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Downloads & related guides
- Residence certificate application form (PDF): the address letter for a driving licence — the one-page Thai/English form from Immigration Division 1, Bangkok, linked by the BOI's LTR visa unit. It is a scan: print on A4 at 100% and fill it in by hand
- Official TM.16 handbook (PDF, immigration.go.th): the permanent-residence certificate — the Immigration Bureau's service manual for foreigners granted permanent residence: TM.18 application, 191,400 or 95,700 THB fee, 3 working days
- The complete guide to the residence certificate in Thailand — eligibility by visa, documents, every office, fees, validity, what to do if refused
- Field-by-field guide to the residence certificate application form — every box on the one-page form, with a sample filled in
TM.16 Form PDF: Which Download Do You Need?
If you need proof of address for a Thai driving licence, a vehicle or a bank, download the residence certificate application form, the first link in the box above. It is a one-page Thai/English form titled 'Application Form Residence Certificate in Thailand', issued by Immigration Division 1 in Bangkok, and it carries no TM number. The letter you get back costs 200 to 500 THB depending on the office and is valid for 30 days. If you have been granted permanent residence and are collecting your Certificate of Residence, the official TM.16 handbook (second link) is the one you want: you apply on form TM.18, the fee is 191,400 THB or 95,700 THB depending on your category, and the service standard is 3 working days. Expats, agents and many online guides use 'TM.16' as shorthand for the address letter, while the Immigration Bureau's own handbook uses the number for the permanent-residence document. If a DLT office or an agent asks you for 'the TM.16' for a driving licence, bring the address letter: the DLT does not require permanent residence.
What Is the TM.16 Form?
Officially, the TM.16 is the Certificate of Residence the Immigration Bureau issues to a foreigner who has been granted permission to reside in Thailand by the Immigration Commission with the approval of the Minister of Interior, in other words a permanent resident. That is how the Bureau's Public Handbook 'Application for Certificate of Residence (TM.16)' defines it. Per the handbook, you hand in application form TM.18 with your passport, the house registration (Tor.Ror.14) your name will be added to, and five 4x6 cm photos. An officer takes your fingerprints on the TM.16 and the control book, and you come back to sign for the certificate and collect your passport. The fee is 191,400 THB for investment, work, expert and similar categories, 95,700 THB for spouses of Thai nationals and similar family categories, and 0 THB for foreigners granted residence by the Minister of Interior with Cabinet approval under Section 17 of the Immigration Act. None of that applies to the proof-of-address letter. That letter, the residence certificate (หนังสือรับรองที่พักอาศัย on the Bangkok form), confirms the address Immigration has on record from your TM30, costs 200 to 500 THB, and is the document the DLT asks for. Both are called a 'certificate of residence' in English, which is where the confusion comes from. The rest of this page covers the address letter, because that is what nearly everyone searching for a TM.16 form needs. The full process, office by office, is in our residence certificate guide, linked in the box above.
Where to Get the Form
For the address letter, download the one-page application form from the box above or pick up a blank copy at the Immigration office that covers your TM30 address. The downloadable version is the Bangkok form from Immigration Division 1 at Chaeng Watthana, and it is the same PDF the BOI's LTR visa unit links for long-term residents applying for a Thai driving licence. The PDF is a scanned image, so you cannot type into it: print it on A4 at 100% scale and fill it in by hand in block capitals. If you apply outside Bangkok, at Jomtien, Chiang Mai or Phuket for example, ask at the counter whether they take the Bangkok printout or want their own copy filled in. If you use an agent, they will provide the office's current form and fill it in for you. For the permanent-residence TM.16, the handbook says to apply in person at the immigration checkpoint for the area where you live, Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 16:30, and names TM.18 as the application form. We could not find the TM.18 published as a download on immigration.go.th, so ask for it at that office.
