Pink ID card Debate !!!...

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, wordchild said:

the id number on the card is also your unique Thai Tax Identification (TIN number)

Good point, all foreigners have to do is get a tax ID number, no need for the wonderful Pink card. I have seen foreigners wave their pink card around, proud to be on the same level as Burmese labours. Some forget that this card was started more like a "yellow star" to monitor and check migrant workers are behaving themselves and not leaving the province they are registered - NOT for Westerners. On the back it even says that you can't leave the province you are in. For some strange reason, farang have asked for this card and everyone is confused about it, including government officials. 

Another thing, only foreigners that pay tax should be valid for the free Covid vaccine.

[NoshowJones]

36 minutes ago, Tagged said:

I also had to pay, but I was on tourist visa at the time, and he also wrongly said because of us not being married. 

 

I have seen the law due to the yellow book, and there is no way they can deny or bribe you if you have the right visa, but they can keep on giving you trouble with having you run back and forth to pick papers and wait a month or two to get the book. We got the book in 30 min. 

When myself and my wife went to the Amphur it was nearly closing time for lunch, I waited outside, then my wife said to me "He said he would tell me after lunch, I was told maybe yes, maybe no", I just said give him 1000Bt for yes. That was it.

[Olmate]

9 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

 

Another thing, only foreigners that pay tax should be valid for the free Covid vaccine.

That’s OK, no vaccine for me but I may be beside you next time your out n about!

[Kwasaki]

11 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

When walking down Sukhumvit road I’m expecting a couple of Thonglor’s finest will rock up on their knackered scooter....   thinking they’ve hit the jack-pot !!!...   He’s clearly off his nuts, lets get him pi$$ing a cup !

 

But, as I hand over my Pink ID they are clearly impressed... ‘this guy is no two week tourist !!!’....  they apologise, proffer a high Wai and give my taxi a an escort straight to Nana.... 

 

...... I think this is why some seem so against the Pink ID card... as if they think some people are under the misconception that they provided with some ‘mystical’ powers of ‘untouchability’.... which IMO is not the case at all. 

 

BUT... in such situations, it could turn out to be handy.... IMO its far more handing when out and about and thinking.... Ah.. I’ll pop into the Bank....  but oh Damn, my passport is in the safe a home !! no matter, the pink card is in my wallet. 

 

That's a fair call but before pink cards came out I was already set up as far as Banks are concerned my bank is only 5 k away and the ATM is around the corner which is all I ever need.

My Mrs is always around to. 

[tutone]

Question.  Is the identity number in the yellow house book the same as the identity number on a pink ID card?  

[NanLaew]

50 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

 

I think you would find the pink ID was refused as its not the primary ID for the account (you opened the English name account with a passport) and its in a different language (Thai) to the account name.

The same would apply if you have an account opened with a pink ID (name in Thai), a passport wouldn't be accepted, its not the primary ID and its in a different language.

 

People dont seem to realise, passports and pink Ids are not interchangeable as ID documents, they are in different languages. Its the same if you get a license with a passport, you cant renew it with a pink card, and vica versa

 

I was answering a claim that a Thai DL probably won't be accepted at a Thai bank for ID. That's all. But since you brought it up, I have used my pink ID to board a Thai Smile domestic flight despite the boarding pass having my name in English.

 

The language thing is maybe the key to my earlier post about why some have found using your pink ID on your Thai DL is inadvisable.

 

Some people don't seem to realize that YMMV and TiT.

[NanLaew]

6 minutes ago, tutone said:

Question.  Is the identity number in the yellow house book the same as the identity number on a pink ID card?  

There are TWO numbers in a yellow book.

 

An 11-digit number that is the yellow book number and should match the number of any associated blue book for the same home address.

 

A 13-digit number which is the aliens ID number and the same one that should appear on any linked pink ID card.

Edited May 2, 2021 by NanLaew

[NanLaew]

28 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Good point, all foreigners have to do is get a tax ID number, no need for the wonderful Pink card. I have seen foreigners wave their pink card around, proud to be on the same level as Burmese labours. Some forget that this card was started more like a "yellow star" to monitor and check migrant workers are behaving themselves and not leaving the province they are registered - NOT for Westerners. On the back it even says that you can't leave the province you are in. For some strange reason, farang have asked for this card and everyone is confused about it, including government officials. 

Another thing, only foreigners that pay tax should be valid for the free Covid vaccine.

 

Rant over?

[Kwasaki]

11 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

You can use your Thai Driving License as ID ???....    Give it a try at the bank. 

 

Thai DL not accepted to get local price on Koh Samet last year, Pink ID did.

 

None of which is a life changer of course !!!  

