Clarification: Driving Licence / Yellow House Book / Elite Visa

[richard_smith237]

I wanted to offer some clarification regarding obtaining / extending a Thai DL and that the Yellow Book / Pink ID card can be used at DLT in Bangkok. 

 

I am holding a Thai Elite (S.E.) Visa, I have a Yellow Tambien Baan & Pink ID card as proof of address, I hold an existing 2 Year Temporary Driving Licence and 2 Year Temporary Motorcycle Licence (I was renewing both) - Car license expired 2 months ago, bike license expired yesterday.

The name on my previous Thai Driving and Motorcycle license was in the Roman (English) Alphabet, I’d used my UK passport for ID purposes in the past when applying for my DL. 

This time round was the first time I was using the Yellow Tambien Baan house book and Pink ID card. 

 

Previously (2 years ago), I was not able to renew my 5 year Driving Licence to another 5 Year Driving Licence as I was told I was not holding a non-immigrant  Visa (I was on the Thai Elite (S.E.) Visa back then, as I am now. 

 

-------

 

I was able to use the Yellow Tambien Baan house book for Proof of Address, the staff at the DLT needed to see the Pink ID card too. 

I get the impression they would not have accepted the Yellow House Book alone. I may be mistaken on this, however, I offered just the Yellow House Book and the lady checking my documents seemed to hit a stumbling block, she flicked through a folder, showed me an example the Pink ID card, I gave her my pink ID card and all was ok. 

 

A Medical Certificate was required for each Licence. i.e. a photocopy was not allowed, I needed two ‘real’ MCU certificates from a health clinic. 

 

I had to carry out the Colour test (i.e. red, Amber, green lights flashing in your peripheral vision (at the sides), the Reaction Test, the Proximity test (two sticks). I did not have to watch the Video. 

 

I received both a 5 Year Thai Driving Licence and a 5 Year Thai Motorcycle Licence.

 

Both licences expire in 5 years and 10 months (i.e. on my next birthday after 5 years). 

 

 

In Summary / Confirmation: 

At the DLT in Bangkok (Opposite Sukhumvit 62) the Yellow House Book in conjunction with the Pink ID card is accepted as proof of address. 

A 2 Year Licence can be converted to a 5 Year Licence with a Thai Elite Visa (this time round, I may have got lucky, others have said they couldn’t and I couldn’t in the past - maybe the regs have changed, or maybe they just didn’t pay attention). 

 

Costs: 555 baht Driving Licence / 305 baht Motorcycle Licence. 

 

 

Note: Different Officers in the same office, or different officers in different Provinces apply the rules differently - so its still a s#!t show !!!

The DLT at Bangkok is like a zoo - it took me from 11am to 2pm and primarily involved waiting around. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fairynuff]

Why hasn’t anyone told you that the pink card is useless? Oh and you wasted your money on that visa ????????????

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, Fairynuff said:

Why hasn’t anyone told you that the pink card is useless? Oh and you wasted your money on that visa ????????????

 

I’ll take the bait: 

 

- That useless pink card means I didn’t need 2 separate Affirmation of Residence letters from my Embassy (at about 2600 baht each - 1 for motorcycle, 1 for car). I can’t get the Residence letter from Immigration as I am never here for longer than 90 days. Thus, the Yellow Book and Pink ID have proven useful already. 

I think the pink ID was a factor in my getting the 5year DL (rather than another 2 year temp visa) even though I didn’t have a non-immigration Visa, thus the Pink ID useful again. 

 

The Pink ID can be easily lived without, its just an alternative to other means which already exist, but its most definitely not useless, it simply replaces having to get proof of residence each time its needed. 

 

-----

 

- Thai Elite Visa: 1 Million Baht for the Lifelong Membership (which I purchased about 14 years ago, US$26,000 at the time). 14 years worth of uses of far (I’m mid 40’s) - has worked out at about 6000 baht per month. 

