TM30 reporting is being enforced

Stargazer

Stargazer

Surin Legend
I’ve been coming to Surin for 6 years on a retirement annual visa. My Thai wife never filed a TM30 for me. I have a yellow book, but apparently that doesn’t exempt her from filing every single time we come back from staying in a hotel. In the process of transferring my retirement visa from old to just renewed US passport, my wife was fined 800 THB for not filing a TM30 on me. So we finally set her up on the TM30 website (not intuitive!), and successfully filed. Though enforcement is erratic, all our farang members do need to know it is indeed the immigration law that wherever you’re staying must report every time you change locations. Got to know where all the farang are, all the time. I just received a 10 year visa, so I’m exempt from 90 day reporting, re-entry permits and taxes, but still subject to TM30 and the new online TDAC for within 72 hours before arrival. Better do it online, as the lineup at the TDAC machines at BKK are long, and the process not intuitive (an old guy begged me to help him understand how to do it). TDAC-like registration seems to be spreading to other countries now.
 
Stargazer said:
I’ve been coming to Surin for 6 years on a retirement annual visa. My Thai wife never filed a TM30 for me. I have a yellow book, but apparently that doesn’t exempt her from filing every single time we come back from staying in a hotel. In the process of transferring my retirement visa from old to just renewed US passport, my wife was fined 800 THB for not filing a TM30 on me. So we finally set her up on the TM30 website (not intuitive!), and successfully filed. Though enforcement is erratic, all our farang members do need to know it is indeed the immigration law that wherever you’re staying must report every time you change locations. Got to know where all the farang are, all the time. I just received a 10 year visa, so I’m exempt from 90 day reporting, re-entry permits and taxes, but still subject to TM30 and the new online TDAC for within 72 hours before arrival. Better do it online, as the lineup at the TDAC machines at BKK are long, and the process not intuitive (an old guy begged me to help him understand how to do it). TDAC-like registration seems to be spreading to other countries now.
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I live in Rattanaburi. Does that mean every time I go to Surin and sleep at a hotel for the night.
I need to to fill in a TM30?
 

What is the TM30 Form?​

TM30 Form


The TM30 form tells Thai Immigration where you’re staying. If you’re a foreigner and you sleep somewhere that’s not a hotel, your landlord has to report it within 24 hours.

It helps the government monitor residency and prevent visa overstays or illegal activity. It also comes up during visa extensions, 90-day reports, and important appointments.

Who is responsible for filing the TM30?​

The landlord is supposed to file it. That could be the condo owner, house owner, or the manager of your serviced apartment. Hotels report this automatically. Still, even if you’re not responsible for filing the TM30, you must ensure it’s been done.

If it’s missing, Immigration might deny your visa extension or require you to pay a fine. In some cases, you can file it yourself if your landlord gives you a signed proxy form.

When do you need to file a TM30?​

The TM30 isn’t a one-time task you can ignore afterward. If your address changes, you’re expected to file it again. Immigration uses it to keep track of where foreigners are staying, and not updating it can lead to fines.

You need a new TM30 if any of these happen:

  • You move to a different address
  • You come back to Thailand from a trip abroad
  • You return home after staying at a hotel or guesthouse
Even if you own your home in Thailand, you still have to file a TM30 on yourself. The rule applies to all foreigners, with no exceptions.

How do you file a TM30?​

There are three ways:

  1. In person at your local immigration office
  2. Online through the Immigration Bureau’s portal
  3. Using the mobile app called Section 38 (only available in the Thai app store)
Your landlord, or their proxy, needs to prepare:

  • Copy of their Thai ID or passport
  • Copy of the house registration (Tabien Baan) or title deed
  • Rental agreement
  • Your passport info and visa stamp
Once the form is approved, they get a small receipt. That is your proof of registration, so keep a copy of it with your passport.
________________________________________________________________

No, TDAC and TM30 are not the same; TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) is the new digital replacement for the old paper TM6 arrival card, streamlining entry for tourists, while TM30 remains a separate, mandatory notification for property owners/hosts to report a foreigner's address to Thai immigration within 24 hours of arrival, a duty that often falls on the foreigner if the host fails, notes Ask Thailand, Expats in Bangkok, and www.allthailux.com.
 
