Thailand repeals address reporting for foreigners but keeps 90-day rule

Thailand moves to end personal address reporting

Foreign residents in Thailand will no longer need to report domestic travel or self-file their local addresses once cabinet-approved immigration amendments clear the Royal Gazette.

What the draft bill removes for foreigners

The draft reform repeals Section 37(2), (3) and (4) of the 1979 Immigration Act, ending duplicate filing burdens on foreign nationals. Under the proposed changes, foreigners won't have to notify immigration offices of their residence or report inter-provincial trips lasting more than 24 hours. The draft also scraps Section 37(1), lifting outdated employment bans for temporary visitors.

The 90-day reporting rule under Section 37(5) stays in place, meaning long-term permit holders must still confirm their presence every three months.

Landlord TM30 obligations remain in place

The reforms don't abolish the TM30 system entirely. Property owners, hotels and landlords must still report foreign tenants within 24 hours of check-in under Section 38, legal analysts confirmed.

Tenants and digital nomads navigating Thailand's residency rules will still need digital TM30 receipts from their hosts to process visa extensions. If a landlord fails to submit the digital notification, the tenant will face delays at immigration counters until the property owner registers the stay.

Implementation timeline and digital shift

The amendments take legal effect 30 days after formal publication in the Royal Gazette. Until that publication occurs, existing Section 37 reporting rules remain enforceable.

The legislative change fits alongside Thailand's broader digital tracking rollout. The online Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) replaced paper TM6 forms on May 1, 2025 and authorities plan to integrate TDAC with TM30 and 90-day records in a unified platform in Oct. 2026.