Do you carry your passport?

[BritManToo]

20 hours ago, Bluetongue said:

But I did wonder if anybody has had similar recently, and what is the exact position?

Been on many busses where they checked all the brown people but ignored the white people.

[Surasak]

19 hours ago, worgeordie said:

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

Which way was the soldier pointing the gun? You may have been in luck without realising!

[Surasak]

19 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.

Yep. Me to. And on my phone, just in case?

[I am More Thai Than You]

I didn't think you needed a passport to be in Thailand? Mine ran out over 20 years ago.

[AlfonsV]

I have it daily with me with very rare exceptions, i.e. every time and every where I go in my belt bag together with cash, ATMcards, insurance card, some member cards, hospital registration card, doctor's and own name cards, a small magnifying glass, and a pen.

Thus I never have a problem to have forgotten this or that, no need any excuses or Alzheimer jokes (555), and can spontaneously decide to do this or that when I am on the way.

In 3 decades (but last time long time ago) I was controlled at fake or true check points or in a bus some 3-4-5 times.

[Yellowtail]

With my last US passport renewal, I got the optional passport card that is convenient to carry. 

[Bluetongue]

Thanks, it never occurred to me to put it on the phone, what a dumb karn I am sometimes

[sirwilly]

Never

[Sheryl]

I also live on the route to the Cambodian border so encounter many checkpoints.

 

I have photocopy of the face page of my passport in my wallet and also pix of all key pages (inc. Visa, extension etc) on phone. Though I have never yet had to show the phone one.

 

And since getting a pink ID card I haven't needed to show passport photocopy either.As soon as they see the pink ID I'm waved through.

 

The true measure of the power of the pink ID card, however, is that Tops allowed me to redeem points with it (and my One Card of course). For some mysterious reason a level of security prevails around this that rivals that of any airline or airport. In the past I have had to have not only my actual passport but also, since it was issued after I got my One Card, my former passport and both were scrutinized at great length. The pink card by contrast worked like magic.

 

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AAArdvark]

15 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

With my last US passport renewal, I got the optional passport card that is convenient to carry. 

Except that card is only good in Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.  That being said, I was going to do that also until I found out that the number on the card does not match the number on your actual passport. 

[crazykopite]

I have my passport and visa details on my mobile I also have a residents card which I was given with my yellow house book and as I am over 65 I was told I never have to renew it this card allows me to go and purchase a car or renew my drivers licence without having to go to immigration to get a letter of confirmation of my address .

[Yellowtail]

1 minute ago, AAArdvark said:

Except that card is only good in Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.  That being said, I was going to do that also until I found out that the number on the card does not match the number on your actual passport. 

Yeah, but it's pretty cool, it's cheap and hotels and what-not take it.

[NoshowJones]

21 hours ago, HauptmannUK said:

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

I don't agree with the rule that you must always carry your passport with you, so I do not carry it with me.

[connda]

I have two pictured driver licenses and a pink Thai-Amphur issued ID card.

 

The passport stays at home except if I'm taking an overnight trip outside of the immediate area.  But I do carry copies of the first two pages of the passport and visa stamp although I've never had to show them to anybody. 

[Mavideol]

2 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I don't agree with the rule that you must always carry your passport with you, so I do not carry it with me.

whatta boy, piss off the rules

[spidermike007]

Never, ever, ever. Only if I am going to the bank for something large, immigration, or leaving or entering the country. Otherwise it remains in my safe, where is belongs. A color copy, with a copy of the visa page is more than enough. Especially if you have a Thai drivers license. Any authority calls you out on that, and you stand your ground, and insist otherwise, as they are just wrong!

[connda]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

I have photocopy of the face page of my passport in my wallet and also pix of all key pages (inc. Visa, extension etc) on phone. Though I have never yet had to show the phone one.

