Do I need to register my stay at my girlfriend's house in Thailand if I'm on a 30-day visa exempt entry?

Thailand Visa Rules TM30 Visa Exempt Entry Immigration Expat Advice Residence Registration

Jul 30, 2019

5 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi all, I'm a uk citizen travelling to Thailand in October I'm staying for 28 days on a 30 day visa, I will as usual fill in the TM30 on the plane, I will put my girlfriends address as this is where I will be staying, does she still need to report me as staying at her house within 24 hours of my arrival? I have stayed there many times over the last three years but we have never registered that I'm staying there, I believe she has already registeered online in case she needs to report my stay at her house. Her local immigration office is khon kaen.

many thanks for any help

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A UK citizen traveling to Thailand for 28 days under a 30-day visa exempt entry is questioning if their girlfriend needs to register their stay at her house within 24 hours using the TM30 form, even though they’ve stayed there several times in the past without registration. The community advises that while it may not be strictly necessary, it's safer to have the TM30 filed, especially since immigration checks can happen. Not registering could result in a fine if one later seeks an extension of stay.

Michael ********

Will you be extending your 28 days in Thailand..? If not then I wouldn't bother.

5 years ago

Michael ********

OK, well then there will be no record of where you are staying, you will not be visiting an immigration office for any reason, so there is no way for them to fine you, and it is very unlikely that your girlfriend would be fined either. I would just leave it.

5 years ago

Danny **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Michael *******

no I’m just staying for 28 day’s

5 years ago

Reply to

Danny **********

Biff *******

I would suggest that, if it’s a relatively easy trip to the local immigration office, that you do have your girlfriend register a TM30 when you get there. I’ve been travelling to Chiang Rai regularly for the last ten years or so and previously never did a TM30. However, just last month my wife did register one at our local immigration office and, on the bus to the airport on my way back to Bangkok, it was checked by the police at a checkpoint. I’m not sure what would’ve happened if I hadn’t had one, but on all previous trips a quick flash of the ID page of the passport was enough. This time it got a thorough inspection. TM6 and TM30 both inspected.

5 years ago

Biff *******

This is very true. We had also stayed in a hotel for a few days in Bangkok before we went home but that only came up at the immigration office when we did the TM30 up in Chiang Rai. As you say, if I’d stayed at hotels the whole time, as many people do, then there would be nothing in my passport.

5 years ago

Martin *******

If you had been travelling after a stay in a hotel (who would have filed a TM30) then you would have nothing to show anyone ! The only reason they looked at your TM30 was because it WAS there. I am currently of the opinion that if you have no need to interact with immigration, visa or not, then I'll take my chance and not bother.

5 years ago

Danny **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Biff ******

good point you make there, as you say it might be worth getting into the routine of doing them

5 years ago

Reply to

Danny **********

Tod *********

I would highly doubt that she has registered to use the online TM30 system (because until late last year no one really did it but hotels, guest houses etc).

Here's the online system she can register to use and once she gets a user name and password she can then register you online;

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5 years ago

Danny **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Brilli Thanks again

@Tod ********

5 years ago

Reply to

Danny **********

Tod *********

okay, you're getting in on what's called a 30 day visa exempt entry :)

You don't fill out a TM30 on the plane :O you fill out what's called a TM6 Arrival/Departure card and that has nothing to do with the TM30 thing where you need to register with the immigration office within 24 hours of taking up residence.

With that being said

I would say IF you are not going to go to the immigration office for any service while you're here (extension of stay etc) that if she didn't file a TM30 for you no one would know ;)

5 years ago

Danny **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

No, i won't be applying for any extensions on this occasion

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Danny *********

I would say it will NOT affect you applying for a visa from a thai consulate in another country.

What it might affect is you getting an extension of stay THIS TRIP on your 30 day visa exempt entry stamp IF you wanted one from the immigration office up there. BUT about all that would happen is you'd be fined 800baht for not filing the TM30 on time (so it's not the end of the world as we know it ;) )

5 years ago

Danny **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks for he very quick reply Tod, i intend to apply for my non immigrant OA visa multiple entry next year from the uk embassy i didn't know if not registering my stay would affect my application. Again many thanks for your quick response

5 years ago

Reply to

Danny **********

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What should I do about TM30 registration if I've been staying with friends in Thailand?

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