UPDATE 11 MAY 2019.
Latest update with current information and tried to put this long story into chapters to make it more easy to read
I try to explain another hot topic, I understand it is a long read, but you can hopefully find your answers in this topic and FAQ list.
Thai Government likes to know where you stay during your time inside of Thailand. Is this new? No, the law is from 1979, the Premier tried to enforce this after the Tsunami in 2004, this as there where problems with ID of foreigners in houses. But at those times all went with paper trails, to difficult to follow up as tourist tend to travel trough Thailand. A Few years back, new computer systems got available at Immigration Offices, staff got trained and it becomes more and more easy to enforce this rule. Next to this with the program “good guys in, bad guys out” it is promoted to prevent crime, with other words it is more easy to find the address of suspects.
THE LAW:
There is this 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." If there is no immigration office in the province or locality of the respective house or hotel, the notification is made to the local police station.
Simply said if a foreigners stays at a house, hotel etc the owner of the place must report this stay at Immigration within 24 hours. Enforcement of this rule is different at every Immigration Office, best way is to contact them yourself and ask.
Immigration translate the possessor of the house as the person who rents/lease the house, so get in contact with the owners to discuss who is going to do this report.
FINES:
As I see more questions like: will I get fined?
The answer is YES, if you rent the house/condo or you stay at your own house, you can get fined when there is a Police check or when you enter the Immigration Office and apply for Extension of Stay or other documents. You will only get further service when the fine is paid in full. Just by telling your landlord is responsible does not solve the problem at Immigration. You pay the fine to get the service you wanted and after that you can discuss with your landlord how to get the money paid back from him/her. Remember the worst part in giving advice is that the enforcement of this rule is different in every Immigration Office. If you want to be sure, contact the office in your area. It cost a few minutes of your time to get direct information.
Fine for not being reported is
Maximum 2.000 Thb
Most offices are friendly and only charge 1.600 Thb.
Bangkok charge atm 800 Thb.
Fine for not reporting guests is maximum 10.000 Thb.
HOW TO REGISTRATE YOU ADDRESS:
TM 30 Form, Can be downloaded from here [[members only]) Signed copy id page passport,
Signed copies ID card and blue book of land/house owner. And in some offices copy of rental contract. At this moment if you go in person only Phuket Immigration want you to show a power of attorney from the land/house owner.
And people can sign up for the online registration:
How to register (upper right corner to change into English) [[members only])
To register: [[members only])
And there is even an app for your mobile phone: [members only]
Edit 04 Jun: The way to register for those who are living in Bangkok and use Cheang Wattana Immigration Office:
Okay, here is a how to file a TM.30 at the immigration office out at the government center at Chaengwattana Road in Bangkok. It is ONLY for bangkok (sorry about that for the people who don't live here)
There are 5 ways to file a TM.30 in Bangkok
1 - mail in the appropriate documentation using EMS tracked mail and including a stamped self addressed return envelope (so they can mail back your receipt)
Address is: 90 DAYS REGISTRATION, IMMIGRATION DIVISION 1 Chalermprakiat Government Complex 120 MOO 3, CHAENGWATTANA ROAD,SOI 7, LAKSI, BANGKOK. 10210
2 - use the online program IF you or your land lord can register
3 - have your land lord go out and file a TM.30 for you like they should do (make sure to get the receipt from them)
4 - file a TM.30 on BEHALF of your land lord <- this one requires signed copies of their thai i/d card, their house book listing, the house book listing of where you rent, a filled out power of attorney form with two 5 baht tax stamps and the appropriate copies of your passport.
OR
the easiest way to file a TM.30 in Bangkok is:
5 - SELF FILE <- this is where you file a TM.30 for yourself. You do not need copies of anything but your lease, the data page of your passport, your current visa or extension, your most recent entry stamp, your TM.6 departure card AND a filled out TM.30 (which YOU fill out all the information on).
