Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the TM30 Immigration form here in Thailand. For those who are unaware, this is an address reporting form that is required to be filed by those who come into Thailand, who are foreign nationals who are staying in Thailand. 

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article in the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Updates on Thai Immigration's TM30 address notification form. Quoting directly: "It's the address form in Thailand for "the House Master, owner or possessor" of a residence where a foreigner is staying after arrival from a foreign country." and I am going to come back to that here in a moment - The House Master, owner and possessor - let me just finish this quote; as always I urge those who are watching this video, go check out that article to read more detail. Quoting further: "It should be filled in and returned to the local Immigration Bureau "within 24 hours" from the time of arrival at the residence. However, weekends and official holiday periods are excluded from this deadline." Quoting further: "The reporting was first introduced in the 1979 Immigration Act but is now being enforced on the claim that it enhances state security." Well why ever it's being enforced, they can enforce it; it's in the Act. Quoting further: "But at the end of the day, you personally are responsible for the TM30 and you need one to obtain any service at local Immigration. The fine is 1,600 Baht."

So a couple of things here. As we have discussed in prior videos, there have been some questions about whether or not the sort of reintroduction, which by the way did happen during Big Joke's tenure as the Head of Immigration, so interesting little point of historical fact there, but there was the argument that there was sort of a revenue generating aspect to this, but going back and quoting again: "The House Master, owner or possessor" and really hats off to the to the Pattaya Mail for putting that quote in there. We have discussed that before on this channel, and I have seen some comments recently on some stuff talking about TM30 and people are saying "well it is my landlord's responsibility!" Look if you have a lease on a place, you are the possessor, you have possession of that property for the duration of time in which you're leasing it. One could even argue even short term rentals, that is the case. Now meanwhile, look it's not going to be some Thai landlord that is going to have to pay any kind of fine because they don't need anything from Thai Immigration because they are Thai. So it's going to end up being you if you are leasing property here in Thailand or renting a place, it's going to end up being you that has to file it at the end of the day. 

That's the reason for this clarification email. I have seen a lot of people saying "well my landlords should do it, or it's somebody else's responsibility, why do I need to?" Because at the end of the day, it says "possessor" of a dwelling and look again even a short term rental, even an overnight room in a hotel or something, motel whatever, guest house, one could make the very logical and legally based if you will to use a term of the kids nowadays, based arguments, is yeah you are in possession of that place for the duration of time in which you are renting it so therefore it is ultimately your responsibility. It might be also incumbent on others but there's no penalty for others for not filing the thing. The penalty is only going to be assessed against the foreigner here in the Kingdom of Thailand.