How to do the 90-day reporting in Thailand: online, TM30 and fines

If you stay in Thailand for 90 continuous days on a long-term visa, you have to tell immigration where you live, and then keep telling them every 90 days after that. That is the 90 day report in Thailand, and it trips up newcomers far more than it should. The good news is that it is free, it takes about ten minutes once you know the routine, and in 2026 you can often do it from your sofa on the immigration website. This guide walks through who has to report, how the deadline works, what documents you need, how to file online or in person, how the TM30 form fits in, and exactly what the fines are if you miss it.

What the 90-day report actually is

The 90-day report is a simple address notification you make to Thai immigration every 90 days you stay in the country. It is not a visa, not a visa extension, and not a border run. You are not renewing your permission to stay. You are only confirming the address where you currently live, using a form called the TM.47 (the official "notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days"). Thailand asks for this so the Immigration Bureau always has a current address on file for every foreigner living here long term, as set out by the Royal Thai authorities.

Because it shares the "90 days" number with visa rules, people mix it up with visa validity or with the 90-day stamp some entries give you. Keep them separate in your head: your visa controls how long you are allowed to be here, and the 90-day report is a housekeeping check-in about your address that runs on its own clock. Nothing about filing it extends your stay, and skipping it does not by itself make you an overstayer.

Who has to report (and who doesn't)

Almost any foreigner who stays in Thailand for more than 90 days in a row has to file a 90-day report, whatever visa they hold. The obligation is triggered by continuous time in the country, not by the type of long-stay permission, so it applies broadly across the long-term visas. If you are here on a short holiday and leave well before the 90-day mark, you will never hit it.

In practice, the people filing 90-day reports are the long-stay crowd. That includes remote workers on the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), retirees on a Thailand retirement visa, wealthy long-stayers on the Thailand LTR visa, students on a Thailand education (ED) visa, employees on a work permit and Non-B visa, and people on a marriage extension. If you are simply passing through on a tourist visa or visa exemption and stay under 90 days, the report never applies to you.

Nationality does not matter

A common question is whether a US citizen, a Brit, or an Australian is treated differently. They are not. The 90-day report is about how long you have been in Thailand continuously and where you live, not about your passport. If you cross 90 straight days on a long-term stay, you report, no matter where you are from.

How the 90-day clock works, and why leaving resets it

Your 90-day count starts on the day you last entered Thailand, and the day of arrival counts as day one. From there it runs forward day by day for as long as you stay in the country without leaving. Your first report is due once you reach 90 continuous days, and after that the clock resets to zero and starts a fresh 90-day cycle each time you file.

The part that catches people out is travel. If you leave Thailand at any point during a 90-day cycle and then come back, the count restarts from day one of your latest re-entry, according to the official day-count rules. A weekend trip to Malaysia or a flight home for a family event effectively wipes the slate clean, and your next report is due 90 days after you land back in Thailand. This is why frequent travellers rarely need to report at all, while people who stay put for months on end have to keep to the routine.

Re-entry permits and the clock

If you hold a single-entry visa or an extension and you want to leave Thailand without cancelling your permission to stay, you normally buy a re-entry permit before you go. That permit protects your visa. It does not, however, stop the 90-day clock from resetting when you re-enter. So even with a re-entry permit, a trip abroad still gives you a fresh 90-day cycle from the date you come back.

When to report: the window and the grace period

You do not have to file on the exact due date. Thai immigration gives you a window: you can submit your 90-day report from 15 days before the due date up to 7 days after it. That flexible window is the single most useful thing to know, because it means you can file early, before a trip or a busy week, rather than racing to hit one specific day.

If you slip past the window entirely, there is usually a short grace period of around seven days after the due date before a fine kicks in, as described in most immigration guidance. Every report gives you a receipt slip stapled into your passport that prints your next due date, so you never have to guess. Treat that slip as your reminder and diary the date the moment you get it.

Documents you need for the 90-day report

The paperwork for a 90-day report is light, and most of it you already have. Whether you file in person or online, the core items are your passport details, a completed TM.47 form, and, if you have them, your previous report slip and your TM30 receipt. The table below is the standard checklist.

If you are filing your very first report at a new address, bring more rather than less. Offices vary in how strict they are, and having your TM30 receipt and clean passport copies ready saves a second trip.

TM30 vs the 90-day report: do not confuse them

The TM30 and the 90-day report are two different address notifications, and mixing them up is the most common mistake foreigners make. The TM30 is filed by your landlord or property owner, not by you, and it notifies immigration that a foreigner is staying at their address. The 90-day report is filed by you, and it confirms your own address every 90 days. They work together, which is why a valid TM30 is so often a prerequisite for filing your report.

