Top 15 Thai Immigration Documents explained
Last updated on August 8th, 2025 at 11:27 am
All you need to know about the Top 10 Thai Immigration documents.
Summary:
Top 15 Thai Immigration Documents for Expats
- Passport and Visa
- Blue Book – Certificate of car Ownership
- Green Book – Certificate of Motorbike Ownership
- Channote – Certificate of ownership – Land of Condo
- Thai Will
- Immigration TM6 – departure form
- Immigration TM7 – Request for extension of stay
- Immigration TM8 – Re-entry Permit
- Immigration TM28 – Change of Residence
- Immigration TM30 or short term certificate of Residency
- Yellow Book – long term certificate of residency
- Immigration TM47 – 90-day Extension of stay
- Usufruct – Right to life in Thai home for life
- Permanent Residency Permit
- Public Hospital Registration Card
Details of each are below…
TM30 Thai Immigration Document
"Certificate of Residency"
A Certificate of Residency (TM30) is proof of where you are staying in Thailand.
Also known as TDAC, short for the Thailand Digital Arrival Card and acts as a replacement for the TM6 form.
Section 38 of the Immigration Act, 2522 B.E., states, House owners, heads of households, landlords, or managers of hotels who house foreign nationals staying in the kingdom temporarily must notify the local immigration authorities of such within 24 hours of the foreigner’s arrival.
When needed, this document can be provided to you by your Hotel or Condo Juristic office. When you get the certificate, it will have 30 days before it expires.
Over the years, I’ve had to get them for many reasons, such as applying for a Thai driver’s license and buying a car. You need to apply for a new Residence Certificate each time someone asks for one, as TM30s only good for 30 days.
The hassle of getting a TM30 frequently makes getting a Yellow Book a much more efficient solution. See the Yellow book document deatiols on this page for more information.
TM8 Thai Immigration Docuyment
"Re-entry Permit"
You need to complete the TM8 form if you are looking to travel abroad but need a re-entry permit to return to Thailand. While “multiple-entry visas” allow you to re-enter Thailand freely, “single-entry” visas will be automatically cancelled when you leave the country without applying for a re-entry permit. The TM8 is also known as the “Application for Re-entry Permit to Return into the Kingdom” form.
You need to apply for a re-entry permit if you are on the following visas:
- Single-entry tourist visa
- 90-day non-immigrant visa
- 1-year marriage visa
- 1-year retirement visa (OA)
You can obtain this form from a Thai airport or download it from the official Thai immigration website.
TM28 Thai Immigration Document
"Change of Residence"
The TM28 is classified as a “change of residence” form and is required if you have to change your address and move provinces. You must submit the document to the immigration officers to inform them of your updated address in Thailand.
Unlike the TM30, which is completed by landlords or property owners, you must complete the TM28 by yourself and report your change of address to the authorities within 24 hours of settling in your new home. Failure to do so will result in a fine the next time you have to complete your 90-day report or extend your visa.
Proof of Residency - Yellow Tabien Baan
A Yellow Book is a more permanent type of Certificate of Residency that is available to long term residence. This is much more efficient since you will need a residency certificate frequently and the standard TM30 form is only good for 30 days.
Yellow Book, in Thai it’s called “Tabien Baan” is a long-term Proof of Residency document. It does not expire, but must be updated when you move. It can be used in place of the TM30 form, which is only good for 30 days. Having this can save you a lot of time and headache since many of the legal processes require Proof of Residency.
Yellow book name can be confusing…
A Tabien Baan is a house document, which translates literally as “House Registration”.
This house registration book contains the details of all foreign nationals registered as living at the address (as their primary residence).
Note: The Tabien Baan doesn’t prove ownership of the property, only residence.
The title of “Yellow Tabien Baan” is a label Thais use to describe the Thai Proof of Residency book for foreigners, while the blue colored book is the same residency book for Thai People.
Who can get a Yellow Tabien Baan
Not all foreigners residing in Thailand qualify for a Yellow Tabien Baan. Generally, eligibility is limited to foreigners who meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Married to a Thai Citizen: Foreign spouses of Thai citizens can be registered on the same Yellow Tabien Baan as their partner.
