Every long-stay foreigner in Thailand has two recurring address obligations. The TM47 is your 90-day address notification to Immigration. The TM30 is your accommodation provider's arrival notification, filed within 24 hours of you arriving at any address. They are separate forms, processed by different counters, and many people confuse one for the other. Getting them right is not hard. Getting them wrong can cost you 2,000 THB and a stressful hour at Immigration trying to sort it out.
What Is 90-Day Reporting?
If you hold a long-stay visa (Retirement, Marriage, ED, DTV, Business, LTR, or an extension of stay), you are required to notify Immigration of your current address every 90 days. This is called a TM47, which is the form number, and how Immigration officers refer to it.
It has nothing to do with your visa expiry. Your 90-day count runs independently of your permission to stay. A Retirement Visa holder with a year-long extension still files a TM47 every 90 days. The clock resets each time you report or each time you re-enter Thailand after a trip abroad.
Important: Every time you leave and re-enter Thailand, your 90-day clock resets from your new entry date. You do not need to file a TM47 if you have been in the country for fewer than 90 days since your last entry or last report.
What Is the TM30?
The TM30 is a separate obligation. It is filed by whoever is providing your accommodation: a hotel, guesthouse, apartment manager, or private landlord, within 24 hours of your arrival at that address. This applies every time you return to Thailand, and every time you change address within Thailand.
In practice, most hotels file TM30s automatically. Most serviced apartments have it built into their check-in process. Private landlords are a mixed bag. Some know the law, some don't, and some have never heard of it. If your landlord doesn't file, you can file a TM30 yourself at Immigration. You bring your landlord's ID or house book number and your tenancy agreement, and Immigration processes it at a separate counter.
The TM30 is also relevant when you need a Residency Certificate. Immigration will cross-check your TM30 before issuing one, so if it is not on file, your certificate application stalls. See the guide on getting a Residency Certificate in Chiang Mai.
The Three Ways to File Your TM47
Option 1: Online via immigration.go.th
The official online system is at immigration.go.th. Register once, then log in to submit each 90-day report. When it works, it takes about five minutes. You receive a confirmation email with a PDF slip to print and keep.
When it does not work, and it is down more often than Thai Immigration would like to admit, you get an error, a blank screen, or a submission that appears to go through but generates no confirmation. The system handles a national load and is not always stable. If you file online, do it with enough time to fall back to postal or in-person if the system fails you.
Option 2: Postal (registered mail)
Post a completed TM47 form by registered mail so it arrives at least 7 days before your due date. You need:
- Completed TM47 form (printable from immigration.go.th or pick up at Immigration)
- Copy of your passport photo page
- Copy of your current visa or permission-to-stay stamp
- Copy of your last TM6 departure card (if you have one) or arrival stamp
- A self-addressed stamped envelope for return of your acknowledgement slip
Send to: Immigration Office, 71 M.3 Airport Road, Tambon Suthep, Amphoe Mueang, Chiang Mai 50200.
Postal tip: Include a stamped self-addressed envelope. Immigration will post your acknowledgement slip back. Without it, you have no proof of filing and may need to visit in person to confirm.
Option 3: In Person at Airport Road Immigration
The Chiang Mai Immigration office handles TM47 submissions Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed public holidays). Queues at the 90-day reporting counter are generally shorter than visa extension queues. Most people are done within 30 to 45 minutes if they arrive before 10 AM.
What to bring:
- Passport (original)
- Completed TM47 form (available free at the office or download in advance)
- Copy of passport photo page
- Copy of current visa/permission stamp
- Previous TM47 acknowledgement slip (the one Immigration gave you last time)
The officer stamps your previous slip and gives you a new one with your next due date. Keep this slip. If you lose it, you can still file but the officer may ask more questions.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?
The fine for late filing is 2,000 THB. You pay at the Immigration cashier and then file your TM47. There is no grace period after 7 days. If you are approaching 7 days late, go in person. Do not try online or postal at that point.
