Do you carry your passport?

[Bluetongue]

I know its been covered before, but I don't carry mine except when going on longer trips. In ten years I've never been asked for it at any place on the road or even country resort hotels. I travel a lot on Highway 317, between Chantaburi and Sa Kaeo, literally hundreds of times. There is a 24 hour checkpoint near Pong Nam Ron always with an armed soldier on the southbound way and occasionally police on either way. Usually its just a wave through, perhaps half a dozen times I've been asked for a license or where I'm going.  I should say a lot of Cambodians seem to get arrested here, I think its because they are going beyond where their permit allows. These are people without passports.

 

2 weeks ago I got asked by the soldier for my license, duly shown and waved through. Today with wife, sisters in law and child, the soldier asked me to pull over to the left. Another 3 soldiers came out, one started taking photos, and one came to the window and asked for my passport. I said it was at home and I showed him my license. He lost interest and sauntered away, vaguely waving me through, however the last chap was right at the window straight away also asking for the passport. The wife answered that it was at home and we were going on a innocent expedition. There was  a further conversation during which he basically said that if his boss was there I wouldn't get through. All this was in Thai. Off we then went.

 

Then there was an argument with the wife where I said I didn't have to carry it, and I wasn't in a hurry to listen to a boy with a gun, and she said just carry a copy. Which I will probably do. I think its probably just the Army flexing its muscles in the run-up to the election. But I did wonder if anybody has had similar recently, and what is the exact position?

[pgrahmm]

Just the license except if travelling.....

Somewhere buried in my phone camera I have pics of my passport I.d. page + the current extension page....

[HauptmannUK]

Never been asked in about 10 years, but now I keep a copy in the car glovebox.

[RJRS1301]

Carry a notarised copy of the identification page, and a copy of the immigration receipt for submitted paper work and also a photocopy of same

[NCC1701A]

32 minutes ago, Bluetongue said:

I know its been covered before

understatement of the year award!

 

ok. I only carry my passport when I travel within Thailand. In other words, I am spending the night away from home.

 

I have a copy of my passport in my scooter and photos on phone. Thailand drivers license and motorcycle license with me all the time. 

and 40 condoms, 20 hits of Viagra, cut in half of course, 10 gold coins, a .45 automatic and a bar of chocolate. 

 

and in five years never asked except at hotels. and my drivers license was OK except in big Bangkok hotels and resorts. 

 

[whiteman]

at your age NCC1701A a quarter of the blue pill should do you just fine for all nighter

[Nyezhov]

11 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

ok. I only carry my passport when I travel within Thailand. In other words, I am spending the night away from home.

 

I have a copy of my passport in my scooter and photos on phone. Thailand drivers license and motorcycle license with me all the time. 

and 40 condoms, 20 hits of Viagra, cut in half of course, 10 gold coins, a .45 automatic and a bar of chocolate. 

 

 

me too

[NCC1701A]

5 minutes ago, whiteman said:

at your age NCC1701A a quarter of the blue pill should do you just fine for all nighter

when i travel to the outer fringes it is sometimes thin pickings and i need a bigger dose to push through. so to speak. 

 

and everybody thought this was going to be about the passport thing. 

[CharlieH]

Meanwhile, back on topic !!

[worgeordie]

Have never carried my passport,unless I leave the province,

only once i 30 years have I been asked for it,there was a coup

on at the time and a soldier asked for it,but was reading it

upside down,so may not count.

regards worgeordie

[Vacuum]

3 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

when i travel to the outer fringes it is sometimes thin pickings and i need a bigger dose to push through. so to speak. 

 

and everybody thought this was going to be about the passport thing. 

Wouldn't you call the blue pill 'a passport'?

[xylophone]

I got a photocopy of mine, reduced it in size, then had it laminated and it now sits in my wallet which goes everywhere with me.

[Hummin]

License, and all important papers, insurance, passport etc in my phone, and my gf phone. Always carry insurance and membership hospital chain card on me. 

[NCC1701A]

the hardcore answer to this question is you should never be farther from your passport than you are willing to travel. 

[Mavideol]

only carry mine when showing for the 90 days visit, the rest of the time carry my Pink ID card and have copy of passport in my phone as back up

[Kwasaki]

I have always carried a copy my passport it's something that's recommended or sometimes a requirement.

A driving licence in Thailand usually gets by as ID that's what I have found since i've been here.

