Immigration Form TM.47 
The 90-Day Reporting Guide
Under Section 37 of the Thai Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), any foreign national permitted to stay in the Kingdom of Thailand on a long-term visa for more than 90 consecutive days must formally notify the Immigration Bureau of their current residential address. This process, universally known among expatriates as the \"90-Day Report,\" is a mandatory, ongoing administrative requirement designed to maintain an accurate demographic registry of all foreign residents in the country.
What is the TM.47 Form and Who Exactly Needs It?
The TM.47 form is essentially a census tracking tool. It is critical to understand that the 90-day report is not an application for permission to stay, nor is it a visa extension. You are simply notifying the government that you are still residing at the address they have on file for you. If you have moved, this is the formal mechanism you use to update your residential profile in the national immigration database.
This requirement applies to almost every single foreigner living in Thailand, regardless of their nationality, income, or their primary purpose of stay. If you hold a Non-Immigrant B (Work) Visa, a Non-Immigrant O (Marriage/Retirement/Family) Visa, a Non-Immigrant ED (Education) Visa, or a Thai Privilege (Elite) Visa, you are legally bound to complete this report every 90 days.
How the Clock Works: The 90-day countdown clock begins the exact moment you receive your entry stamp at passport control upon arriving in Thailand. Day 1 is your arrival date. If you leave the country on day 89 and return a week later, the clock does not pause—it resets entirely back to day one upon your re-entry.
Are There Any Exemptions to the 90-Day Rule?
Yes, but they are exceptionally rare and reserved for specific premium visa classes designed to attract elite global talent, extreme wealth, or foreign diplomats. The primary exemptions to the standard 90-day reporting cycle include:
- Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa Holders: Individuals holding this highly exclusive 10-year visa enjoy a dramatically reduced bureaucratic burden. Their address reporting requirement is formally extended from every 90 days to only once every 365 days (annually).
- Smart Visa Holders: Similar to the LTR, highly skilled technical experts, executives, and startup entrepreneurs holding a Board of Investment (BOI) Smart Visa are only required to report their address annually rather than quarterly.
- Diplomatic & Official Visas: Holders of diplomatic passports (Category D) and official passports (Category F) acting on state business are entirely exempt from domestic address reporting under international conventions.
How to File: Your Four Reporting Options
The Thai Immigration Bureau has modernized its systems significantly over the past decade. You no longer have to waste a full day sitting in a crowded government office if you prepare in advance. There are now four legally recognized methods for submitting your TM.47 report. The filing process itself is entirely free of charge if completed within the legal timeframe.
1. The Online Portal & Mobile App (Recommended)
This is by far the most convenient method for tech-savvy expatriates. You can use the official Thai Immigration e-Service website or download the dedicated mobile application on your smartphone. To successfully use this digital system, your passport and visa details must already be active in the immigration database, meaning you usually must have completed at least one 90-day report or visa extension in person previously.
The Crucial Catch: The online system operates under a very strict time window. You can only submit your report online between 15 days to 7 days before your exact due date. If you attempt to submit it 6 days before, the system will lock you out, assuming you are too close to the deadline, and force you to file in person.
2. In-Person at the Immigration Office
If the online system experiences downtime, or if you missed the digital window, you must physically visit the immigration office that holds jurisdiction over your registered address. You are granted a generous grace period for in-person visits: you can go up to 15 days before your due date, or up to 7 days after your due date without incurring any penalties.
Required Documents: You must bring your original passport, a fully completed TM.47 form, the original receipt slip from your previous 90-day report, and proof that your landlord has filed your TM.30 residence notification. Some offices may also ask for a photocopy of your passport bio page and current visa stamp.
3. By Registered Postal Mail
For those living far from an immigration office who cannot use the online system, the postal service remains a valid and legal option. You must send your application package via registered mail so it can be officially tracked. The package must arrive at the immigration office at least 15 days before your reporting deadline.
The Package Must Include: A photocopy of your passport bio page, current visa stamp, and latest entry stamp (all signed in blue ink), the completed TM.47 form, the original receipt slip of your previous report, and a self-addressed envelope affixed with sufficient postage stamps (usually 10-15 THB) for the immigration office to mail the new receipt slip back to you.