Officers exercise some discretion for first-time lateness due to genuine confusion about the system. That said, relying on discretion is not a strategy. Set a calendar reminder for 15 days before your due date and treat it as a firm deadline.
Filing Your TM30 Yourself
If your landlord has not filed a TM30 and you need one on record, for a Residency Certificate, a bank account, or just to be compliant, you can file it at Immigration yourself. Go to the counter marked TM30 (it is separate from the 90-day counter).
What to bring:
- Passport
- Your rental agreement or a letter from your landlord
- Landlord's Thai ID card copy or house registration book (tabien baan) number
- Completed TM30 form
If your landlord is unresponsive, some expats have had success bringing a utility bill addressed to the property as supplementary evidence. It is not officially required but it can smooth things along.
Immigration Office: Where to Go
Chiang Mai Immigration Office
71 M.3 Airport Road (Thanon Sanambin)
Tambon Suthep, Amphoe Mueang, Chiang Mai 50200
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Lunch: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (some counters close)
Parking is available on-site. If you are coming by Grab, tell the driver "Sathani Taa-aat" (Airport Road) or share the Google Maps pin for Chiang Mai Immigration.
Avoid Monday mornings and the day after public holidays. These are the busiest times. Tuesday and Wednesday mid-morning tend to have the shortest queues.
Using a Visa Agent for 90-Day Reporting
Most visa agents in Chiang Mai will handle 90-day reporting for a fee of around 500 to 800 THB. They handle the queue, the form, and return your acknowledgement slip. For people who cannot easily get to Immigration during business hours, it is a reasonable option.
Agents who also offer same-day Residency Certificate services are worth using if you need both done at once. Colonel Visa (across from the Immigration office on Airport Road) and Napa Visa Services (Chang Klan area) are the two most commonly recommended by the expat community as of 2026. Verify current service availability before relying on either.
Key Takeaways
TM47 every 90 days, TM30 every time you move or re-enter. Both free. Online filing is convenient when it works. In person at Airport Road Immigration is the most reliable. Keep every acknowledgement slip. Miss your deadline and it is 2,000 THB. Set a calendar reminder 15 days before your due date and treat it as non-negotiable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between TM47 and TM30?
TM47 is the 90-day address report that you file every 90 days. TM30 is the arrival notification your accommodation provider files within 24 hours of your arrival. They are processed at different counters at Immigration and are entirely separate obligations.
How early can I file my 90-day report?
Up to 15 days before your due date. Do not file earlier than this window or Immigration's system may reject it. The window is 15 days before to 7 days after your due date. Filing within this range avoids any fine.
What happens if I miss my 90-day report deadline?
The fine is 2,000 THB payable at the Immigration cashier. Pay the fine, then file the TM47. Go in person if you are close to or past the 7-day late mark. Do not try the online system when you are already overdue.
Does my landlord have to file a TM30?
Yes. Thai law requires property owners to file a TM30 within 24 hours of a foreign national arriving at their property. Many private landlords do not comply. If yours doesn't, you can file it yourself at the TM30 counter at Immigration with your rental agreement and the landlord's ID or house registration number.
Does going abroad reset my 90-day count?
Yes. Every time you exit and re-enter Thailand, your 90-day count starts from your new entry date. If you travel frequently, this can mean you never actually need to file a TM47 because you are always within 90 days of your last entry.
Can I do my 90-day report online?
Yes, via immigration.go.th. Register once and then submit online within the 15-day window before your due date. The system is unreliable. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours, assume it failed and use postal or in-person as a backup.
Guru Tip
When you get your TM47 acknowledgement slip from Immigration, photograph it immediately with your phone and save it in a dedicated folder. Slips are small, easy to lose, and occasionally needed urgently. Having the photo has saved multiple expats a second trip. While you are at it, set a recurring calendar reminder for 75 days after each filing date, which puts you comfortably inside the 15-day early filing window every time.
Last verified: May 2026. Verify current rules at the official Thai Immigration website before acting on any specific procedure details.
