StevieAus Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 16 hours ago, Issannative said: It makes it easier for getting driving licence ect that needs proof of residence, rather than going to imm every time for a proof of res letter. Sent from my LDN-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app That may be the case where you live but in Chiang Mai Province if you use the Yellow House Book and or the Pink ID card they will only issue the license for two years. I renewed my recently and had to obtain the certificate from Immigration. Strangely enough as they did last time the license was issued for six years, yet they will accept the above documents for registering a new car in lieu of the Immigration certificate. I decided years ago to go with the flow and avoid the stress as you will never win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieAus Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 16 hours ago, Issannative said: Ya if you have a UK licence, then they will give you a Thai one, no practical or theory test. Just sit the vid. Bus as me and the misses were told at the local driving tambian only for UK no others. Sent from my LDN-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app It doesn’t only apply to UK licenses I got mine with an Australian licence both car and motorbike as have several of of my Aus expat friends with none of the tests you refer to. Although I have never checked I understand that it also applies to other countries as well. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vacuum Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 7 minutes ago, StevieAus said: That may be the case where you live but in Chiang Mai Province if you use the Yellow House Book and or the Pink ID card they will only issue the license for two years. Hogwash! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hereforgood Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 1 hour ago, beddhist said: We did the rounds of all bank branches here and they all agree on one thing: no account without yellow book. just another case of different places making up different rules. I am in Pattaya and have opened a BB Account and a Kbank account no issues and never was a yellow book mentioned 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Issannative Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 It doesn’t only apply to UK licenses I got mine with an Australian licence both car and motorbike as have several of of my Aus expat friends with none of the tests you refer to. Although I have never checked I understand that it also applies to other countries as well.Yep you prob right just quoting what the head of the driving center said to usSent from my LDN-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieAus Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 If that’s what they require I think you will find there is no alternative as each office sets it’s own requirements. I went through the process with my local office a few years ago, they wanted my Aus passport, our Aus marriage certificate and my birth certificate translated, stamped by the Aus Embassy and I think the Thai Dept of Foreigh Affairs or whoever. Because we live in the North I got some agency to arrange it all as it would have required a trip to Bangkok and an overnight stay. When after visiting the local District Office on a number of occasions we finally lodged the documents and included a not too thick brown envelope. The woman we had dealt with and whom I found rather difficult suddenly became a good friend and like a fairy waving a magic wand everything was fixed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGThompson1 Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 40 minutes ago, StevieAus said: That may be the case where you live but in Chiang Mai Province if you use the Yellow House Book and or the Pink ID card they will only issue the license for two years. I renewed my recently and had to obtain the certificate from Immigration. Strangely enough as they did last time the license was issued for six years, yet they will accept the above documents for registering a new car in lieu of the Immigration certificate. I decided years ago to go with the flow and avoid the stress as you will never win. Rubbish, I just renewed my licence from Chiang Mai using my yellow book and got 5 years, same as before. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumrit Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 29 minutes ago, hereforgood said: just another case of different places making up different rules. I am in Pattaya and have opened a BB Account and a Kbank account no issues and never was a yellow book mentioned Of course you have, its not vital you have a yellow book and pink ID card but it's much quicker, easier and efficient to open a bank account if you do have and use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieAus Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 22 minutes ago, Vacuum said: Hogwash! I will excuse your lack of vocabulary as it probably sums up your mentality. In early February this year I renewed both my licences at the Fang, Chiang Mai Province DLT and what I stated in my post was what occurred. My Thai wife who is also fully conversant in English was with me so there was no break down in communication or translation. Two weeks ago we visited the Chiang Mai DLT Head Office with a Expat friend to assist in transferring a car bought in Chiang Rai Province. While we were there I asked my wife to check on what had happened at the Fang Office as it did not make sense. The person confirmed that if you use the yellow book/ pink ID card they will now only issue the licence for two years. Whether you believe or accept this position I do not really care. Alternatively you could visit the office and ask them yourself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieAus Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 (edited) 19 minutes ago, PGThompson1 said: Rubbish, I just renewed my licence from Chiang Mai using my yellow book and got 5 years, same as before. It is not rubbish see my post below in response to Vacuum But it If makes you feel happy and as I would hate to mislead people on this site, I will amend the first