A farang pal of mine has just obtained an ID card (pink). He is trying to convince me that is it worth the trouble getting it. Free health care. Open bank account easily. Pick-up purchase. Cuts ice with the BiB.

 

Is he right? Or is it just a waste of time!

2 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Free health care

That's wrong

2 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Open bank account easily

Might help, or maybe not, depends on the branch, definitely not makes it easy, the only document making it easy is a work permit

3 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Pick-up purchase

I don't see how a pink id card would help here

 

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1042093-pink-id-card-benefits/

 

It really does not allow much more that the yellow house book you have to have to get the pink ID card other than being a photo ID.

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

It really does not allow much more that the yellow house book you have to have to get the pink ID card other than being a photo ID.

What about the health care aspect? I've been informed that the ID gives the same rights as the holder's wife at the local hospital

1 minute ago, owl sees all said:

What about the health care aspect? I've been informed that the ID gives the same rights as the holder's wife at the local hospital

No it does not allow that.

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

No it does not allow that.

I am reluctant to say otherwise, but Martin, my ID friend, has already used it, at his local hospital, and obtained help.

It is not worth the plastic it's printed on.

 

Blue card or don't waste your time.

 

KP.

3 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

I am reluctant to say otherwise, but Martin, my ID friend, has already used it, at his local hospital, and obtained help.

But probably paid more than the 30THB (some hospitals don't charge this 30THB) that a Thai would pay

5 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

I am reluctant to say otherwise, but Martin, my ID friend, has already used it, at his local hospital, and obtained help.

It only makes it easier to get the service but it is not free. The ID number is used to get served quicker. You can do the same thing with the yellow house book.

Judging by the posts it hardly seems worth the trouble. I'll give it a miss.

Usually when I give ID, or visit Thai parks or attractions, I use the Pink Card and avoid any Falang pricing. So basically I like having it, it helps prove residency and separates you from the Tourists. Its not the end-all-be-all of existence, but I like having as much working in my favor as possible. So to each their own, but I like having it, and its not all that hard to get, so why not?

12 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Judging by the posts it hardly seems worth the trouble. I'll give it a miss.

If you already have a yellow house book it should not be all the hard to get the card.

I would say, if you already have a yellow book, then it is worth the hassle as it is just a small more effort after the yellow book. Mostly the yellow book (Which is neccessary) cost the most trouble.

 

At the moment it's not of a big help, but easier to carry the pink ID card arround instead of the yellow book. We don't know if in future it will have some advantages.

3 minutes ago, ocddave said:

Usually when I give ID, or visit Thai parks or attractions, I use the Pink Card and avoid any Falang pricing. So basically I like having it, it helps prove residency and separates you from the Tourists. Its not the end-all-be-all of existence, but I like having as much working in my favor as possible. So to each their own, but I like having it, and its not all that hard to get, so why not?

Might as well use a Thai driver's licence; it's worked for me several times.

3 minutes ago, Myran said:

Might as well use a Thai driver's licence; it's worked for me several times.

Not really sure, I do have car/motorcycle licenses, but my wife has asked me to hand her my Pink Card many times, and I know most places asked for it as well. But again, its easy to get, and to me was worth getting.

Don't have to carry your passport, I use the ID card instead. It is proof that you are a long-term residence, shows you are legal, The number show BIB what your status is, and is becoming more and more relevant. For 50 baht, you are dealt with prompt in and out within the hour. and does show you are not a tourist and gives you cheap rates, even got my own finance for my new car without needing the wife. It is in my name alone.

6 minutes ago, phetpeter said:

The number show BIB what your status is, and is becoming more and more relevant

I assume your number starts with a 6, this says you stay in Thailand temporarily, so same as any tourist

 

6 minutes ago, phetpeter said:

even got my own finance for my new car without needing the wife

This was most likely because of your work permit and not your pink id card

 

20 minutes ago, Myran said:

I use the Pink Card and avoid any Falang pricing.

At least regarding national parks this only works if the employees working at the parks can't read the signs they put up there, so it might work at some, but not at all

Another thing you will be able to do is to join the social security scheme, 432 baht per month, giving you access to free hospital/dental care ( I would have to pay 12,000 baht every 3 months for my check up otherwise) and towards a pension pot, only 115 more payments and I am entitled to a monthly pension, or I can take a lump sum.