4. Utilizing a Proxy or Agent
You are not legally required to appear in person if you authorize someone else to perform the task. You can sign a formal Power of Attorney form granting a friend, a legal representative, or a dedicated visa agency the right to submit the TM.47 form on your behalf. This is a common service provided by law firms. It is also a core, highly valued benefit included in the Thai Privilege (Elite) Visa, where their dedicated Elite Personal Assistants physically take your passport to immigration and handle the entire process for you.
🚨 Consequences of Non-Compliance & Alternatives
Ignoring the 90-day reporting requirement is a direct violation of the Immigration Act. While missing this deadline is not considered as severe an offense as overstaying your actual visa (which can lead to blacklisting), the financial and administrative penalties can cause significant friction during your stay in Thailand.
The Financial Penalties for Late Reporting
If you miss the 7-day grace period for in-person reporting, you are officially classified as late. When you finally go to the immigration office to report, you will be directed to a specific desk to pay an administrative fine of 2,000 THB. You will be issued a formal, government-stamped receipt for this fine, and your record will be updated.
However, the penalty becomes much more severe if you do not surrender voluntarily. If you are stopped by the police for a random passport check, involved in a traffic accident, or arrested for an unrelated matter, and the authorities discover during their checks that you have failed to file your 90-day report, the fine doubles immediately to 4,000 THB. Furthermore, chronic failure to report can be cited by strict immigration officers as grounds to deny your future annual visa extensions.
The Only Alternative: Leaving the Country
There is no legal administrative workaround to bypass the TM.47 requirement while remaining continuously inside the country on a standard long-term visa. The only true "alternative" to filing the report is to physically depart Thailand before your 90 days are up.
By passing through outbound passport control at an international airport or land border, your current 90-day cycle is permanently halted and canceled. When you fly back into Thailand (ensuring you have used a re-entry permit or hold a multiple-entry visa so your core visa remains valid), the immigration officer at the airport will stamp you back in. At that precise moment, a brand new 90-day countdown will automatically begin from your new arrival date.
For official online reporting via the e-Service system and to download the physical TM.47 PDF form, please visit the Thai Government's official immigration portal:
🌐 Official Thai Immigration Bureau💡 Passport Organization ProTip
When you complete your report in person at the immigration office, the officer will print out and hand you the bottom receipt slip of the TM.47 form, which explicitly states your next due date. Always staple this slip firmly into the back pages of your passport. It is standard procedure for immigration officers and airport border control officials to check this physical slip to verify your legal compliance. Losing it can result in unnecessary delays and administrative demands to prove you actually reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I forget to do my 90-day report?
Failing to report your address on time will result in an immediate administrative fine of 2,000 THB when you finally report or when you attempt to extend your visa. However, if you are arrested for any reason and found to be late on your reporting, the fine escalates to 4,000 THB, and you may face additional legal scrutiny regarding your right to stay.
Is the 90-day report a visa extension?
No, it is absolutely not a visa extension. The 90-day report (TM.47) is strictly an address notification required by law to keep the government informed of your whereabouts. It does not extend your "Admitted Until" date. You must monitor your actual visa expiration date entirely separately from your 90-day reporting date.
Can I do the 90-day report online?
Yes, Thai Immigration offers an online portal and a dedicated mobile application for 90-day reporting. You can usually apply online within a strict window: starting 15 days before your due date, up to 7 days before your due date. The online system will automatically reject applications that are too close to the deadline.
Does leaving the country reset the 90-day clock?
Yes. Every time you leave Thailand and re-enter, the 90-day clock resets to day one upon your arrival, provided you have a valid re-entry permit or a multiple-entry visa. Your new 90-day report will be due 90 days from the date of your latest entry stamp.
Explore More Immigration Services
Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. Visa regulations, financial requirements, and immigration policies in Thailand are highly dynamic and subject to frequent changes by the Thai government without prior notice. REMAX Thailand is a real estate agency and does not provide formal legal or immigration advice. For the most accurate, up-to-date, and legally binding information regarding visa applications and requirements, we strongly advise consulting with a qualified immigration lawyer or visiting the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand (กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ).