What should I do about the TM30 reporting issue while staying at an Airbnb in Thailand?

Jan 14, 2019
6 years ago
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello, I’m a US passport holder on a SETV. I arrived last Thursday and have been staying at an Airbnb. I asked the host about the TM30 and she said that AirBnbs are illegal in Thailand so she does not report. What are my options? I am leaving tomorrow to stay in an apartment for the month and know that I will need to report again. Thank you!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A US passport holder staying in Thailand on a SETV is facing issues with their Airbnb host who claims not to report TM30, leading to questions about legal compliance. Responses from the community suggest reaching out to the next landlord to ensure they file the TM30 form upon check-in, as technically the landlord is required to report. Some commenters suggest that the host might not fully understand the law or might be attempting to avoid tax implications from Airbnb rentals.
David *********
report her to the authorities when you file your form then write AIRBNB and tell them about breaking the laws of the law in Thailand
Ron *******
@Hannah *********
there is the illegal part. A short time rental of less than 1 month
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
Thank you! I was just curious. I have no intent to report her for a 5 day stay that likely won't have any negative consequences.
Benjamin ******
@Hannah *********
I don't know. Legally, they aren't licensed as hotels, and therefore is illegal if the building has more than 4 apartments in it. But there's no prison time though. You can read more about it at:

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My opinion is to simply be a good guest, don't make a lot of noise, and don't attract negative attention, and you should be just fine.
Benjamin ******
I don't understand what that would accomplish honestly :\
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Are AirBnbs illegal in Thailand?
Liam *****
Reporting her is probably the worst course of action - "Don't shoot the messenger" isn't really a thing here...
Ron *******
In the case of illegal rentals, they simply come round and throw you out, there and then.
Tod *********
well, I don't know how effective that would be OR what it would accomplish and I'd say there is far more likelihood that any blow back would be directed AT the tenant not the person renting them the unit. :( :(
Liam *****
It depends where you are and what you're going to do next? To be honest, if you're just going to leave the country after no more than 60 days (i.e. not have any contact with immigration), you don't really need to do anything. Technically TM30 needs to be done, and technically the landlord needs to do it, but if it's not done and you leave the country there isn't going to be any repercussion....
Ivan ************
Exempt and tourist visa extensions are the same yes. They do say a TM30 should have been done but they certainly do not need the receipt and I don't think they check it. It's certainly better if it has been done. If you have stayed in a hotel in Chiang Mai, the hotel should have done your TM30, if you gave them your passport. TM30s are good indefinitely, they do not have an end date, so if you were in a hotel in CM that did it before the Air Bnb I think you you'd be totally covered.
Joshua ********
@Ivan ***********
would this be the same for extending 30 days for a exempt entry? I am looking at staying for about 38 days all together and will be extending in Chiang Mai before my 30 days is up. I have stayed at hotel and airbnb but don’t want issues for extension. Thank you.
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Liam ****
That does make sense! Thank you! I will make sure that my apartment reports (or I will if they don't.)
Ivan ************
Officially immigration say you need it in Chiang Mai, but for a tourist extension you don't need the TM30 receipt and I don't think they often check it. For non immigrant extensions you definitely need it.
Liam *****
@Hannah *********
Ah ok. I think you need it for extensions in CM (though i don't live there, so i'm sure someone else will correct me if I'm wrong). If you have no luck with Air BnBs then the trick is to stay in a hotel for a night before you go to immigration, and get them to show you the receipt. You don't need to show address registration for your whole stay, just for the most recent stay, before applying for an extension, if that makes sense (and AFAIK)
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ah, okay. Well, I may decide to apply for an extension. And, I’m in CM.
Robert *******
You change to another apartment tomorrow, so ask that landlord to file the TM 30 form within 24 hours after arrival
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Great, thank you!
Robert *******
No, you will be okay
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you! Will I be fined for the first week since I arrived last Thursday?
Julie ************
Well I am staying at an Airbnb and our host reported. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I made sure to get a receipt. We are staying for 30 days though. Not sure if that makes a difference.
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ********
Ah, that makes sense. There had to be some reason that she is not reporting.
Robert *********
It is also highly likely she is not reporting the income to taxation so wants no government involvement
Julie ************
@Robert ******
thanks for the correction! I made sure our host did it!
Robert *******
@Julie ***********
The foreigner who visits the Immigration Office to apply for any document and does not have the address registration, depending on enforcement in that office, can be fined with a maximum of 2.000 Thb.
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ah, okay! I tried to give her a heads up but it appeared that she didn’t know anything about it. So, I don’t know.
Julie ************
Hannah McIntosh from what I understand it would be her that would be penalized not you? I could be wrong, but that’s what I understand from reading other posts in the group. Others could probably weigh in with more accurate info. Good luck!
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Right! Which is fine unless I am penalized for it.
Julie ************
@Hannah *********
sounds like she’s just trying to fly under the radar.
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Agreed. I don’t know. And her place is fully booked!
Julie ************
@Hannah *********
that seems highly unlikely that she would not know what a TM 30 is if she is regularly hosting travelers?
Hannah **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hmmm.... I wonder if there is something else going on. When I asked she didn’t know what I was talking about.
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