- Property Ownership: Foreigners who own a freehold property in Thailand can apply to have their name included on a Yellow Tabien Baan for that specific property.
If you are unsure about your nationality’s eligibility for the Yellow Tabien Baan, you can either contact your embassy or local District Office (Amphoe) for confirmation.
Requirements for obtaining a Yellow Tabien Baan
Before applying for a Thailand yellow book (Yellow Tabien Baan), you must ensure you have the necessary documentation. Here’s a list of the yellow book requirements, for your reference:
- Household Registration (Blue Book or Thor.Ror.14 ): If you’re married to a Thai citizen, you’ll need a copy of their Blue Book.
- Passport Photos: Three passport-sized photos are required.
- Passport Verification and Translation: Your passport needs to be verified at your embassy and translated into Thai. This translation must then be certified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Make certain that your Thai name on the translation matches the name on the house deed.
- Original Sales and Purchase Agreement: If you’re applying based on property ownership, you’ll need the original sales and purchase agreement for the property.
- Work Permit (if applicable): If you’re working in Thailand, include a copy of your work permit.
- Marriage Certificate (if applicable): If you’re married to a Thai citizen, provide a copy of your marriage certificate.
- Thai Witnesses: You will very likely need to be accompanied by two Thai witnesses (with their own blue books and national ID cards). Many documents need to be read and written by a Thai person.
TM6 Thai Immigration Document
"Departure Form"
TM6 Form is a Thai Immigration Document “Departure Form” required to leave the country.
You fill out an arrival and departure form when you arrive. The immigration office will put the departure card section in your passport.
The document number in this form is needed for many other immigration processes, such as Retirement VISA.
Do not lose this card !
TM7 Thai Immigration Document -
"Request for an Extension of Stay "
TM7 Form is a Request for an Extension of Stay is Thailand.
It is needed to process a 30-day and 90-day check-in extension of stay in Thailand.
TM47 Thai Immigration Document -
90-day reporting
TM47 Form for 90-day reporting requirement for a number of Thai VISA types.
This can be filled out and taken in person at an immigration office, or it can be done in-line. (see below)
Rather than filling out the form on paper and taking it to the Immigration office. You may be able to file online via this website link :
After you have submitted your online TM7 for an extension of stay, please wait 3 days for immigration to reply confirming your extension of stay have been approved. There will be a TM47 attachment to this email with a new date for your next check-in.
Please make a note of this and keep a printed copy of the Extension of Stay form in your passport.
See example below;
Blue book
A Blue Book document is a Certificate of Ownership for a Car or Truck.
Green Book
A Green Book document is a Certificate of Ownership for a Motorbike.
Chanote - Property Title Deed
Chanote is a Property Title Deed for Homes/ Land and Condos.
There are stations when this maybe required at Immigration, for example to show proof of residency when you own a residency this is Business owned.
It is a requirement that you or your landlord report your residence when you arrive in Thailand and update this information whenever you move.
Make printed Copies of documents for Immigration Office
While you may have been informed that copies of bank accounts, passports and other documents are needed. Most Expats do not know which pages are required to copy. I will clear this up below.
First, It’s better to have copied more than needed, than miss one required page and spend an hour getting a page copied and come back. The requirements change from time to time, and it is best to be prepared.
For the Passport – copy your Photo page, both side, your VISA page, your initial entry VISA page and your TM6 page.
For the Bank Passbook – copy the account number and your name pages, the final balance page. Additionally, it is best to copy all transactions with the last year pages if this for a retirement VISA.
NOTE : Each copy mush for hand signed, and a note is recommended to be added such as “this is for Immigration visa only”
If other documents are required, be sure to make 2 copies of each of these are well.
Helpful short-cut links to the Thai Immigration Website
This section contains direct links to several commonly needed Thai immigration web pages that maybe difficult to locate if start at the home page. This saves you time looking for common information and also gets you the newest information.