At one time, TM 30 (together with the now virtually defunct TM 28) was the talk of the town given the stifling requirements that needed foreigners to report their whereabouts if they were in a different province for over 24 hours. Luckily, these regulations have been updated by the Immigration Bureau, which reduces the filing requirements greatly. The new regulations only require property owners and hotel operators to register a foreigner when they arrive at a property for the first time. The update was published in the Royal Thai Gazette on 16 June 2020, and has been in full effect since 30 June 2020.
Expats living in Thailand embarking on short-term travel will no longer need to be reported by their landlords when returning to stay at the property they were originally staying at within the validity of their re-entry permit.. This contrasts to previous requirements where foreigners temporarily traveling outside Thailand or staying overnight in another property had to be reported to the immigration by the property owner or hotel operator. In addition, expats no longer need to present a TM 30 slip when renewing their visas or submitting a 90-day report, though we still recommend foreigners keep evidence of their TM 30 report in their passport.
The changes in TM 30 requirements are consistent with the intention of the legislation, whereby the obligation for complying with the regulations is placed on the property owners or hotel operators rather than the foreigners staying in their property. The immigration Bureau had already virtually scrapped the TM 28 requirement placed upon foreigners to notify authorities if they were in a different province for over 24 hours. Authorities have also made filing the TM 30 much easier by ensuring that the online platform and mobile application is fully operational. Property owners and hotel operators are simply required to register for an account, receive their username and password, then submit a TM30 report if a foreigner stays in their property. It is also still possible to file the report by post or directly at the nearest branch of the Immigration Bureau.
It should, however, be noted that while TM 30 requirements have been eased, penalties still apply to those who fail to comply with the regulations. Property owners who fail to file a report are subject to a fine of THB 2,000 while hotel operators are subject to a fine of between THB 2,000 to THB 10,000. It is therefore advisable for those who are unfamiliar with TM 30 reporting to consult professionals who will be able to assist them in these matters.
Contact us for more information on the latest TM 30 requirements.
