90-day report and a TM30 hasn't been filed since your arrival.

Online Registration

The good news is that neither you (the home owner) or your landlord need to fill out a form or go down to an immigration office. You can report online, when it works, that is!

Most hotels and registered businesses use TM30 online reporting.

Online registration is available here.

You need to first request a username and password, and then log on to register.

What Happens If I Fail to Register?

Whether Thai or foreign landlord living in Thailand, make sure to register new guests within 24 hours.

Even if a guest leaves and then returns a month later, you need to report this again.

The fine for not reporting is 1,600 Baht per person.

As a tenant or guest, you should ask your landlord if you have already been reported. If your landlord is not willing to report you, then you can try moving to another place or you can report yourself on his/her behalf. That being said, to report yourself you need the aforementioned documents from your landlord.

There are cases when long-term tenants find out that they haven’t been reported by their landlords, and these issues often arise at the Immigration department either for a 90-day check-in or visa renewal.

If you’re a foreigner who has been staying in a property for a couple of days, you might want to befriend your landlord and enquire as to whether you have been reported.

TM30 Rules – Q&A Summary

Do I need to register if:

A. I am staying in a hotel?

No. The hotel will do it.

B. I am staying with a friend/ partner?

No you don't, but the person you are staying with needs to register.

C. More than one person is staying at my property?

Yes.

D. I am living in my own home?

Yes.

E. I am a co-owner of a home?

Yes.

F. I left my primary residence and went on holiday in Thailand, then came back again to my primary residence?

It depends if you return to your primary residence within the period of stay specified on the last TM30 you submitted.

If you are staying with a Thai national and the person isn't sure what to do, they can read this TM30 guide in Thai.

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Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Simon Pitt says

    Hi, my Thai wife lives with me in our house in Australia, and also has a condo in Said Mai. we are thinking of take my a trip back to Thailand later this year to see her aged mother before she dies. I (think) that this means that she would have to fill in a TM30 for me, within 24 hours of arrival. How is this even possible, as we would arrive on a weekend. Help and advice required please
    Reply

    • James E says

      If you are just taking a "trip" to Thailand with no (for you) long stay plans you should be fine. While legally your wife is required to file a TM-30 for you, if you won't be needing a visa extension or reentry permit or you won't have any other dealings with immigration you shouldn't have a problem. This is how I (and my partner's family in Bangkok) are looking at this.
      Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      I agree with James E but for the benefit of other readers, the law is, I understand, written (or applied) so that if you register online then you have to adhere strictly to the 24 hour rule (as the computers never close) but if doing it in person then it is the next business day that immigration are open.
      Reply

  2. Alfred Gruetzner says

    When I enter or depart from Thailand I need to present the arrival and departure card which I have once received on board the plane. So the immigration knows exactly where I stay and where I will go. Isn't that not enough? Since 53 years I come to Thailand, included 20 years of residence here I never had any problems with this in mind.
    Thanks for reply
    Reply

    • James E says

      Enforcement is something of a new thing and is most problematic if you are visiting on one of the long-stay visas and seek a renewal or a re-entry permit that forces you to visit immigration. As Mike says below it's become something of a revenue generator and enforcement seems to be directed at the ex-pat rather than the people - landlords, hotels, etc. who are actually responsible for the TM30. I also think that enforcement of this is coupled with the more extreme financial requirements for some visas as a way to encourage people with less disposable income to consider Thailand as a place to retire. Your arrival/departure information is enough to get you into the country, and out - for now. The issue seems to be mostly with long-stay people.
      Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      Unfortunately it is the law so it is not enough to rely on the TM6 arrival/departure card.

      TM30 is a tracking system of foreigners (aliens) with reporting responsibility lying with Thai nationals.

