The 90-day report and visa extensions, explained

If you live in Bangkok on a long-stay visa, two pieces of paperwork come round again and again: the 90-day report, and your annual extension of stay. They are different things, they are easy to mix up, and the rules change. Here is what each one actually is, in plain English, with the official sources to check before you go.

Part 1 — The 90-day report

The 90-day report, officially the notification of staying over 90 days on form TM.47, trips up almost every newcomer because of what it is not. It is not a visa, not an extension, and not something you pay for in the normal case. It is simply you telling immigration, every 90 days, that you still live at the same address. That is all.

You have to do it if you stay in Thailand for more than 90 consecutive days on a long-stay visa or extension — the Non-Immigrant B and work visas, the O and O-A categories, retirement, marriage, education, and so on. Short-stay tourists and visa-exempt visitors do not file it. And it is a recurring chore: every 90 days, for as long as you keep living here.

The 90-day clock and re-entry

Your 90 days are counted from your last entry into Thailand, or from your previous report, whichever is later. The important practical point is that leaving and re-entering Thailand generally resets the clock — so if you travel abroad partway through, your next due date usually moves to 90 days from when you came back. If your travel pattern is complicated, confirm your exact due date with immigration rather than guessing.

When to file, and the fine for being late

You can file from 15 days before your due date up to 7 days after it, with no penalty. Miss that window and the typical outcome for a voluntary late filing is a fine of around 2,000 baht; being found to have simply not reported can cost more. One catch worth knowing: the online system usually only accepts filings in the earlier part of that window (roughly 15 to 7 days before the due date) and does not honour the 7-day grace period that in-person and postal filing allow.

The four ways to file

What to bring

For an in-person or postal filing, prepare your passport with copies of the photo page, your current visa or extension stamp, and your latest entry stamp; a completed TM.47 form; and your previous 90-day report receipt if you have filed before. Since 2025, arrivals also register a digital arrival card (TDAC) shortly after entry, and the report record increasingly links to it — so make sure your entry details are in order.

Part 2 — Extending your stay

This is the one that actually keeps you legal. An extension of stay is what most long-term residents do once a year to continue living in Thailand on the same basis — retirement, marriage to a Thai national, work, study, and so on. The application is form TM.7, and the government application fee is 1,900 baht, set nationally and non-refundable even if your application is refused.

The fee is the simple part. The hard part is the conditions behind each type of extension, and this is where we have to be careful. The supporting documents, the financial thresholds, the seasoning periods for money in the bank, and the day-to-day discretion of the officer all vary by visa type and change frequently. Retirement and marriage extensions, for example, have long carried in-bank or monthly-income requirements — but the exact figures and how long the money must sit are precisely the things that get revised. We are deliberately not printing today's thresholds as if they were settled, because a stale number here could cost you a trip. Check the current requirement for your category with the office or the official site.

If you leave Thailand mid-extension: the re-entry permit

An extension is, by default, single-entry. If you leave the country without a re-entry permit, your current permission to stay is cancelled — and you would have to start over. The re-entry permit (form TM.8) preserves your extension while you travel. It does not lengthen your stay; it just protects the stay you already have.

Where you do all this in Bangkok

If you live in Bangkok, both the 90-day report and your extension are handled at Immigration Division 1, in the Chaeng Wattana Government Complex — Building B, 3rd floor, in Laksi. The full address is 120 Moo 3, Chaeng Wattana Road (Soi 7), Thung Song Hong, Laksi, Bangkok 10210. It is open on weekdays, typically morning and afternoon sessions with a lunch break, but it is also one of the busiest government offices in the city. Going early, and ideally taking a queue number as soon as you arrive, saves hours. Confirm the office hours and which counter handles your task before you set out, because both can change.

How to file your 90-day report, step by step

1. Work out your due date. Count 90 days from your last entry or your previous report; the date is on your last receipt.
2. Pick your method. In person, by post, online, or via an agent — remembering the first report usually has to be in person.
3. Prepare your documents. Passport plus copies, a completed TM.47, and your previous receipt if you have one.
4. File inside the window. From 15 days before to 7 days after the due date. Keep the new receipt for next time.

Quick answers

Is the 90-day report the same as renewing my visa?

No. The report is just an address notification. It does not extend your permission to stay — that is the separate TM.7 extension.

What if I file the report late?

A voluntary late filing is commonly fined around 2,000 baht; being caught not having reported can cost more. Confirm the current amount with immigration.

Does a trip abroad reset my 90 days?

Usually yes — re-entering Thailand generally restarts the count from your new entry date. Check how it applies to your visa.

How much is an extension of stay?

The application fee is 1,900 baht and is non-refundable. The financial and document requirements behind it vary by type and change, so confirm them first.