line of my original post. ” At the Fang DLT office in the part of Chiang Mai Province where I live..............” Edited June 15, 2019 by StevieAus To add further clarification Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumrit Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 1 hour ago, StevieAus said: That may be the case where you live but in Chiang Mai Province if you use the Yellow House Book and or the Pink ID card they will only issue the license for two years. I renewed my recently and had to obtain the certificate from Immigration. Strangely enough as they did last time the license was issued for six years, yet they will accept the above documents for registering a new car in lieu of the Immigration certificate. I decided years ago to go with the flow and avoid the stress as you will never win. What type of permission of stay were you using when you recently renewed your DL and what document were you using for ID? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asiaexpat Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 18 hours ago, Issannative said: Ya if you have a UK licence, then they will give you a Thai one, no practical or theory test. Just sit the vid. Bus as me and the misses were told at the local driving tambian only for UK no others. Sent from my LDN-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Told totally wrong! I have used USA license and Korean license over the years to get Thai DL. Yellow Tabien Baan is accepted in place of embassy document. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suradit69 Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 (edited) On June 14, 2019 at 11:13 PM, apetryxx said: must go to the US Embassy and have them make a “certified copy” of my passport. My passport is already a certified document in its own right so all they would have to do is walk over to the co Since the US Embassy offers specifically to certify copies of one's US passport, apparently they consider the service a common requirement. Obviously you can't give the Thai office personnel your passport to keep so they want to have a certified copy n file. i agree it's painful to hand over $50 for the 30 seconds someone spends putting a raised seal on a piece of paper, but the embassy pretty much has no competition in this area. so they have pricing power. When it comes to making simple tasks both expensive and unnecessarily inconvenient, at times the US embassy can compete with Thai government officials impressively. Edited June 15, 2019 by Suradit69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vacuum Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 13 hours ago, StevieAus said: In early February this year I renewed both my licences at the Fang Ok, I missed that part. In Chiang Mai you get the five yerar DL by showing a yellow book. Again I missed that you did it in Fang, my bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumrit Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 On 6/15/2019 at 12:58 AM, Issannative said: Ya if you have a UK licence, then they will give you a Thai one, no practical or theory test. Just sit the vid. Bus as me and the misses were told at the local driving tambian only for UK no others. Sent from my LDN-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Not true, your licence must either be written in English or have a certified English translation to get a Thai licence without having to pass the Thai theory and practical tests. My mate just had to get his Swedish licence translated into English to get his Thai licence without doing any theory/practical tests........... apart from the eyesight/reaction/perception tests of course, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Dwyer Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 Not true, your licence must either be written in English or have a certified English translation to get a Thai licence without having to pass the Thai theory and practical tests. My mate just had to get his Swedish licence translated into English to get his Thai licence without doing any theory/practical tests........... apart from the eyesight/reaction/perception tests of course,Obtaining an IDP ( International Drivers Permit ) in your home country is a cheap and easy alternative to translation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
featography Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 On 6/15/2019 at 12:49 AM, Issannative said: It makes it easier for getting driving licence ect that needs proof of residence, rather than going to imm every time for a proof of res letter. Sent from my LDN-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app It also pays for itself when a copy of the yellow book is presented to venues that double price. Every time I use it I pay the same entrance fee as Thai, with only 1 exception, Doi Inthinon who wont accept any proof that we live here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiFelix Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 On 6/15/2019 at 12:49 AM, Issannative said: It makes it easier for getting driving licence ect that needs proof of residence, rather than going to imm every time for a proof of res letter. Sent from my LDN-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app That may depend on what driving centre (DLT?) you attend. Whenever I have made inquiries I have been told the yellow book is not acceptable. Seems a waste of time to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiFelix Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 17 hours ago, StevieAus said: It doesn’t only apply to UK licenses I got mine with an Australian licence both car and motorbike as have several of of my Aus expat friends with none of the tests you refer to. Although I have never checked I understand that it also applies to other countries as well. Yes ditto for me too with an Aussie drivers license and also no tests but the officer did whisper to me that he usually told the Brits they were the only ones because they think they are special! