Visa extension and 90-day reporting Thailand: a compliance calendar for foreign SMEs

gentlelawlawfirm
Feb 9
7 min read

Introduction

For foreign SMEs, immigration compliance is not only about getting the right visa once. It is about maintaining status every month after that. Two recurring obligations drive most preventable problems: 90-day reporting Thailand and timely extension planning.

This post gives you a compliance calendar that links 90-day reporting Thailand to visa extension milestones, travel planning, and internal admin controls. It is designed to reduce missed deadlines and last-minute panic, especially for founder-led teams.

Legal disclaimer: This article is general information only and not legal advice for your specific case. Requirements can vary by visa type, location, and officer practice. Always confirm the latest requirements with Immigration Bureau and your local office before acting.

90-day reporting Thailand: what it is, and what it is not

90-day reporting Thailand means that a foreigner who has been granted permission to temporarily stay in the Kingdom and remains for more than 90 days must report their residence to immigration every 90 days, as described by immigration offices referencing Section 37(5) of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522.

90-day reporting Thailand is not a visa extension. Immigration office guidance states that a 90-day residence notification is not a request to stay in the Kingdom.

Practical takeaway for foreign SMEs: Put 90-day reporting Thailand on the same admin calendar as payroll and tax filings. Treat it as recurring compliance, not as a travel task.

90-day reporting Thailand: deadlines, grace window, and fines

Immigration office guidance states that foreigners can report their residence 15 days before or 7 days after the due date for 90-day reporting Thailand.

If the deadline is exceeded, the same guidance states the person must report in person to proceed with the fine, and the fine for late reporting is described as 2,000 THB in the self-reporting scenario.

Compliance control: Set two reminders for 90-day reporting Thailand:

Reminder A: due date minus 15 days (earliest online window)
Reminder B: due date minus 5 days (internal escalation deadline)

90-day reporting Thailand: how to report (online, in person, mail, or agent)

Immigration office guidance lists four reporting methods for 90-day reporting Thailand:

report in person
assign another person to submit
report by registered mail
report via online system

Online reporting: TM47 portal

The online system for 90-day reporting Thailand is accessed via the TM47 portal.

Operational note: Online reporting is still deadline-driven. Use the 15-day before and 7-day after window described above.

Key supporting documents (baseline example)

Immigration office guidance lists supporting documents commonly used for in-person reporting, including passport, TM.6 departure card, prior 90-day receipt if previously reported, and a completed TM.47 form.

Visa extension basics for foreign SMEs (linked to 90-day reporting Thailand)

Many foreign SME operators enter Thailand on a Non-Immigrant “B” visa and later apply for an extension of stay in Thailand. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that a holder of Non-Immigrant Visa category “B” is entitled to stay for up to 90 days and may apply for an extension of stay at the Immigration Bureau, and may be granted an extension for one year from the date of first entry.

Practical connection: Once you have an extension, you still must do 90-day reporting Thailand if you remain in Thailand long enough. Visa extension does not remove 90-day reporting Thailand obligations.

The extension form: TM7

The TM7 form is titled “Application for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom.” You should treat TM7 as a filing artifact that needs an internal document owner, version control, and a supporting evidence pack aligned to your visa basis.

Travel planning: 90-day reporting Thailand and the re-entry permit trap

Immigration office guidance states that if a foreigner leaves Thailand before the next 90-day appointment, then upon returning, they must report again after 90 days counted from the date of the last entry.

Separately, the TM47 online manual content indicates that traveling without a re-entry permit can result in expiration of the current stay status.

Compliance control for foreign SMEs: Anytime a founder or key staff plans travel, check two items:

Does travel change the 90-day reporting Thailand countdown? Yes, immigration office guidance says the 90-day count restarts after last entry.
Does travel affect the validity of the current permission to stay? Review re-entry permit needs as part of the travel checklist.

Key takeaways

90-day reporting Thailand is a mandatory residence notification for eligible foreigners who remain in Thailand beyond 90 days, and it is not a visa extension.
The reporting window is 15 days before or 7 days after the due date, and late cases can trigger in-person reporting and fines.
The TM47 portal supports online reporting for 90-day reporting Thailand.
Non-Immigrant B holders may apply for an extension of stay at Immigration Bureau and may be granted up to one year from first entry, subject to conditions and officer discretion.
Leaving Thailand can reset the 90-day reporting Thailand count, and travel planning should include re-entry permit risk checks.

Common misconceptions

Misconception 1: “If I have a one-year extension, I do not need 90-day reporting Thailand.” Incorrect. Immigration office guidance treats 90-day reporting Thailand as a separate residence notification and explicitly notes it is not a request to stay in the Kingdom.

Misconception 2: “I can report 90-day reporting Thailand at any time.” Incorrect. Immigration office guidance provides a specific window: 15 days before or 7 days after the due date.