Thanks Sheryl.  Although I spent 25 years in the computer industry, I retired before smartphones hit the streets, and to be honest, I like being rather technologically stupid when it comes to smartphones.  Which is why it probably never occurred to me to simply take a picture of the passport pages.  "Dohhhh!"  My wife and kid pushed me into the 21st century (Dad, you need smartphone) so they can contact me via Line.  And I keep it with me now all the time (albeit using a dummy gmail account which Android insists it wants) as it is useful for: 1) making phone calls, 2) nice SMS interface for receiving SMS messages, 3) running a Thai/English dictionary and voice translation program, 4) taking photos of my meals at restaurants <laughs>, 5) as a GPS map, and now keeping a set of pictures of my passport.  Great idea! 

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Never, ever, ever. Only if I am going to the bank for something large, immigration, or leaving or entering the country. Otherwise it remains in my safe, where is belongs. A color copy, with a copy of the visa page is more than enough. Especially if you have a Thai drivers license. Any authority calls you out on that, and you stand your ground, and insist otherwise, as they are just wrong!

Not really. Under  Thai law you can be required by the  police to produce your passport on request.

 

You are not required to have it on your person, but having them escort you back to where you keep it etc may be more trouble than you'd like....and they may not be willing to go with you if where it is, is far away.

 

I have several times been asked by Thai police during traffic stops to produce passport in addition to license. Usually not, but it has happened. They have always been OK with photocopy and since I got the ID card I have so far not been asked for it at all.

 

Those of us living in or travelling through places with a lot of checkpoints (generally, places near the vountry's borders) in particular are well advised to have at leasta  copy to produce.

[maxcorrigan]

22 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. 

 

Yes i carry the same plus i fitted an air-bag under the seat slightest knock it fires you straight up and out of harms way, have'nt really tried it out yet though!????

[Ulic]

No, I have my Thai drivers license and photos of the appropriate passport photos on my phone. Also, photocopies of appropriate pages in my scooter.

[Tchooptip]

In seven year never been asked at any road checkpoint, but if I am driving, not my wife, I am asking for my driving license, by the way, I have never been asked for my motorbike license.   

My passport got into the washing machine, but far from being destroyed, every single thing was still readable but I had to change it anyway, so two months ago I went to immigration with my new passport, they transferred the visa and everything that needed  to be done, 500฿, but then my driven license had another passport number on it, I went to the driving license office to ask if I needed a new one, the officer answered NO you keep this one?

[Pilotman]

23 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. 

 

Cut in half; impressive. 

 

[Lacessit]

23 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. 

 

20 hits of Viagra, and 40 condoms? That doesn't add up.

[Lacessit]

Just now, Lacessit said:

20 hits of Viagra, and 40 condoms? That doesn't add up.

Sorry, missed cutting them in half. 100 or 50 mg? If you can get stoked on 25 mg, you hardly need it.

[Lacessit]

I carry a paper copy of my passport. Although I must admit photos on the smartphone is a good idea.

[madmen]

34 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

20 hits of Viagra, and 40 condoms? That doesn't add up.

Viagra is pretty potent

[Lacessit]

29 minutes ago, madmen said:

Viagra is pretty potent

Cialis is better; however, very expensive.

[Jackin1960]

Only when visiting Dictatorships just incase I need to leave in a hurry. 

[Jimbo1964]

Never carry it. Never asked for it. Photo ID, such as drivers license is enough when local to home. Heading away to a hotel then i send them a scan of my passport via email and check in using my license. Zero problems.

[Speedo1968]

I travel little but always carry my passport ( force of habit from working in other countries since 1970's ).

 

Having had numerous TIA's and strokes I also carry my basic medical details with drug allergies, of which there are many including antibiotics and other life threatening medical allergies.

Along with this is a signed DNR ( Do not resuscitate ) form.   These details are also placed at my local hospital and one in Khon Kaen.

When I go for my early morning and evening walk I carry a hospital card and contact number details only.

The space used in my pocket is little but it puts my mind and perhaps others at rest.