What is the procedure for updating the TM30 after an international trip in Chiang Mai?

April 25, 2018
6 years ago
Rob ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
TM30 question for after we return from our first international trip since arriivng in Thailand:

Apparently, Chiang Mai residents need to report to immigration within 24 hours after returning from an international trip to update the TM30. We rent a house with a one year lease and have non-O visas with extensions based on retirement. Can someone who's done this (or Tod Daniels, who knows everything) please clarify:

Do you need an entire new application and receipt or can they just update the receipt of notification that we have stapled in our passports?

And, if the answer is you DO need to do an entire new application, please then confirm documents we need; According to another FB site in CM, they imply that the renter (or any authorized agent ) can do this at immigration provide they

bring all these documents:

1) a new TM30 application signed by the homeowner including the second page with passport #, arrival date, type of visa, stay until date etc

2) signed copies of main passport pages of each tenant including copies of each visa, arrival date and TM6 cards

3) signed copy of the homeowner's house book

4) signed copy of the homeowner's Thai National ID card

5) optional: copy of lease agreement

If we need to do this crap all over again, our landlord (who works a lot) will not be happy since we'd have to get him to provide all this before we take any international trip since they only give you 24 hours.

Thanks !!!!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
After returning from an international trip to Chiang Mai, expats must update their TM30 form within 24 hours. Typically, you can bring the original TM30 receipt with your passport to the immigration office, where they may simply re-stamp the receipt with the new date. However, if this process requires a new TM30 application, it necessitates multiple documents including a signed application from the landlord and copies of tenant passports, visas, and ID. Experiences shared indicate that some offices may not ask for additional documentation if the original application has already been filed, suggesting there may be inconsistencies in policy enforcement.
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Justin *********
I’m in the same situation as I’ll be returning to Chiang Mai next month. What happens if I don’t have the receipt anymore? 😞 Does that mean I have to do the whole process all over or would they still have me on file?
Justin *********
Doomed 😟
Rob ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thai jail cell. Don’t bend over. 5555☹️
David *******
The whole TM30 issue is a lot of pants really. If it is supposed to be there to help track people on the move (terrorist issues) then it would be more inportant for internal travel, not international travel as you fill in the tm6 on arrival so whats the point of tm30 if it is just for international travel?
Rob ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
There is no point in it especially since it’s free. That’s called TIT. It’s the stupidest immigration rule ever. So; we stamp you in and enter you in our system as legally entering. But then we need you to come back again so we can put a stamp on a piece of paper that’s irrelevant to the customs folks that allow or deny you entry. Pure stupidity.
Erik **********
not about overseas.. its when you REPORT you are somewhere else, then change...
Paul ********
Erik I totally understand this question has been asked a lot, but in Chiang Mai in particular, in the past there were huge issues for people when completing this paperwork, and people were being fined a lot and having other problems. There was a lot of confusion about many aspects of it, not simply changing address but doing it the first and subsequent times. So I think everyone is just hugely relieved that it seems that this is not such a big issue anymore.
Erik **********
Ok, everybody delete this useless bit of info..
Rob ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Erik *********
what is your point here ? The OP (me) asked about reporting at Prom after overseas travel not domestic
Erik **********
Old story, not about what happend, its what about what CAN happen..
Tod *********
most immigration offices are ONLY concerned when you come back home after being out of the country, NOT if you are just traveling inside thailand
Duncan *******
CM today - back from overseas. Had the building management update my return online this morning (TM30 just needed a renewal, not the whole process), went to Prom with no paperwork, they stamped my old TM30 slip with new date. Done....but lets not mention how long the queue was :)
Rob ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
We did the same. But came at 11:30 and then went for lunch. They took us first at 1 despite the long line.
Michael **********
Duncan Riley I have to deal with this when I get back. Curious why did you have to go to Prom even though the management updated your return online? In the past the juristic person has taken care of this for me, but the condo just changed management so not sure if the new people know what to do. Where exactly do you go? I read third floor, where on 3rd floor? Thank for the help for this PITA procedure.
Andy ********
Glad it went well .
Andy ********
Andy ********
again this is Phuket and a re issue
Andy ********
just spent 3 hours down Phuket immigration where they are teaching up some new officers to do the TM30 desk . Just been sent away as my copies of the house document and landlords identity card carried copied not real signatures . also going to need the power of attorney with the 2 x 5baht stamps .
George ********
Do we just need to show up with our passport, new Departure Card and TM30? Or do I have to get copies of everything like you need to do for just about everything else?
Paul ********
all went smoothly for us, too. I was overseas and did not change address. Got back to Thailand on Friday, went in on Monday. Chiang Mai Promenada office.
George ********
Smoothly. We waited about 25 minutes, handed them our passports and TM30s. They fiddled on the computer, put a new stamp on our TM30s, and that was it. No copies to submit. Don't understand why we have do this. I mean, if they charged us for it I would understand, but this is free!😉
Paul ********
How did it go for everyone? My partner is doing it for me and I will report back this evening.
Tod *********
What immigration office will you be using?
Paul ********
I will be going to Chiang Mai Promenada office to do TM30 on Monday, May 21. I will post update afterwards. If anyone has any tips please let me know. THANKS!
George ********
I'll probably see you there!
Rob ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for all the responses. Still can’t tell if they do or don’t want this idiot procedure so we will do it in the interest of not wanting to chance paying fines for moronic procedures that are not explained
Rob ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Robert Lagas ok. I get it. Thanks. Arrive. Wait on long line to get stamped in with legal permission to stay. Then go to immigration to get legal permission to stay in an actual house. Genius.
Robert *******
If you want a good explanation of the procedure you call your local Immigration Office. The problem is that some offices enforce this rule, others just want is once and some don't care at all. Asking here is getting advice of many different offices. The law is clear on it, report after arriving at your address in 24 hours by landlord, house owner, house master or manager of Hotel.
Antonis ***********
I had the same problem and I pay a fine 800 because the landlord didn't do it.