 

- If I am in Thailand until I’m 70, I’ve used the Visa for 40 years, no hoop jumping with retirement or Marriage Visas etc... that works out at 69 baht per day (BTW: I was 30 and unmarried when I purchased the Visa). 

 

- Every entry in to Thailand I don’t have to queue (5mins through immigration), about 7 of 10 times I re-enter Thailand per-year the Immigration hall is free - that’s already saved me 100s of hours of queueing. 

 

- I get picked up from home by AOT each airport visit and met off the plane upon arrival and taken home (about 10 return trips per year), both times fast tracked through the airport. 

 

- Soon, I’ll get picked up (family included - with lots of gear, ski’s etc) which won’t fit in a regular taxi, very handy (costs all inclusive of Thai Elite). 

 

- I’ll get to the Airport, fast tracked through check-in (ThaiElite take us to the Business class check in which is far quicker, although not an official Thai Elite perk), we’ll get taken Fast tracked through Immigration and straight to a lounge, no hassles with crowds et (especially during the virus risk etc). 

 

From the usage if I have had with The Elite visa and its privileges I have saved hours and hours of waiting in airport immigration queues in Thailand (in excess of 100 hrs saved over the past 14 years). 

With golf, AOT transfers, Annual medical check-ups etc I consider the Thai Elite Visa has already paid for itself, I still have the Visa for the rest of Life. 

 

The costs work out very much in my favour - it was something I calculated and considered very carefully before making the initial purchase. 

 

Now, how much did you calculate and consider the lack of intelligence in your response Fairynuff ??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[baansgr]

A friend of mine on retirement extension did his 5 year renewal with yellow book and pink card in Pattaya...one thing though they wanted a copy of the blue house book and copy of his gfs ID as housemaster

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, baansgr said:

A friend of mine on retirement extension did his 5 year renewal with yellow book and pink card in Pattaya...one thing though they wanted a copy of the blue house book and copy of his gfs ID as housemaster

 

Thats good information - I’ve read on this forum that the Yellow Tambien Baan house book and Pink ID card was not accepted by the DLT in Pattaya.

 

It may not have been communicated to other members (who faced rejection) that the Accompanying Copy of the Blue Tambien Baan (with registered Thai’s) and the housemasters ID is also required.

 

In this case the Yellow Tambien Baan and Pink ID card save a trip to Immigration or your Embassy in Pattaya too when requiring proof of residence documents. 

 

 

 

 

 

[baansgr]

13 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I’ll take the bait: 

 

- That useless pink card means I didn’t need 2 separate Affirmation of Residence letters from my Embassy (at about 2600 baht each - 1 for motorcycle, 1 for car). I can’t get the Residence letter from Immigration as I am never here for longer than 90 days. Thus, the Yellow Book and Pink ID have proven useful already. 

I think the pink ID was a factor in my getting the 5year DL (rather than another 2 year temp visa) even though I didn’t have a non-immigration Visa, thus the Pink ID useful again. 

 

The Pink ID can be easily lived without, its just an alternative to other means which already exist, but its most definitely not useless, it simply replaces having to get proof of residence each time its needed. 

 

-----

 

- Thai Elite Visa: 1 Million Baht for the Lifelong Membership (which I purchased about 14 years ago, US$26,000 at the time). 14 years worth of uses of far (I’m mid 40’s) - has worked out at about 6000 baht per month. 

 

- If I am in Thailand until I’m 70, I’ve used the Visa for 40 years, no hoop jumping with retirement or Marriage Visas etc... that works out at 69 baht per day (BTW: I was 30 and unmarried when I purchased the Visa). 

 

- Every entry in to Thailand I don’t have to queue (5mins through immigration), about 7 of 10 times I re-enter Thailand per-year the Immigration hall is free - that’s already saved me 100s of hours of queueing. 

 

- I get picked up from home by AOT each airport visit and met off the plane upon arrival and taken home (about 10 return trips per year), both times fast tracked through the airport. 

