-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FVJvZv2brj9XHVnGuLAmCU5pCUlXjNVzpN3M3FSWdHWuk4K4i2y+qQkZDULBfsaj
 GE0cAyCUR8sYF7FWpcfxwg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001221315-04-000001.txt : 20040202
<SEC-HEADER>0001221315-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040202102727
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001221315-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040128
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEINBERG STUART
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001221315

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25142
		FILM NUMBER:		04557902

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		120 BROADWAY
		STREET 2:		21ST FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10271

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MITCHAM INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000926423
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EQUIPMENT RENTAL & LEASING, NEC [7359]
		IRS NUMBER:				760210849
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8141 SH 75 SOUTH
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1175
		CITY:			HUNTSVILLE
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77342
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9362912277

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1175
		CITY:			HUNTSVILLE
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77342
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000926423</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MITCHAM INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>mind</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001221315</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEINBERG STUART</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>120 BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>21ST FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10271</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>54500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>874500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>stu sternberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----