What are the current reporting requirements for expats returning to Thailand and how can they avoid fines?

Feb 11, 2019
6 years ago
David ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just a heads up before Robert Lagus deletes this. If your reporting office is Chumphon, and by law you are now requiring you to report on arrival back home. they didn't care before. If you stay in a hotel down the street on the beach and check in and out you still need to inform immigration you returned to your house. I got burnt for 2000 baht today for my last trip to Bangkok last week.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Expats returning to Thailand, especially in Chumphon, must adhere to strict immigration reporting requirements, including notifying local authorities of their return within 24 hours. Violations can result in fines of up to 2,000 baht. There are inconsistencies in how these laws are enforced across different immigration offices in Thailand. Many expats suggest having their Thai spouses handle hotel bookings and check-ins to avoid drawing attention to their immigration status, as hotel staff are legally required to report guests' passport details to immigration. It's crucial for expats to verify the local rules and stay informed of reporting obligations, particularly if traveling frequently.
Robert *******
And as this is turning into another hot topic about the TM 30 address registration I close the commenting. It is mentioned many times on this page CHECK WITH YOUR IMMIGRATION OFFICE. Not just walk in and think it will be okay, Immigration Offices are updating their hard ware and instructing their staff. I only tell this for over a year now, ask before you travel, it is just one phone call. For those who want more information, here is the law, how to register and most FAQ
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Phil ******
The fine should go to the landlord not you. Methinks you just got fleeced
Phil ******
@Phil *****
she likes having ศัลยแพทย์ as a Tennant but I don't think she likes me THAT much... I could wreck the other tenancies!
Noel *************
My wife owns the condo we live in. The first time I filed the TM30, the officer told her she would be the one that would be fined if it wasn't filed. If I went alone and hadn't got it filed you can guess what would be said though.
Robert *******
@Phil *****
Ask her password and you can do by yourself.
Phil ******
@Robert ******
was told that only landlords have password access to the online tm30 site... Mind you my landlady is slack AF. Pissed her off as ive bounced to 8 countries this trip hahaha
Robert *******
Hotels do this reporting on-line, people staying in private addresses can do this by mail, on-line or in person.
Robert *******
@Phil *****
NO, do you like to wait a few more hours after arrival, to give time to the Immigration Offices to first check if the address written down on the TM 6 Arrival card is correct and than fill in all the data in their database?
Phil ******
@Robert ******
is it not covered by the entry TM3 when you arrive?
Andrew ******
@Phil *****
he didn't get fleeced as this law has been around for over 20 years. Like so many laws it's often not enforced and then out of the blue some official learns about it and starts dishing out fines. You have 24 hours to inform immigration that you have returned home from a hotel but most don't and never have
Robert *******
And if it is his own house or his wifes house? Or if he is the possessor of the house?
Sshane ***********
Then if the law is such. Why are they fining the expats and not the house owners. Land lords. And managers of hotels??
Dave **********
@Sshane **********
my wife owns the home so fine me or fine her same pocket. As to hotels they do report and my wife reports her renter and when she opens her three homes stay house she will report foreigners. We're going to Bangkok for two nights then over to Ban Chang and I know these Hotel report foreigners to immagration somwe will show up at Immigration to report my return. I have a Yellow Book House Registration, with Pink ID Card, and Thai Drivers license so silly requirement of course but a requirementt.
Robert *******
The foreigner renting or living in a private property is translated as the possessor of the house.
David *********
When the system gets loaded up with to many reporting they will figure out a better methodology give it time to fail properly , I’ve working with data assessment collections systems for over 20 years trust the system lol
Robert *******
This is the law: " According to section 38 of the 1979 immigration act, "Land owners House owners, the possessor, heads of household, landlords or managers of hotels who accommodate foreign nationals on a temporary basis who stay in the kingdom legally, must notify the local immigration authorities within 24 hours from the time of arrival of the foreign national." More and more Immigration Offices are going to enforce this. There must be a report within 24 hours, CHECK with your local Immigration Office before you start travel, it is just a phone call to get information or face the fine of maximum 2.000 Thb. Do NOT think, they never asked or enforced it or it will not happen to me.
Bill *********
Thanks very much Robert. Very clear. Case closed.
Robert *******
David N Viscuso Why start your story with some nonsense?
Robert *******
@David ***********
Okay, I will leave it this time. But if you do again I will just remove it. Post your question or advice in a normal way, without judging others. If you do, I will just delete the post and the membership. Thanks.
Lasse **********
For an outsider it seems like some passiv aggressive bs, tbh. Regardless of what hes deleted before.
David ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Robert Lagas no nonsense, experienc. . I’m trying to help where you seem to cut off so many useful strings prematurely
Bennie *******
I don't understand: Report what? I live in Bangkok, going on a rare trip to Cambodia in 10 days. When I get back at immigration at DM, that's my 90-day report done, right?
Paul *********
Bennie TM30

It's not really an issue (yet) for bangkokians

Also note your 90 day (tm47) will restart from the day you return from abroad.
Sshane ***********
Are they giving a formal receipt for the money?

Does not sound very welcoming.. can or will they look after all the families and children once they make it too onerous or financially difficult for good honest people to live a quiet and simple life in Thailand??
Phil ******
Udon Thani immigration just told me only report again if i leave Thailand and return.
Doug ********
@Phil *****
I live in Udon also. Been to BKK twice, no problems when I go to immigration at 90 days check in.
Paul *********
Max' fine - must have been having a bad day . .

:-(
Bill *********
This is getting to be ridiculous. The main problem is the difference between immigration offices. There‘s no consistency in this policy 🤨
Ton ******
I always let my thai wife make the reservation and checkin. So I stay out of that system
Noel *************
Same here. My wife does the booking and I've never been asked for anything.
Mikkel *******
@Christopher **********
right! They should not care about that.. Not their job..
Christopher ***********
@Mikkel ******
Thanks for your information! What I didn't like was the hotel staff acting as immigration officers. If I was on overstay would they have checked us in then telephoned the IO to come and arrest me in my room?
Mikkel *******
@Ton *****
your driver's license (if it's a thai license) still have your passport number on it though ;)

I used a hotel in Buengkan last summer (home provinse) using my drivers license at check-in.. Immigration gave grief about it when I reported back after a trip to krabi after new year. The IO looked very serious about me not reporting back after that hotel stay last summer, even though its same provinse. I did not get fined though as his superior told him to overlook it.

But morale is that even just using the DL they will know. And that in Buengkan even a registered stay in same provinse has to be reported on when back home. I will ask the missus to do the booking/check-in next time, and see if I can get away with not showing anything.
Christopher ***********
@Ton *****
I make hotel bookings in my Thai Mrs name and ask her to physically check us in upon arrival. Never asked for my details until went to Phuket last September. The hotel receptionist specifically asked for my passport and, together with another staff member, checked every page and discussed my extension stamp between themselves.
Ton ******
David Lisa-Paris no, never asked for. Or give driver's license
David ************
@Ton *****
dont they take your passport though
Maxim ***********
Yes it's common sense we do that too :)
Andrew ******
If you check into a hotel they must by law inform immigration and that's why they always ask for your passport and copy it.
Pui *****
How do they know you took a short trip away?
David ************
Turning into a moneymaker for them.
Christopher ***********
Thanks for the info David.
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