 

- Soon, I’ll get picked up (family included - with lots of gear, ski’s etc) which won’t fit in a regular taxi, very handy (costs all inclusive of Thai Elite). 

 

- I’ll get to the Airport, fast tracked through check-in (ThaiElite take us to the Business class check in which is far quicker, although not an official Thai Elite perk), we’ll get taken Fast tracked through Immigration and straight to a lounge, no hassles with crowds et (especially during the virus risk etc). 

 

From the usage if I have had with The Elite visa and its privileges I have saved hours and hours of waiting in airport immigration queues in Thailand (in excess of 100 hrs saved over the past 14 years). 

With golf, AOT transfers, Annual medical check-ups etc I consider the Thai Elite Visa has already paid for itself, I still have the Visa for the rest of Life. 

 

The costs work out very much in my favour - it was something I calculated and considered very carefully before making the initial purchase. 

 

Now, how much did you calculate and consider the lack of intelligence in your response Fairynuff ??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In hindsight, probably a lot of us wish we bought the same when you did....bargain for a lifetime of hassle free visa, plus the benefits of taxis and express immigration

[richard_smith237]

11 minutes ago, baansgr said:

In hindsight, probably a lot of us wish we bought the same when you did....bargain for a lifetime of hassle free visa, plus the benefits of taxis and express immigration

 

Agreed... It doesn’t stop some people making seemingly jealous and poorly thought out comments though.

 

I wish I’d bought that penthouse Condo, bargain of a lifetime in ’98 when the baht crashed... and other properties in the next couple of years when the prices of Condo’s crashed. 

 

20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing, in this instance is nice to be on the right side of it !!!!!

[PDPA2024]

39 minutes ago, baansgr said:

In hindsight, probably a lot of us wish we bought the same when you did....bargain for a lifetime of hassle free visa, plus the benefits of taxis and express immigration

You can still get these benefits with non-lifetime EVs. 

 

Thank you for detailed post richard_smith237. I've thought it's weird that some people were not able to get a 5-year DL with a 5+ year visa.

 

Only thing I don't understand is why would someone get Affirmation of Residence letter from the Embassy for 2600b when it's obtainable from Thai Immigration for 500-1000b. And the embassy will have your foreign address printed (if you still have one) instead of Thai address, or am I wrong?

[richard_smith237]

9 minutes ago, redpill17 said:

You can still get these benefits with non-lifetime EVs. 

 

Thank you for detailed post richard_smith237. I've thought it's weird that some people were not able to get a 5-year DL with a 5+ year visa.

 

Only thing I don't understand is why would someone get Affirmation of Residence letter from the Embassy for 2600b when it's obtainable from Thai Immigration for 500-1000b. And the embassy will have your foreign address printed (if you still have one) instead of Thai address, or am I wrong?

 

A 90 day report has to be filed before immigration (at Chaeng Wattana) will issue a Letter of Address.

 

I travel too frequently and am never in Thailand longer than 90 days.

 

 

I still don’t know if its official that we can get a 5 year DL with the Elite Visa.

I managed it this time round (when extending a 2 year Temp DL) but not 2 years ago (when trying to extend a 5 yr DL to another 5 year DL, the DLT would only issue me with a 2 yr Temp DL), so maybe it was just an fortunate oversight this time round. 

As I understand the regs, a 5 year DL will only be issued to those on Non-Immigrant Visas. 

A Thai Elite Visa (S.E. or P.E.) is not a Non-Immigrant Visa although it’s status may now be recognised as a Resident Visa, because its not a Tourist Visa etc (I’m not sure of that though). 

 

 

[PDPA2024]

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

A 90 day report has to be filed before immigration (at Chaeng Wattana) will issue a Letter of Address.

 

I travel too frequently and am never in Thailand longer than 90 days.

So they require a 90-day report to be filed even though you didn't stay 90 days? Interesting.

And I've thought lifetime EV only allows 90-day entries or there are different kinds?

 

Chanote/Rent contract+TM30 is enough for SETV holders to get Residency Certificate.

