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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

  2. Brian says

    Hi
    More advice if possible please.
    If someone stays at a hotel for 1 night and the hotel do the TM30 does it state the length of stay as 1 night ? Is it feasible to stay at hotel one night , get TM30 receipt then go to immigration next day and do 30 day extension on tourist visa ? The person may not necessarily go back and stay at the hotel ?
    Reply

    • Max says

      You don't get a TM30 receipt from hotels or guesthouses. Many smaller hotels and guesthouses don't even do it. Maybe they are not licensed. As a tourist you don't have to think about it. It's not your responsibility. Proper hotels/guesthouses do it. You know they will submit the TM30 when they ask for your passport. If not, they won't do it.
      Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      My opinion... 1) your full details are on the system so any gaps in TM30 will show. 2) the hotel will have reported you have left that day as they put a leaving date in. However, this may not be relevant to Immigration as they probably won't be interested in where your next stay is (that night following your visit)....3) I doubt immigration will be concerned about TM30 for a TOURIST visa extension. They will be concerned about your leaving date and evidence of flight out.
      Reply

    • Max says

      In several immigration offices you can self report the TM30 as the possessor of the condo even as a tenant. I did it myself at Jomtien Immigration when I moved to another condo. Some offices asks for a power of attorney.
      Reply

      • Brian says

        Thanks for the reply Max. The landlord wont even do the POA. My mate's girlfriend has asked him and he said no. So landlord wont do the TM30 , tenant cant do it because he wont give the POA. He will be on a 60 day tourist visa as mentioned previously and wants to extend for 30 days
        Reply

            • Mike Baker says

              This law is so inconsistantly and unfairly applied.... one day a lawyer will challenge the whole concept of fining and blocking Aliens from getting service for a prodedure that by law is not their responsibility or in their power to complete..... the debates and petitions gathering momentum now show what a can of worms has been opened by the Thai authorities as Farangs often dont let these things lie quietly like the Thai culture does and in the meantime tourism spend is plummeting as people see not only living costs going up but unfair rules and onerous visa requirements..... they need to remember the overwhelming majority of us are here spending far more than a local would.
              Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      Strictly speaking NO. The law says its the owner who has to do it.....but the owner can give permission on a special form for the tenant to do it but several documents from the landlord are required..... like ID card, yellow book...... If you are on a tourist visa it wont matter because at present TM30 is used against long stay visa holders. If you are a long stay person then either do TM28 or go to immigration and tell them if the owner refuses to cooperate and ask them what to do.
      Reply

          • Brian says

            Some bang up to date USEFUL information from my mate. Firstly don’t wear shorts to go to CW , it is “impolite “ . They say it’s ok this time but don’t do it again. I have never seen that on any forum.
            More importantly contrary to info on here they will not do the extension straightaway. He arrived yesterday and went to CW today. They said it’s “too soon” and come back on 10th/11th October at the earliest.
            Reply

            • Max says

              Not wearing shorts at CW immigration?
              There are different kind of shorts. They don't like beach shorts,but proper leisure shorts has always been accepted.
              What do you mean by "they will not do the extension straight away"?
              Are you talking about a 30 days extension for the 30 Visa Exempt or 60 days TR Visa?
              If he arrived September 5, why would they extend it next day? That's not normal procedure at any Immigration office.
              Reply

      • Max says

        The law says owner/housemaster/possessor.
        As a tenant you can also be the possessor and you can fill in the TM30 as the possessor and add all info about yourself. Many immigration offices doesn't give a rats ass about who's submitting the TM30. They just want it done. CW immigration in BKK are a bit tough, though. Other offices,no problem at all. Starting early last year, Jomtien Immigration in Pattaya, doesn't allow even a 30 days extension without checking out the TM30 status. But you can self report as a possessor as a tenant. Like I said, it's up to the immigration office.
        Reply

  4. James E says

    I just came across a post: https://perfecthomes.co.th/tm030-registration-thailand/ which states: "The in-person registration can also be done by the tenants of guests in person at the immigration office. The tenants/guests on the property submitting the TM30 document at the immigration office will also need a signed proxy from the owner stating that he/she gives permission for the tenants/guests to act on their behalf." It's gotta be in person but at least you get to make sure it's been done. Here's the link to the proxy form: https://phomes-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Power-of-Attorney-Form.pdf. There's also a link to a Word version.
    Reply

  5. Frederick B Goss says

    just returned from abroad and attempted to submit my TM 30 on line (I have a user name and password). I was a bit confused with some of the form, but after filling out all the blanks (after a few tries), I hit the "บันทึก (Record)" button at the upper top right. A pop up message said to make sure everything was correct and that was that. I didn't attach any files such as a copy of my passport or entry stamp. So I'm not sure if the form was successfully submitted or not. Has anyone else done such a submission? If so, what was your experience?
    Reply

    • Max says

      I would guess that the Departure card number (TM6) and entry date (stamped in the passport are required, maybe the passport number. Some says it's smart to take a screenshot when finished to have something to show if asked for.
      Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      Just done mine. After filling in the form press the blue button at the bottom which is just above the spreadsheet...press yes to confirm on the pop up window...... The the info goes into the spreadsheet and the form goes blank. If you need to you can then put in another person.... after that press the save button top right corner of screen... the one with a small floppy disk picture..... press yes on the pop up. Job done.....close the window.... you can then check it has been accepted by going to main menu drop down list on left side and selecting search TM30. Put todays date in the date boxes and press the go button and the entry should appear in the spreadsheet below....... no need to attach any files.
      Reply

  7. Davee says

    I work offshore in the UK and travel to Thailand every month for a couple of weeks. I am married with a marriage visa (multiple entry). I never see Immigration Dept outside of airport entry/exit. TM30 has never been mentioned to me by any Thai person. We were renting a condo in BKK but just moved to the wife's house in Roi Et. I thought about going to Immigration tomorrow (arrived today) with the wife but she's not too keen. Thinks we will be better off ignoring it until someone says something. Can see her point. May just keep an eye on any further changes and act accordingly.
    Reply

  10. Tommy says

    If I check in to a hotel for 30 days - and I decide to go on a couple night stay in another part of Thailand but still be registered at my main hotel should I have any problems ? ( I would be registered in 2 hotels at the same time)
    Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      Not sure if being registered twice at the same time means the first is automatically cancelled by the system recognising your passport details. One would think so because the whole point of TM30 is to track foreigners and it is the lack of TM30 against you (your official identity) that causes fines at immigration.

      Having said this, as a tourist the system is somewhat irrelevant. As a longstay who needs visa extensions and other things done it would be important to have reregistration on ones return to the original hotel.
      Reply

    • Max says

      Only the last TM30 counts. You know that the hotel or guesthouse will report your stay when they ask you for the passport. If not, they have no intention to report your stay. Maybe they are just lazy or not licensed.
      Reply

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