Should Expats carry their passports

[banglay]

With Curfews and ever increasing road checkpoints in and around  Chonburi province . and  as Expats and long term residents of Thailand do you think it would be wise and prudent to carry ones Passport  when driving to get essential food supplies . As your passport will prove when you last left the country and thus may be seen as less of a threat than a newbie or tourist. thus making any stops less stressful for all involved.

Edited April 6, 2020 by banglay

[BigStar]

No. When you last left or entered the country is the concern of Immigration, along with numerous related peripheral matters. 

 

Please avoid engaging in scaremongering about passports, visas, banks, targeting of farangs, victimism, etc.

Edited April 6, 2020 by BigStar

[cooked]

As far as I know, it STILL is an obligation for non-Thais to carry their passports at all times. 

People have been held until their passport could be produced. Now? I certainly don't leave home without my passport.

[scubascuba3]

7 minutes ago, cooked said:

As far as I know, it STILL is an obligation for non-Thais to carry their passports at all times. 

People have been held until their passport could be produced. Now? I certainly don't leave home without my passport.

If people start to get mugged which happened to someone i know a couple weeks ago I wouldn't want to be carrying a passport

[Peterw42]

The checkpoints are to enforce travel restrictions and curfews, not to victimise foreigners or look for recent arrivals. If travelling to another town or out during curfew ID would probably be a good idea. Groceries from Big C, nobody will be asking for a passport any more than usual, ie: never.

Edited April 6, 2020 by Peterw42

[Surelynot]

I carry a copy of relevant pages.

[nausea]

For myself, local (walking distance) journeys no, anything long distance (driving), yes. I used to carry a copy for long distance, now I carry the original.

[Moonlover]

Surely avoid travelling is the best and in fact, the official advice.

[Lacessit]

No. A passport is a document that is very hard to replace, particularly under COVID-19 conditions. Lose it or have it stolen, you are in a world of bother.

I carry paper copies of the relevant pages of my passport, plus images on my smartphone. That is all one is legally obliged to do. Any official apart from Immigration says different, they are looking for a bribe.

[BigStar]

1 hour ago, cooked said:

As far as I know, it STILL is an obligation for non-Thais to carry their passports at all times.

There STILL never has been any such obligation. Valid, credible ID, yes. Been discussed ad nauseam on the forum countless times. Please stop repeating that myth. 

 

1 hour ago, cooked said:

People have been held until their passport could be produced.

Under circumstances when they had no valid, credible ID or fell under suspicion, which could be simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time (drug sweep). News reports often omit those critical details.

 

1 hour ago, cooked said:

Now? I certainly don't leave home without my passport.

Quite unnecessary to go to that extreme, and you merely increase the chances of losing it. But Up 2 U, as we say in my city. I always would leave it at home unless I'm sure it will be necessary for something, like renewing a visa, traveling by plane, or checking into a hotel. I'm using my pink card in typical circumstances at the bank and PO. ????

 

[holy cow cm]

I think recently with the curfew and restrictions going on the government stated that an ID needs to be 100% carried and a Thai Drivers license and or Thai Pink ID would suffice other than carrying passport. Keep a picture of it on your phone and leave it safe unless your going somewhere out of province or on a plane.

[holy cow cm]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

which happened to someone i know a couple weeks ago

Can you elaborate more on this story? And what they got?

[4MyEgo]

15 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

I think recently with the curfew and restrictions going on the government stated that an ID needs to be 100% carried and a Thai Drivers license and or Thai Pink ID would suffice other than carrying passport. Keep a picture of it on your phone and leave it safe unless your going somewhere out of province or on a plane.

Totally agree with you and other posters. I always produce my Thai drivers licence and pink ID, as they have come in handy.

 

Passport only for travelling, hotel and or immigration office, albeit it that I keep copies of the relevant pages in my iPhone and wallet.

[jacko45k]

20 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Passport only for travelling, hotel and or immigration office, albeit it that I keep copies of the relevant pages in my iPhone and wallet.

And the bank, they seem to want it for anything there too ...... heck, chuck it in the glovebox, with the face-masks and hand sanitizer.... 

