1 hour ago, loong said:

I wonder if they are also fining the foreign tenants because their landlord did not do the TM30?

 

41 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I don't recall ever hearing a foreign tenant being fined, but they can get into trouble if they have to go to immigration for an extension or other business if there's missing TM30s.

Yes and yes.

My buddy stayed at a small "serviced" apartment in Pattaya one year (4 winters ago I think it was) and saw an article on this site about the requirement for hotels/property owners to report "foreign tenants" or face a fine.

But the lady that owned the building he was in refused to report anyone. It can be done in person (by the property owner) at Immigration or electronically but one method requires you to go to Immigration and the other requires you to have a computer and either way the property owner might have to spend a few baht so many don't bother and just hope they don't get caught.

My buddy went to Immigration to do an Extension and asked them about that and what he should do because the landlord refused to report him staying in her building.

And he was promptly informed that HE had to do the report and then they fined HIM 1,600 baht for not having done it !!! And he had to do the TM.30 right there.
(For awhile, when you walked into Jomtien Immigration through the main doors, there was a room to the left of the desk just inside the entrance. That was where they had people doing their TM.30s and paying their fines before they built the new wings in the old parking area.)

And Immigration did nothing about that landlord ! Needless to say, buddy won't stay there again.

And you can bet that most owners of "Thai style" shop house apartments that rent to foreigners don't report them either.

And if you've been here slighty longer than it takes the average bar girl to empty your wallet then you might recall (during your occasional sober moments) that it was not that long ago that Immigration decided that you had to report your "address" any time you left your "home" for more than 24 hours !

So, by the rules, if you lived in Pattaya and took a weekend trip to teerak's village in Korat, on the 2nd day you were expected to report to the nearest Immigration Office (or police station) and file a TM.30.
And then if you popped over to Khon Kaen for a couple days, on the 2nd day there (assuming you weren't staying in a hotel that reports foreign guests) you were supposed to report your address again.

And then when you returned to your home - you were expected to report your address to your local Immigration office within 24 hours of returning !!!

That was the rule - and that was not that long ago. (Trying to remember but I think that was back in 2016 or 2017 ? I recall making a weekend trip to Cambodia and then having to go to Immigration the day I got back to Pattaya.)

Thankfully they quietly dropped that rule (at least in Jomtien) and said that as long as you left and returned to the same address you didn't have to report your location every 24 hours that you were gone. Even if you left the country.

Huge sigh of relief. I go on trips of 5-7 days with (Thai) friends around the country and we often stay in remote "resorts" or campgrounds. Can you imagine the hassle of trying to find a police station or Immigration office everyday to do a TM.30 because it's been over 24 hours since you did the one at the last location. And then having to literally do that every day of the trip and then go to your local immigration office again within a day of getting home.

Now it's not a big deal. Report your address, get the slip stapled into your passport and you are good to go.

Just wish Immigration would get their collective acts together.
They enter your information into their computers - but it seems the computers they do the "Retirement Extensions" on isn't linked to the computers they do the "90 Day Reports" on or the computers they do the "Report Address" or "Residence Certificate" on.

Because you literally have to re-verify your information every single time you do an Extension or 90 Day report or get a new Residence Certificate - even if you've been at the same address for over a decade !

8 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Yes, they do (at least at Chaengwattana)... Landlady outright refused to do the paperwork; I (as the tenant) did it online, but that was later not accepted... I was fined, while reaction to landlady's refusal was: 'Meh.' (Since then I prefer to stay at hotels.)

When our daughter began college in BKK she rented a condo near the university while we rented a house in Pakret.  Landlady said previously there was a farang in that house plus the house next door that she owned too but she said it was too much of a hassle to do the report so i told her we would move out while she said legally I couldn't without being fined.  I laughed and said if she wanted to go to court about my moving because she would not do what was required by Thai law then go for it.  She then did the TM.30 for me.  No problems!

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

When I visit the coast for a weekend break my landlord never reports my stay there, which is why I use them every time.

 

some people complain all the time about local laws and enforcement or whatever but why as I cannot understand why anyone would stay where they ignore local laws.  I grew up in a totally different environment and politacal system but decided that I like Thailand better than living in my home country.  I accept without complainin nor do I ignore the laws.  I have spent over 35 years here and never had any problems living by that credo.  But, to each his own I guess.

6 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

 

Yes and yes.

My buddy stayed at a small "serviced" apartment in Pattaya one year (4 winters ago I think it was) and saw an article on this site about the requirement for hotels/property owners to report "foreign tenants" or face a fine.

But the lady that owned the building he was in refused to report anyone. It can be done in person (by the property owner) at Immigration or electronically but one method requires you to go to Immigration and the other requires you to have a computer and either way the property owner might have to spend a few baht so many don't bother and just hope they don't get caught.