[Yellowtail]

I never carry it but I have a scanned copy of pertinent pages in my phone and photocopy of the photo page in my wallet.

 

Every hotel I ever stayed at here has asked for it, and I have stayed at plenty.

 

 

[camble]

I tried carrying it until it went through the washing machine, now I only carry if I leave Bangkok. Have laminated photocopy I got at the copy shop near Soi 33 for 20 baht.  Have never been asked to show my passport by a policeman during the 15 years i’ve lived in Thailand, not even at Pong Nam Ron.

[grollies]

Obviously not to the village but if going farther afield, yes, I take my passport. That being said, immigration have it at the moment, re-newing my retirement visa. Should get it back in a week or two.

[Psimbo]

3 hours ago, xylophone said:

I got a photocopy of mine, reduced it in size, then had it laminated and it now sits in my wallet which goes everywhere with me.

Ditto, along with a copy of my current 90 day report.

 

if I go off island I will take my PPort, sealed in a separate part of my bum bag from the rest of my stuff so there's no chance of pulling it out by mistake. Losing a Pport once was enough.

 

I've only once ever had my Thai driving licence refused as ID by a hotel (Hop Inn Chumphon- a DREADFUL place)  but at least i had the passport with me.

[richard_smith237]

Within Bangkok I never carry my Passport...  

But, I do have a Photo of it on my phone (saved to DropBox) and a photo of my latest Visa stamp and TM6.

 

I do carry my passport whenever I travel out of Bangkok for a holiday etc... it stays in the hotel if I go out at night. 

 

I've only ever been asked for my passport once and that was by the corrupt charlatans on the corner of Asoke a few year back.... 'Phone a friend' made that situation go away... 

 

[richard_smith237]

I know a handful of immigration officers in BKK... some are junior, some are more senior (and have appeared on these hallowed Thai Visa pages)...

 

They all agree... a photocopy or a photo on your phone of your passport is sufficient under normal 'stop & check' circumstances, be polite, show the Photograph / photocopy of the ID and there is no issue.

 

But it depends on attitude. If a foreigner starts acting up and giving it the 'Big I AM' and 'you can't do that, I have rights etc'... life is going to get difficult.... 

 

Just politely play along and a photocopy or photo is fine...

 

Unless of course you are dealing with a particularly corrupt piece of scum in which case you can go back to the station, they can check your details there. You should be able to produce your Passport within a 'reasonable' time frame (which would generally mean having a friend pick it up and bringing it to the station for you !)...  All a bit silly, all a bit of a faff, and an issue the immigration officer doesn't want to have to deal with unless you are being such a tool he has decided that its worth his time to make your life difficult.....

 

 

 

 

 

[balo]

Only carry my Thai drivers license , and if they want to see my passport , I have a digital copy on my smartphone. But never been asked . 

 

[kevin612]

well, i don't carry my passport. 

[Crossy]

Mine lives in my work bag along with my work permit and PC. This means it's either with me in the office or in the car when I'm driving.

 

It does not come to the pub, for that there's a copy on my phone, never been asked for it.

[simon43]

Carry mine all the time - it just sits in the small bag that I always have with me, together with medical insurance card, ATM cards etc.

[spider1197]

No.  Just when I am travelling out of my Province or going to the Bank.

[Ireland32]

Yes , everyday for the last 13 years


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[edwardflory]

18 hours ago, xylophone said:

I got a photocopy of mine, reduced it in size, then had it laminated and it now sits in my wallet which goes everywhere with me.

This can be done ( copied in color )at any Kodak store for under 100bt

Mine has a copy of my Ladies Thai ID on the other side - the reason being that the authorities will know who to contact in a emergency.  About a year ago I had to take my Lady to a hospital ( she rarely caries ID ) and the hospital accepted the copy, and a 500bt deposit - returned upon presenting her original ID.

 

[Solinvictus]

19 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

understatement of the year award!

 

ok. I only carry my passport when I travel within Thailand. In other words, I am spending the night away from home.

 

I have a copy of my passport in my scooter and photos on phone. Thailand drivers license and motorcycle license with me all the time. 

and 40 condoms, 20 hits of Viagra, cut in half of course, 10 gold coins, a .45 automatic and a bar of chocolate. 

 

and in five years never asked except at hotels. and my drivers license was OK except in big Bangkok hotels and resorts. 

 

*Favorite read of the day*

 

Especially the bar of chocolate.