Good to Know
TM30 & your passport
Before you arrive, we’ll ask for a photo of your passport. Here’s exactly why — it’s a simple legal step that every place you stay in Thailand has to take, and we want you to feel completely comfortable with it.
What is the TM30?
The TM30 is a notification required by Thailand’s Immigration Act. In plain English: whenever a foreign visitor stays somewhere, the person providing that accommodation has to let the local Immigration Office know. It’s been the law for years, it applies right across the country, and it’s the reason hotels scan your passport the moment you walk up to the desk.
Because you’re staying in one of our homes rather than a hotel, we’re the ones responsible for filing it — which is why we ask you directly. It’s the same paperwork, just handled by a friendly host instead of a reception desk.
Why we ask before check-in
Sorting this out ahead of your arrival means you don’t have to think about it at all. You land, we meet you, and you walk straight into a home that’s ready for you — no forms to fill in on the doorstep after a long flight. It also keeps us fully on the right side of the law, so your stay is completely worry-free.
What we need from you
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A photo of your passport page
The main page with your photo and details. A clear phone snapshot is perfect — you can send it ahead of time or show us at check-in.
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Your date of arrival in Thailand
The day you entered the country, which immigration takes from your entry stamp or arrival record.
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Your entry stamp or visa (if asked)
Occasionally immigration asks for the stamp you received on arrival. We’ll only ever request what’s genuinely needed.
How we keep your details safe
We understand that sharing a passport photo asks for trust, and we don’t take that lightly. Your details are used for one thing only — your TM30 filing — and are never shared, sold or used for anything else. Once your stay is over and the notification is confirmed, we securely delete our copy. If you’d prefer to show us your passport in person rather than send a photo, that’s absolutely fine.
Common questions
Is this a scam? Why do you need my passport?
It’s a completely legitimate, legal requirement — and a fair question to ask. Under Thailand’s Immigration Act, whoever provides accommodation to a foreign visitor must report that stay to the local Immigration Office. This is called a TM30 notification. Every hotel in Thailand does exactly the same thing when you check in; they simply do it at the front desk by scanning your passport. As your hosts, we’re responsible for filing it for you.
Do hotels really do this too?
Yes — every single one. When a hotel photocopies or scans your passport at check-in, that’s the TM30 process happening behind the scenes. The only difference with a private home is that we ask you directly rather than at a reception desk.
What exactly do you do with my details?
We use them for one purpose only: to file your TM30 notification with Thai Immigration. We don’t share your information with anyone else, we don’t use it for marketing, and we securely delete the copy once your stay is complete and the filing is confirmed.
What happens if it isn’t filed?
The legal responsibility (and any fine) sits with us as the accommodation provider, not with you — so there’s nothing for you to worry about. But filing it correctly also protects you: a registered address is what makes things like visa extensions or 90-day reporting straightforward, should you ever need them.
When do you need my passport photo?
Any time before or at check-in is fine. Sending it a day or two ahead means your arrival is completely seamless — you can walk straight in and relax. If you’d rather show us in person, that works too.
Still have a question about any of this? Just ask us — we’re always happy to explain, and we’d far rather you felt at ease than left wondering.
Your home base in Chiang Mai
Stay where the locals live
Two warm, beautifully designed homes a short stroll from the Old City — with free airport pickup and hosts who treat you like family.