Edited April 6, 2020 by jacko45k

[scubascuba3]

38 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

Can you elaborate more on this story? And what they got?

Pensioner mugged in Jomtien around 4pm, didn't make the news. Money

[4MyEgo]

5 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

And the bank

Yes when getting the letter for the annual extension.

 

6 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

heck, chuck it in the glovebox,

Yeh right ????

 

[jimmjam]

I usually just take a paper copy of the bio page and keep it in my wallet. That was before this covid19.

Im not going far enough any way to warrant taking my passport with me.

The wife does all the shopping.

[holy cow cm]

6 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Pensioner mugged in Jomtien around 4pm, didn't make the news. Money

Thnx. That area down there is a danger zone.

[david555]

All the ones defending not carry passports  where right before in normal circumstances , as i did to with a complete copy page by page (only 4) of my passport .

 

However now I take passport with me, as I don't wish to end up in police cell ,if meeting some very strict police ones in this lockdown , as before not pleasant even until someone bring the passport , but now I would not like to be closed in with all kind of arrested ones … even not for a very short period because corona contagion risk

 

And anyway the trip outside is now not to bar , but just to Tesco/Big C  so less risk to loose it or get stolen in daytime …..no night crawling anymore allowed !

[Jip99]

2 hours ago, cooked said:

As far as I know, it STILL is an obligation for non-Thais to carry their passports at all times. 

People have been held until their passport could be produced. Now? I certainly don't leave home without my passport.

 

 

Wrong.

 

 

As you are every time you repeat it.

[Pilotman]

it makes eminent sense to carry a passport in this present 'fevered' atmosphere (excuse the pun).  Normally I would not do so, but I am doing so right now.  Anything to avoid any kind of confrontation with the RTP or Military 

[OneeyedJohn]

Agreed, if ur not on the p1ss all day, then there's little chance of losing it.

Belts and braces in these uncertain times.

[coulterni]

During any further restrictions that may be applied by government I feel the most important document worth carrying would be prove of where in Thailand you reside, as any checkpoints will be mainly to restrict travel especially from/ to another province. Thai driving license/ pink ID card or hotel/ guesthouse receipt.

[billsmart]

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic and the increasing immigration rules, I've always carried a COPY of my passport. I make a credit-card sized copy of my passport's front page, my latest visa, and my latest extension. I also carry a copy of my latest 90-day notice, and now, my last TM30.

And, I'm always prepared to give them a urine sample... ????

[fforest1]

Only a grade A fool.....Carries their passport with them at all times.....

 

To replace a lost passport now would be a nightmare of the highest order... 

 

If a copy is not good enough and the Police want to see my passport they can come to my room to see it....

[fforest1]

1 hour ago, david555 said:

All the ones defending not carry passports  where right before in normal circumstances , as i did to with a complete copy page by page (only 4) of my passport .

 

However now I take passport with me, as I don't wish to end up in police cell ,if meeting some very strict police ones in this lockdown , as before not pleasant even until someone bring the passport , but now I would not like to be closed in with all kind of arrested ones … even not for a very short period because corona contagion risk

 

And anyway the trip outside is now not to bar , but just to Tesco/Big C  so less risk to loose it or get stolen in daytime …..no night crawling anymore allowed !

Are the police going to replace your passport if you lose it?....lol

Be smart don't give yourself the opportunity to lose your passport...Keep it at home...

[Boon Mee]

Driver's license / Pink Card is all that's necessary. 

[Pedrogaz]

It would be prudent to carry your passport at all times even if you have a Thai driving licence.

[scubascuba3]

3 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

It would be prudent to carry your passport at all times even if you have a Thai driving licence.

How many times have you been asked for it in say the last year? just out and about not immigration or agents

[david555]

3 hours ago, fforest1 said:

Are the police going to replace your passport if you lose it?....lol

Be smart don't give yourself the opportunity to lose your passport...Keep it at home...

I know what you mean , but from two evils I take the most close one to avoid , limited going out now, just food shopping 10 minutes walk  , and by all I am not yet in the dementia stage (yet) , before lockdown I never carry it unless bank or official need , always using complete copy and drivers license 

 

different times now , and more to come I think