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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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  1. rob says

    i have registered myself as possessor on the Sec38 app for the TM30 and will be flying out for 3 days 27th Nov to 1st Dec.. I take it the check in date will be 1st Dec but what do I put in as the check out date? It won't allow me to go back from the present date when I come to fill it in so it can't be when I left on the 27th Nov and as I have a non -o visa I don't know about any check out date.
    Reply

  2. Martin1 says

    Hi to all!

    I would like to add some very current real-world experience: I returned to my loved (Thai) wife and son as an expat on Saturday evening after a business trip abroad.
    As an avid TTL reader I knew that I would have to do some reporting on the next working day, which was today, Monday.
    (Yes, I know, my landlord (a rich Thai lady) would have to do the TM.30 filing. Despite knowing it (she owns both a hotel somewhere in TH and condos in Bangkok) she is too ignorant to do it for her condo renters. :-( )
    So I took a Grab to the (infamous) Chaeng Wattana, Lak-Si Government Complex Bldg. B and asked for a queue number for area B1).
    I filled out a form for self-reporting (TM.28) - and that was declined! :-(((
    The two Immigration Police officers only would accept a TM.30 form.

    Later at home my Thai wife called them and with her sweetest voice she asked the Immigration for all relevant thing.
    And here comes the news: like the 90-days-reporting the TM.30 filing can be done in person, online, and via Thai Post!
    So we went the Samsen Nai post office (which is open until (tada!) 23:00 h) and mailed all the required documents in an A4 letter (and a small envelope (postage pre-paid) for their answer).

    That was today (Mo. Nov. 18, 2019). Let's see what is going to happen.
    Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      From a technical/legal perspective the answer is yes....... however from a practical perspective it depends on whether or not you are reported on TM30 by the place you stay overnight.....if staying at a hotel you can expect them to report....if staying with friends you can expect them not to report.....as I understand it the reporting by TM30 will end the previous TM30 report automatically and a hotel will advise immigration you have left ending their report...... so if you don't submit a new TM30 on return home you will end up with a period of non reporting.
      Reply

  4. Bob says

    I have a Non-o marriage visa and need to return to the UK to attend a funeral. When I return to Bangkok do I need to visit the immigration center within 24 hours to fill in one of these TM.30 forms and get a receipt/ slip or do I just inform my landlord/ letting agent that I have return and leave it to them. It's very confusing, I read on a website-(coc haven legal) and I quote - When you return after leaving the country, you will need to report to immigration to get your TM.30 updated with a new stamp, or have a new TM.30 printed out. unquote. So according to them it's down to me to sort out the TM.30 and not the landlord?
    Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      Its the landlords responsibility and you are likely to find you cannot report as you are not the owner and they normally require proof of ownership.

      It has been said some immigration offices will accept a copy of your lease/rental agreement as proof of being in possession of the property (the law is worded in various ways to define owner) so you could try that first.

      However it is in your interest to ensure it is done and have proof or you could be fined on renewal of your visa.
      Reply

      • Max says

        The Owner/Landlord/Possessor can submit the TM30 both in person and online. A tenant is also a possessor in the eyes of many Immigration offices. In the new online reporting system you can also register as a Foreigner using just 2 submitted documents, a rental contract and the photo page in the passport. At for example CW Immigration in BKK and at Jomtien Immigration in Pattaya it's possible to self report even as a tenant. I have done it myself a couple of times when changing condo. At Thai Visa Forum online, there are loads of posters verifying this. The last couple of month several immigration offices don't require a TM30 report when coming back from a trip inside Thailand and staying at the last reported address, a few others don't even require it when coming back from abroad,for example Jomtien Immigration. Your info is outdated and doesn't help anyone. The local immigration office is the only place where you get correct info if you need to report or not,or online at their websites.
        Reply

    • James E says

      Legally, it's the landlord/property owner who has the responsibility of reporting unless they've specifically granted you reporting authority. They're the ones who have the necessary proof in the way of documents. There has been some discussion in the comments about alternative interpretations of the wording concerning who can report. Have a scan. But, no, in general you can't just show up and file a TM30 on yourself. Your best solution (if you're concerned about making sure you get filed) is to get your landlord to let you have reporting authority and/or file your own TM28 to CYA.
      Reply

    • Max says

      CW Immigration in BKK still requires the TM30 report when coming back from abroad. Officially,your landlord is responsible for doing the report. How did you handle it earlier? Did your landlord submit the TM30? If your landlord isn't around for some reason,you can actually self report at CW as the possessor of your condo even as a tenant. You need a copy of your rental contract and copies of the essential pages in your passport.
      Reply

