What do I need to know about the TM30 when staying in Bangkok as an expat?

Ok, I'm shutting this down.

1. In Bangkok, the fine is 800 THB

2. Elsewhere, the fine may be up to 2K THB

3. The immigration office *MAY* require a TM30 before allowing an extension of stay be filed

4. The OP will spend some time in Bangkok before going down to an island/ region I never heard of. I looked it up, and it is in Phangnga. They have an immigration website at with a link to the TM30 system.

5. IF a hotel or a landlord does not want to file a TM30, have them watch this video (subbed in English:

A person does NOT need to file a TM30 if a person is not planning on doing anything at an immigration office. IF they are planning to stay in Phangnga, the OP should contact that immigration office and ask them what the requirements are for whatever extension of stay they want to get.

Sounds like hotels that don't do the TM30 are just avoiding some kind of fee. I understood all hotels are required to file one.

Not sure the immigration office in the Khao Lak area requires you to show TM30 receipt for tourist extension. But if you are staying in Bangkok for a few weeks more, you can try your luck in Bangkok to apply for an extension for tourism (standard 30days). In Bangkok, in many cases, they don't ask you for a TM30 receipt for a 30days extension on your tourist visa/visa-exempt entry. You can apply for an extension when you have 45days or less remaining on your current permitted stay.

TM30 is the number of the application form. As

@Benjamin *****

mentioned above, hotels may or may not understand that regulation from another name, section 38, or whatever..

In most cases, the worst thing that can happen is that you get fined 800b if you go to immigration to extend your visa or whatever. So if, for whatever reason, it doesn't get done, I wouldn't lose sleep over it...

The TM30 is needed whenever you need to do something at immigration. Will you do anything at immigration before going to Khao Lak? If you won't, you should have one filed, but I can't imagine any fines or penalties if you don't.

> called a few hotels and they either didn’t know what the TM30 was or said they didn’t file it.

Virtually all hotels file the TM30; they may know call it Notification of Residence of Foreigners , or FN24 online.

UNLESS you're going to apply for the extension in bangkok don't even worry about filing a TM30 while you stay with your friends here.

Just make sure once you get to where you're going to be down south that you do get a TM30 filed and then do the extension down there