Important immigration forms in Thailand (TM30, TDAC, TM88, TM87, TM7, TM8, TM47, and TM28)

Living or travelling in Thailand means encountering immigration forms with TM numbers, often at arrival, when you move house, extend a visa, or leave temporarily. The names are confusing; the consequences of missing one are not.

Thai Visa Centre handles these forms daily for clients across Bangkok. This hub explains what each form does, who files it, and where to get help.

Ask TVC which form Book help

TM30

Address notification

Landlord or hotel registers your stay within 24 hours, required for many extensions.

TDAC

Arrival card

Digital arrival card before every entry since May 2025.

TM47

90-day report

Quarterly address update while physically in Thailand 90+ days.

TM7 / TM8

Extension / re-entry

Extend stay inside Thailand or obtain re-entry permit before travel.

Quick reference table

Form	Purpose	Who files	When
TDAC	Digital arrival/departure registration	Traveller	Before every entry (replaced paper TM6 for most)
TM30	Address notification	Landlord / hotel (guest may need copy)	Within 24 hours of check-in
TM88	Visa on Arrival application	Traveller	At VOA counter or pre-approved online
TM87	Visa extension application	Visa holder	Before current stay expires
TM7	Extension of stay (general)	Visa holder	Tourist/business extensions at immigration
TM8	Re-entry permit	Visa holder	Before leaving Thailand on single-entry visa
TM47	90-day report	Long-stay holder	Every 90 days in country
TM28	Change of address (foreigner notification)	Foreigner	When moving (related to TM30 chain)

TDAC: Thailand Digital Arrival Card

TDAC replaced the paper TM6 arrival card for most travellers from May 2025.

Who: Every foreign national entering Thailand
When: Up to 72 hours before arrival; mandatory for air, land, and sea
Where: tdac.immigration.go.th
Penalty for skipping: Fines and delays at immigration

TDAC is not a visa. You still need visa, exemption, or VOA separately.

TVC help: TDAC assistance

TM30: Address reporting

TM30 notifies immigration where a foreigner sleeps. The property owner, landlord, or hotel must file, not always the guest.

Deadline: Within 24 hours of the guest moving in
Online: tm30.immigration.go.th
Why it matters: Immigration checks TM30 when you extend visas, report 90 days, or apply for re-entry permits

If your landlord will not file, you may need a copy of their submission for your own records.

Deep dive: About TM30 Thailand

TM88: Visa on Arrival

TM88 is the VOA application form used at immigration counters for eligible nationalities.

Paper form at airport/land border, or
Pre-approval pathway via e-Visa VOA section
Pair with TDAC, passport, photo, funds proof, and onward ticket

Guide: Visa on Arrival

TM87 and TM7: Extensions of stay

When your permitted stay is ending, you may apply to extend at a Thai immigration office.

TM7: common Extension of Stay form for tourist and many non-immigrant categories
TM87: used in specific extension scenarios (immigration officer directs which form applies)
Requirements typically include TM30 receipt, passport photos, application fee, and supporting reason (tourism, marriage, retirement funds, etc.). Extensions are discretionary, not automatic.

TM8: Re-entry permit

If you hold a single-entry visa or need to preserve a long-term extension stamp, you must obtain a re-entry permit (TM8) before leaving Thailand. Without it, your visa may be cancelled when you exit.

Single re-entry: one return trip
Multiple re-entry: unlimited returns within validity (common for retirement and marriage visa holders)
Apply at immigration or major airports before departure

Re-entry permit Thailand · TVC re-entry service

TM47: 90-day reporting

Foreigners staying long-term must report their address to immigration every 90 days, even if they have not left the country.

Methods

Online via 90day.in.th (TVC-supported portal)
Mail-in TM47
In person at immigration

Missed reports accumulate fines and can block future extensions.

Guide: 90-day reporting step-by-step

TM28: Change of address notification

TM28 is filed when a foreigner changes residential address. It works alongside TM30. Your new landlord should file TM30, and you may need TM28 depending on immigration instructions.

Always get receipt copies of both when moving apartments.

How the forms connect in a typical expat year

Arrive → TDAC (before flight)
      → TM30 (hotel/landlord within 24h)
      → Live 90 days → TM47 report
      → Move apartment → TM30 + possibly TM28
      → Trip abroad → TM8 re-entry permit first
      → Visa ending → TM7/TM87 extension

Planning checklist before you travel or relocate

Confirm your entry category, passport validity, and return plans before booking non-refundable flights or long hotel stays. Immigration officers compare your stated purpose with your visa stamp, prior entry history, and supporting documents at the counter.

Register your address through TM30 when required, complete TDAC before every arrival, and keep copies of lease agreements, insurance policies, and embassy correspondence in one folder. These records matter for extensions, tax filings, and unexpected compliance checks.

If your situation involves work, marriage, retirement funds, or property purchase, book a case review with our Bangkok team early. Small document gaps that seem minor at arrival become expensive fixes at extension season.

Planning checklist before you travel or relocate

Step-by-step checklist

Follow this sequence to reduce avoidable delays and compliance gaps. Each step maps to what our Bangkok team verifies before clients submit applications or book long stays.

Confirm passport and entry category

Verify passport validity, visa stamp or exemption eligibility, and return plans before non-refundable bookings.

