Living in Thailand

Step-by-Step Guide to the 90-Day Report (TM-47) for Staying in Thailand

Whenever you live in Thailand for more than 90 days on a single Visa, you will need to report to immigration for that and learn how to do that in this step-by-step guide.

Zaw Thet Tin @ Alex Hicks

12 Oct 2024 — 7 min read

90-day report example

We live in Bangkok, Thailand, and we completed the 90-day report on our own. This is a simple guide based on our experience to help answer your questions about the process. However, for the most accurate and official information, please check the government’s official website.

90-Day Report is for Long-term Visas

If you stay in Thailand for more than 90 days on a single visa, you must do the 90-day report. For example, if you are on a tourist visa (which lasts 2 or 3 months, depending on your country), you don’t need to do the report because you won’t stay longer than 90 days. You would need to leave the country or get a new visa if you want to stay longer. However, if you are on a student visa, which is often for one year, you will stay longer than 90 days, so you must do the report.

There is a clear sign: if Immigration wants you to do the report, they will give you a slip with a stamped date on it. If you get this slip, you must do the report. If you don’t get the slip, then you don’t need to do it.

The Purpose of the Report: Why Do You Need to Do It?

While staying in Thailand, Immigration needs to know if you are living in the country for more than 90 days on a single visa. They also want to check if you are still living at the same address or if you have moved. This helps them keep track of where you are in case they need to contact you or find you, though this only happens rarely unless you have broken any rules during your stay.

What Happens if You Miss the Report?

You will need to pay a fine of 2,000 baht. If you get arrested and they find out your 90-day report is overdue at that time, you will need to pay 5,000 baht as a fine. For more accurate information, please do research on their official site.

When Can You Perform a 90-Day Report?

90-day reporting can be done during "15 days before the due date and 7 days after the due date". If your due date is for example October 7, you can perform your report between November 22 to October 14.

For the first-time reporting, you can either

Go to the immigration office and do it by yourself
Ask another person or agent to do it for you with extra authority documents proofing that you permitted that person to do it for you.
Send required documents to the immigration office by mail

For second time and later reporting, you can apply online as long as you are still living at the same address. If you change your address, you will have to update again in person. Please also note that online reporting can only be done 15 days prior and not within the last 7 days before the due date. Please take a look below image for clarity. The Orange check mark represents the day you can do online reporting. If you missed that, you have to do it in person.

Required documents for 90 days report

90-day report application form — (TM-47)
You can get one from the entrance counter at the immigration.
Your passport
Document for "Notification of residence for foreigners (TM-30)" if first time reporting
Proof of document for your current resident of stay. Normally applied by your landlord or you applied yourself. If you don’t have one, you can apply alongside your 90-day reporting.
Previous 90-day report slip if second time or later reporting
You must always keep your 90-day report slip in your passport. For the second time and later reporting, you can do it online but if you missed the chance or you choose to do it in person, you will need to provide your previous 90-day report slip

Pre-Requisites Before You Go to the Immigration Office

Take a pen
You’ll need to fill out some forms during the process, so be sure to bring a pen. But no worries if you forget, there are shops downstairs where you can purchase one.
Prepare documents
The process of 90-day reporting is usually quick and can be completed within a few hours. However, expect long queues, so it’s best to arrive early when Immigration opens. Be prepared for potential language barriers, and keep in mind that additional documents may be required depending on your specific case. To avoid any issues, always bring all your relevant Thailand-related documents whenever you visit Immigration.
If you need to print, scan, or copy any of your documents, there are stores downstairs that offer the services.
Check which immigration office you need to go to
There are several immigration offices in Thailand, and depending on the province you live in, you may need to visit a different one. For example, if you live in the Suan Luang District, which is in Bangkok Province, so you need to go to the immigration at the Government Complex. If you live in Samut Prakan Province, you’ll need to visit the Samut Prakan immigration office. If you live in Nonthaburi Province, you'll need to visit the Nonthaburi immigration office. Be sure to do your research to find out which immigration office is relevant for your area.
Check for immigration office hours and holidays
Immigration offices are closed on weekends and public holidays, so be sure to check their hours and ensure they are open on the day you plan to visit. For 90-day reporting, the earlier you go before your due date, the better, since you might not know how your procedure could go wrong. The report can be made any day between 15 days before the due date and 7 days after the due date. So pick the most comfortable day for you.

Where Is the Immigration Office, and How Can You Get There?

The immigration office you need to go to will be different based on the province you live in. For residents living in Bangkok province, it is Government Complex, Building B. You can get there by MRT Pink line. The station's name is Government Complex. The Government Complex is a big area of land and the government offers a free shuttle bus service to go around from one building to another. When you get to the Government Complex MRT Pink line station, there is a skywalk to Building D. At the parking area of Building D, there is a free shuttle service to get to Building B. Building B is where you perform your 90-day report. You need to show your passport to pass the security gate at the entrance of Building B and walk to the end to get to the immigration office.

If you live in Nonthaburi province, for example, You will need to go to Nonthaburi Immigration Office.

If you live in Samut Prakan province, for example, you will need to go to Samut Prakan Immigration Office. Please check which province you live in and which immigration office you need to go to.

How to Do the Report: The Process of 90-Day Reporting

This is the process we followed at the Government Complex immigration office. While there may be small differences at other immigration offices, most of the steps should be the same.

Ask for a 90-day report form (TM-47) at the entrance counter of the immigration. Fill in the form, get inside the immigration, find the ticket counter, and ask for a queue number for the 90-day report.
Find the relevant counter number from your queue number and wait for your turn.
When your queue number is called, present your TM-47 form, your queue number, and your passport to the immigration officer. If you live at the same address with family partners or friends and go together to report, you can share the queue number. When the earliest queue number is called, you can all go to the counter together and complete the process for everyone at the same time. Additionally, someone else can report for you if they have the proper documents showing you’ve permitted them to do so.
The officer will check for the documents and may ask a few questions
If it is your first time reporting, the officer may ask for a TM-30 document. From the second time and so on, they will ask for the previous 90-day report slip so be sure to always keep the 90-day report paper in your passport. About the TM-30, In some cases, TM-30 applied online by your landlord is enough but sometimes they may ask for the document handwritten and signed by one of their immigration officers. If you don’t have such TM-30 documents at this point, your 90-day report will be paused and you will need to apply for a TM-30 update.

Notification of residence for foreigners is a separate process and we have a separate blog post for that.

Once you’ve received your TM-30, take it back to the same counter where you made your 90-day report, and you won’t need to wait in the queue. The immigration officer will ask a few questions, and with that, your 90-day report will be successfully updated.

Please remember that the TM-30 documents are yours to keep. You can use them for future processes as long as you continue living at the same address.

Is this article helpful? What do you have in mind?
Have you done a 90-day report before? How was your experience?
Let us know in the comments.

We also have an interesting blog post on the cost of living in Bangkok. You will find it helpful.