      • Bob says

        My landlord and the estate agent we go through are a waste of space! She (estate agent) when I first contacted her about this TM30 seemed to think it was a one time only registration until I pointed her to a few websites. But an even bigger problem for me, my wife (and child), is that Immigration are saying a photo copy of the rental agreement is not good enough, they want a copy of the landlords deeds as proof that he owns the condo and a photo copy of his passport as proof of his ID. Landlord seems reluctant to provide these as estate agent keeps making empty promises about sending it to us. Big headache as I could be deported separating me from wife and child!
        Reply

        • Max says

          The owner is a foreigner? I don't think he can deny giving the real estate agent the correct documents to verify he is the owner. In what province are you staying? At several immigration offices it's possible to self report the TM30 as the possessor even as a tenant. You can also register using the online reporting system and there's also an mobile app, Section38, where it's possible to register as a foreigner. You only have to upload a copy of the first page in the rental contract and the photo/info-page in the passport. You'll receive an email after registering and you just have to click on a link to verify your email address. Then you will receive another email with username and password.
          Reply

        • Mike Baker says

          If you cant do it the way Max suggests then maybe the next option is to go to Immigration with a TM28 and make a complaint against your landlord and agent asking immigration to take the matter up. If possible put the complaint in writing and get a receipt........be prepared to be given notice to leave though...... but moving is better than deportation or continual fines the landlord should really pay...... TM30 is a BIG MESS.
          Reply

          • Bob says

            The landlord has now informed the estate agent he will charge me for the 'work' done in submitting a TM30. i would leave and find another condo but that would mean losing 2 months rent in advance and 34,000 bht is a lot to lose seeing as we've only been here 3 months. As I've informed him about re registration I could let him face the fine if he doesn't do what's require but then of course immigration may demand that I pay the fine and there's really no arguing with them. Maybe I'll do what you suggest and try self re registering or even just pay the damn fine and have done with it!
            Reply

            • Bob says

              Actually the TM30 is a minor problem it's the proof of ownership of the condo that's not forthcoming that's the real problem as I need to show it at the next 90 day visa renewal end of December or my visa won't be renewed and I'll have to leave my wife and child in Thailand.
              Reply

            • TheThailandLife says

              Forget the landlord. It is his responsibility. I quote Phuket Immigration Deputy Chief Col Nareuwat Putthawiro:“The TM30 is the house owner’s responsibility, whether the home owner is a Thai or a foreigner.”If a landlord refuses to – or is unable to – comply by filing a TM30 to report the foreigner as staying, or returning to stay, at the foreigner’s registered address, that is not the foreigner’s responsibility.The only thing you need be concerned about is the T28. The TM28 form is for foreigners to report themselves to Immigration after staying away from their registered address for more than 24 hours.
              Reply

              • Bob says

                Update. This afternoon we received at last the required documents - owners title deeds and copy of his passport. The unfriendly, stoney faced (to put it politely) woman who delivered these documents is apparently an agent who charges tenants for submitting a TM.30. She insisted we have to pay her for submission as it takes all day. Why she doesn't do it online I didn't ask as she looked down her nose at me and my wife. Anyway we declined her services and she left in a huff. As we now have the owners copies I'll visit immigration and see if I can use them to self register. Otherwise I'll just pay any bloody fine. All this hassle is ruining our stay here!
                Reply

                • mike baker says

                  It is outrageous to try to charge for something they are LEGALLY REQUIRED to do........ next they will charge you for their accountants time filing their income declaration because you caused the income....... I would resist as the cost is not in the lease agreement.....

                  I would move as soon as the 2 months are up. You will have more trouble from them with that attitude.....

                  Good luck with immigration. Please let us know if they did it for you..... because you haven't got power of attorney from the owner.
                  Reply

                  • Bob says

                    The estate agent is acting as manager for the owner as he lives in China so I would assume they would have POA to deal with this sort of thing. They prob want to do as little work as possible for their commission though and TM30, so it seems, is just a hassle for all concerned.
                    Reply

              • Max says

                What works in Phuket doesn't work everywhere. Several immigration offices don't care the least about the TM28. The official use of the TM28 is "Change of Address",normally when moving to a new permanent address in another province.
                Reply

                • TheThailandLife says

                  Phuket or not, that's the law he is quoting. The TM30 is the form for landlords to report to Immigration within 24 hours of the arrival of any foreign tenants, as required under Section 38 of the Thailand Immigration Act of 1979.
                  Reply