[richard_smith237]

7 minutes ago, redpill17 said:

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

A 90 day report has to be filed before immigration (at Chaeng Wattana) will issue a Letter of Address.

 

I travel too frequently and am never in Thailand longer than 90 days.

So they require a 90-day report to be filed even though you didn't stay 90 days? Interesting.

And I've thought lifetime EV only allows 90-day entries or there are different kinds?

 

Chanote/Rent contract+TM30 is enough for SETV holders to get Residency Certificate.

 

Correct, as I understand it, the reason being the Office (Immigration at CW) would not be able to affirm my address as they’ve not had a recent record of my address. 

TM6 which is filled out on arrival in country is apparently not sufficient.

 

You are also correct with the Lifetime Elite Visa: The S.E. entries are stamped for 90 days. Each 90 days I would have to go to Chaeng Wattana and pay 1900 baht for an extension of stay, at the same time filing a 90 day report. 

(its no issue for me as I’m never here for 90 days). 

 

The Original Thai Elite visa was for the convenience of frequent visitors not wishing to jump through visa hoops. 

It has since morphed into a ‘long stay visa’ and thus the agreement with Immigration also evolved to permit a one year stay upon entry on a P.E. Visa. 

 

For some, the P.E. Visa maybe a better option. When Thailand Elite evolved and moved to the P.E. visa we were asked if we’d like to switch (persuaded to switch) but we could only switch if we agreed to 20 years membership. I refused and stuck with the original contract and lifetime membership. 

 

 

Quote

Chanote/Rent contract+TM30 is enough for SETV holders to get Residency Certificate.

Interesting.

Is this at Chaeng Wattana?

Who’s name would the Chanote have to be in? (I suppose I could write up a rental contract from the Wife in this case !)

 

I’ve also never filled out a TM30 as my interaction with Immigration is only ever in and out of the Airport where TM30 is never requested. 

If I have to make an extension of stay (i.e. at 90 days) then I would have to ensure I have a TM30 filed. 

 

[Fairynuff]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I’ll take the bait: 

 

- That useless pink card means I didn’t need 2 separate Affirmation of Residence letters from my Embassy (at about 2600 baht each - 1 for motorcycle, 1 for car). I can’t get the Residence letter from Immigration as I am never here for longer than 90 days. Thus, the Yellow Book and Pink ID have proven useful already. 

I think the pink ID was a factor in my getting the 5year DL (rather than another 2 year temp visa) even though I didn’t have a non-immigration Visa, thus the Pink ID useful again. 

 

The Pink ID can be easily lived without, its just an alternative to other means which already exist, but its most definitely not useless, it simply replaces having to get proof of residence each time its needed. 

 

-----

 

- Thai Elite Visa: 1 Million Baht for the Lifelong Membership (which I purchased about 14 years ago, US$26,000 at the time). 14 years worth of uses of far (I’m mid 40’s) - has worked out at about 6000 baht per month. 

 

- If I am in Thailand until I’m 70, I’ve used the Visa for 40 years, no hoop jumping with retirement or Marriage Visas etc... that works out at 69 baht per day (BTW: I was 30 and unmarried when I purchased the Visa). 

 

- Every entry in to Thailand I don’t have to queue (5mins through immigration), about 7 of 10 times I re-enter Thailand per-year the Immigration hall is free - that’s already saved me 100s of hours of queueing. 

 

- I get picked up from home by AOT each airport visit and met off the plane upon arrival and taken home (about 10 return trips per year), both times fast tracked through the airport. 

 

- Soon, I’ll get picked up (family included - with lots of gear, ski’s etc) which won’t fit in a regular taxi, very handy (costs all inclusive of Thai Elite). 

 

- I’ll get to the Airport, fast tracked through check-in (ThaiElite take us to the Business class check in which is far quicker, although not an official Thai Elite perk), we’ll get taken Fast tracked through Immigration and straight to a lounge, no hassles with crowds et (especially during the virus risk etc). 

