Who is responsible for filing the TM30 me or my landlord?

Your landlord, host, or accommodation provider is legally responsible for filing the TM30. The law places the obligation on the person providing the accommodation, not the foreign guest. However, in practice, many long-term expats file their own TM30 if their landlord is unaware of the requirement or unwilling to do it.

How often does a TM30 need to be filed?

A TM30 must be filed within 24 hours of a foreigner arriving at a property. A new TM30 is required each time you return to Thailand after travelling abroad, even if you return to the same address. If you move to a new address within Thailand, a fresh TM30 is required for the new address.

What is the difference between a TM30 and the 90-day report?

The TM30 is an address notification filed by the accommodation provider recording where you are staying. The 90-day report (TM47) is filed by the foreigner themselves to confirm their continued presence in Thailand. They are separate obligations. You need a valid TM30 receipt before you can submit a 90-day report.

What happens if TM30 is not filed?

The accommodation provider faces a fine of up to 2,000 THB per unreported foreigner. For the foreigner, an unfiled TM30 can cause practical difficulties it is required to open a bank account, apply for a Thai driving licence, obtain a tax ID, and for some visa extensions. Some immigration officers will also deny a 90-day report without a valid TM30 on record.

Can I file my own TM30 online?

Yes. The Immigration Bureau operates an online eTM30 portal at immigration.go.th where registered users can file TM30 notifications electronically. Landlords and property managers can register to file for multiple properties. Individual foreigners can also file for their own accommodation if the landlord has not done so.

TM30 Thailand Explained 2026: Who Files It & How

Q: What is the TM30 in Thailand?

The TM30 is a formal notification submitted to the Thai Immigration Bureau by whoever is providing accommodation to a foreigner landlords, hotels, guesthouses, and householders. It records where foreign nationals are staying in Thailand and is a legal requirement under Section 38 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522.

Note: Immigration rules can change. Always verify current TM30 requirements with the Thai Immigration Bureau at immigration.go.th.

The TM30 is one of those pieces of Thai bureaucracy that confuses almost every expat at some point. Banks ask for it, immigration officers reference it, and tax ID applications require it. This guide explains exactly what it is, who is supposed to do it, and how it works in practice.

What This Guide Covers

What the TM30 is and why it exists
Who is responsible for filing it
When it must be filed
How to file TM30 online
How to file TM30 in person
Documents required
TM30 vs 90-day reporting: the difference
Penalties for non-filing
FAQs

What the TM30 Is and Why It Exists

Under Section 38 of Thailand's Immigration Act (B.E. 2522), anyone who provides accommodation to a foreign national including landlords, hotels, guesthouses, serviced apartments, and private householders must notify the Immigration Bureau of the foreigner's presence within 24 hours of arrival. This notification is submitted using Form TM30.

The TM30 is essentially a residence registration system. It tells the Thai Immigration Bureau where every foreign national in the country is staying at any given time. Hotels and guesthouses have always complied automatically their check-in systems are linked to the immigration database. The gap that causes confusion is long-term rentals, where landlords are legally obligated but many are unaware of or ignore the requirement.

Why it keeps coming up The TM30 receipt becomes relevant in multiple situations beyond just immigration compliance. Banks, the Revenue Department, and some visa extension offices require a valid TM30 receipt as proof of address in Thailand. This is why expats encounter it even when they were not aware of the requirement when they first moved in.

Who Is Responsible for Filing It

The legal obligation rests entirely with the accommodation provider your landlord, property manager, or host not with you as the foreigner. This is an important distinction. If your TM30 was never filed, the legal violation is your landlord's, not yours.

In practice, there are several common scenarios:

Hotels and serviced apartments: Filed automatically at check-in. You will never need to think about it.
Professional landlords and property managers: Usually aware of and compliant with the requirement. They will file within 24 hours of your move-in.
Private landlords renting a single property: Awareness is inconsistent. Many do not know about the requirement, particularly older or less experienced landlords. You may need to ask or file it yourself.
Staying with Thai family or friends: The Thai person hosting you is technically obligated to file TM30 within 24 hours of your arrival at their home.

Practical reality for long-stay expats: If your landlord has never filed a TM30 for you, or filed one that has since expired, you are operating without a valid TM30 on file. Many expats in this situation file their own TM30 online through the eTM30 portal or in person at the local immigration office, even though strictly speaking this is the landlord's responsibility. Filing it yourself resolves the practical problem banks, immigration, and other offices simply need to see a receipt, not a determination of who was legally required to file it.

When a TM30 Must Be Filed

A new TM30 is required in these situations:

Moving into any new accommodation in Thailand within 24 hours of arrival
Returning to Thailand from any overseas trip even if you return to the same address, re-entry requires a new TM30
Changing address within Thailand a new TM30 for the new address
Any time you spend a night away from your registered address and return technically requires a new filing, though in practice most long-stay expats only file on return from overseas trips

There is no expiry date on a TM30 itself it remains valid until you leave Thailand or move. The requirement is triggered by the event (arrival, return, relocation), not by the passage of time.