Under Thai rules, the "house master", possessor, or manager of a property must notify immigration when a foreigner stays there, and this is meant to happen within 24 hours of arrival. If you stay in a hotel or a serviced apartment, the front desk almost always handles the TM30 for you at check-in. If you rent a condo or a house privately, you need to make sure your landlord files it, or file it yourself on their behalf where the property is registered to let you. The TM30 background and the friction it has caused expats has been well documented by the Thai press.

Why the TM30 matters for your report

Many immigration offices will not accept a 90-day report unless there is a valid TM30 on file for your current address. If you have moved recently, or your landlord never filed one, the report can be rejected until the TM30 is sorted out. The TM30 also has its own penalty: the person responsible for filing it can face a fine of up to 2,000 baht for failing to notify. The practical takeaway is simple. Sort your TM30 first, keep the receipt, and your 90-day report will go smoothly. If you are setting up a rental for the first time, our guide to the best areas to live in Phuket and the process of opening a Thai bank account both touch on the address paperwork you will be asked for again and again.

Doing your 90-day report in person

Filing in person is the most reliable method and, once you know the drill, one of the quickest pieces of Thai admin you will do. You go to the immigration office that covers the province where you live, hand over your documents inside the reporting window, and walk out with a receipt. Here is the step-by-step.

1. Get and complete the TM.47. Download and print it before you go, or fill one in at the office. It asks for your name, passport number, visa details, and current address.
2. Prepare your copies. Photocopy your passport photo page, your visa or extension stamp, and your latest entry stamp, and sign each copy. Add your previous report slip and TM30 receipt.
3. Go within the window. Arrive any time from 15 days before your due date to 7 days after. Mornings are usually quieter than after lunch.
4. Take a queue ticket. Look for the 90-day reporting counter, which is often separate from the busy extension queues. In some offices this window is genuinely fast.
5. Hand over and collect your receipt. The officer processes the TM.47 and staples a receipt into your passport showing your next due date. Check that date before you leave.

Mail and authorised representatives

Two other in-person alternatives exist. You can send the report by registered post, including your documents and a stamped, self-addressed envelope so the office can mail the receipt slip back to you. You can also send an authorised representative with a signed letter of authorisation and your documents. Both are useful if you cannot reach the office in time, though the postal route depends on the mail arriving inside the window.

Doing your 90-day report online

You can file most 90-day reports online through the Immigration Bureau's own portal, which is the modern default for repeat reports. The system runs at the official TM.47 online service, and in 2026 it is on a refreshed version. Done right, it takes a few minutes and saves a trip. Here is how it works.

1. Open the portal on a computer. Use a desktop browser rather than a phone; the site behaves far better that way and avoids most submission errors.
2. Register or log in. Create an account the first time, then log in for future reports. Have your passport and visa details to hand.
3. Enter your TM.47 details. Fill in your passport number, visa information, and current address exactly as they appear on your documents.
4. Submit inside the window. The portal only accepts your report during the allowed window, generally from 15 days before to 7 days after your due date. Submitting too early is rejected.
5. Wait for approval and save it. Your report is not final until it shows approved. Check back, then save or print the approval as your proof. If it sits pending or is rejected after a few tries, go to the office in person before your window closes.

The online route is convenient but not bulletproof. Reports can bounce for small mismatches, a missing TM30, or portal downtime, so never leave it to the last hour of your grace period. If in doubt, the in-person counter always works.

Online vs in person: which should you use

Use the online portal for routine repeat reports, and go in person whenever it is your first report after entering the country or when the online system will not cooperate. The single most important rule to remember is that your first 90-day report after each entry or re-entry into Thailand generally has to be done in person, and only your subsequent reports in that stay can be filed online. Miss that and the portal will simply refuse you.

Late reports and fines

If you file your 90-day report late, the standard penalty is a fine of 2,000 baht. That fine applies once you are past the roughly seven-day grace period after your due date, and it is paid at the immigration office when you eventually report. It is an administrative slip, not a criminal matter, and it does not by itself affect your visa.

The amount can climb depending on how you are caught. If immigration notices an overdue report when you pass through the airport on your way out of the country, the fine is commonly higher, around 4,000 baht. If a foreigner is formally arrested for not making the notification, the official penalty can reach 5,000 baht plus a daily charge until the report is filed. The table below sums it up.

None of this should be confused with overstaying your visa, which is a separate and more serious problem with its own fines and possible entry bans. A late 90-day report is a small, fixable administrative issue; an overstay is not.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most 90-day report problems come from a handful of avoidable errors. Learn these and you will rarely have trouble again.

• Forgetting the TM30. If your address was never registered, or you moved, your report can be rejected until the TM30 is filed. Keep the receipt handy.
• Assuming a border run changes nothing. Leaving and re-entering resets your 90-day clock, so track the new date from your latest entry rather than the old due date.
• Trying to do the first report online. The first report after each entry usually has to be in person; the portal will refuse it, and people waste days assuming the site is broken.
• Leaving the online report to the last minute. Submissions can lag or reject, so file early in your window and keep the in-person option in reserve.
• Losing the receipt. The slip stapled in your passport is your proof and your reminder of the next due date. Photograph it as a backup.
• Confusing it with a visa extension. The 90-day report does not extend your stay; you still handle visa extensions separately at immigration.

