Important Notice for Foreigners in Thailand: Don’t Forget Your 90-Day Reporting

 

If you’re a foreigner living in Thailand on a Non-Immigrant visa and you’re planning to stay for more than 90 days, there’s something important you need to do. Every 90 days, you have to let the Immigration Bureau know where you’re staying. This rule is part of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522, and it means filling out a form called TM.47. Be sure to do this either 15 days before or up to 7 days after the end of each 90-day period.

If you miss the deadline, you could be fined. The standard penalty is THB 2,000, but it could go up to THB 5,000 if you’re taken into custody. Also, if you leave Thailand and come back, the 90-day count starts over from the day you return.

It’s easy to mix up the 90-day report with your visa extension, but they are different things. Even if you’ve just extended your visa, you still need to do the 90-day report if it’s due. The immigration officers won’t necessarily remind you about this, so it’s important to keep track on your own.

Here are the ways you can do your 90-day notification:

1. Visit the Immigration Office in Person: You can go yourself, or you can ask someone you trust to go on your behalf.
2. Send by Registered Mail: You can fill out the TM.47 form and send it through registered mail via Thailand Post. Make sure to send it to the local Immigration Office before your 15-day renewal window. Keep your receipt until you get a confirmation back.
3. Submit Online: You can do it online too, as long as you submit it 15 to 7 days before it’s due. However, if you have a new passport, either because it’s your first time doing a visa extension, or because you’ve lost or replaced your passport, you’ll need to do the first 90-day report in person. After that, you can use the online service.

Where to Go for In-Person Reporting:

• If you’re in Bangkok, head to the 90 Days Report Section at the Immigration Division 1 on Chaengwattana Road, Laksi. You can also mail your report to this address.
• If you got your visa and work permit through the BOI One Stop Center for Visa and Work Permits in Bangkok, you can report at the BOI One Stop Center at Chamchuri Square Building, Rama IV Road, Pathum Wan.
• For those living in other parts of Thailand, you should go to the Immigration Office in your province.

If you are in Bangkok and can’t do the report yourself or send it by mail, Sukhothai Interlaw is here to help. Just give us your filled-out TM.47 form and your passport, and we’ll handle the rest, making sure you comply with all Thai immigration requirements.

Sukhothai Interlaw has been guiding clients through legal processes for over 30 years. Our expertise includes handling contracts, negotiations, payments, and escrows. You can find us at 17 Chan 35 Chan Road, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120, Thailand. Give us a call at +662 212 6866-7 or send a fax to +662 213 3124. We’re ready to assist you with all your legal needs.