Your first 30 days in Thailand set up compliance for everything that follows — wrong address records, missed reporting calendars, and tourist-only banking block months of progress. This is a task checklist, not relocation aesthetics. For city choice and leases, see Moving to Thailand guide.
Week 1 — Survive legally
Days 1–7 essentials
- Photograph passport stamp at the airport counter — permitted stay date is law
- Save stamp in stay tracker and visa expiry calculator
- If you need maps and Grab before a shop visit: install a travel eSIM before you land
- Register Thai SIM to passport — banks and apps need OTP
- Confirm TM.30 will be filed for your address (task hub)
- If landlord hesitates: read TM.30 landlord refuses
- Short tourist stay? Note extension deadline before day 60/30
Warning
The stamp date overrides blog posts about “standard 60 days.” Plan from what you actually received.
Week 2 — Housing and records
- 1
Collect TM.30 receipt
From hotel, juristic office, or landlord filing. Scan into cloud storage.
- 2
Sign lease with TM.30 clause
Email confirmation that management files for foreigners.
- 3
Map Immigration office
Bookmark Chaeng Watthana or provincial office for your future self — Bangkok tips.
- 4
Long-stay visa? Calendar TM.47
First 90-day report may be in person — see 90-day overview.
Week 3 — Money and movement
Days 15–21
- Attempt bank account if visa allows — tourist refusals are common
- If working or invoicing Thai clients: start Tax ID research
- Plan trips? Check if re-entry permit needed before booking flights
- Driving regularly? Schedule Thai license conversion
- Travel insurance active if visa requires it (DTV, retirement)
Week 4 — Compliance audit
- 1
Verify TM.30 matches lease address
Typos now become extension rejections later.
- 2
Understand TM.30 vs TM.47
Read difference guide once — saves years of confusion.
- 3
Set 85-day TM.47 reminder
If on Non-Immigrant, DTV, retirement, or similar — not typical for pure tourist TR.
- 4
Book extension if tourist window closing
TM.7 at Immigration — extend tourist stay.
Visa-type quick map
| Visa / stamp | First-30 priorities |
|---|---|
| Tourist exemption / TR | Stamp photo, extension date, optional TM.30 for TM.7 |
| DTV / Non-Immigrant | TM.30, 90-day calendar, bank, insurance proof |
| Retirement O-A | TM.30, 90-day, bank balance docs, retirement hub |
| Work permit route | Employer TM.30 support, Tax ID via HR, re-entry before trips |
Tool
Visa Expiry Calculator
Enter your entry date and permitted stay to see your visa expiry date and days remaining.
Stamp dates, visa conditions, and extension approvals vary. Always check your passport stamp, 90-day reporting obligations, and official immigration records.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip TM.30 in week one?
Only if you are hotel-hopping short tourism. Long-stay renters should not delay.
When is first 90-day report due?
90 days from entry or last TM.47 — not from visa issuance. Online option: TM.47 e-Service guide.
What if I overstay accidentally?
Go to Immigration immediately — overstay calculator estimates fines; fix before flying.
Is this list complete for families?
Add school letters, dependant visas, and extra passport copies — same TM.30/TM.47 logic applies per person on long-stay permissions.