Doing your 90-day report in Phuket

If you live in Phuket, your 90-day report is handled by Phuket Immigration in Phuket Town, and you can also use the online portal for repeat reports once your first in-person report is done. Phuket's immigration office can get busy, especially mid-morning, so arrive early and bring complete copies to avoid a second trip. The reporting window and fines are the same here as anywhere else in Thailand.

Because so many long-stayers rent privately in Phuket, the TM30 is worth double-checking before you go. Make sure your landlord has registered your address, or that it was done when you moved in, and keep that receipt with your report documents. If you are still settling in, our overview of the cost of living in Phuket and the practicalities of getting around, including renting a scooter in Phuket to reach the office, will help you plan the trip. You can also browse the wider Phuket area hub for neighbourhood context, and if you drive here, our guide to the Thai driving licence for foreigners covers the residence paperwork immigration issues alongside your reports.

Related Thailand visa and living guides

The 90-day report is one small piece of long-stay life in Thailand. These guides cover the visas and admin that go with it, and each one links back here where reporting is relevant.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do my 90-day report online in Thailand?

Yes, most repeat reports can be filed online through the Immigration Bureau's TM.47 portal, using a desktop browser and your passport details. The main exception is your first report after each entry into Thailand, which usually has to be done in person before the online option opens for that stay.

Do I have to do my first 90-day report in person?

Generally yes. Your first 90-day report after each entry or re-entry into Thailand is normally required in person at your local immigration office. Only your subsequent reports during that same continuous stay can be submitted online, so plan your first one as an office visit.

What documents do I need for the 90-day report?

You need your passport and signed copies of the photo page, visa stamp and entry stamp, a completed TM.47 form, your previous report slip if you have one, and your TM30 receipt. Some offices also ask for a passport photo, so keep a spare handy.

What happens if I miss the 90-day report deadline?

Missing the deadline means a fine, not a lost visa. After the short grace period you pay a penalty when you next report. The 90-day report is separate from your visa, so a late report does not cancel your permission to stay, though it should be filed promptly.

How much is the fine for a late 90-day report?

The standard fine is 2,000 baht, paid at the immigration office when you file late. It can rise to around 4,000 baht if an overdue report is spotted as you leave via the airport, and up to 5,000 baht plus a daily charge if you are formally arrested for not reporting.

Does leaving Thailand reset my 90-day count?

Yes. Any time you leave Thailand and re-enter, the 90-day count restarts from the day of your latest arrival, which counts as day one. This is why frequent travellers rarely reach the reporting threshold, while those who stay continuously must keep to the cycle.

What is the difference between TM30 and the 90-day report?

The TM30 is filed by your landlord or property owner to register that a foreigner is staying at their address, usually within 24 hours of arrival. The 90-day report is filed by you every 90 days to confirm your own address. A valid TM30 is often required before your report is accepted.

Do I need to do a 90-day report if I have a re-entry permit?

A re-entry permit protects your visa when you travel, but it does not stop the 90-day clock from resetting. When you return, your count starts again from day one of that entry, and you report once you reach 90 continuous days in the country.

Where do I do my 90-day report in Phuket?

In Phuket, your 90-day report is handled by Phuket Immigration in Phuket Town, and repeat reports can also be filed online. Arrive early to beat the mid-morning queues, bring complete copies, and make sure your TM30 is registered so the report is not rejected.

Conclusion

Once you understand the rhythm, the 90 day report in Thailand becomes a quick, free routine rather than something to dread. Sort your TM30, watch the date on your receipt slip, file within the window either online or at the office, and keep the proof. If you travel constantly you may barely need it, and if you settle in one place you will soon have the process down to a few minutes. For anyone who is often abroad or simply hates admin, a reputable visa service can handle the report for a fee, but most people find that doing it themselves is genuinely straightforward.

Sources

1. Thai Immigration Bureau, TM.47 online 90-day notification portal
2. Immigration Bureau of Thailand
3. Royal Thai Consulate-General, foreigners staying more than 90 days
4. Immigration Bureau, TM.47 online user guide
5. Chiang Mai University international office, 90-day report day-count rules
6. Bangkok Post, coverage of TM30 address-notification enforcement

About this guide

This guide was written and reviewed by the Thailand Stuff editorial team, who live in and cover Phuket. We research our guides against current official immigration sources and on-the-ground experience, and we review them regularly to keep the figures and procedures current. It was last reviewed on 30 July 2026.

Thailand Stuff is a travel and living directory, not a law firm or immigration adviser, and this article is general information rather than legal advice. Immigration rules and office practices change and can vary between provinces, so always confirm the current requirements with the official Immigration Bureau, and consult a qualified visa professional for complex or borderline cases.