So I stay at a hotel .
The hotel notifies immigration.
I come back to to my home address which registered with immigration.
Does my wife still need to fill in a TM 30 on my return?
 
Deerculler said:
So I stay at a hotel .
The hotel notifies immigration.
I come back to to my home address which registered with immigration.
Does my wife still need to fill in a TM 30 on my return?
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Great question Les....and the answer should be simple - but it isn't.

I can quote the 'rule' that says if you are returning from out of province, to your TM30 advised normal place of residence, you don't need to do a new one.

Local Immigration offices often make up their own rules - Buriram, at one point, insisted on another TM30 being submitted on your return.

Jomtiem don't require you to submit a new TM30 even after returning from abroad....they do require your first 90 day report after returning from overseas to be in person.
 
CO-CO said:
Great question Les....and the answer should be simple - but it isn't.

I can quote the 'rule' that says if you are returning from out of province, to your TM30 advised normal place of residence, you don't need to do a new one.

Local Immigration offices often make up their own rules - Buriram, at one point, insisted on another TM30 being submitted on your return.

Jomtiem don't require you to submit a new TM30 even after returning from abroad....they do require your first 90 day report after returning from overseas to be in person.
Click to expand...
 
CO-CO said:
Great question Les....and the answer should be simple - but it isn't.

I can quote the 'rule' that says if you are returning from out of province, to your TM30 advised normal place of residence, you don't need to do a new one.

Local Immigration offices often make up their own rules - Buriram, at one point, insisted on another TM30 being submitted on your return.

Jomtiem don't require you to submit a new TM30 even after returning from abroad....they do require your first 90 day report after returning from overseas to be in person.
Click to expand...
Thank you Ray,
My last 25 years working was a Corrections Officer.
This likens to being on continuous life probation.
Being here as a guest with no rights I have got used to. And very happy with it.
But to be treated like a criminal does not leave a good taste in ones mouth.
Thailand.
 
TM 30 a few years back was super enforced. There was a bit of backlash to the severe enforcement then it was relaxed again.
So is this another round of super enforcement. From Mr Farang hater Anutin. ?
What did he say? Oh that would be
"those "dirty" Europeans were fleeing the cold and posed a virus risk because they "never shower".
"We have to be more careful of Westerners than Asians"
Lovely man. Out and out racist!
 
To my knowledge, I've never had a TM 30 in my passport.
Just the 90 day report stapled to the back by immigration after 90 day after reporting in SURIN , KC or online.
I do have an old TM 6 stapled in the back along with the 90 day report.
If anybody has an image of TM 30 they can share on the Forum that would be marvelous !

Anybody register online for the TM 30 ?
What was the process, did you have to use your wife's ID, etc.
 
lightfoot said:
To my knowledge, I've never had a TM 30 in my passport.
Just the 90 day report stapled to the back by immigration after 90 day after reporting in SURIN , KC or online.
I do have an old TM 6 stapled in the back along with the 90 day report.
If anybody has an image of TM 30 they can share on the Forum that would be marvelous !

Anybody register online for the TM 30 ?
What was the process, did you have to use your wife's ID, etc.
Click to expand...

I find it hard to believe that you do not have a TM30. Everybody HAS to have their residence logged on the Immigration system via submission of a TM30. Fines are applicable for non-compliance.

It is quite possible that Surin are not concerned about the TM30 receipt being stapled into your passport.

Throw away the TM6 (it has long since been redundant), now replaced by TDAC (Thailand Figutal Arrival Card)…..another waste of everyone’s time as it never checked on arrival.
 
CO-CO said:
I find it hard to believe that you do not have a TM30.
Click to expand...
Amazing Thailand
Hard to believe, as before, I've never had a TM 30 paper in my passport or asked for one over the past 20 years or so.
My wife has accompany me for every 1 year temporary visa extension except for the first which I did in Chiang Mai.
Immigration as always at her, fill out forms and sign, maybe TM 30 was initiated with immigration with her ?

Sure would like to have a copy of one to pursue getting fixed up with TM 30

Registering online for the TM 30 ?
What was the process, did you have to use your wife's ID, etc.
 
lightfoot said:
Amazing Thailand
Hard to believe, as before, I've never had a TM 30 paper in my passport or asked for one over the past 20 years or so.
My wife has accompany me for every 1 year temporary visa extension except for the first which I did in Chiang Mai.
Immigration as always at her, fill out forms and sign, maybe TM 30 was initiated with immigration with her ?