Now it works like this;
You go get a queue number for the newly created Section B, wait your turn and then submit your documentation. IF you are not going to be fined for late filing they will give you your TM.30 receipt right then.
BUT
if you are going to be fined, they will send you into Section A (the 90 day report room) to desk 9 to pay the 800baht fine.
THEN
that person will send you to desk 10 to get the receipt of your fine written up and to give you your TM.30 receipt.
EDIT 25 May: Chiangmai Immigration is open over weekends for TM30 0830-1600 hrs on the 1st floor at the front counter
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION:
DO I NEED to do this in what ever city?
YES is the official answer. But it depends on the enforcement of the Immigration Office in your area. Waste some time to go and file the report, worst case scenario you went for nothing but seeing that enforcement is more and more the chance is small.
IS THIS ALSO for people on Visa Exempt Entry or Tourist Visa?
YES, as you can read there is NO mention of what kind of stay the person has to be in Thailand.
WHAT IF my landlord is abroad, turns off the telephone, or I just don't like to talk to him etc?
If your landlord wants to receive rent out of his property, he must provide you with the documents. These questions are no excuse for Immigration.
WHAT IF I go abroad, for short holiday or border/visa run?
This also depending on Immigration Office, so when you visit 24 hours after your arrival, don't be shy and ask. Most want you to report again to update the TM6 departure card.
WHAT IF I rent from a real estate agent?
They will provide you with the documents, or will make the report for you. Ask when you sign the lease.
WHAT IF I just stay a few days and move on to other address, not visiting Immigration during my short time stay?
Most of the reports of getting fined is when you visit Immigration office, but we also seen raids on real estate in Phuket, Pattaya, Bangkok and yes several small towns in the Isaan. No registered address means you get fined in a police check.
WHAT IF I travel inside Thailand and return to my registered address?
At the moment the list of Immigration Office enforcing a new TM30 on return after a trip in Thailand is growing rapidly. Best advice is: Before you leave for a sight seeing tour inside Thailand call your local Immigration Office and ask if it is needed to report back to them on return.
WHAT IF I have friends/family/in-laws/relatives over for short visit? OR What if I stay with friends/family/in-laws/relatives?
Most of the reports of getting fined is when you visit Immigration office, but we also seen raids on real estate in Phuket, Pattaya, Bangkok and yes several small towns in the Isaan. No registered address means you get fined in a police check.
WHAT IF I stay at hotel/guesthouse, or my owner use on-line system?
They will report your address using an on-line system, but there is no print out. Please ask for a print of the screen shot making the report.
CAN I GET the on-line reporting myself?
Property owners can, depending on Immigration Office, register them for this on-line program.
CAN A FOREIGNER (renting a house) can go to Immigration on behalf of the owner to register a friend staying, with copies of owner ID and blue house book?
YES, but at the moment only Phuket wants you to have the power of attorney of the owner.
HOW WOULD A foreign condo owner who does not reside in Thailand be able to report friends, relatives, or tenants staying at their property?
As the complex is 51% Thai owned, there also must be a group of owners in charge of daily business and maintenance. So ask them to make the on-line reporting (Thai ID needed to register) and hand out the log in and password to every condo owner or put 1 in charge to take care for all.
PROOF OF ON-LINE REPORT:
How to check and make print of on-line system:
just completed my first tm30 report online.
Completing the form ok. Pressed enter and data was transferred to the excel sheet below the form. Then not sure if complete or not so pressed save in the very top right hand corner of screen, not sure if necessary. This action clears the form and excel sheet, ready for new entry, I guess. Then did the search and put in dates yesterday as arrival and today's date as leave date, first time that had been ask for leave details so assumed not important. Then hit search and up came my data in excel form again. Took a screen print and photo.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
BE aware that Immigration is installing more and more computers nationwide in their offices and training their staff. Your office could be lenient with this rule, but it could change every day.
Report your self and before you go traveling just call them for advice.
If you're owner does not understand how or why to do this, sit down together and watch this video, it is in Thai and English. [[members only])
