TM.18 Application Form for Residence Certificate Thailand

The TM.18 is the official application form for requesting a Certificate of Residence (TM.16) from the Thai Immigration Bureau. It is a single-page document that you complete and submit along with your supporting documents. The form collects your personal information, passport and visa details, current residential address, and the purpose for which you need the certificate.

Key facts about the TM.18

Detail	Information
Official name	Application for Certificate of Residence
Form number	TM.18
Pages	1 page
Language	Thai and English
Fill out in	English (unless you write Thai fluently)
Resulting document	TM.16 Certificate of Residence

While the form itself is straightforward, errors and inconsistencies are one of the most common reasons for application delays. The most critical rule: every piece of information on the TM.18 must match your passport and TM.30 exactly. Understanding each field eliminates this risk.

Official sources

1. Thai Immigration Bureau website — immigration.go.th under the forms/downloads section. Look for "Certificate of Residence" or "TM.18".
2. Bangkok Immigration Division 1 website — bangkok.immigration.go.th often has a direct download link.
3. At the Immigration office — blank forms are available at the information counter or in a rack near the entrance.

Tips for printing

• Use standard A4 paper
• Print at 100% scale — do not shrink to fit
• Some PDF versions allow you to type directly into fields before printing, which is recommended for legibility
• If typing, still sign the form by hand after printing

Here is how to complete each section of the TM.18 form correctly:

Personal information

• Full name: Write your complete name exactly as it appears in your passport, including all middle names. Use BLOCK CAPITALS. Example: JOHN MICHAEL SMITH. Do not use nicknames, abbreviations, or different transliterations.
• Nationality: As stated in your passport. Example: BRITISH, AMERICAN, AUSTRALIAN, GERMAN, JAPANESE.
• Date of birth: Use DD/MM/YYYY format (Thai standard). Example: 15/03/1985. Note: this is day-first, not month-first as used in the US.

Passport and visa details

• Passport number: Exactly as printed on your passport. Include any letters.
• Visa type: Write the visa category from your sticker. Example: NON-IMMIGRANT B, NON-IMMIGRANT O, or LONG-TERM RESIDENT (LTR).
• Visa number: The reference number on your visa sticker or extension stamp.
• Date of most recent entry: The date stamped in your passport when you last entered Thailand. Use DD/MM/YYYY format.

Address

• Current address in Thailand: Your complete address including room/unit number, building name, house number, street name (including Soi), sub-district (Khwaeng or Tambon), district (Khet or Amphoe), province (Changwat or Krungthep Maha Nakhon for Bangkok), and postal code. This must match your TM.30 registration exactly.

Purpose and duration

• Purpose of certificate: Be specific. Good examples: "Application for Thai driving license at DLT," "Opening bank account at Bangkok Bank," "Vehicle registration at DLT." Avoid vague answers like "personal use."
• Period of residence: How long you have lived at the stated address. Example: "1 year and 6 months" or "Since January 2025."

Signature and date

• Sign using the same signature as in your passport
• Date using DD/MM/YYYY format

Based on our experience processing hundreds of applications, these are the most frequent TM.18 errors:

Mistake	Why it causes rejection	How to avoid it
Name mismatch	Name differs from passport (nickname, abbreviated middle name, different transliteration)	Copy your name character-for-character from your passport
Address mismatch	Address written differently from TM.30 (different format, missing room number, different street name transliteration)	Copy the address exactly from your TM.30 receipt
Wrong date format	Using MM/DD/YYYY instead of DD/MM/YYYY	Thailand uses DD/MM/YYYY — always put the day first
Blank fields	Officer assumes form is incomplete	If a field does not apply, write "N/A" — never leave it empty
Unsigned form	Application invalid without signature	Sign before submitting. Use the same signature as your passport.
Pencil instead of pen	Pencil can be erased; not accepted	Use a blue or black ballpoint pen only
Illegible handwriting	Officer cannot read your information	Use BLOCK CAPITALS throughout. Or type the form before printing.
Vague purpose	"Personal use" does not tell the officer what you need it for	State the specific purpose: driving license, bank account, etc.

Language

Fill out the form in English using BLOCK CAPITALS. The form has Thai field labels, but your answers should be in English unless you can write Thai fluently and your passport information is also registered in Thai (which it is not for most foreign nationals).

Ink color

Use a blue or black ballpoint pen. Gel pens, markers, felt-tip pens, and pencils are not acceptable. Blue is generally preferred as it clearly distinguishes original writing from photocopied text.

Corrections

If you make a mistake:

• Draw a single line through the error
• Write the correction next to it
• Initial the change
• Do NOT use correction fluid (white-out or Liquid Paper)
• If the error is significant, start with a fresh form

Address formatting

Follow the Thai address format: room/unit number, then building/house number, street name (including Soi number), sub-district (Khwaeng in Bangkok / Tambon elsewhere), district (Khet in Bangkok / Amphoe elsewhere), province (Krungthep Maha Nakhon for Bangkok / Changwat for provinces), and postal code. This ordering may differ from your home country convention.

Here is what a properly completed TM.18 looks like (example data):

Field	Example Entry
Full Name	JOHN MICHAEL SMITH
Nationality	BRITISH
Date of Birth	15/03/1985
Passport Number	987654321
Visa Type	NON-IMMIGRANT B
Date of Entry	10/01/2026
Address	ROOM 1205, BUILDING A, THE RESIDENCE CONDOMINIUM, 123 SUKHUMVIT SOI 15, KHWAENG KHLONG TOEI NUEA, KHET WATTHANA, KRUNGTHEP MAHA NAKHON 10110
Purpose	APPLICATION FOR THAI DRIVING LICENSE AT DLT
Period of Residence	2 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS
Signature	[Passport signature]
Date	10/03/2026