Notification Of Residence Of Foreigners

[Maestro]

I read the following just now on the Immigration Bureau’s website:

According to section 38 of the 1979 immigration act, "House owners, heads of household, landlords or managers of hotels who accommodate foreign nationals on a temporary basis who stay in the kingdom legally, must notify the local immigration authorities within 24 hours from the time of arrival of the foreign national."

Later this month I’ll be in Bangkok (30-day stamp on arrival) with my wife at her condo. Does this mean that – theoretically – my wife has to fill in form TM-30 and submit it to Immigration?

I know she won’t be bothered to do it but theoretically, would it be necessary?

Edited December 7, 2005 by maestro

[lopburi3]

In theory probably if she is the owner; but good luck if you try to tell her that. But with the pending computerization of all records it may be coming sooner than we think.

[Maestro]

She does own it, but I see that the maximum fine would be THB 2,000 and for that she certainly wouldn’t bother, more so considering the infinitesimally low risk of actually being fined.

Equally theoretically, I guess, when I go to Hua Hin for 4 days I would have to report my address to the local police. I remember reading something about this in this forum a while back and the strange look a farang got when he went to the police station for such report. Looking it up now I see that failing to make this report would carry a heavier fine, maximum THB 200 per day plus maximum THB 5,000. Don’t anybody tell them, but the police miss out on a golden opportunity here!

[Thai Chi]

1. According to section 38 of the 1979 immigration act, "House owners, heads of household, landlords or managers of hotels who accommodate foreign nationals on a temporary basis who stay in the kingdom legally, must notify the local immigration authorities within 24 hours from the time of arrival of the foreign national."

2. Equally theoretically, I guess, when I go to Hua Hin for 4 days I would have to report my address to the local police.

Maestro...you just confused the <deleted> out of me why would you have to report your address in Hua Hin

[Maestro]

Maestro...you just confused the <deleted> out of me why would you have to report your address in Hua Hin  

That’s to do with another section of the same Immigration Act: my apologies for the confusion I created.

Section 37 : An alien having received a temporary entry permit into the Kingdom must comply with the following :

…

4. If the alien travels to any province and will stay there longer than twenty – four hours , such alien must notify the police official of the police station for that area within forty – eight hours from the time of arrival.

Section 76 : Any alien, alien, who fails to comply with the provisions of Section 37(2),(3),(4)or(5) shall be punished with a fine not exceeding 5,000 Baht and with and additional fine not exceeding 200 Baht for each day which passes until the law is complied with.

[Maestro]

daddy57, as I see it, if everything were done strictly according to the law there would be duplication all around:

– I arrive at Bangkok airport and put my wife’s condo address on the arrival card (TM-6, I believe)

– I move into my wife’s condo and my wife reports my address to the Bangkok Immigration Office (TM-30)

– I go to Pattaya and check into the Royal Cliff Hotel for 4 days. The hotel reports my address to the Pattaya (now apparently Jomtien) Immigration Office (TM-30)

– I report my address to the Pattaya police station.

I’m not saying that’s what my wife and I will be doing, but that’s the law as I see it.

Edited December 7, 2005 by maestro

[Thetyim]

I have just done a TM 30 report.

Astral got fined for not reporting so I decided to start.

[Thai Chi]

daddy57, as I see it, if everything were done strictly according to the law there would be duplication all around:

– I arrive at Bangkok airport and put my wife’s condo address on the arrival card (TM-6, I believe)

– I move into my wife’s condo and my wife reports my address to the Bangkok Immigration Office (TM-30)

– I go to Pattaya and check into the Royal Cliff Hotel for 4 days. The hotel reports my address to the Pattaya (now apparently Jomtien) Immigration Office (TM-30)

– I report my address to the Pattaya police station.

I’m not saying that’s what my wife and I will be doing, but that’s the law as I see it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought you were going to Hua Hin for 4 DAYS Change of plans..never mind, there is no need to go to the police station and tell them "I AM HERE" enjoy your stay and let the "hotel owners" do their thing.

[ChrisP]

Little twist on the same "reporting" question..

I am staying for 4 weeks at a rented apartment in Din Daeng. My name plus the name of my Thai partner is on the 12-month lease.

The apartment is a privately owned condo, the building has a management office that handles all leases etc. Do I tell them they have to "report my stay"...?

ChrisP

[Krub]

I have just done a TM 30 report.

Astral got fined for not reporting so I decided to start.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am trying to have my local cop shop work out how to handle the TM 30 from that I produced to them asking them to register me.

