Updated: 27 November 2023

Visit the PCEC’s Thai Visa & Immigration website pages for information on entry and extension of stay in Thailand as well as address reporting requirements.

This page contains the latest information we have on Thai Immigration matters that may be temporary or otherwise not included in our Thai Immigration webpages.

The information presented here relates to requirements or practices of at the Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration Office.

CHONBURI (PATTAYA) IMMIGRATION OFFICE HAS A NEW LOOK & PROCEDURES - INCLUDING REQUIREMENT FOR PROOF OF HAVING A TM.30 ADDRESS REPORT ON FILE FOR IMMIGRATION SERVICES & 90 DAY ADDRESS REPORTING NOW REQUIRES COMPLETED TM.47 & OTHER DOCUMENTS

Foreigners attending to do their 90 days address confirmation continue to report directly to Building “A” without prior registration.

All other immigration customers first-of-all now report to Building “B” to obtain a ticket number for further service.

Depending on the specific service they need, the ticket number will direct them to the immigration main building (all visa extensions for example) or to Building “A” (for TM30 address registration).  Building B is also the air conditioned waiting room until your Queue number is called.

Click here for the Pattaya Mail article.

ALERT!!  TM.30 Address Reporting Requirements

Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration at their Jomtien Beach Road Soi 5 and Sri Racha offices are now wanting to see evidence that a TM.30 is on file before providing services. 

Further, in addition to requiring the report when moving into a new residence, they are now also requiring that a new TM.30 be filed if you leave and return to Thailand, even if returning to the previously reported address.   The TM.30 is required to be filed within 24 hours or the next Immigration business day after moving into  or returning to your residence in Thailand.  A fine, usually 1,600 baht, may be imposed for failure to timely file the form.

90 Day Address Reporting procedures have recently changed

Chonburi Immigration Office is now requiring a completed TM.47  - 90 address report form - be completed and other documents when filing the report.  Previously this was required only for an initial report. For subsequent reports, the Immigration Officer only required your passport and copy of your previous receipt. The bar code on the receipt was scanned and a new receipt printed and returned with the passport. 

The above sign was reported on 19 October 2023 for those filing their 90 day address report in person. Note, you will most likely also need evidence of your address, e.g., utility bill, lease, etc.

We have now received several reports regarding online 90 day address reporting. These reports are that online reporting is still available and can be used in lieu of going to the Immigration Office in person.

TM.30 Reporting UPDATE

We received the following report on 17 October 2023

I have a Non "O" visa with the 1-year Retirement Extension and a multi-Re-Entry permit. I returned to Thailand on 20 September 2023 from a 1-week trip to Cambodia on Air Asia. I read the PCEC newsletter Monday, 10/16/2023, and saw the announcement about the TM30 update. So today I did my TM-30 update at Chonburi Immigration and received my new TM-30 receipt and a 1,600 baht fine, my first fine in 13 years retired here.t

QUOTAS FOR THAI PERMANENT RESIDENCY APPLICATION 2023 ANNOUNCED

Each year the Thai Government establishes quotas for those wishing to apply for permanent residency which allows one to stay in Thailand permanently without the need to apply for annual extensions of stay.  The number of applicants is usually limited to 100 of each nationality per year. 

Click here for the Immigration Bureau's announcement of this year's quotas, application period, and requirements.  The page has links for the following:

1.    A Criterion and conditions of foreign antionals' residential permit consideration

2.    Detailed information and required documents needed for Residence Permit applications, including:

• TM. 9 Application
• Personal information sheet
• Health certificate from a government hospital
• Map of residence and place of work
• Example for the employment certification letter
• Example for the letter of employment history to Department of Labour
• Required documents

RECENT REPORTS REGARDING APPLICATION FOR NON IMMIGRANT O VISA FOR RETIREMENT PURPOSE AT THE CHONBURI (PATTAYA) IMMIGRATION OFFICE

We received a report on April 17, 2023 from an applicant for the Non-Immigrant O Visa for purpose of retirement. Although the Immigration rule for such application has no "seasoning" requirement, he reported he was told he could not apply until his 800,000 baht had been on deposit in a Thai bank for a full 60 days.  This is a requirement for the subsequent application for a one year extension after obtaining the Visa, but the main Immigration rule does not require it.

Update: Two additional reports from Non-Immigrant O Visa (Retirement) applicants; one on May 10, 2023 and the other on May 12, 2023. Both reported that Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration is now requiring the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank be seasoned for 2 months before they will accept the application for the Visa.

It appears that the policy at Jomtien Immigration Office is to now require the 2 month seasoning of the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank before they will accept an application for the Non-Immigrant O Visa (retirement purpose). 

BORDER RUNS TO CAMBODIA FROM PATTAYA - BEST TO USE A SERVICE

Pre-Covid, those in Pattaya entering by Visa Exempt or Tourist Visa, after getting their one permitted extension of stay at Thai Immigration would do a one day trip referred to as a "Border Run" - traveling by vehicle to a land border crossing with Cambodia, cross over, turn around, and reenter Thailand getting getting a Visa Exempt entry [Note: Land border entry is limited to two times during the year then and now].

But post-Covid, it is recommended that you register with a Pattaya tour and minibus operator in advance of travel to the border. The company must then send a passport copy to the border post of choice to check that the applicant is eligible for the new permission. Unregistered individuals arriving at the frontier under their own steam will not be allowed to return the same day and would need to spend several days or a week in Cambodia pending a review of their application.  Click here for the article in the Pattaya Mail.

THAI IMMIGRATION TESTING ONLINE SYSTEM FOR EXTENSIONS OF STAY (CURRENTLY ONLY IN BANGKOK)

Thai Immigration is setting up an online system for extending one's stay in Thailand, but it currently is being tested only for those using Bangkok Immigration with an expectation for future roll out to other locations.

Note: It DOES NOT include extensions based on retirement.  Click here for the Pattaya Mail article, Click here for The Pattaya News article. Click here for Barry Kenyon's article in the Pattaya Mail giving a reason for retirement extensions not being include.

TM.6 ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE CARD TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED

The Thai Cabinet has agreed to temporarily exempt the use of immigration forms “Tor Mor 6” for foreigners entering and departing from Thailand.

For those entering at all international airports. The suspension does not apply to entry at land borders.  Click here for the The Pattaya News article.  Many Immigration forms have a space for entering the TM.6 number - if you entered at an airport and were not given one, leave the space blank.