                  • Max says

                    I have told you before and you should know that it's totally irrelevant what an IO in Phuket says,or what the law says. The only thing that matters is what the local immigration office requires. If you're staying in BKK,then you obey the rules at the immigration office at CW. If staying in Jomtien,Pattaya,then the rules at Jomtien Immigration applies.
                    Reply

                    • TheThailandLife says

                      Sorry, dad! The reality on the ground is that a few people got a fine, then this was exposed and it all blew up in the media. Those people should never have been fined, thus immigration was forced to clarify the law and enforce it properly. No one should be receiving a fine. It is very doubtful any immigration officer would try to pull this stunt since the recent media coverage. And if you are presented with a fine, refuse to pay it on the grounds of the law, and ask to speak to the head of immigration.

            • Max says

              It doesn't help if you pay the fine. The TM30 still has to be submitted. Ask immigration if you can't self report using a copy of the rental contract, a copy of the photo/info page in your passport, a copy of the last entry stamp and a copy of the TM6-card. I did it at Jomtien Immigration the last time I changed condo.
              Reply

              • Bob says

                Yes just to complicate matters I have to go back to UK for 3 days so when I return I'll visit Immigration and attempt to self register the wretched TM30. If they say no then at least I tried and I can argue that if they try and squeeze me for a fine at the next 90 day renewal.
                Reply

  5. Mike Baker says

    Reported in The Thaiger:

    "The Thai government is introducing a new method of cracking down on home-made criminals.

    In a reversal of its former policy “Good guys in, bad guys in”, the government’s criminal enhancement department is phasing in the new laws that will require Thai to report their location every time they stay overnight in a different location.

    Spokesperson Phaec Than says the new policy will be called the TM30T, alluding to the highly successful TM30 form that has rid the Kingdom of foreigners.

    “99% of crime in Thailand is by Thais so we believe that keeping a track of our population is vital,” says Phaec.

    The new TM30T form will require Thais to report to the new Waer Areuw shops that will be set up in each province and some shopping centres. Locals will be required to report in their location within 24 hours if they have moved from their registered address. Workers, who travel more than one kilometre to work, and stay overnight, will be required to report their new location within 24 hours. And then on return.

    Along with the new Waer Areuw reporting locations, there will also be a new App so people can conveniently report their new location.

    “The App is safe and convenient and will be able to scan and send the 96 pages of documentation for your 24 hour reporting.”

    “If you are staying with a foreigner, they will have to lodge the paperwork for you. We don’t think this should take any longer than 2-3 hours.”

    Minister for criminal enhancement, Thelmee Ware Uah, says that if the new TM30T reporting is successful in reducing crime they may take the next step and issue all Thais with a convenient electronic ankle bracelet so the government can track their whereabouts, 24/7.

    “We have seen some of these new wearable electronic ankle monitors. They come in a range of colours and styles and have a selection of matching handbags and umbrellas to turn ‘big brother surveillance’ into day-to-day fashion.”"

    These must be the changes we expected to be announced.
    Reply

  6. Darryl Cook says

    I will be coming to Thailand (for the 25th) Time in October on previous visits have never filed a TM 30 and in fact never knew what it was until reading Thai Visa. Will be staying at our (wife's) house. Question - Can I register, online before I come to Thailand and at what internet address do I address application to. I will be in the Khon Kaen province. Thank you
    Reply

      • Max says

        Both the website and the TM30 app actually works. They look the same when you register and when you are logged in. You need your wife's blue house book and her Thai ID-card. You must download the first page in the house book + both sides of the ID-card. Then upload them when you register.Only fill in the fields with an *
        Nothing else!
        Reply

      • Gary says

        I am having a similar problem to Mike. We live in Bangkok but have just had a house built in Isaan where my Partner is from and intend to move there in January. We submitted the on line registration and waited for the email with password and user name after a successful registration. After 6 weeks we had nothing back so while attending for my 90 day check in I asked them at the Bangkok Immigration Centre if they could supply the log on as we wanted to visit the new home for a few days. The system was checked and they said "No you are not registered in Bangkok as your house is in Sakhon Nakon, call them for password". I made a call to them and guess what, "No you live in Bangkok your not registered here".I pointed out the registration is not location dependant and I cant send it to one particular office on line.
        Long and short of it seems to be like you I will have to go to Sakhon Nakon Immigration with all the paperwork despite it being accepted on line by someone ,somewhere. The whole point of the system is to stop a frantic 24 hour dash to submit a TM30 in the first place.
        If you know a way of turning a successful registration into a password /user name email and save the 180KM round trip to Immigration please let me know . With issues like this it's no wonder people don't want to go on weekends away
        Reply

