90-Day Reporting (TM47) — the rule every long-stayer must know.

What is 90-day reporting?

Section 37(5) of the Thai Immigration Act 1979 requires every foreigner staying in Thailand for more than 90 continuous days on a long-stay visa to notify the local Immigration office of their current address. The form is TM.47 — Notification of Staying in the Kingdom Over 90 Days.

This is not a visa extension. It does not give you more time on your visa. It's a separate compliance step, in parallel with your visa, that confirms where you live. Skip it and you'll find your next visa extension complicated, you may be flagged at airport entry, and at worst you'll pay fines or face deportation proceedings.

Who must report — and who's exempt

You must file TM.47 if you stay in Thailand for 90 continuous days or more on most long-stay visas. The 90-day clock starts on entry and resets every time you leave and re-enter the country.

The LTR and SMART exemption is one of the most underrated benefits of those visas. Reporting once a year instead of four saves real time over a decade — especially if you currently queue at Jomtien.

When to file — the submission window

You can file your 90-day report in a window around the due date:

• 15 days before the due date (earliest)
• Up to 7 days after the due date (grace period — in-person only, no penalty if you catch it)

If you file online, the system requires you submit at least 7 days before the due date — file too close and the portal will reject the application and force you in-person. Aim for 10–14 days before the due date for safety.

5 ways to file your 90-day report

1. Online portal (free)

The official Thai Immigration online portal is at tm47.immigration.go.th. Free, takes 5 minutes if your data already matches the system. Not available for first reports — the portal requires prior reporting history.

2. Immigration mobile app (free)

The "Section 38" app on iOS and Android offers the same online filing but on phone. Useful if you travel and need to file from out of town. Same restriction — won't work for first-time filing.

3. In person at your local immigration office (free)

For Pattaya / Chonburi residents this means Jomtien Immigration on Soi 5 Jomtien. Required for first-time reporting and recommended for anyone whose passport, address, or visa stamp has changed since the last report.

4. By registered post (free)

Send TM.47 form + photocopies of passport biopage, visa stamp, and previous 90-day receipt + a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send to Jomtien Immigration at least 15 days before due date. The receipt comes back to you by post. Lower-stress than queueing, but you lose your passport stamp record temporarily.

5. Through an agent or authorised person (typically ฿500–1,500)

Any third party can file on your behalf with a signed authorisation letter, copies of your passport, visa, and the form. Many Pattaya visa agents offer this as a single-shot service if you don't want to deal with Jomtien yourself. We can match you to a vetted agent if you'd rather not stand in line.

Online filing — step by step

For your second 90-day report and onwards, the online process is the easiest path:

1. Go to tm47.immigration.go.th on a desktop browser (works best).
2. Click "Application for online" and accept the terms.
3. Enter your passport number, name, nationality, and date of birth — exactly as on your passport.
4. Enter your current Thai address — must match what Immigration has on file from your last in-person report. Any address change forces you back in-person.
5. Upload a photo of the passport biopage, the current visa stamp/extension stamp, and the most recent entry stamp.
6. Confirm and submit. You'll receive an automated approval email or a "pending" status.
7. If approved: print the receipt or save the PDF. Keep this receipt — you need it for your next report and for any visa extension.
8. If rejected: read the reason. Common ones are address mismatch, blurry uploads, or filing inside the 7-day cutoff. Fix and re-submit, or go in-person.

Your first 90-day report — must be in person

The online system requires prior reporting history. So your first 90-day report after arriving on a long-stay visa must be filed in person at your local Immigration office, with original documents.

For Pattaya residents, that's Jomtien Immigration:

Jomtien-specific tips that actually save time

• Arrive before opening — Jomtien runs on numbered queue tickets. Arriving at 7:30 AM gets you a low number and you're often done by 10 AM. Arrive at 10 AM and you may not finish the same day.
• Bring exact change for any fines or photocopying (small bills only — they don't make change for ฿1,000s gracefully).
• Photocopy shops are right outside the office on Soi 5 — but their morning queue gets long too. Photocopy everything before you leave home.
• Wear closed shoes and modest clothing — flip-flops and beachwear sometimes get refused at security.
• Bring a book or charged phone. Wi-Fi is unreliable. Mid-day waits of 2–3 hours are normal.
• Don't bring children or pets if avoidable — the waiting hall isn't air-conditioned end-to-end.
• Have your previous receipt photographed on your phone as backup. The original goes in with your form, but officers occasionally ask to verify the date.

Late, missed, or filed wrong — what happens

If you're 1–7 days late

You're inside the grace period. Walk into Jomtien (online won't work in this window), file as normal, pay ฿2,000 fine on the spot. No long-term consequence on your visa.

If you're more than 7 days late but you self-report

฿2,000 fine. The fine doesn't escalate based on how long you've been late, as long as you go in voluntarily. Bring all your documents and an honest explanation if pressed.

If you're caught at a police checkpoint or immigration audit

Up to ฿5,000 fine plus ฿200/day until resolved. Worse, this can be flagged on your record and complicate future visa extensions. Don't let it go that far.

If your last report was wrong (typo in passport / address)

Walk into Jomtien with the receipt, point out the error, and ask for a re-issue. Usually corrected free. If discovered later by Immigration, treated as a non-report and fined.

Documents checklist

For the in-person report

• Original passport
• Photocopy of passport biopage
• Photocopy of current visa or extension stamp
• Photocopy of your most recent entry stamp (TM.6 if applicable)
• Receipt from previous 90-day report (or arrival record if it's your first)
• Completed TM.47 form (printable from immigration.go.th or available free at the office)
• If your address has changed: TM.30 receipt for the new address (filed by your landlord/condo office), copy of rental contract, blue book or condo ownership document

For the online report (and the app)

• Clear photo / scan of passport biopage
• Clear photo / scan of current visa stamp
• Clear photo / scan of most recent entry stamp
• Previous 90-day report receipt number (on the printed receipt)
• Address must match Immigration's records exactly

For postal report

• All in-person items (as photocopies, no originals)
• Self-addressed stamped envelope for the return receipt
• Send registered post for tracking

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