TM30 and the 90-Day Report on Koh Samui: A 2026 Guide

TM30 and the 90-day report are two of the most confused rules for anyone renting on Koh Samui — not because they're complicated, but because they get mixed up constantly, even though they apply to different people, at different times, with different penalties. This guide separates the two clearly, sets out current deadlines and fines, and gives the verified details for the immigration office that actually handles both for Koh Samui.

TM30 and TM47 at a glance

TM30: your landlord's job, not yours

Under Section 38 of the Immigration Act, the legal duty to file TM30 sits with the landlord or house owner — not the tenant. Once a foreign national moves in, the landlord has 24 hours to notify Immigration, either online through the TM30 portal or in person. If they don't, they (not you) can face a fine of up to 2,000 THB under Section 77, with a steeper 2,000–10,000 THB range for a hotel or guesthouse operator who fails to report a guest.

As a tenant, there's no direct legal penalty if your landlord skips this. The real-world problem is different: immigration offices routinely ask to see a valid TM30 record for your current address when you apply for a visa extension or file your 90-day report, and without it those processes can be delayed. The safe habit is simple — ask your landlord for a copy of the TM30 confirmation as soon as you move in, and keep it with your rental paperwork. Our guide to Thailand's rental law and our first-30-days checklist cover where this fits into your broader move-in tasks.

What your landlord needs to file it

A landlord doesn't need much to complete a TM30 filing: typically a copy of their own ID card or house registration book (Tabien Baan) for the property, plus a copy of your passport bio page, visa page and arrival stamp (or TM6 arrival card). If your landlord seems unsure how to file, the online TM30 system is designed for exactly this and takes only a few minutes once an account is set up for the property — it's worth offering to sit with them the first time if they've never rented to a foreigner before, since a smooth TM30 record makes every later step (bank account, driving licence, 90-day report) easier for you.

Do you need a new TM30 every time you travel?

This is the point where sources genuinely disagree, and it's worth being upfront about that rather than pretending there's a clean answer. Some guidance suggests a fresh TM30 is required every time a foreign tenant re-enters Thailand and returns to the same address, even if it was already reported once. Other, older guidance points to a relaxation where returning to an address already on file doesn't require a new filing. We could not find a single, current, official statement that settles this either way. The practical move: ask your specific landlord or the Maenam immigration office directly whether a re-filing is needed after your next trip abroad, rather than assuming either answer.

The 90-day report (TM47): your responsibility, not your landlord's

Once you've been in Thailand continuously for 90 days, the 90-day report becomes your job (or your agent's, if you use one) — this is a completely separate obligation from TM30, tied to a different form, a different deadline pattern, and a different online system. You can file it:

• Online, at tm47.immigration.go.th, within the window of 15 days before your due date to 7 days after it
• By post, sent to your local immigration office with the required copies enclosed
• In person, at the immigration office covering your address

Miss the window and the standard penalty is around 2,000 THB. If you're stopped for an ID or visa check and found to be overdue rather than reporting it yourself, the fine can run higher, up to 5,000 THB. Each successful report resets the 90-day clock from that date, so it's worth setting a reminder around day 75 of your current period rather than waiting for the deadline — the online system in particular can be slow to accept submissions right at the edge of the window if there's a backlog.

Short trips abroad reset the clock — the report itself does not

The 90-day report only applies to a continuous stay in Thailand. If you leave the country and re-enter, even briefly, your 90-day count restarts from the date of your new arrival stamp, and any 90-day report you were tracking before that trip is no longer relevant. This is a genuinely useful fact to know: if your report is coming due but you have an international trip planned anyway, travelling resets the clock and can save you a separate filing. If you stay in Thailand continuously between trips, though, the count keeps running from your last entry, and you're still responsible for filing on time.

Where to go on Koh Samui: the Maenam immigration office

Koh Samui is covered by a branch office of Surat Thani Immigration, located in Maenam:

• Address: 333 Maenam Road, Soi 1, Moo 1, Tambon Maenam, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84330
• Phone: 077 423 440

We verified this address and phone number against the office's current listing on Google Maps in September 2026. As with any government office, opening hours and staff availability can shift without much notice, so it's worth calling ahead before a special trip, especially if you're bringing a specific form or expecting a same-day service like the Certificate of Residence.

What happens if you fall behind

Beyond the fines above, the bigger practical risk is friction: a missing TM30 record or an overdue 90-day report can complicate a visa extension, a re-entry permit application, or simply a routine document check. None of this is catastrophic on its own, but it's the kind of paperwork problem that's far easier to avoid than to untangle at an immigration counter. If you do fall behind, the straightforward fix is to go to the Maenam office (or file online where possible), pay the fine if one applies, and get current again — delaying further only adds risk if you're stopped in the meantime.

Checklist

• Confirm your landlord has filed TM30 within 24 hours of you moving in, and keep a copy
• Ask directly whether a new TM30 is needed after your next trip abroad — the rule isn't consistently documented
• Set a reminder around day 75 of continuous stay for your next 90-day report
• File the 90-day report online, by post, or in person within the 15-days-before to 7-days-after window
• Keep the Maenam immigration office's address and phone number (333 Maenam Road, Soi 1, Moo 1, 077 423 440) handy, and call ahead before visiting

Both of these obligations sit alongside the wider paperwork of settling in — our first-30-days checklist walks through what else typically needs doing, and if you're still finalising a lease, our guide to security deposit rules on Koh Samui and Thailand's 2025/2026 rental law cover the contractual side.

This article is general information, not legal advice — requirements can change, so confirm current deadlines and document requirements with the Maenam immigration office or a Thailand-qualified immigration agent before you rely on them.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to file TM30 myself as a tenant on Koh Samui?

No. Under Immigration Act Section 38, that duty legally sits with your landlord or house owner, who must report your address within 24 hours of you moving in. Ask them for a copy of the confirmation for your own records.

What's the difference between TM30 and the 90-day report?

TM30 is your landlord's address notification, filed within 24 hours of you moving in. The 90-day report (TM47) is separate and is your own responsibility — filed after every 90 days of continuous stay, in a window from 15 days before to 7 days after it's due.

How do I file the 90-day report on Koh Samui?

Online at tm47.immigration.go.th, by post to your local immigration office, or in person at the Maenam immigration office (333 Maenam Road, Soi 1, Moo 1, tel. 077 423 440), which covers Koh Samui.

What's the fine for missing TM30 or the 90-day report?

TM30 is a landlord obligation, with a fine of up to 2,000 THB for a private landlord and 2,000–10,000 THB for a hotel operator. The 90-day report carries a fine of around 2,000 THB if you file late, rising to as much as 5,000 THB if you're found overdue during an ID or visa check.

Do I need a new TM30 filed every time I travel and come back?

Sources disagree, and there is no single current official statement settling it. To be safe, ask your landlord or the Maenam immigration office directly after your next trip abroad rather than assuming a re-filing is or isn't needed.

Sources

Last checked: 19 September 2026. Facts were cross-checked against several sources; official ones take priority.

• Local team verification of the Maenam immigration office address and phone via Google Maps (2026-09-19)
• Unofficial translation, Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) (2025-12-26)
• TM30 Home — Immigration Bureau (2025-11-03)
• Apply for Notification of Staying in the Kingdom (TM47) (2025-03-18)
• GuideTM47 — Immigration Bureau (2023-01-01)
• การรับแจ้งอยู่ในราชอาณาจักร เกิน 90 วัน — Immigration Bureau (2025-11-04)
• E-service | Surat Thani Immigration (2026-09-19)
• Online Appointment (Division 6) — Immigration Bureau (2025-11-03)
• Internal fact-check: 2026-09-19-mietratgeber-welle4.md, question 2 (TM30 / 90-day report) (2026-09-19)