1 minute ago, jackdd said:

I assume your number starts with a 6, this says you stay in Thailand temporarily, so same as any tourist

Except that a tourist wouldn't have a number nor an i.d, unless he actually lived here and worked away.

2 minutes ago, phetpeter said:

Another thing you will be able to do is to join the social security scheme, 432 baht per month, giving you access to free hospital/dental care ( I would have to pay 12,000 baht every 3 months for my check up otherwise) and towards a pension pot, only 115 more payments and I am entitled to a monthly pension, or I can take a lump sum.

This is a great post. Kinda balances out the other posts. Tell more on the scheme you mention; please.

6 minutes ago, phetpeter said:

Another thing you will be able to do is to join the social security scheme, 432 baht per month, giving you access to free hospital/dental care ( I would have to pay 12,000 baht every 3 months for my check up otherwise) and towards a pension pot, only 115 more payments and I am entitled to a monthly pension, or I can take a lump sum.

Are you sure about that?

As far as I know you have to of been working and paying social security before you can apply for that after you job ends.

22 minutes ago, phetpeter said:

Except that a tourist wouldn't have a number nor an i.d, unless he actually lived here and worked away.

To be precise having a pink id card just means that at one point you entered Thailand on a visa other than a tourist visa, could have been for just a few days.

 

If your citizen number starts with an 8 your visa / resident status is 99% clear, so there would be no serious need for police to ask for a passport.

I think a pink id card offers some advantages, but none of these are "official", they mostly just exist because people have no idea what they are dealing with when you hand them this id card, they just recognize that it's something official.

Like at national parks, right outside on their "guard house" when you enter the park (maybe not at all, but definitely at most) are signs (usually just in Thai) "Thai citizens price xxx", "Non-Thai citizens price xxx", you hand them an id card which has written "id card for non Thai citizens" on it and they give you the Thai price. This just happens because these people are not thinking, if they were you would of course pay then non-Thai price

10 minutes ago, jackdd said:

To be precise having a pink id card just means that at one point you entered Thailand on a visa other than a tourist visa, could have been for just a few days.

You not even need a visa. You can do this with a tourist visa or a visa excemt stamp.

I made my card with an visa Except that time. You only need the prove of having an Thai address. Rented or own a condo, which you live in.

 

And as another poster wrote… Yes mostly it helps, when the police will ask you for some ID, but if they want see your passport (for visa verification) then I would say the pink ID card is of no help. As on the card is nothing written about the visa or how long you are able to be in the country.

 

It is only a confirmation of address!

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

A farang pal of mine has just obtained an ID card (pink). He is trying to convince me that is it worth the trouble getting it. Free health care.

No.

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Open bank account easily.

Not easily, but maybe easier.

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Pick-up purchase.

?

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Cuts ice with the BiB.

I don’t see why or how?

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Is he right? Or is it just a waste of time!

It’s only really good as ID. There is no real advantage beyond that. 

17 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

If you already have a yellow house book it should not be all the hard to get the card.

If you have the yellow book then what difference does this card make? Gossip I was told the pink card was developed for mountain people who did not have a Thai ID card?

19 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It only makes it easier to get the service but it is not free. The ID number is used to get served quicker. You can do the same thing with the yellow house book.

But a lot easier to carry around. 

It's definitely worth the short time spent at your local Amphur to get it and it's free. 

Healthcare is not free with it though. 

20 hours ago, jackdd said:

That's wrong

Might help, or maybe not, depends on the branch, definitely not makes it easy, the only document making it easy is a work permit

I don't see how a pink id card would help here

 

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1042093-pink-id-card-benefits/

 

I currently have 4 bank accounts ( 2 with the same bank).. and have closed at least two others (with credit cards)...I have never had the slightest problem opening them ..never had a work permit in my life.

  I have a retirement ext.?

Gov hospitals now require the Pink ID Card. They need it to recover fees and payments from the Gov if you qualify for free medical care as I do.

I was told the Gov also uses it to track your medical history.

1 minute ago, Jeffrey346 said:

Gov hospitals now require the Pink ID Card. They need it to recover fees and payments from the Gov if you qualify for free medical care as I do.

I was told the Gov also uses it to track your medical history.

 

Not at my Gov hospital.

1 minute ago, Jeffrey346 said:

Gov hospitals now require the Pink ID Card. They need it to recover fees and payments from the Gov if you qualify for free medical care as I do.

I was told the Gov also uses it to track your medical history.

Government hospitals are ok with the yellow book, if you have 1 it is acceptable.