How to Fill Out Each Field
These are the fields on the Bangkok residence certificate application form, top to bottom. The date (day, month, year) at the top right. Your name with title (Mr, Mrs or Miss), spelled exactly as in your passport. Nationality and date of birth. Passport number. Arrival card number (TM.6): the paper TM6 was replaced by the digital TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) in May 2025, so use the number on your TDAC confirmation and bring a printout of it. 'Entered Thailand on': the date of your most recent entry stamp. 'Allowed to date': the day your current permission to stay ends, from your latest entry stamp or extension. The reason for the certificate, as tick boxes: driving licence (car or motorbike) and buy or sell (car or motorbike). Tick every purpose you need, because at Chaeng Watthana a certificate is issued for the purpose stated on it. Your address in Thailand, split into address name (the building or village), house number, moo, lane (soi), road, subdistrict (khwaeng or tambon), district (khet or amphoe), province and postal code, followed by your phone number. Every part of the address must match your TM30 record exactly. Then your signature or right thumbprint. The line at the bottom right is the date to collect the certificate, and the officer fills it in. Use a blue ballpoint pen throughout.
Supporting Documents Needed
Along with the completed application form, you must submit the following supporting documents for the address letter. Your original passport — the officer will check your visa, entry stamps, and personal details. Photocopies of your passport information page, current visa page, most recent entry stamp, and your TDAC arrival confirmation (the digital card that replaced the paper TM6 in May 2025). Two passport-sized photos (4x6 cm), taken within the last six months against a white background; Bangkok Chaeng Watthana asks for three, and also wants your latest 90-day report receipt. A copy of your lease agreement or hotel booking confirmation showing your address. The TM30 receipt or confirmation showing your registered address. The fee of 200-500 THB depending on the office. Some Immigration offices may also request a letter from your landlord confirming your tenancy, or a copy of the landlord's ID card and house registration book (tabien baan). Requirements can vary slightly between offices, so it is advisable to call ahead or check your specific office's requirements. Bring originals and copies of everything — it is far better to have documents you do not need than to be sent home to get something. The permanent-residence TM.16 has a different list, per the Immigration Bureau handbook: form TM.18, your passport, the house registration (Tor.Ror.14) with two copies, and five 4x6 cm photos taken within six months.
Common Mistakes on the Application
Several common mistakes cause delays or rejection of residence certificate applications. The first happens before you leave home: downloading the official TM.16 handbook, which is for permanent residents, and preparing for the wrong procedure. For a driving licence you need the address letter and its one-page form. The most frequent mistake at the counter is an address mismatch — the address on your application form must exactly match the address registered in the TM30 system. If your landlord registered a slightly different address format, you need to use that exact version. Another common error is using the wrong photo size or background color; photos must be 4x6 cm on a white background. Using an expired or nearly expired passport can also cause issues — some offices want at least six months of validity remaining. Forgetting to sign the form is surprisingly common. Writing illegibly or using abbreviations in the address field causes confusion. Not bringing the original passport (copies are not accepted) is another frequent problem. Finally, some applicants forget to bring the fee in cash — 200 to 500 THB depending on the office — and most Immigration offices do not accept cards for this service. Prepare carefully and you will avoid a second trip.
Processing at Immigration
Once you submit the completed application form with all supporting documents, the processing time varies by Immigration office. Some offices — particularly in Bangkok (Chaengwattana) and Chiang Mai — may process the certificate same-day if you arrive early. Other offices take one to three working days and will give you a receipt to collect the certificate later. The typical process works as follows: arrive at Immigration and take a queue number for 'residence certificate' or 'general services.' Submit your application form, documents, photos, and fee to the assigned officer. The officer checks your documents against their records and verifies your TM30 registration. If everything matches, they process the certificate. You either wait for it or return on the specified collection date. The certificate is printed on official Immigration letterhead and includes your name, nationality, passport number, and registered Thai address. It is stamped and signed by an Immigration officer. Remember that the certificate is valid for only 30 days, so plan your timing carefully.
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