TM.30 Explained: Who Files, 24 Hours and Fines
Your landlord, owner or hotel files the TM.30, not you. The notice is due within 24 hours of a foreigner taking up residence. A host who fails to file faces a fine of up to THB 2,000, and a hotel manager THB 2,000 to THB 10,000. Ask the host for the printout from the online system.
On this page
The TM.30 is the host’s notice, not yours. The clock starts when you move in and runs 24 hours. A missing notice is the host’s offence, with fines on the host.
Who files the TM.30 and when
Section 38 of the Immigration Act puts the duty on the house-master, the owner or possessor of the residence, or the hotel manager.
เจ้าบ้าน เจ้าของบ้านหรือผู้ครอบครองเคหสถาน หรือผู้จัดการโรงแรม … จะต้องแจ้งต่อพนักงานเจ้าหน้าที่ … ภายในยี่สิบสี่ชั่วโมง นับแต่เวลาที่คนต่างด้าวเข้าพักอาศัย
The house-master, owner or possessor of the residence, or the hotel manager, must notify the competent official within twenty-four hours from the time the foreigner takes up residence. Immigration Act B.E. 2522, section 38
Hotels
Hotel managers carry the same 24-hour duty. At a hotel the manager files, not the guest.
Landlords, owners and operators
The same notice covers licensed hotels, guesthouses, mansions, apartments, other businesses and ordinary rented houses. The owner, the landlord or the operator files form TM.30.
Which case is yours
| Where you stay | Who files |
|---|---|
| Licensed hotel | The hotel manager |
| Guesthouse, mansion or apartment | The owner or operator |
| Long-term rented house or condo | The owner or landlord |
| Short-term rental let to a foreign guest | The owner or operator |
A host who rents a house or apartment to a foreign guest is an owner or operator in this wording. The Bureau also publishes an infographic with a second case for guests in condominiums and apartments.
The fine for each kind of host
Section 77 sets the penalty for failing the section 38 notice.
| Who fails to file | Fine |
|---|---|
| House owner, landlord or possessor | Up to THB 2,000 |
| Hotel manager | THB 2,000 to THB 10,000 |
In July 2023 Chiang Mai immigration arrested and fined 16 Thai hosts for taking in foreigners without notifying within 24 hours. Once the offender pays the settled fine, the case is deemed settled under the Criminal Procedure Code.
How the host files
Three channels exist: in person or through someone else, registered post, and online.
In person
The host or a person they authorise brings the documents to the immigration office. In Bangkok the TM.30 counter is on the 2nd floor of Immigration Division 1. The officer checks the form, accepts the notice and tears off the lower part of the TM.30 for the filer to keep.
The paper TM.30 has two sheets: one for the host and the premises, one listing the foreign guests. Fill the guest’s details from the passport, because details the guest wrote before check-in are often wrong. Enter the arrival card (TM.6) number attached to the passport.
By registered post
Send form TM.30 with a self-addressed envelope, 6.5 x 9 inches, carrying a THB 10 stamp, so the receipt can come back.
Online
Online filing needs registration first. Users of the old system must register again for the new one. If the verification email does not arrive, check the Junk folder. After an officer checks and approves it, the user name and password arrive by email.
The online system works on a PC, notebook, tablet or smartphone. One user code can file for several premises. An address with status Approved can be used to notify foreigners. An address with status Inactive has been suspended by an officer and cannot be used.
An address the user deleted cannot be used either. A premises profile has three parts: host details, address details and a reference document.
The host enters these details.
- The premises.
- The check-in date and the check-out date.
- The guest’s passport number, name, nationality, sex, date of birth and phone number.
A host with more than one foreigner can import an Excel file instead. The system can work with passport readers. A wrong check-out date is fixed by sending the notification again. A business filing can be cancelled within 24 hours from the check-in date.
| Channel | Proof the host gets |
|---|---|
| In person | The lower part of the TM.30, torn off at the counter |
| Registered post | A receipt in the stamped return envelope |
| Online | A printout of the notification from the system |
If something goes wrong
Wrong details
A wrong check-out date is fixed by sending the notification again. Fill the guest’s details from the passport.
A filing sent by mistake
A business filing can be cancelled within 24 hours from the check-in date.
An address that does not work
An address with status Inactive has been suspended by an officer and cannot be used. Write to resident.helpdesk@police.go.th with questions about the online notification system.
Where the notice goes
Premises in Bangkok go to the residence notification desk of Sub-division 2, Immigration Division 1. Premises elsewhere go to the provincial immigration office for the area. Where the area has no immigration office, the notice goes to the local police station.
How to show it was filed
Ask the host for proof. After filing, the host can search the filings and print proof of the notification to give to immigration officers. A paper filer keeps the lower part of the TM.30. A posted filing brings back a receipt.
The search screen shows filings only within 7 days of the check-in date. Print the proof early.
Keep the printout with your passport.
Step by step
- Host: register for the online systemRegister on the Immigration Bureau site. After an officer checks and approves, the user name and password arrive by email.
- Host: notify the stay within 24 hoursGive the premises, check-in and check-out dates and the guest's passport details.
- Host: file in person or by post insteadBring the form to the immigration office, or send form TM.30 by registered post with a stamped return envelope.
- Guest: ask for proofThe host prints proof of the notification from the system, or keeps the lower part of the paper form.
Not confirmed: Official pages do not say whether an extension counter asks for TM.30 proof, or whether a tenant can file when the host will not. Ask the host for the printout. The Cabinet approved a draft amendment of the Immigration Act on 23 June 2026. It is a draft, not law.
Common questions
I am a tourist in a hotel. Do I file a TM.30?
No, the hotel manager files it. The same duty covers licensed hotels, guesthouses, mansions and apartments, where the owner or operator files.
Does a rented house, condo or short-term rental need a TM.30?
Yes, the owner of the rented house, the landlord or the operator files form TM.30.
What is the fine if nobody files the TM.30?
The host faces up to THB 2,000, and a hotel manager THB 2,000 to THB 10,000.
Can the TM.30 be filed online?
Yes, owners of hotels, guesthouses, mansions, apartments or rented houses can file form TM.30 on the online system from a phone or computer.
What details does the host need from me?
The host needs the check-in date, the check-out date, your passport number, name, nationality, sex, date of birth and phone number.
My check-out date was wrong. What now?
The host sends the notification again with the correct date, and the officer considers the latest entry.
Can a TM.30 filing be cancelled?
A business filing can be cancelled within 24 hours from the check-in date.
Where does the TM.30 go in Bangkok?
Premises in Bangkok go to the residence notification desk of Sub-division 2, Immigration Division 1.
Who answers questions about the online system?
Write to resident.helpdesk@police.go.th with questions about the online notification system.
Read next
General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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Comments (2)
Odd-Positive-1283
If there is no tm30 the owner is fined and have to go to the police to pay the fine.
EmployerMaster7207
It takes less than 5 minutes to file the report and you can do it through an app on the phone. It makes no sense that they try to charge you for it.