(My partner owns the property I am living in)

They have asked for :

2 forms, 2 copies of passport, 2 id fotos, 2 copies of Tabien baan of owner, 2 copies of ID card of owner.

I have already been 3 times as the 'chief' is always out on business....

Thetyim, did you have 'difficulties' reporting at your local cop shop ?

[Thetyim]

Krub,

I downloaded the TM30 form from the immigration website, got the wife to complete it and then mailed it to immigration with a return envelope.

I only did it a few days ago so I have not recieved a reply yet.

Nowhere on the form does it ask for photos or photocopies.

I will let you know when I get a reply.

[bluebear]

This is an old one. Most lower end hotels dont always bother getting passport details especially down in Pattaya. But I think it was about a year ago there was a big crack down and suddenly hotels got fined. It was forgotten about again.

It was probably after that al kaida terrorist guy got arrested up north somewhere.

[Maestro]

I am trying to have my local cop shop work out how to handle the TM 30

Wrong address. The TM-30 goes to the Immigration Office.

[Maestro]

I am staying for 4 weeks at a rented apartment in Din Daeng. My name plus the name of my Thai partner is on the 12-month lease.

The apartment is a privately owned condo, the building has a management office that handles all leases etc.  Do I tell them they have to "report my stay"...?

The management office probably files the TM-30 reports routinely. Anyway, nothing for you to concern yourself about.

On your part, you take care of your own reporting requirements, i.e. 90-day reports (TM-47) if applicable to your situation.

[astral]

In theory probably if she is the owner; but good luck if you try to tell her that.  But with the pending computerization of all records it may be coming sooner than we think.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is definitely correct.

My wife has been fined for not reporting my presence.

On the household papers (Tabien Bahn) she is the head of the house, although the house

actually belongs to my company, where I am the MD.

If you are only on 30 day stays the chances of a problem are minimal.

We got caught when I was extending my visa and the Imm officer was new on the

job and wanted to impress the boss!! She also wanted to fine me for not reporting every 90 days,

until I pointed out that I do not need to. I rarely stay 90 days.

Everytime I return there is a new TM card which has the same effect.

[Firefan]

Another twist; I am the "houseowner" as own my condo - I am in the (yellow) tabien bahn (house book) so I presume I do not need to report myself when I am in the yellow book..?

"Section 37 : An alien having received a temporary entry permit into the Kingdom must comply with the following.."

What is considered a temporary entry permit? Everything but PR/citizenship? Or just tourist visas/30 day on arrival?

Cheers!

[Krub]

I am trying to have my local cop shop work out how to handle the TM 30

Wrong address. The TM-30 goes to the Immigration Office.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well it clearly states on the TM-30 form that if there is no imigration office nearby (it says located in that area), the local police office is the place to do it.

I went this morning and it took an hour at the local police office. It was the firts time they did it there but were very cooperative and very helpful.

They probably over did it but better more than not enough

The house owner where I am staying filled in the forms (TM-30)

Submitted the following :

2 forms (TM-30)

2 ID fotos (myself)

2 signed copies of passport foto page, visa page, last entry stamp page, 1yr extension page

2 signed copies of the owner's Tabien baan

2 sigend copies of the owner's ID card

The officer filled in the bottom part of the forms, filled in a report in the police office daily report (where they enter the details of all the cases that happen that day....)

I received a stamped full set + a copy of the entry in their daily report

Was told to do it again when I have another 1 yr extension

Had a nice chat with the local officers.

Must say I live in a very rural community outside of Uttaradit and it means this registration was a big event in their daily routine

[Maestro]

Well it clearly states on the TM-30 form that if there is no imigration office nearby (it says located in that area), the local police office is the place to do it.

I didn’t see that, perused it too quickly. My mistake.

Had a nice chat with the local officers.

Must say I live in a very rural community outside of Uttaradit and it means this registration was a big event in their daily routine 

You must be getting famous now in Uttaradit, or should I say more famous even than you probably already were previously. Certainly nice to be on good terms with the local police.

[Maestro]

My wife has been fined for not reporting my presence.

Interesting to hear a first-hand experience.

We got caught when I was extending my visa and the Imm officer was new on the

job and wanted to impress the boss!!

So that’s how you, respectively your wife, made history! Probably the first and so far only condo owner fined for not reporting her alien visitor (in your case her spouse) with a TM-30. She should frame the receipt for that fine