Complete TDAC before every arrival

Submit Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours on tdac.immigration.go.th. Mandatory for all foreign nationals.

Register address through TM30

Hotels usually file automatically; renters must confirm landlords or juristic offices will register the address.

Track 90-day reporting if required

Long-stay visa holders who remain in Thailand 90 consecutive days must file TM47 online or in person.

Keep copies of all immigration receipts

Extension stamps, TM47 confirmations, and TM30 screenshots matter for the next renewal cycle.

Book case review for complex situations

Work, marriage, retirement funds, and property purchases benefit from early document review with our Bangkok team.

How TDAC, TM30, and 90-day reporting fit together

Foreigners often confuse three separate obligations. TDAC is completed by the traveller before each arrival. TM30 is filed by the host when you move into an address. The 90-day report is filed by the visa holder who stays in Thailand without leaving for 90 consecutive days. Missing any one can block your next extension.

Requirement	When	Channel
TDAC (Digital Arrival Card)	Every entry within 72 hours	tdac.immigration.go.th
TM30 address notification	Within 24 hours of moving in	Landlord, hotel, or immigration
90-day report (TM47)	Every 90 days in-country	tm47.immigration.go.th or office
Visa extension	Before stamp expires	Local immigration office

Full form reference: Thailand immigration forms guide. Lifestyle planning: Thailand lifestyle guide.

Common mistakes foreigners make

Most difficult immigration cases start with avoidable errors. Use this list as a pre-travel and pre-extension control checklist.

Assuming a tourist stamp or exemption authorises employment or long-term residence in Thailand.
Skipping TDAC because you completed it on a previous trip: each arrival requires a fresh submission.
Signing a 12-month lease before confirming the landlord will file TM30 for visa extensions.
Waiting until day 89 to file a 90-day report when the online portal is busy near deadlines.
Relying on outdated blog posts instead of thaievisa.go.th and immigration.go.th for current rules.

How Thai Visa Centre can help

Our Bangkok team works with retirees, remote workers, spouses, and business owners who need the right visa before they sign leases or transfer pension funds.

Document review

We check passport scans, bank statements, relationship evidence, and embassy-specific requirements before you pay application fees.

Extension preparation

Retirement, marriage, and business extensions need maintained balances, TM30 history, and clean 90-day records. We map the file months ahead.

Entry troubleshooting

If you were denied at the border or need to switch visa category, early case review reduces overstay risk and re-entry bans.

Bangkok office visits

Chaeng Watthana queues reward prepared applicants. We help clients arrive with complete folders and correct form order.

Visa and entry paths at a glance

Thailand offers multiple legal routes depending on age, income, family ties, and activity type. The table below maps common goals to visa categories. Use it as orientation, then confirm eligibility for your passport on thaievisa.go.th.

Goal	Visa path	Notes
Tourism / short visit	Visa exemption or TR tourist visa	Up to 60 days exemption for listed passports; tourist visa for longer planned trips.
Remote work / freelancer	Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)	180 days per entry, 5-year validity. Activity and financial proof required.
Retirement (50+)	Non-Immigrant O-A	Financial and approved health insurance requirements.
Marriage to Thai national	Non-Immigrant O marriage	Financial proof, relationship evidence, TM30 and reporting obligations.
Employment in Thailand	Non-Immigrant B + work permit	Employer sponsorship and Labour Department approval required.
Premium long stay	Thailand Privilege (Elite)	Paid membership with 5 to 20 year options and reduced immigration friction.
Skilled professional / investor	Long-Term Resident (LTR)	10-year visa with sub-categories for pensioners, workers, and investors.
Education	Non-Immigrant ED	Requires acceptance from a recognised Thai school or university.

Long-stay lifestyle planning: Thailand lifestyle guide. Entry requirements: Thailand entry requirements.

Before you commit money or sign a lease

Immigration status should be decided before you ship household goods, enrol children in school, or sign a 12-month lease. Many long-term categories must be applied for at a Thai embassy abroad, or meet strict in-country rules that did not exist when you entered on exemption.

Keep a single folder with passport copies, TDAC confirmations, TM30 receipts, lease agreements, bank statements, and insurance policies. Extension officers at Chaeng Watthana and provincial offices ask for this history in chronological order.

If your situation involves remote work, marriage, retirement funds, or a Thai company, book a case review with our Bangkok team before your next border crossing. Small document gaps at arrival become expensive fixes at extension season.

Frequently asked questions

Q:Which form do tourists need most?

A:TDAC before arrival. Possibly TM88 if using VOA. Short-stay exempt tourists skip TM47 and TM8 unless they extend.

Q:Can I file TM30 myself as a tenant?

A:Usually the landlord files. Some condos file for all units. Ask management.

Q:Is TM6 still used?

A:Mostly replaced by TDAC. Some land/sea checkpoints may still use paper in transition. Carry passport and TDAC confirmation regardless.

Q:What happens if TM30 was never filed?

A:Extensions, re-entry permits, and 90-day reports may be delayed or refused until address history is corrected.

Q:Where do I download blank forms?

A:Many TM forms are available from immigration offices or official portals. TDAC and TM30 are online-first. See links above.

Q:When was this guide last reviewed?

A:June 2026. Immigration rules, embassy practices, and entry requirements change. Verify on official government portals before you travel or apply.

References and further reading

Official sources (verified June 2026):

Background reading