So I not speak as an expert. Just tell you from my experience. I stay chonburi and maybe here is different but they ask me in the police station only the number 1 paper you mention, of course my passaport and an authorization of the landlord who permits me do it for him. And no worry for him. Because you do it for him. He just provide the paper. He must know that everytime we must do it.

But I have a query....

The last month we must do again?

Because we not need go to immigration again...
Ian ********
I have a rental agreement for 12 months. Recently I did a border run into Myanmar and stayed overnight in Chiang Rai. On the next working day I took the receipt of the TM 30 that my Landlord was given to the Immigration office on the 3rd floor of Promenada Mall and presented it with my passport to the immigration officer. The receipt was stamped and the whole process took about 10 mins at immigration. My landlord is supposed to do it but I did it on her behalf as I have more free time to do it and I make sure its done. No forms to fill in.
Richard *****
The original TM30 is landlord’s responsibility but the updated TM30 is instead of the TM28, I believe and that’s the tenant’s responsibility.
Richard *****
CM are (or now maybe were) very hot on this. When we returned in January we took the TM30 slip (receipt) with passports and the TM6 departure card. Spent 10 mins at IM while they stamped the slip with a new date and the number off the TM6. Would be interested to find out whether they still need it done as we leave the country again soon but will be returning to the same address.
Alan *******
In ChiangMai they told me they didn’t need anything, the original TM 30 remains valid. They update it when they extend the visa.
Ադամ ********
Please let us no how it goes for you. BTW I am not on extensions maybe different.
Ադամ ********
@Ivan ***********
I fly in almost every month as of March 2018 it was still required.
Ivan ************
@Ad**
we know you used need to do this, the question is whether you actually need to do it any more at all.
Ադամ ********
Go to the office at Prom with passport and TM 30 receipt “update no changes”. (Obviously you can’t report within 24h if immigration is closed and I have “heard”there is a 7 day grace period for updates). I have done it many times if there is short queue of people very quick process.
Ivan ************
Rob yes totally, it's completely opaque. And I don't know- I'm just reporting vague rumours here. Just to suggest this is not the first time I have heard this, just recently, so there may be something in it.
Rob ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ivan ***********
thanks for the update. So like everything in Thailand, it’s unclear. Last thing we wanna do after 34 hours of flights and connections is go to immigration first day back. So unsure what to do now
Ivan ************
The law is the landlord has to file it, and they were enforcing this at least until recently (last few months). But I have heard suggestions this may be a recent change in policy, that they may have dropped it. Someone else posted in this group recently suggesting Pattaya immigration had also dropped it, no need to refile after a foreign trip unless address actually changes. CM immigration made a number of other policy changes recently (like making residency certs actually available for free), I think possibly due to a new guy in charge. Best would be to ask immigration (and report back what they tell you).
Rob ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hmm. That’s the first time I heard that. Big waste of gas if that’s what they tell us so we will try one time and see what they say.

Do you think they mean that they update the “stay valid until” on the original application on the day the extend again ? Very ambiguous.
Barry ******
They can just update the receipt
Rob ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
The homeowner filed it for us the day after we arrived. I assume the same situation applies every time you take an international trip as long as you return to the same address? Doesn't the receipt get messy after enough stamps?
Tod *********
If you already filed a TM.30 before just go in with your passport and that receipt and they re-stamp with the new date
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