 

 

As Sheryl wrote, if someone has the Yellow Tabien Baan, then an extra 30mins to get the Pink ID is a negligible amount of time for something which can be carried around conveniently.

 

I guess the only people who didn’t get the Pink ID when they get a yellow book are those who didn’t know about it so didn’t ask. 

 

 

Just to clarify - A Pink ID is not needed at all.....  obtaining the Yellow Tabien Baan house book is far more useful just for that ID number. Neither are a ’need to have’ but they come in handy, can safe money and time. 

 

Yeah I understand pink card may have some uses but I always plan when need to go to the bank which is about 2 or 3 times a year, and as said they just down the road. 

 

I guess pink is handy but it depends if you want go into some places, we don't bother these days to go to anywhere that you have to pay to get in anymore done all of Thailand years ago. 

 

Yes I was thankful to Sheryl for the info and when we got my yellow book I don't think pink cards had been brought out at the time. 

 

Getting a yellow book wasn't easy we were told there was no such thing until my wife told them to make inquiries, it took 3 weeks and 3 visits with family  members and the head lady from our local govt office. ????

 

We wanted the yellow book because immigration wants proof of address and it saved getting proof of address year after year. 

Immigration still takes 2 copies of the yellow book every year with the other 80 odd copies of paper needed for marriage extension.

[Kwasaki]

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Does the Pink Card not come automatically with the Yellow Book?

Not at the time when we applied for a yellow book I believe, as I have already answered OP Richard it took me 3 weeks to get the book. 

It was a funny time and a funny story my mother in-law had to make a statement for me at the New Sukhothai head govt office and they asked what is her birth date, she looked at my Mrs and said what do they mean, wife said when we're you born, mum said Oh! in the summer time. ????

Reminder of Croc Dundee for me. 

The govt guess her birth date. 

[Tagged]

I found a written law falangs could bring with them if they where denied yellow book, but can not find it again now. It was in thai and english clearly stating they could not deny, hesitate or take money to make it done. 

 

Anyone have the link? Or understand what description I am talking about? I first found it after I got my yellow book, and <deleted> of that skunk of a amphur worker, who first said can not, and then whisper to my gf it can be done if you only ,,,,,,, 

[Sheryl]

12 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Yes... depending on the relationship you have with your landlord.

 

You will need their assistance...  and depending on the area you live in (which Amphur office) some other requirements which vary.

 

MFA Verified Copy of the translation of an Embassy Notarised Copy of your Passport !!!!

(i.e. Go to Embassy, get  Notarised Copy of Passport, Get that officially translated, then get that certification varied by the MFA) 

 

You also need - Property owner, Property owner’s ID, Property owner’s Dark Blue Tabien Baan

You’ll also need two witnesses

 

OR.. at a far less strict Amphur, you just need your passport, the Property owner with the Dark Blue Tabien Baan.

 

.... it can be a pain in the backside - but easily doable with patience.

 

Not all locations require MFA translation.

 

My ampur, while otherwise being very difficult to persuade to issue a yellow book (claimed no such thing & I had to call Bkk  govt hotline to explain to them) allowed use of a local translation service, in fact referred me to it. Maybe run by a relative, who knows but I'm not complaining, much better than having to make a trip to Bkk.

 

As with so much else seems to vary greatly by province/ampur.

[Sheryl]

Re registering for COVID vaccine using the app, you need not only the ID number (which as others note you will have if you have filed Thai tax return or have yellow book, even if you don't have a pink card) but also a number that is on the back of the pink card (mine starts with "B").  So ID number alone won't suffice for this specific purpose.

 

Whatever the historical origins of the pink card it is widely taken by Thais, both in government and private sector, as equivalent to Thai ID card for ID and  registration purposes. Other than color, looks much like the Thai card and likewise has 13 digits and thus works in computer apps/programs that require input of an ID number.

 

Especially in rural areas where there are few foreigners, Thai officials and staff often have no idea how to use a passport for these purposes (even if it can be done). True even at SS offices, government hospitals and the like.  I find that most of  the "foreigner cannot" responses one gets are simply because an ID number is required and melt away as soon as the card is produced. As an ID card s what they are used to seeing, I am doubtful that yellow book or tax document would suffice even though it also has the number.

 

 

[Neeranam]

47 minutes ago, Tagged said:

I found a written law falangs could bring with them if they where denied yellow book, but can not find it again now. It was in thai and english clearly stating they could not deny, hesitate or take money to make it done. 

Just threaten to report them to the Ombudsman. 

[Tagged]

Just now, Neeranam said:

Just threaten to report them to the Ombudsman. 