 

From the usage if I have had with The Elite visa and its privileges I have saved hours and hours of waiting in airport immigration queues in Thailand (in excess of 100 hrs saved over the past 14 years). 

With golf, AOT transfers, Annual medical check-ups etc I consider the Thai Elite Visa has already paid for itself, I still have the Visa for the rest of Life. 

 

The costs work out very much in my favour - it was something I calculated and considered very carefully before making the initial purchase. 

 

Now, how much did you calculate and consider the lack of intelligence in your response Fairynuff ??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was no bait to take......If you had realised that I was taking the p*ss out of the naysayers you could have saved all the time you wasted on your response. I have my pink card, my yellow book, my...... do I really need to go on!

[richard_smith237]

7 minutes ago, Fairynuff said:

There was no bait to take......If you had realised that I was taking the p*ss out of the naysayers you could have saved all the time you wasted on your response. I have my pink card, my yellow book, my...... do I really need to go on!

ok Fairynuff, fair-enough....    Use a better effin’ emoticon next time, jaysus I wrote all that rubbish for nothin’ 

 

 

 

[PDPA2024]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

You are also correct with the Lifetime Elite Visa: The S.E. entries are stamped for 90 days. Each 90 days I would have to go to Chaeng Wattana and pay 1900 baht for an extension of stay, at the same time filing a 90 day report. 

(its no issue for me as I’m never here for 90 days). 

Interesting. Me, I'd prefer lifetime 90-day entries too. I get bored to death staying in one place longer than 3 months ????

 

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Interesting.

Is this at Chaeng Wattana?

Who’s name would the Chanote have to be in? (I suppose I could write up a rental contract from the Wife in this case !)

I've never dealt with Bangkok immigration, sorry. But I got RC several times in Chiang Mai, no problem with <1 year rental agreement, except later they started requiring TM30 receipt also.

 

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

I’ve also never filled out a TM30 as my interaction with Immigration is only ever in and out of the Airport where TM30 is never requested. 

If I have to make an extension of stay (i.e. at 90 days) then I would have to ensure I have a TM30 filed. 

That's what I find most appealing about EV - never deal with immigration except at airport VIP desk. Can do border runs (or proper trips) every 90 days and never visit Imm. office. The arrival queues are so horrendous lately that I'm always booking airport Fast Track anyways.

 

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

ok Fairynuff, fair-enough....    Use a better effin’ emoticon next time, jaysus I wrote all that rubbish for nothin’ 

Not for nothing, was an interesting read ????

[Jaxxper]

7 hours ago, Fairynuff said:

Why hasn’t anyone told you that the pink card is useless? Oh and you wasted your money on that visa ????????????

Saves you carrying your passport around for hotel check ins and gets you reduced entry price at some establishments. So not totally useless.

[Fairynuff]

40 minutes ago, Jaxxper said:

Saves you carrying your passport around for hotel check ins and gets you reduced entry price at some establishments. So not totally useless.

Didn’t you notice the laughing smileys? It was P**s take!

[richard_smith237]

10 hours ago, Fairynuff said:

10 hours ago, Jaxxper said:

Saves you carrying your passport around for hotel check ins and gets you reduced entry price at some establishments. So not totally useless.

Didn’t you notice the laughing smileys? It was P**s take!

 

Phew... at least I’m not the only monkey unable to interpret smileys !!! 

[Fairynuff]

40 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Phew... at least I’m not the only monkey unable to interpret smileys !!! 

I laughed when you attacked me because it was clear you missed the joke. You and I actually rarely disagree in most threads so I completely forgive your transgression, now please go and brush up on your icons!

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, Fairynuff said:

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Phew... at least I’m not the only monkey unable to interpret smileys !!! 

I laughed when you attacked me because it was clear you missed the joke. You and I actually rarely disagree in most threads so I completely forgive your transgression, now please go and brush up on your icons!

 ????

 

(one I’ve not seen on TV before !! - all in jest)