Hua Hin immigration warns homeowners: 24hrs to report foreign guests

[buksida]

Immigration officials in Hua Hin have today issued a warning to homeowners about the requirement to report any foreigners who might be staying at their property.

Failure to supply Immigration with details of foreign guests will result in the owner of the property being subjected to penalties and fines.

The information comes via a the management of a leading property development in Hua Hin who has been told to inform its tenants of the requirement by officials from Hua Hin Immigration.

The noticed, which was distributed to property owners earlier today reads:

Dear Residents

Re: Immigration Notification

This morning, we have been informed by Hua Hin Immigration Office that

ALL RESIDENTS RETURNING TO HUA HIN MUST REPORT TO THE LOCAL IMMIGRATION OFFICE WITHIN 24hrs OF ARRIVAL

We are led to believe that anyone not following the new regulations will be subject to penalties and fines.

Please also note that any owners who are renting their properties – either long- or short-term – have a legal obligation to inform their tenants of the same.

Kindly note that we are informing residents as a courtesy and have no further information regarding the requirements. Should you have any further questions, kindly contact the Immigration Office directly.

Yours sincerely
The Management Team


The requirement for homeowners (or the house master) to report foreign tenants is nothing new and is stated on the Immigration Bureau’s website. It is also highlighted under point 2 on the FAQ page of the site.

However, this latest news suggests that officials in Hua Hin could be stepping up their efforts to ensure that homeowners report foreigners who may be staying in their property – both short and long term.

It is unclear if this is part of a nationwide crackdown on homeowners reporting foreign guests.

Source: Thai Visa

[lomuamart]

As has been said, this requirement has always been on the books.
There must have been big fallout after the BKK bombing and some soul searching about how in touch the authorities are with their "visitors".
That is probably the main reason for this latest directive but I think there's an underlying essence of unpaid tax.
Thai owners of rental properties certainly don't want to let on that they're getting some income, gratis.
Just my view in a time when the government's coffers are pretty depleted.

[dtaai-maai]

I must be missing something. The notice appears to be aimed at foreign 'residents' returning to Thailand after a trip abroad, reminding them they must report to Immigration within 24 hours of their return, not at homeowners renting to foreigners. The only reference to home owners says they must remind tenants they have to report.

[Takiap]

They're just concerned about our safety.

[Big Boy]

Is this a TM30 that has to be completed?

Is it a case of handing it over the counter somewhere, or do you have to take a ticket, and queue for a while to see a desk clerk?

[StevePIraq]

The statement states ALL RESIDENTS RETURNING TO HUA HIN MUST REPORT TO THE LOCAL IMMIGRATION OFFICE WITHIN 24hrs OF ARRIVAL, this is exactly the opposite of what I had been advised by immigration on my return in August, previously I had always attended immigration as soon as returning. I doubt anyone knows what they really have to do.

I had never completed any forms for this report

[Big Boy]

Look at the source - remember how they had everybody confused last time after their meetings with Hua Hin Immigration? Probably just a bad news day

[Thistle]

I have exited/entered the country on several occasions over the last few months,and have never reported to the HH immigration.In fact i departed on tuesday,and immigration at suvarnabhumi gave my passport the usual going over,checked with the computor and stamped my passport.I will be returning next week,and in turn will enquire then.

[Bristolian]

I exit and enter Thailand at least 3 times each month and have been doing so for 15 years. I have never been questioned once about 24 hour reporting. It's a threatened storm in a teacup if you ask me.

Immigration have the arrivals card with address that you are staying. Admittedly they did for a few weeks ask me to add a contact tel no to my arrivals form but last week the request was dropped.

Like every other rule in the Kingdom, it is only applied when there is one of the latest bunch of "crackdowns"

[charlesh]

Why would you worry about anything signed of by "the management team".
Can't possibly be true ha, ha.

[PeteC]

Come next week someone is sure to be at immigration for something. That's the time to ask about it and then post what they said. Pete

[Big Boy]

Exactly, the last time TV had a slow news day, I think they had every Expat in the kingdom running around, worrying about the consequences of their 'Meeting with Hua Hin Immigration' (need to carry passport, 24 hr reporting, etc., etc. It was total BS then, and probably the same this time.

Doesn't the saying go, "All publicity, good or bad is good publicity?"

Wait until you see something official.

[cookie102]

Has there been any further news on this subject or has it died a natural death.
I can not imagine all of the thousands of home owners who arrive every day for their three or four weeks holiday on a visa exempt stamp reporting themselves and family to their local immigration office.
The waiting would go on for ever.

[buksida]

I wouldn't worry too much about it, seems to be another ploy by the visa website to increase its traffic. The story wasnt reported anywhere else, in future we will not be sourcing any articles that do not come from official news websites.

[cookie102]

Thanks for your quick response, I was not really worried but would not like to be hit with any surprises when we return in a few weeks.