I will film him this time when change adress from her father house to the farm

[Digitalbanana]

2 hours ago, Neeranam said:

3 hours ago, wordchild said:

the id number on the card is also your unique Thai Tax Identification (TIN number)

Good point, all foreigners have to do is get a tax ID number, no need for the wonderful Pink card.

You omitted quoting @wordchild's follow on disclaimer

3 hours ago, wordchild said:

at least mine is.

 

Here's my disclaimer, I don't have a Pink Card but I do have a Yellow Book and as stated earlier by @NanLaew the Yellow Book number would be the same as the Pink ID. In my case I also have a Thai tax ID number from late last year and the number is different to the Yellow Book (= Pink ID?).

Edited May 2, 2021 by Digitalbanana

[NanLaew]

3 minutes ago, Digitalbanana said:

You omitted quoting @wordchild's follow on disclaimer

 

Here's my disclaimer, I don't have a Pink Card but I do have a Yellow Book and as stated earlier by @NanLaew the Yellow Book number would be the same as the Pink ID. In my case I also have a Thai tax ID number from late last year and the number is different to the Yellow Book (= Pink ID?).

 

It depends on whether you obtained a tax ID before the yellow book and/or card, no?

 

The Amphur's office didn't ask me if I already had a tax ID before gibing me my aliens ID#.

 

Does the Tax Office ask if you already have a yellow book and/or card before issuing you Tax ID?

 

Either way, not sure if these inter-government databases are linked so they can check without asking.

[Andrew Dwyer]

Some recent reports, from people who have successfully created an appointment via the app using the Pink card, are that two numbers ( a 13 and a 11 digit number) from the front and the back of the pink card are necessary for a successful application.

[Pilotman]

13 hours ago, Sheryl said:

The Hard part is getting the yellow house book.

and there you have Thailand in a nutshell.  We all fill in and keep up to date the TM30, we report our address every 90 days and yet still, you have to jump through ridiculous hoops to get a yellow book and a Pink ID.  It is unbelievably frustrating to deal with this kind of bureaucratic nonsense that they insist on.  Why they do insist on it,  when all it does is give them extra work, is beyond me; I suspect that it is beyond them too. 

[Digitalbanana]

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

It depends on whether you obtained a tax ID before the yellow book and/or card, no?

 

I showed the Tax office my Yellow Book and they gave me another tax ID number. Had the Yellow Book 12 years, tax Id last year. All done in same sub district of Bangkok.

[Pilotman]

3 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Some recent reports, from people who have successfully created an appointment via the app using the Pink card, are that two numbers ( a 13 and a 11 digit number) from the front and the back of the pink card are necessary for a successful application.

I'm just waiting for the day to dawn when those limited thinking individuals who dreamt up this idea realise that not all expats have a pink ID, duh. 

[richard_smith237]

4 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Not a single one from immigration.  Only one from my own embassy when purchasing a car.

Passport have always worked as ID for banking, Sim card, cable TV, home Internet,  The One Card, etc.

 

 

You have only purchased one car and never rewind your driving licence in 25 years of being here ???

 

I have been in Thailand slightly less than you:  I’ve required at least 7 Affirmation of Residence letters for cars & motorbikes....  Plus further 5 or 6 Affirmation of Residence letters each time I renewed my Driving & Motorcycle Licence. 

 

Over the past 2 years alone using the Yellow House Book as proof of ID has saved me 3 visits to my Embassy and the cost of 3 Affirmation of Residence Documents (approx 7500 Baht).

 

Each time I need it, I’ve been unable to get the Letter of Residence document from immigration as I’ve never been in country longer than the 90 days to have filed a 90 day report and thus at those times I was unformed I could not get a Letter of Residence / Address from immigration. 

 

 

Also entry into Thai National Parks for the local price, which is more about not getting told ‘<deleted>’ by the Thai government dual pricing than it is about and cost saving (I just don’t like being double charged !)

 

 

IF, ExpatOilWorker, in the past 25 years you have never been inconvenienced by going into the Bank only to have forgotten to take your passport, then had to go home and get it, you are more organised and less forgetful than I !!! 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

59 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

I'm just waiting for the day to dawn when those limited thinking individuals who dreamt up this idea realise that not all expats have a pink ID, duh. 

 

In the meantime we can recognise that it is these 'limited thinking individuals’ who dream up a lot of the bureaucracy and hoop-jumping here....  we can get ahead of this by obtaining a 13 digit ID number. 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

Re registering for COVID vaccine using the app, you need not only the ID number (which as others note you will have if you have filed Thai tax return or have yellow book, even if you don't have a pink card) but also a number that is on the back of the pink card (mine starts with "B").  So ID number alone won't suffice for this specific purpose.