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 I went through all the process of getting a Yellow Book 2 years ago, as local immigration office said I should get one. Since then I have tried to show this book at entry to Thailand, visa extensions, 90 day reporting... and nobody has ever been interested. Complete waste of time, effort, and money, in my opinion. I was given a Thai driving licence after attending 2 day's instruction at local centre, but no written or practical test as they did not have the English version. I explained the various 'groups'(car and m/c) on my UK licence and was given the equivalent for Thailand. Seems that no test needed, nor any need for Yellow book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanoshi Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 4 minutes ago, Robin said: went through all the process of getting a Yellow Book 2 years ago, as local immigration office said I should get one. Since then I have tried to show this book at entry to Thailand, visa extensions, 90 day reporting... and nobody has ever been interested. Complete waste of time, effort, and money, in my opinion. For Immigration purposes your Passport is your International ID. The yellow TB and ID card is purely restricted for use in Thailand. 6 minutes ago, Robin said: I was given a Thai driving licence after attending 2 day's instruction at local centre, but no written or practical test as they did not have the English version. I explained the various 'groups'(car and m/c) on my UK licence and was given the equivalent for Thailand. Seems that no test needed, nor any need for Yellow book. The TB and ID card can be used within Thailand as proof of address and ID in exactly the same manner as Thais use theirs. Purchase/Sell vehicles, Open bank accounts, Driving licences etc. That's the whole idea of registration. The fact some Thais are not aware of the purpose of this ID, is another matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonclark Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 If you plan to make Thailand you home and are putting down roots, it pays to have as many documents that prove and link you to your house. If you wish to apply for citizenship for example then you need to have a yellow book for 5 years prior to the application. Likewise for PR having a yellow book, while not a requirement, it will show that you have put down roots, especially if you have a family who are on the blue book at the same address it will help your application. I have used my pink ID card for getting on domestic flights, hotels check ins (that one surprised me too!), Hospitals, and basically anywhere when ID has been required including National Parks, Zoos etc. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumrit Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 48 minutes ago, jonclark said: I have used my pink ID card for hotels check ins (that one surprised me too!), I always use my pink ID card when checking into hotels. As far as I'm aware, by not using your passport, you're not added to the TM30 report then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 2 minutes ago, sumrit said: I always use my pink ID card when checking into hotels. As far as I'm aware, by not using your passport, you're not added to the TM30 report then. That's an interesting point. Has anyone been refused their pink ID when checking in, and the hotel insisting on a passport instead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanoshi Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 24 minutes ago, bluesofa said: That's an interesting point. Has anyone been refused their pink ID when checking in, and the hotel insisting on a passport instead? In Bangkok, yes, always insist on Passport. Outside of Bangkok some have never asked for any ID whatsoever. Depending on the check in person, I've also had Air Asia refuse Thai ID card and insist on Passport. The reason being booked in English and Thai ID card only has name in Thai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumrit Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 8 minutes ago, Tanoshi said: In Bangkok, yes, always insist on Passport. Outside of Bangkok some have never asked for any ID whatsoever. Since I've had a pink ID card I've stayed in various hotels (10+) all over Thailand, but only once in Bangkok. I never carry my passport but every hotel always asks for it initially. I simply say I haven't got it with me and offer my ID card instead. It's never been refused, or even questioned. I've never tried flying domestically using my ID card so can't comment on any Airport restrictions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanoshi Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 2 minutes ago, sumrit said: Since I've had a pink ID card I've stayed in various hotels (10+) all over Thailand, but only once in Bangkok. I never carry my passport but every hotel always asks for it initially. I simply say I haven't got it with me and offer my ID card instead. It's never been refused, or even questioned. The hotel can't submit a TM30 without Passport details, so it's a risk they take. If it looks and talks like a foreigner, it usually is a foreigner. They could face a fine of up to 10,000BHt if caught not complying. Alternatively they could refuse your stay, but never known a Thai to turn money down. ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 On 6/15/2019 at 12:49 AM, Issannative said: It makes it easier for getting driving licence ect that needs proof of residence, rather than going to imm every time for a proof of res letter. Sent from my LDN-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Going to immigration ever 6 years is a problem for some. The yellow book is needed if you go for citizenship, otherwise forget it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumrit Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 3 hours ago, Tanoshi said: The hotel can't submit a TM30 without Passport details, And that's why I originally said in post 53 that I always use my ID card instead of my passport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumrit Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 17 minutes ago, Neeranam said: Going to immigration ever 6 years is a problem for some. The yellow book is needed if you go for citizenship, otherwise forget it. Also needed to get a pink ID card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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