Misconception 3: “Travel does not affect my compliance calendar.” Travel can reset the 90-day reporting Thailand count from the last entry date, and travel without re-entry permit can affect current stay validity depending on your status.

Worked scenarios (illustrative and conditional)

Scenario A: Founder on a one-year extension, frequent business travel

The founder must still comply with 90-day reporting Thailand if physically in Thailand long enough.
Every exit and re-entry can restart the 90-day count from the last entry date, so the calendar must update after each trip.
Travel planning should include a re-entry permit check because it can affect the current stay status.

Scenario B: SME HR manager running immigration for two foreign employees

Build one shared calendar that includes each employee’s 90-day reporting Thailand due dates and internal submission deadlines.
Store the TM47 receipt or confirmation in the employee file, and keep a standard document pack ready for local office requests.

SME roadmap: a practical compliance calendar for 90-day reporting Thailand

Step 1: Capture the anchor dates

For each foreign staff member:

Last entry date
Current permission to stay expiry date
Last 90-day reporting Thailand submission date (if applicable)

Immigration office guidance ties the next 90-day reporting Thailand schedule to last entry when the person leaves and re-enters.

Step 2: Create two cycles

Cycle A: 90-day reporting Thailand (rolling)
Cycle B: extension of stay planning (fixed to expiry date)

Step 3: Set reminder rules

For 90-day reporting Thailand:

Earliest action: due date minus 15 days (start window)
Latest internal deadline: due date minus 5 days
Hard stop: due date plus 7 days (end of grace window)

For extension planning:

Start preparing evidence: 45 to 60 days before expiry (process discipline, not a legal rule)
Filing target: before permission expires (avoid last day risk)

Step 4: Build a document control file

Minimum set:

Passport bio page, latest entry stamp, current permission stamp
TM47 confirmation or receipt (each cycle)
TM7 draft plus supporting documents for extension filings

FAQ

What is 90-day reporting Thailand? It is a recurring residence notification to immigration for foreigners who remain in Thailand beyond 90 days under temporary stay permission.
Is 90-day reporting Thailand the same as a visa extension? No. Immigration guidance states 90-day reporting Thailand is not a request to stay in the Kingdom.
When can I submit 90-day reporting Thailand? Immigration office guidance states you can report 15 days before or 7 days after the due date.
How do I file 90-day reporting Thailand online? You can use the TM47 online portal for 90-day reporting Thailand.
What happens if I miss the 90-day reporting Thailand deadline? Guidance indicates late cases require in-person reporting to proceed with fines, and a 2,000 THB fine is described for self-reporting late cases.
Does leaving Thailand reset 90-day reporting Thailand? Yes. Immigration office guidance states that after leaving and re-entering, the next report is due after 90 days counted from the last entry date.
How long can a Non-Immigrant B holder stay, and can it be extended? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states the holder is entitled to stay up to 90 days and may apply for an extension of stay at the Immigration Bureau, and may be granted up to one year from first entry.
What form is used to apply for an extension of stay in Thailand?TM7 is titled “Application for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom.”

Glossary

90-day reporting Thailand: periodic residence notification requirement for certain foreigners staying in Thailand beyond 90 days.
TM47: the form and system reference used for 90-day reporting Thailand, including the TM47 online portal.
TM7: application form for extension of temporary stay in Thailand.
Extension of stay: in-country permission to remain longer, applied for at Immigration Bureau offices, distinct from 90-day reporting Thailand.
Re-entry permit: permission relevant to maintaining current stay status when traveling, with guidance indicating travel without it can expire current stay.
Immigration Act Section 37(5): provision referenced by immigration office guidance as the basis for the 90-day reporting duty.

Decision checklist artifact: 90-day reporting Thailand and extension compliance checklist

Use this checklist as an internal SME artifact.

A) 90-day reporting Thailand controls

Record last entry date and current permission expiry date.
Set two reminders: due date minus 15 days and due date minus 5 days.
Choose reporting method: online TM47 portal, in person, agent submission, or registered mail.
File and store proof (confirmation or receipt) in the staff compliance folder.

B) Visa extension controls

For Non-Immigrant B holders, plan the extension pathway at Immigration Bureau and assume officer discretion applies.
Prepare TM7 and supporting documents with one document owner.
Target submission well before expiry to reduce last-day risk.

C) Travel controls

If the person exits Thailand, update the calendar because the 90-day reporting Thailand count restarts from last entry after re-entry.
Check whether re-entry permit is required to maintain current stay status before travel.

Call to action (GENTLE LAW IBL)

If your foreign SME wants a clean, audit-ready immigration calendar and document control system for 90-day reporting Thailand, extensions, and travel risk controls, GENTLE LAW IBL can build a tailored compliance roadmap with checklists, templates, and internal SOPs for your team.