        • Mike Baker says

          I read an article which quoted a top immigration official.... to paraphrase - "the problem is the current online registration system does not have a prompt when you fail to input correct information".... so the registration submission may not have been successful...... they are promising an improvement in the registration system.... soon....which in Thai means zero... so not sure if he was speaking English or Thai!..... if you wish to register the new house for when you live there then you will need to submit the ID and house doc for that house and only the local immigration office will deal with that if you need a physical visit...... your weekend away is turning into a long weekend..... but if you stay at home the TM30 system will be none the wiser unless you live in a place now that will deregister you when you leave for your nice break.
          Reply

          • Max says

            The TM30 app works as it should since maybe 10-12 days. It's important to only fill in the fields with an * when registering. Nothing else. And choose correct category. You will receive an email immediately after submitting the registration. Just do as it says.
            Reply

          • Gary says

            Thanks for the advice. We did submit the Tabien Baan and Photo I'D and was even told our registration was successful ( so I guess all correct) but who actually does the on line registration go to ? In our case clearly not our local provence in Isaan or to Bangkok. They should just say you must attend the local office to complete on line application with the Immigration officers physically checking the documents and providing the username and password while you visit. So much for progress of on line applications . I look forward to wasting my first day visiting the office just to say hello and then 2 days later doing it again in Bangkok. Just as well I have nothing better to do with my time and money. Still could be worse I could be in the United Kingdom dealing with Brexit !!
            Reply

            • Max says

              The registration should automatically go to to the correct immigration office according to the address you submitted when registering. It says where it goes (in thai) when registering.
              Did you verify your email address in the email you received when registering?
              Reply

        • Max says

          The TM30 app has been working perfect since maybe 10-12 days. It also looks different since you registered. If you register the correct way (only fill in the fields with an *), with correct documents, you will get an email verifying the registration. There is a button to click on to verify your email address,then you will receive another email with username and password. You log in and then change the password. Done,now it's ready to use.
          Reply

  7. Mike says

    Is this another evolving situation ?
    When I stayed there for 6 months a couple of years ago the border run was a worry but I was back in 15 minutes .
    Has anyone been hit with this 1600 a day fine by default yet or is it a rarity like being knocked back at the border ?
    Maybe retiring to Cambodia will be less stressful on a fairly low budget ?
    Sigh !
    Ahh Hua Hin
    Hmmm
    Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      There is a huge amount of discussion about the TM30 and TM28 system at the moment and you are right, I think, to say it is evolving..... it is said there are likely to be significant announcements in the near future.

      At the moment Thai Immigration don't get it - that it is unfair to hold a visitor to account for a responsibility that is not their's; that the system cannot cope with the increased registration and traffic; that it is poorly designed for todays world (if necessary at all with biometrics at the borders and available when checking foreigners status at other times) and it is inconsistently applied across the country.

      People are being fined but these are long staying retirees needing a service from immigration generally. I am convinced this long standing but unenforced system was more rigorously enforced to raise cash from foreigners and it is backfiring.

      Thai Immigration have opened a can of worms for sure.
      Reply

    • Mike Baker says

      The only English you will see is welcome, user profile and logout button top right and a welcome message half way down on right side... when you click a Thai scripted menu item on the left side it opens with the English title in brackets...... if you are not getting this try going to the main immigration page at https://www.immigration.go.th/index then click on the menu button of several horizontal white bars at top left and then click on white box immediately below with a drop down arrow to its right side... this will reveal 2 selections and 1 will be Eng.... select this and the whole page will revert to English.... then click on "service" then select "notification of residence for foreigners" and this will give you the log in page with English script.... bookmark this for future use and hopefully you will always have it in English.
      Reply

  9. jack says

    hello, i just be able to notify my address using section38 iphone applicattion. but where i can get receipt of notification ? i need to go immigration to get residency certificate and they will want to see receipt of notification . what i will show them , just a screenshot is ok ?
    Reply

  10. David says

    Saw this on Coconuts Bangkok website yesterday. Apparently Thai Immigration issued the following notice:

    "“During the visit to Thailand, for purposes of tourism, sports, business, investments, education, practicing of skilled craftsmen or specialists, aliens are not required to notify the competent official of changes of their residence,” it read in full, emphasis theirs.


    The announcement specifically references Section 5 of police regulations."
    Reply

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