      TM6 is a declaration by the foreigner as to the first place of stay. That will then be confirmed by TM30.
      Reply

    • Max says

      The TM6-card isn't same as the TM30. The address on the TM6 is more of an initial address. Let's say you're staying in a hotel in BKK a couple of days before going to your home somewhere in Thailand, then you should write the hotel address on the TM6. The hotel are by law required to submit the TM30.
      Reply

  3. Peter says

    Hi Guys

    I am leaving Thailand in a few days to extend my non O dependants visa after 90 days stay. I will be flying out and returning within 24 hours, so I assume I will need to submit a TM30 to immigration within 24 hours of my arrival at my address in Thailand, and do so each time I enter into Thailand for whatever reason, and/or when travelling within Thailand? Is this correct?

    I am based in downtown Bangkok, can a TM30 be handed in at the airport on arrival, or do I need to hand it in somewhere else, like immigration at Chaeng Wattana?

    I intend on registering online, but I understand this can take time, so what do you recommend until then? And should I register after my arrival to Thailand?

    Finally, regarding my landlord, if I submit a TM30 as required and he doesn't report, will there be any potential issues for me?

    Thanks guys, this is confusing me after 16 years of not knowing about this requirement.
    Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      It is your landlord that has to submit TM30.

      Your landlord needs to know you left and returned.

      By leaving the country the immigration system will know you have left the last address appearing on the TM30 records as your TM6 entry/exit record (the small form you filled out to enter the country) will update the system.

      You cannot submit TM30 at the airport as it is the responsibility of the landlord/hotel you stay at after leaving the airport.

      You cannot register online as you are not the property owner and will not appear on the system as such.

      If the TM30 isnt done then you could face issues in the future depending on your need to extend a visa within the country and therefore your contact with immigration in the country. At present, TM30 gaps result in a fine for the visa holder, to allow any further paperwork to be issued, even though it is the landlord who is responsible for reporting.....in the future it is possible that visa applications from outside of Thailand will be affected due to gaps, with maybe a fine on arrival....... I am aware of a case in China, which has the same system, where entry was refused on arrival.

      At the moment the system seems to be being used to generate revenue from those best placed to pay so we should be prepared for innovative ways from immigration to increase this.
      Reply

    • James E says

      Peter, You don't submit the TM-30, the property owner is responsible for that. In your case that would be your landlord. If your landlord doesn't submit the TM-30 there may be consequences for you both. Have a look through the rest of the comments as some other have also found a CYA change of address form that you can submit on yourself to show good faith. TM-2-something (8 or 9, if I remember).
      Reply

      • Mike Baker says

        Yes James E is correct. TM28 is the form you can use to self report each change of address.

        However, despite doing this, lack of TM30 may still cause issues for you even though the law says its not your responsibility..... this is Thailand.
        Reply

  4. Naveen Negi says

    Hi folks,

    I am planning to go outside Bangkok for 1 day and will stay in hotel and as i saw the comments, hotelier will report the TM 30 but when i return back to my apartment. Do i need to fill up the TM30 with apartment owner signature,property document and owner ID card.

    Last month, i already submitted the TM30 for change of address.

    Also, If i stay less than 24 hours in hotel, can skip the TM30 ?
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Technically yes, the apartment owner has to file again when you return. It's so annoying and this is why TM30 is hot news right now - because it just isn't practical.The hotel will report your stay if you stay the night.
      Reply

      • Max says

        If the hotel or guesthouse is licensed and ask for your passport when checking in,they will for sure report your stay. If they don't ask for your passport,then they have no intention to report you. So,then you never left the last reported address.
        Reply

  5. Alan Bryan says

    I have 2 questions if anyone can help. I own a house in Hua Hin and have an annual (retirement) visa. I will be traveling with my Thai wife to Chiang Mai for 3 days staying in hotels; I understand the hotels will submit a TM 30 for me, but will I need to do the same when I return to Hua Hin. Secondly, I have a friend coming from Australia to stay with us for a week, will I need to submit a TM 30 for his stay ….. many thanks
    Reply

