What it is
The TM30 is the notification that tells immigration where a foreigner is staying. Under section 38 of the Immigration Act, the duty falls on the house master, owner or occupier of the dwelling, or the hotel manager, who takes in the foreigner (Immigration Bureau, fetched 2026-09-25). Your landlord must file it within 24 hours of you moving in (Thaiger, relocation guide, fetched 2026-09-30).
Who needs it
Every foreigner staying in Thailand, whatever the visa: tourists, DTV holders and everyone else. Hotels file it for guests (Immigration Bureau, fetched 2026-09-25).
Why it matters to you
- 90-day report: Chiang Mai Immigration requires a TM30 on file (founder, field visit 2026-09-24). See the official 90-day report rules.
- Residence certificate: a TM30 copy is a main document (CM form tool, fetched 2026-09-30). That certificate is what the DLT and banks ask for, so no TM30 means no driving licence or bank account (Thaiger, bank guide, fetched 2026-09-30). See Getting a residence certificate.
Steps
- Ask your landlord or condo office to file it when you move in. Message them your details as in your passport: full name, passport number, nationality, date you arrived in Thailand and date you moved in.
- They file it in person at immigration, by registered post, or online (Immigration Bureau, fetched 2026-09-25). Chiang Mai Immigration’s website links owners to the online TM30 system (CM Immigration, fetched 2026-09-30).
- Get the receipt. Your landlord sends you the TM30 receipt as a PDF; that’s what you keep and show (founder, 2026-09-26).
- Check it: your name and passport number are spelled correctly and the address is right.
- Check the “Stay Until” date on an online TM30. For the Chiang Mai residence certificate, if no check-out date is given, you must attach your rental agreement (CM form tool, fetched 2026-09-30).
- Save the PDF on your phone and print a copy for immigration visits.
Documents
For you to keep: the TM30 receipt (PDF or printout), and your signed lease.
Cost
Nothing to you. You don’t file or pay; the landlord files it.
Time needed
A message to your landlord, then waiting for the PDF.
Common pitfalls
- Assuming it’s been done. Ask for the receipt; there’s no way for a tenant to look it up (founder, 2026-09-25).
- Typos in your name or passport number. They’ll cause problems at immigration later.
- A stale “Stay Until” date on an online TM30.
- Moving without a new TM30 for the new address.
Questions
Do I have to file the TM30 myself?
No. The legal duty is on the house owner, landlord, occupier or hotel manager. Your job is to make sure it's done and to keep the receipt.
How do I check my TM30 has been filed?
Ask your landlord or condo office, and ask for a copy of the receipt. There's no self-service check for tenants.
Sources
- Immigration Bureau: notification of residence (section 38, filing methods)
- Chiang Mai Immigration: online services
- Chiang Mai Immigration form tool (linked from chiangmai.immigration.go.th)
- Thaiger: Relocating to Thailand in 2026 (updated 12 Aug 2026)
- Thaiger: How to open a bank account in Thailand (updated 10 Sep 2026)
Independent guide, not the Thai government, not legal advice. Your passport stamp is the final word. Check with Thai Immigration. How we check our sources.
Related guides
TM30 address notification
What TM30 is, who files it, and the proof you should keep.
Getting a residence certificate (Letter of Residence) at Chiang Mai Immigration
The immigration letter that proves your Thai address, needed for a driving licence, a vehicle transfer or a bank account. Documents, the online form, cost and timing in Chiang Mai.
90-day report
When your 90-day report is due, the ways to file it, and what to bring.