My buddy went to Immigration to do an Extension and asked them about that and what he should do because the landlord refused to report him staying in her building.

And he was promptly informed that HE had to do the report and then they fined HIM 1,600 baht for not having done it !!! And he had to do the TM.30 right there.
(For awhile, when you walked into Jomtien Immigration through the main doors, there was a room to the left of the desk just inside the entrance. That was where they had people doing their TM.30s and paying their fines before they built the new wings in the old parking area.)

And Immigration did nothing about that landlord ! Needless to say, buddy won't stay there again.

And you can bet that most owners of "Thai style" shop house apartments that rent to foreigners don't report them either.

And if you've been here slighty longer than it takes the average bar girl to empty your wallet then you might recall (during your occasional sober moments) that it was not that long ago that Immigration decided that you had to report your "address" any time you left your "home" for more than 24 hours !

So, by the rules, if you lived in Pattaya and took a weekend trip to teerak's village in Korat, on the 2nd day you were expected to report to the nearest Immigration Office (or police station) and file a TM.30.
And then if you popped over to Khon Kaen for a couple days, on the 2nd day there (assuming you weren't staying in a hotel that reports foreign guests) you were supposed to report your address again.

And then when you returned to your home - you were expected to report your address to your local Immigration office within 24 hours of returning !!!

That was the rule - and that was not that long ago. (Trying to remember but I think that was back in 2016 or 2017 ? I recall making a weekend trip to Cambodia and then having to go to Immigration the day I got back to Pattaya.)

Thankfully they quietly dropped that rule (at least in Jomtien) and said that as long as you left and returned to the same address you didn't have to report your location every 24 hours that you were gone. Even if you left the country.

Huge sigh of relief. I go on trips of 5-7 days with (Thai) friends around the country and we often stay in remote "resorts" or campgrounds. Can you imagine the hassle of trying to find a police station or Immigration office everyday to do a TM.30 because it's been over 24 hours since you did the one at the last location. And then having to literally do that every day of the trip and then go to your local immigration office again within a day of getting home.

Now it's not a big deal. Report your address, get the slip stapled into your passport and you are good to go.

Just wish Immigration would get their collective acts together.
They enter your information into their computers - but it seems the computers they do the "Retirement Extensions" on isn't linked to the computers they do the "90 Day Reports" on or the computers they do the "Report Address" or "Residence Certificate" on.

Because you literally have to re-verify your information every single time you do an Extension or 90 Day report or get a new Residence Certificate - even if you've been at the same address for over a decade !

Why don't those places at which you stay do the TM.30 and if you are doing trips within Thailand like that, then you are not required to do a TM.30 upon return to your regular home.  Only if you exit Thailand are you expected to do a TM.30 upon return to Thailand.

31 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

3 hours ago, impulse said:

I don't recall ever hearing a foreign tenant being fined, but they can get into trouble if they have to go to immigration for an extension or other business if there's missing TM30s.

Yes and yes.

 

You caught me.  I should have been more clear.  My bad.  I should have said I've never heard of tourists being tracked down and fined.  Foreigners do get in trouble when they go to immigration for an extension or other business.  Most tourists never darken the door of an immigration office.

 

4 hours ago, JJ-Thailand said:

Why is this needed for landlords? Foreigners already notify Imm with their 90 days report.

Because Thailand is basically a police state.

""TM-30""

 

A foreigner CAN DO their own TM-30: 1) On line, 2) in person.  NOT often said, as a foreigner, YOU  ARE RESPONSIBLE that ALL your paperwork is in order.

 

As to WHEN to do a TM-30, check with your LOCAL IO.   (EVERY office is different with LOCAL REQUIREMENTS )

My office REQUIRES a new one if i leave the country - even returning to same address ( 1st hand knowledge - no fine issued, verbal warning ), as well as the usual vacation hotel stays and etc.

 

Lucky me, I live ( by design ) 15 minutes from my LOCAL  IO, and my almost daily trip to the  7-11 is 5 minutes on the way before the IO.  And as I say time and again, LOCATION, LOCATION,

The usual time required on a Wed or Thurs after 13:30 for A TM-30 or 47 at MY office is usually 5 to 7 minutes during my super busy retirement life. I did 5 TM-30's last retirement year.

 

 

24 hours is ridiculous.At least make it 48 hours. or longer.

Just one more example. of little men sitting in big chairs. 

7 hours ago, JJ-Thailand said:

Why is this needed for landlords? Foreigners already notify Imm with their 90 days report.

They want landlords (and neighbors) watching foreigners. That can't be done with a self report.

1 minute ago, Mark1969 said:

They want landlords (and neighbors) watching foreigners. That can't be done with a self report.

