TM30

Reviewed by ThaiLawOnline, a licensed Thai law firm practising in Thailand since 2006. Thai lawyer of record: Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556.

Last updated on 25 September 2026

Last reviewed: 25 September 2026. Read in Thai against the Immigration Act B.E. 2522, sections 4 (the definition of house master), 38 and 77, and checked in the government’s central law register that none of the Act’s recorded versions converts the section 77 fine under the Administrative Fines Act B.E. 2565. Not verified in this review: the Director-General’s regulation on how the notice is lodged (the online and postal routes), the document lists, and the enforcement practice described, which varies by office.

TM30 is the notification a property owner files when a foreigner stays overnight at their address. The duty comes from Section 38 of the Thai Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and falls on whoever takes in a foreigner who is permitted to stay in Thailand temporarily: the house master, the owner or possessor of the dwelling, or the hotel manager. The Act defines the house master as the head of the household in occupation, whether as owner, as tenant or in any other capacity (section 4), so a tenant who puts up a foreign guest, even a foreign tenant, can be the person who must file. Immigration offices routinely ask to see the TM30 receipt when a foreigner applies for a visa extension, a work permit or a 90-day report (TM.47).

Legal Framework

The obligation is set by Section 38 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). For how the requirement was enforced, relaxed and amended between 2018 and 2020, see our detailed account of the TM30 history and regulation developments.

Landlord Responsibilities

The duty lies with the house master, the owner or possessor of the dwelling, or the hotel manager (section 38). It applies only where the foreigner is permitted to stay in the Kingdom temporarily, so a foreigner holding permanent residence is outside it; within that group, the type of visa makes no difference. The fine falls on whoever owed the notification: usually the landlord, but the tenant where the tenant is the house master who took the foreigner in.

Reporting Timeline

TM30 registration must occur within 24 hours of a foreigner’s arrival at the property. This applies to new arrivals and returning residents after travel abroad. The notice goes to the immigration office for the area, or to the local police station where there is none; in Bangkok it goes to the Immigration Division (section 38).

Required Documentation

Tenant Documentation

Foreign tenants must provide landlords with passport photocopies including:

• Personal information page
• Current visa page
• Latest entry stamp
• Previous extensions (if applicable)

Landlord Documentation

Property owners must compile:

• Completed TM30 application forms
• Landlord ID card or passport copies
• Household registration book copies
• Rental agreement copies
• Property ownership documentation

Submission Methods

Online Registration

The Immigration Bureau’s TM30 online system streamlines registration for tech-savvy landlords. The system requires initial account setup with property verification and allows ongoing management of multiple foreign tenants.

In-Person Registration

Local immigration offices process TM30 registrations same-day. This method ensures immediate confirmation and receipt generation for tenant records.

Postal Registration

Mail submission provides an alternative for remote property owners. Processing takes longer and carries risks of postal delays affecting compliance timing.

Compliance and Penalties

Enforcement Levels

TM30 enforcement varies by location and circumstances. Bangkok and major tourist areas typically enforce more strictly than rural provinces. Immigration officers may request TM30 receipts during visa extensions and other procedures.

Penalty Structure

The penalty is set by Section 77 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). A house master, owner or possessor of a dwelling who fails to comply with Section 38 is liable to a fine of not more than 2,000 THB. Where the person responsible is a hotel manager, the fine is from 2,000 to 10,000 THB. There is no statutory minimum in the first case, so the amount is set within that ceiling. The fine is assessed against whoever owed the notification, which is not the foreign guest as such, but non-compliance can still affect tenants’ immigration procedures and future visa applications.