Expat and VIP relocation support in Thailand
TM.30 and 90-day reporting, residence and lease documentation, Thai driving licence conversion, school enrolment and credential recognition, health and social security, and executive-level document management.
Quick answer
Living in Thailand as a foreign national creates recurring obligations rather than one-off tasks: the accommodation owner's TM.30 notification, the resident's 90-day address report, visa extension cycles, and — for anyone present 180 days or more in a tax year — a Thai tax residency question under section 41 of the Revenue Code. IVC maps the obligations that apply to your visa category and keeps a calendar so nothing lapses. No page here quotes fees; contact staff to scope the support.
Immigration reporting obligations
Under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), the owner or possessor of the accommodation must notify Immigration when a foreign national stays there (the TM.30 notification). Hotels do this automatically; private landlords and condominium owners frequently do not, and the gap surfaces at the next extension appointment.
A foreign national staying in Thailand beyond 90 consecutive days must report their current address to Immigration in the reporting window around each 90-day mark. The report can often be made in person, by post or online depending on the office and the applicant's history; the office's own guidance controls.
Housing and lease documentation
A lease of more than three years must be registered at the Land Office to be enforceable for the full term. For immigration purposes, extension applications typically require the lease, the landlord's ID and house registration, and a map or photographs of the residence.
Utility accounts, building access registration and, for condominiums, the juristic person's records should be aligned with the same address used in immigration filings — mismatched addresses cause avoidable rejections.
Driving in Thailand
Driving is regulated under the Motor Vehicle Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and administered by the Department of Land Transport. A foreign national may convert or apply for a Thai licence on presentation of the required identity, residence and medical documents, usually with a short knowledge and reaction test at the transport office. An International Driving Permit is a temporary bridge, not a substitute for residents.
Schooling and credential recognition
International and bilingual schools require authenticated prior transcripts and, for some transfers, recognition of the previous qualification. Documents issued abroad are Apostilled or legalised in the issuing country and translated for Thai institutions; Thai documents used abroad take the reverse route through the Department of Consular Affairs.
Health cover and social security
A foreign national employed in Thailand is generally enrolled in the social security system under the Social Security Act B.E. 2533 (1990) through the employer, which is separate from private international medical insurance. Some visa categories carry their own insurance conditions set by Immigration, which must be met at extension time.
Executive document management
For senior staff and family offices, the practical need is a single controlled record: which document expires when, which original is held where, and which certified copy has already been lodged with which authority. IVC maintains that register under a confidentiality undertaking consistent with the PDPA.
Document checklist
- Passport with the current visa or extension stamp and the TM.6 arrival record if issued
- Lease agreement, landlord ID and house registration for the current address
- Previous 90-day report receipts and any TM.30 acknowledgement
- Work permit and employer documents, where employed
- Insurance policy documents meeting the visa category's conditions
- For driving: passport, residence certificate or embassy letter, and medical certificate
Before you engage
- Ask the landlord for the TM.30 acknowledgement in writing at move-in — chasing it a year later is far harder.
- Diarise the 90-day report window rather than the deadline; late reporting carries a fine.
- Count your days in Thailand each calendar year: 180 days changes your tax position.
- Keep certified copies of every document lodged with an authority, with the lodgement date.
Common pitfalls
- Assuming a condominium juristic person filed the TM.30 on the owner's behalf.
- Relying on an International Driving Permit long-term while resident in Thailand.
- Buying insurance that does not meet the specific coverage conditions of your visa category.
- Using different address formats across immigration, bank and school records.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for the TM.30 notification?
The Immigration Act places the duty on the owner or possessor of the accommodation — the landlord, hotel or house owner — not on the foreign resident. In practice residents should still obtain and keep the acknowledgement, because extension applications are assessed against it.
What is the 90-day report?
A foreign national remaining in Thailand for more than 90 consecutive days must notify Immigration of their current address in the reporting window around each 90-day point. It is an address notification, not a visa renewal, and it resets on each qualifying departure and re-entry.
When do I become a Thai tax resident?
Section 41 of the Revenue Code treats presence in Thailand of 180 days or more in a tax year as residence for that year. Residency determines how foreign-sourced income brought into Thailand is assessed, so the day count should be tracked.
Can I convert my foreign driving licence?
The Department of Land Transport allows application or conversion on presentation of identity, proof of residence and a medical certificate, generally with a short test at the transport office. Requirements vary by office and by the issuing country of the original licence.
Is social security compulsory for foreign employees?
Employees working lawfully for a registered employer are generally covered under the Social Security Act through employer enrolment. It is not a replacement for private international health insurance and does not by itself satisfy visa insurance conditions.
How is expat support priced?
It depends on the obligations in scope and the reporting cadence, agreed with staff in advance by phone, LINE or email. This site does not publish fees.
Primary sources
- Immigration Bureau — Immigration Act B.E. 2522 — TM.30 and 90-day reporting
- Department of Land Transport — Driving licence application and conversion
- The Revenue Department — Revenue Code section 41 — tax residence
- Social Security Office — Social Security Act B.E. 2533 coverage
Reviewed as of 2026-08-04. General guidance only, not case-specific advice and not a guarantee of outcome. Fees, conditions and processing times are set by the responsible authority and can change. This site does not publish prices — please ask our staff.
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