Wow!! Paranoid much!

On 8/31/2025 at 4:18 AM, norsurin said:

Good because some foreigners on overstay will be caught.

I allways make sure the hotels or other is serious about this.My regular hotel allways report when i stay there.

if I go to BK for a few days the hotel does not report me only uses my wifes PP. Good, but if  was going long time somewhere I would make sure report was done.

We have been staying in Thailand for 3 months from January for the past 15  years and have never had a TM30 completed as our landlords over that time have always been foreigners married to Thais but living  abroad (Scandinavia).  If  visitors were able to simply do their own TM30 without all the back up evidence of home ownership etc. surely that should meet Thai authorities requirements. Probably too sensible an idea!

1 hour ago, kiwikeith said:

if I go to BK for a few days the hotel does not report me only uses my wifes PP. Good, but if  was going long time somewhere I would make sure report was done.

My exgf checked in on a apartment in sukumvit soi 93 with her thai id.After a short while someone knocked the door.It was the manager and a immigration officer asked for my passport.I gave it and after 45 minutes the officer came back and said everything is ok about my visa.

19 hours ago, oldestswinger said:

Because Thailand is basically a police state.

 

Yeah, and a lot of people are doing shady stuff so they need to monitor everyone. 

 

My bank called me in last week to show a copy of my rental agreement. 

 

 

22 hours ago, loong said:

I wonder if they are also fining the foreign tenants because their landlord did not do the TM30?

 

Wouldn't surprice me.

12 hours ago, norsurin said:

My exgf checked in on a apartment in sukumvit soi 93 with her thai id.After a short while someone knocked the door.It was the manager and a immigration officer asked for my passport.I gave it and after 45 minutes the officer came back and said everything is ok about my visa.

Guess I have been lucky, hotel knows me well never reported seems stupid to me if your only staying one or two nights, but TIT

 

 

Completely out of context but...

enforced disappearances, underlining the government’s junta's approach to immigration offences reformist demonstrators. Ah! The good ol' days of Prayut and his regime.

 

On 8/31/2025 at 4:10 AM, Georgealbert said:

At one apartment block, a 35-year-old woman, Ms. Pornpimon, had failed to report any of her foreign tenants.

 

Shock horror.

 

I mean it's shocking that a police major-general has nothing better to do with his time. Like going after real criminals. 

Do the trips in Vietnam or other more friendly and respectful countries in Asia with foreigners. Why continue comming to Thailand and be so badly treated and give them the well earned money ? 

On 9/1/2025 at 8:54 AM, Dan O said:

Its always interesting how many foreigners complain about illegal aliens disappearing in their countries or even legal ones come in then disappear. But when it comes to regulations here designed to track foreigner visiting within the country they cry, bitch and moan. TM 30 and TM47 can be done on line now so not real difficult. Now that banks are starting to crack down on visa agent use of fake accounts, impact the people that cant afford to really be here on long term visas, the bitching is pulling that difficulty in  now too. 

TM47 has to be done in person every time after you leave and return to Thailand, and cannot be done online in such cases. As I travel out of Thailand occasionally, I have had to do these in person nearly every time. I cannot think of any possible reasoning for this rule. By the way, most of these mentioned disappearing illegals would never report TM47 so it does not really solve anything.

39 minutes ago, zig said:

TM47 has to be done in person every time after you leave and return to Thailand, and cannot be done online in such cases. As I travel out of Thailand occasionally, I have had to do these in person nearly every time. I cannot think of any possible reasoning for this rule. By the way, most of these mentioned disappearing illegals would never report TM47 so it does not really solve anything.

I have to do the tm47 in person as well but its fairly quick and easy.  I never said any of they methods they currently use work because they don't at least not in the manner they currently are managed.

 

  You may have missed the intent and meaning of what I wrote. 

"""TM47 has to be done in person every time after you leave and return to Thailand"""

 

It all depends on YOUR  LOCAL IO POLICY for TM-30's & 47's.

 

My IO REQUIRES me to do BOTH a TM-30 (1st - even returning to same address ) and a TM-47 (2nd) if I leave the country - first hand knowledge.

On 9/1/2025 at 3:36 PM, Mark1969 said:

They want landlords (and neighbors) watching foreigners. That can't be done with a self report.

Thats no joke some years ago the immigration guys were down my soi asking the postman which houses farangs lived in, 

27 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Thats no joke some years ago the immigration guys were down my soi asking the postman which houses farangs lived in, 

I feel like it's passed off as "service oriented" a lot of the time. A clerk following you around the store, a condo guard at the door, all with a smile, but underneath it's also about monitoring and watching you. If I don't want the service that's offered why hang around? There is no upside unless something else is going on.