Sure would like to have a copy of one to pursue getting fixed up with TM 30

Registering online for the TM 30 ?
What was the process, did you have to use your wife's ID, etc.
Click to expand...
Just did mine used wifes ID card and house book. Copy of my passport. All pretty simple and quick
 
Reporting was done until April this year on an App. But they shut that down and made all user reapply. On the new system. Total losers.
The App was called Section 38 as that is the area of The 1979 Act.

Section 38.
The householder, the owner or the possessor of a dwelling
place or a hotel manager, who takes in, as a resident, an alien with permission to
temporarily stay in the Kingdom, shall notify the competent official at the immigration office
located in the locality in which the house, dwelling place, or hotel is located within twenty
four hours from the time the alien has taken residence. If there is no immigration office
located in that locality, the police officer at a police station of that locality jurisdiction shall
be notified.
In a case where the house, dwelling place, or hotel where the alien is staying
under paragraph one is located in Bangkok Metropolis locality, such notification shall be
made to the competent official at the Immigration Division.
The notification mentioned in paragraphs one and two shall be made in
accordance with the regulation prescribed by the Director-General.

Note my favourite text. Refer to the policy document, which no one is allowed to see. 555

Anyway here is the link for the new sign up.

There is no new App. I love how they ensure compliance by throwing off all users with out notice and making them work out why.

For the record I tried to register my landlord. It said insufficient data. I uploaded her ID card and filled all fields.
Was I expecting anything different ????

Worked out what I did wrong. I had to tick the box and Title the document uploaded. I also had to use Chrome.
Firefox kept crashing it.
 
Last edited:
lightfoot said:
Amazing Thailand
Hard to believe, as before, I've never had a TM 30 paper in my passport or asked for one over the past 20 years or so.
My wife has accompany me for every 1 year temporary visa extension except for the first which I did in Chiang Mai.
Immigration as always at her, fill out forms and sign, maybe TM 30 was initiated with immigration with her ?

Sure would like to have a copy of one to pursue getting fixed up with TM 30

Registering online for the TM 30 ?
What was the process, did you have to use your wife's ID, etc.
Click to expand...
I have never had the TM 30 in my passport either.
 
Deerculler said:
I have never had the TM 30 in my passport either.
Click to expand...
TM30 does not go in your passport. It is "suppose" to be transparent to the foreigner. It is a record between a landlord and Immigration.
Hotels do not push it at you and stamp it in your passport. DO THEY?
But it is done all the same. For the same matter TM30 is again "suppose to " have nothing to do with foreigners.

@CO-CO I recall there was a provision for when you first arrived and reported your address in the kingdom. Now done on TDAC. That a landlord did not have to report. But had to on subsequent time away and return. Do you remember something like that?
 
Rice said:
TM30 does not go in your passport. It is "suppose" to be transparent to the foreigner. It is a record between a landlord and Immigration.
Hotels do not push it at you and stamp it in your passport. DO THEY?
But it is done all the same. For the same matter TM30 is again "suppose to " have nothing to do with foreigners.

@CO-CO I recall there was a provision for when you first arrived and reported your address in the kingdom. Now done on TDAC. That a landlord did not have to report. But had to on subsequent time away and return. Do you remember something like that?
Click to expand...
The last TM30 I did was 24 hours after we moved into the new house.
 
Rice said:
TM30 does not go in your passport. It is "suppose" to be transparent to the foreigner. It is a record between a landlord and Immigration.
Hotels do not push it at you and stamp it in your passport. DO THEY?
But it is done all the same. For the same matter TM30 is again "suppose to " have nothing to do with foreigners.

@CO-CO I recall there was a provision for when you first arrived and reported your address in the kingdom. Now done on TDAC. That a landlord did not have to report. But had to on subsequent time away and return. Do you remember something like that?
Click to expand...
Nice to get a little clarification on the TM 30 not going in your passport.
The link you shared works.
The link I shared earlier on the subject works also, but not as a direct as the one you shared.
Excellent information, Thanks.
 
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