Answered5 months ago
Why do landlords in Thailand refuse to submit TM30 forms for foreigners?
I'm going to be living in Bangkok with my Thai partner, we are trying to find condos and apartments to rent ahead of time that we can go and view next week when we arrive and when enquiring about the properties my partner has been asking the agents if they or the owner/landlord will submit tm30 forms for me and pretty much everyone is saying no, some have said they will only submit a tm30 once. I've read a few posts on here saying people have set up their own accounts to submit tm30 forms with the landlord details however my thinking is if the landlord is not willing to submit tm30s theyre not likely to give us the information needed to be able to submit tm30s ourselves? It's starting to stress us both out now. My understanding is its the landlords legal responsibility and can result in big fines for them so cant understand their refusal, my partners opinion is that alot of landlords would rather not deal with the hassle of it so are more than happy to decline foreigners or refuse to submit tm30s and just not have foreigners stay at their property than have to deal with submitting tm30s any time return back to the property after any time elsewhere. Please help me understand this situation more or give me some work around options. Thank you in advance!
Answer summary
The concern raised involves the difficulties faced by expats in Bangkok regarding landlords' refusal to submit TM30 forms, which are required for registering foreigners' residency. Many landlords either do not want the responsibility of submitting these forms or express reluctance to deal with the associated hassle. Some commenters suggest alternative means, such as short hotel stays that would automatically handle the TM30 filing. Others emphasize the importance of choosing landlords who are willing to collaborate and understand the legal implications of their responsibilities. Overall, there is a mix of experiences among expats, with some having success in securing compliant landlords, while others encounter consistent refusals.
36 repliesnewest first
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Lynn *****
Hi DP, I got your message but unfortunately Facebook still hasn’t unblocked my ability to send out private messages to people I can only receive and read messages other people send me. And I refuse to submit my identity card to Facebook as instructed to verify my identity. It’s too bad this has been the case with Facebook, very totalitarian with how Facebook operates in places like Thailand sadly, this has not changed enough, it’s gotten better over the years but it’s still bad once they somehow misinterpreted what you say (about Thailand) due to their own problems and insecurities. Go to bigger agencies. Even if I have to lose our business from you, I’ll tell you to go to places like Fazwaz or a reputable Remax and make sure they have a fluent English speaker (and) foreigner helping you. Go to LivingInsiders website too they’re pretty legit too.
जगद्गुरु *****************
During my last trip to Bangkok, I found it IMPOSSIBLE to find a landlord willing to rent their flat to me.
Fortunately, several Buddhist temples accommodated me, even though I am not Buddhist.
Fortunately, several Buddhist temples accommodated me, even though I am not Buddhist.
SincereKa**********
Have never filed a single TM30 before and stayed at over 4 different condos over 7 years in Bangkok. Been to immigration countless times for
****
days extensions and also paid fines for overstays at BKK airport. Also did multiple border bounces. Enter Thailand about 3-4 times a year through BKK. There are 0 issues, don’t worry so much.
Luit *****************
SincereKangaroo1433 You are not the onethat needs to file, but the property owner.
So maybe they just did for you without you knowing it.
So maybe they just did for you without you knowing it.
SincereKa**********
@Luit ****************
Owners of property had been from China/SG/Thai. I also def didn’t message any of them when I enter or leave Thailand.Lynn *****
All owners I know of are willing to submit the TM30 form for foreign renters. Message me.
Warren ******
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David **********
My landlord does it every time I come but does charge me 500bht
Thrillin*********
OP@David *********
we have had one say they will submit one for free and would charge 300bht for each tm30 submission afterwards, seems pretty reasonable to meDavid **********
ThrillingKale7026 yea I'm back and forward evey 60 days so must get annoying for her so don't mind only works out £12 pounds
Kara ******
@David *********
that's not nice. It takes them like 40seconds on the portalDavid **********
@Kara *****
but then she has to bring it to me I dont mind covers her time and fuelKara ******
@David *********
well that's a positive way to look at it
AB *********
Just stay at a cheap hotel for 1 day anytime you return to thailand from abroad. The hotel will do the tm30 then after just stay at the condo.
Thrillin*********
OP@AB ********
am I not right in thinking the hotels input a leaving date on the tm30? So after the one night id be unaccounted for the rest of my time in thailand?
Carrie ****
In my experience, if they're already giving you a hard time about a form that literally takes them minutes to complete; you should avoid renting from them.
I've had my landlord do it for me numerous times as I leave/come back to Thailand with no issues.
I've had my landlord do it for me numerous times as I leave/come back to Thailand with no issues.
Thrillin*********
OP@Carrie ***
yeah that's my thinking too!Robert *******
Why so much stress abou a form, Just download it fromt he WWW at
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/17.แบบการแจ้งรับคนต่างด้าวเข้าพักอาศัย.pdfThrillin*********
OPI appreciate the suggestion but dont want to just "try", want things to be done properly
Robert *******
ThrillingKale7026 Then the only option is to rent a place where you get access to the on-line reporting system BEFORE you sign the contractg
Thrillin*********
OP@Robert ******
just print off and fill out ourselves and submit?Robert *******
ThrillingKale7026 You can try, it depends on the Immigration Office you use
Alain ***************
I wouldn’t even ask. Last time i needed from a condo owner, i requested it from inside the lak si government building and said i have the rental agreement and all other required documents with me but they can’t find your tm30. I got the odf in record time. They probably know that their passport number is on the rental contract and I had a copy of their ID, house book and everything i found related to my rent. But if you have a thai partner, he can probably talk to them kreng jai to show that you don’t want to be an annoyance. Thailand requires creativity sometimes 🙏
GiftedPa********
Can i ask why do you need tm30 for?
Robert *******
GiftedPapaya7858 It is a from used by the Thai Immigration to register a foreigner residing at an address in Thailand
Greg ********
GiftedPapaya7858 If you have contact with an immigration office for 90 Day reporting, visa extensions, passport updates etc they require the TM30 which is the registration of where you are living or staying.
Christer *****
GiftedPapaya7858 Thai immigration
Greg ********
It is the landlords responsibility to submit the TM30 and many to outsourced this to their agents. Agents have always done it for me a few times a year when I have travelled. It takes about 2 minutes as I have had the PDF back very quickly when I have messaged the agent.
Ade ********
I put a hotel as my residence. On DTV form.
DTV_Be*******
@Ade *******
- once you are in country, your landlord needs to register you as being in that property. Everytime you sleep somewhere else and return, they have to re-register youAde ********
DTV_BegPecker i know, i put hotel when applying for dtv
GiftedAp*********
@Ade *******
that's not the same as a tm30, if you stay at a hotel they submit a tm30 for you
Deslea ********
You will likely get a better result by dealing direct with owners, which is a lot of landlords (not all) advertising on Facebook. If they like you, they may be willing to to figure out how to do it, which is the real stumbling block rather than not being willing to do it at all. Whereas agents will often say no because they don’t know how to do it or don’t want the responsibility to teach the landlord to do it or explain to the owner why it’s needed, a lot of agents are no-frills outfits that just don‘t have handholding the owner in their business model. My landlord had no idea how to do it, but they liked us (…and the property had been vacant a while, which might also have come into it) so they were willing to learn.
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