How to File TM30 Online (eTM30 Portal)

The Thai Immigration Bureau provides an online filing system at immigration.go.th. This is the most convenient route for most people.

Register on the eTM30 portal at immigration.go.th. Create an account using your email address. Landlords register as accommodation providers; individuals filing for themselves register as the house master.
Add the property to your account. You will need the full Thai address including the house number, village number, sub-district (tambon), district (amphoe), and province.
Submit the TM30 notification. Enter the foreigner's details: full name as on passport, passport number, nationality, visa type, date of arrival, and address. The system validates the passport number against immigration records.
Download the receipt. Once submitted, download and save the PDF receipt. This is the document that banks, immigration, and government offices will ask to see.

Save multiple copies of the receipt. Keep both a PDF and a printed copy. The TM30 receipt is a practical currency in Thai bureaucracy you will be asked for it repeatedly at banks, visa extensions, and other processes. The receipt has no expiry but a new one is needed after each overseas trip.

How to File TM30 In Person

If you cannot file online or prefer to do it in person, go to your nearest Immigration Bureau office. Bring:

Completed TM30 form (available at the immigration office or printable from immigration.go.th)
Your passport (original)
A copy of the landlord's ID or house book (tabien baan)
Proof of your address (rental contract or utility bill)

The filing is free. Processing at the counter is typically same-day. You will receive a stamped TM30 receipt.

Documents Required for TM30

Document	Notes
Passport copy (all pages with stamps)	Current passport showing valid visa/entry stamp
Landlord's Thai ID card copy	Or proof of property ownership
House registration book (tabien baan) copy	Yellow book for foreigners or blue book for Thais
Rental contract	Signed by both parties
Completed TM30 form	Available at immigration offices or immigration.go.th

TM30 vs 90-Day Reporting: The Difference

	TM30	90-Day Report (TM47)
What it is	Address notification where you are staying	Presence confirmation that you are still in Thailand
Who files it	Accommodation provider (landlord/host)	The foreigner themselves
When	Within 24 hours of arrival at a property	Every 90 days (before the deadline shown in your passport)
Required for	Opening bank accounts, 90-day report, tax ID, some visa extensions	Maintaining legal long-stay status in Thailand
Online?	Yes eTM30 portal at immigration.go.th	Yes TM47 online at immigration.go.th
LTR holders	Required	Annual only (not 90-day)

Penalties for Non-Filing

Under the Immigration Act, failure to file a TM30 on time makes the accommodation provider liable for a fine of up to 2,000 THB per unreported foreigner. In practice, enforcement is inconsistent the penalties are more likely to be applied when a foreigner's lack of a TM30 causes problems at an immigration office, prompting a check.

For the foreigner, there is no direct criminal penalty for the landlord's failure to file. The practical consequences are indirect: inability to open a Thai bank account, difficulty with visa extensions, inability to obtain a tax ID, and problems filing the 90-day report. These practical consequences are significant enough that self-filing is usually the most pragmatic solution when a landlord is non-compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TM30 in Thailand?

The TM30 is a formal accommodation notification required under the Thai Immigration Act. It must be filed by the person providing accommodation to a foreigner landlord, hotel, or householder within 24 hours of the foreigner's arrival. It tells the Immigration Bureau where each foreign national is staying.

Who is responsible for filing the TM30?

Legally, the accommodation provider your landlord, hotel, or host. Not the foreign guest. In practice, many long-stay expats file it themselves through the eTM30 portal when their landlord is unaware or uncooperative, as the practical consequences of not having a TM30 receipt affect the foreigner more than the landlord.

Do I need a new TM30 every time I return from a trip abroad?

Yes. Each time you re-enter Thailand, a new TM30 is required for your registered address, even if you are returning to the same apartment. This is the most commonly missed requirement for long-stay expats who travel frequently. File it online through the eTM30 portal on the day you return.

Is TM30 the same as the 90-day report?

No. They are completely separate obligations. The TM30 is filed by your landlord (or you, if they won't) recording your address, triggered each time you arrive at a property. The 90-day report (TM47) is filed by you, confirming you are still in Thailand, due every 90 days. You need a valid TM30 receipt on file before you can submit a 90-day report online.

What happens if I don't have a TM30?

No direct criminal penalty for the foreign national. The practical consequences: most Thai banks will not open an account without a TM30 receipt, the Revenue Department requires it for a tax ID, and some immigration offices will not accept a 90-day report without a valid TM30 on record. For long-stay expats, an unfiled TM30 creates compounding problems across multiple bureaucratic processes.

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