      • Alan Bryan says

        Thanks very much Mike; both events are a little way off yet, so I will try to register online to make the submissions, because it will be a lot more convenient for me if I can .... thanks again, keep up the good work (*∆°)
        Reply

        • John Marcella says

          Alan Bryan.
          Just passing some info along. My wife just got her email today from Immigrations that contains the user name and password. It took 19 days for the reply.
          Once you do your initial registration and submit it then click on registration again to check on status.
          Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      That is the issue that makes this debate important now.... the law that has been there for many years for hotels has recently been extended to all premises that allow overnight stays to foreigners and even more recently is starting to be implemented instead of casually ignored.....I presume that as a holder of a Thai ID card you have permanent residency? If so, this reporting would not apply to you and hotels wouldn't bother..... However, if they don't even ask for your ID then I think they are breaking the law and may find themselves in trouble one day.
      Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      Actually I understand most Asian countries have the same system by and large..... Vietnam has a stricter system, Cambodia has just introduced it, China is very strict and have refused entry even for a transit passenger because of a gap in the reporting.
      Reply

    • Setebos says

      First of all, thanks for the summary.

      What I'm still not 100% sure of is what we need to do in my case.

      I'm married and the house belongs to my Thai wife.

      She is usually not free to waste time going to the immigration as she's running a company.

      However I assume she would need to go there too?

      And what exactly does she even have to show them?

      Or can I just go myself?

      So far, I have never been confronted with it as I have a multiple re-entry non O and didn't have to do any 90 days reports the whole year yet due to lots of traveling but January 2020 my 1 year extension is up.

      Thanks!
      Reply

      • Max says

        According to the law, your wife as the landlord/owner are required to submit the TM30 because you are a foreigner. But you haven't stayed longer than 90 days and never done 90 days reports,so there's been no problem. But when on a 1 year extension, you might have a problem depending on the Immigration office. Just fill in the the TM30 with your wife as landlord and then with the proper copies,you can actually go to the Immigration office yourself and submit the TM30. In some offices you can self report without any proxy or power of attorney. You might get fined the first time you submit the TM30 because you have never been reported earlier.
        Reply

  9. Khune Satt Nyein Chan says

    Can someone please answer my question?

    I'm a student studying in Thailand. I have been arrived in Thailand since 4th of July. I was living in Sirinhdorm Science Home, an accommodation owned by National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) of Thailand for one month. According to this article , I think I didn't need to report TM30 since I was living in government owned hotel.

    But now I'm living in a dormitory near Thammasat University. My landlord already reported a TM30 form online through online. My landlord said she's not sure if I need to go to immigration office in person by myself.

    My question is, do I need to go to immigration office after online reporting ?

    Thank you so much.
    It will be a great help if someone reply my question.
    Reply

  10. Navin says

    Can someone please share his experience…..
    If the house owner goes personally to submit the TM 30 at immigration div 1 in Chaengwattana, how long does it take for them to enter the data in the system ? Can he wait and get the acknowledgment receipt ?
    Once I gt the acknowledgment receipt from the owner, can I personally go for my 90 days reporting the same or next day ? Or try to sumbit online ?
    Any information on the above will be quite helpful please.
    Thank you
    Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      I believe the intention is to update the records the same day, as reporting has to be within 1 day of arrival and I know for a fact that if you try to report online using a date more than 1 day ago it is rejected.......also when visiting immigration they are always working on their computers to process everything..........However, I doubt there can be a defintive answer to this because...... the computer system is unreliable, meaning input the same day or at the time of visit may not be possible....... and it is possible they may issue a paper receipt and process the paperwork the next day because of workload or lack of knowledge and the need to wait for staff that have the knowledge......one thing is reliable in Thailand and that is unpredictability......having said all this, a physical TM30 receipt should be enough to report in person. What I don't know is if one is doing a 90 day report online, does a lack of TM30 even matter? Is that system rejecting online reporting if it detects a lack of TM30?
      Reply

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