 

Whatever the historical origins of the pink card it is widely taken by Thais, both in government and private sector, as equivalent to Thai ID card for ID and  registration purposes. Other than color, looks much like the Thai card and likewise has 13 digits and thus works in computer apps/programs that require input of an ID number.

 

Especially in rural areas where there are few foreigners, Thai officials and staff often have no idea how to use a passport for these purposes (even if it can be done). True even at SS offices, government hospitals and the like.  I find that most of  the "foreigner cannot" responses one gets are simply because an ID number is required and melt away as soon as the card is produced. As an ID card s what they are used to seeing, I am doubtful that yellow book or tax document would suffice even though it also has the number.

 

 

Excellent point. 

 

 

I too had to input the number printed on the back of the card (which started with B). Any idea what this number is ????

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2021 by richard_smith237

[HampiK]

3 hours ago, Neeranam said:

....

Another thing, only foreigners that pay tax should be valid for the free Covid vaccine.

Actually every foreigner who not claim back the 15% pay Tax in Thailand. or if your amount of 15% Tax refund is above a trash-hold of about 30'000 baht, you also pay Tax on this amount... 

So according to you all this persons should become the vaccine for free... or you want say only tax payers from working in Thailand?

[Sheryl]

10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Excellent point. 

 

 

I too had to input the number printed on the back of the card (which started with B). Any idea what this number is ????

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know.

Maybe it is a card issuance number (as opposed to the person's ID number)?

[richard_smith237]

 

2 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Yeah I understand pink card may have some uses but I always plan when need to go to the bank which is about 2 or 3 times a year, and as said they just down the road. 

 

I guess pink is handy but it depends if you want go into some places, we don't bother these days to go to anywhere that you have to pay to get in anymore done all of Thailand years ago. 

 

Yes I was thankful to Sheryl for the info and when we got my yellow book I don't think pink cards had been brought out at the time. 

 

Getting a yellow book wasn't easy we were told there was no such thing until my wife told them to make inquiries, it took 3 weeks and 3 visits with family  members and the head lady from our local govt office. ????

 

We wanted the yellow book because immigration wants proof of address and it saved getting proof of address year after year. 

Immigration still takes 2 copies of the yellow book every year with the other 80 odd copies of paper needed for marriage extension.

 

A very similar story here. 

 

I wanted the yellow book to so that I didn’t have to keep going back to the Embassy and paying they extortionate prices for their Notary services. 

 

My Wife asked at the local Amphur office in Bangkok and was told ’there is no such thing as a yellow house book’

 

I’d pre-empted the expected 'cannot response' before hand when discussing with my Wife not to accept no for an answer, that ’officials can often be lazy and will say ’no’ or ‘cannot’ when they don’t know and can’t be bothered to find out.

 

My Wife showed the Amphur Officer examples of the Yellow Tabien House book on her phone, and was then asked what my Visa is... my Wife was then told ‘cannot’ my ‘Visa doesn’t exist’ (Thai Elite SE Visa), my Wife argued, but the woman became very frustrated and sharp....  My Wife left the Amphur office (knowing when you need someone to do something there is more than one way to skin a cat). 

 

 

The next day my Wife called up the Amphur office, spoke with the same officer who had them calmed down, and asked if we need to come in my My Passport and copy of my Thai Elite S.E. Visa and commence the process, or do we need to speak with her supervisor. 

 

An appointment was booked (which was month down the line). When we turned up to the appointment the Amphur officer was very polite and friendly. But, it took her about 2 hrs of solid paper work to process the Yellow Tabien House Book -

 

My guess: She knew exactly what it was, but its a lot of work for her and she didn’t want to do the work. Also, judging by the amount of paper on her desk she was already quite over-worked !!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sheryl]

9 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

I have a yellow book, as condo unit owner, but no ID card.

My lawyer and I agree it is useless.  Even if it can get you a Thai entrance price somewhere the person doing you the solid is making an error. Only a Thai is a Thai.

 

If it can get a foreigner registered for vaccination it has a purpose!

 

Where to apply for a Pink ID card for foreigner, in Chiang Mai?

At your ampur. It is readily issued, on the spot, if you have yellow book.

[Pilotman]

23 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

In the meantime we can recognise that it is these 'limited thinking individuals’ who dream up a lot of the bureaucracy and hoop-jumping here....  we can get ahead of this by obtaining a 13 digit ID number. 

no thanks, not worth the effort 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, Neeranam said:

On the back it even says that you can't leave the province you are in.

 

That is incomplete information: 

 

On the back it says: The card holder cannot leave issuing area unless the card holder also carries identity (passport) issued by their own government, or have permission in writing.