What has changed
For years, long-term residents relied on a flexible system: the 90-day report (TM47) could be filed online 15 days before or up to 7 days after the due date. That 22-day cushion is gone.
Under the new rule, published on the official Immigration Bureau website, the online report must now be submitted only between 15 and 7 days before the deadline. Once the due date passes, an in-person visit to the immigration office becomes mandatory.
Why this is critical
The scrapped 7-day grace period is a blow for many. Frequent travellers who are often abroad, expats in remote areas with poor internet, and anyone who previously used the grace period as a safety net are directly affected.
Immigration has made it clear: no exceptions, no compromises. Miss the narrow online window and you must report in person, risking fines, queues and wasted time.
What expats should do now
Expats are urged to:
-
Mark TM47 due dates clearly in their calendars
-
Submit the report midway through the 8-day window to avoid technical failures
-
Inform friends and fellow residents of the new stricter rules
The new regulation is already in force – and thousands who don’t check the immigration website regularly could be caught off guard.
Thailand’s TM47 system, already infamous for its glitches, is now less forgiving than ever. Expats must adapt quickly – or risk falling into the new TM47 trap.
