Thailand enters digital age! No more photocopies of Thai ID and House registration necessary

[webfact]

Picture: Sanook

 

The acting head of the Department of Provincial Administration issued a "most urgent" order, reported Sanook.

 

It referred to Thailand's provincial authorities entering the 4.0 digital age.

 

Somyot Phumnoi's letter to all governors called for an end to using copies of Thai ID cards and House Registration (Thabian Ban) documents forthwith.

 

This followed a cabinet meeting decision on October 2nd when the government stated they are concerned about costs borne by the public.

 

People contacting government offices in Thailand have for years complained about the mountain of paperwork that needs to be photocopied and signed in a certain color of ink to satisfy the clerks, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

It is hoped that this order will continue a process to drag Thailand into the 21st century in this regard. 

 

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[Thaiwrath]

  On 10/14/2021 at 2:13 AM, webfact said:

the government stated they are concerned about costs borne by the public.

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Photocopies make tremendous revenue at immigration, some charging 5  baht a copy !

I can't see that being stopped in a hurry. 

[Dmaxdan]

Rainforests around the world rejoice! 

[head bender]

I will not hold my breath

 

[MRToMRT]

I always wondered where these files and copies were stored, if at all. 

 

So what does the decision mean? Does it mean theres an online system or copies are no longer need to be seen/stored? I am confused.

[Silencer]

I have always been curious whether each province, or each government department, has massive warehouses to host all this paperwork over the decades? 

 

Ooops...same comment as above.

[bobandyson]

Oh Oh, after my first visit to Thailand I went home with the realisation that Thais should not be in control of technology.

And that was back in '91.

 

Thais and technology don't mix.

[fangless]

How many times have we heard this? 

Also it only applies to Government agencies not every other tin pot bureaucrat/office.

[4MyEgo]

The end of the paper shuffle, but this will surely confuse most for a while, no have, what to do ?

[ThailandRyan]

It is amazing. They collect the same papers we copy at every visit. The local Amphur in Udon always wanted copies of the same paperwork for any issue we needed a letter for, yet if we did not have them they would print out a copy for us at a cost. I call it just shenanigans and a grab for money.

[Tropicalevo]

Do not worry.

You do not have to throw away the pre-copied docs that you have.

Banks etc will still insist on using them.

 

[jacko45k]

  On 10/14/2021 at 2:17 AM, Thaiwrath said:

Photocopies make tremendous revenue at immigration, some charging 5  baht a copy !

I can't see that being stopped in a hurry. 

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Sometimes get sent back out there for copies of stuff never needed before and not on any lists.... just like messing you around!

[EricTh]

I doubt the endless photocopying will end.

 

I don't know why they need photocopies of my passport and visa extension every year when they already have it in their database presumably. 'copy pate 1,2,3.....etc'

 

When we tried to argue with immigration regarding all these photocopying, they can be quite rude.

[RafPinto]

  On 10/14/2021 at 6:07 AM, EricTh said:

I doubt it will end. I don't know why they need photocopies of my passport and visa extension every year when they already have it in their database presumably.

 

When we tried to argue with immigration regarding all these photocopying, they can be quite rude.

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Never argue with your boss.

We are just accepted here, not more, not less.

[Falcon]

If this is correct then it means that the citizens details can be accessed more easily than it currently is - it’s already accessible by many people already, so, if accessible by more people, stand by for more problems caused by document fraud and people using other peoples id, etc. the systems in Thailand are already a joke what with their often using windows xp or similar, with the opening of the systems further, it can only get worse.

[Skeptic7]

Wow...Iron Age to Digital Age overnight! 

[The Hammer2021]

  On 10/14/2021 at 2:37 AM, bobandyson said:

Oh Oh, after my first visit to Thailand I went home with the realisation that Thais should not be in control of technology.

And that was back in '91.

 

Thais and technology don't mix.

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Rubbish.

[Burma Bill]

  On 10/14/2021 at 2:13 AM, webfact said:

continue a process to drag Thailand into the 21st century

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Well I never!!! Better inform the bureaucratic medieval "establishment".

[JeffersLos]

  On 10/14/2021 at 2:17 AM, Thaiwrath said:

Photocopies make tremendous revenue at immigration, some charging 5  baht a copy !

I can't see that being stopped in a hurry. 

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Oh people still need to photocopy them, they just don't need to submit it. 

[new2here]

i have noticed that more and more places have and use chip-readers.   Most of the banks that i frequent have them right on the tellers workstation.. So the staff just partially insert the ID card and the cards’ chip is read and whatever data needs to be verified can be done online or a digital record of the card being presented can also be recorded.

 

But for the “blue book” i’m not sure how that document can be digitalized as I don’t recall it having a QR code, chip or other alternate means of use. 

 

but in the end, i applaud any movement towards increasing the use of digital use and decreasing the reliance on paper - so long as the proper safeguards of e-data are in place and there is commitment from all stakeholders agreeing that a digital record carries the same weight as that of a paper record. 

[chilly07]

Still have all my Immigration docs copied onto Chonburi Immigration web site from 2019-checked and they are still there.  They never used them and I still can't find the submit button. Chance of Immigration going digital is zero. They like slightly modifying or completely changing year on year. Pity because they have started using QueQ and it works very well. 

[hotchilli]

  On 10/14/2021 at 2:13 AM, webfact said:

It is hoped that this order will continue a process to drag Thailand into the 21st century in this regard. 

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Probably be enacted by the 22nd century.

[hotchilli]

  On 10/14/2021 at 2:27 AM, MRToMRT said:

I always wondered where these files and copies were stored, if at all. 

 

So what does the decision mean? Does it mean theres an online system or copies are no longer need to be seen/stored? I am confused.

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Nah it will continue, this is only copies of Thai ID's, the mountain will continue.

[Scouse123]

I went today to Kalasin to the main hospital as I required a copy of inoculation documents for future use when travelling.

 

The information contained on the App Mor Phrom was incorrect and they even had my d.o.b listed the same as the vaccine date which was incorrect. I was concerned it may raise a flag at some airport counter.

 

I was sent away to get copies of pink ID card, copies of passport, of which they wanted signing and dating in blue ink!

[Jimbo2014]

There is an old saying... every time a Thai needs to obtain something from the government, a tree is felled in a forest.  4.0 has thus far meant 4x the paperwork, 4x the wait, 4x the frustration.  Lets hope 5.0 doesn't up the multiple.

[ozbanglamung]

  On 10/14/2021 at 6:10 AM, RafPinto said:

Never argue with your boss.

We are just accepted here, not more, not less.

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Accepted ? I don't think so. Tolerated ? maybe.

[Moonlover]

This was announced about three years ago. I wonder if they really mean it this time around!

 

[StayinThailand2much]

  On 10/14/2021 at 2:27 AM, MRToMRT said:

I always wondered where these files I and copies were stored, if at all. 

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They are recycled. If you go to the Immigration office for a visa extension, you will have to sign a paper that you "won't overstay". On the flip side you can see the copied data page and latest visa page of another foreigner.

[spidermike007]

For a nation hellbent on destroying the world's forests, this is a good first baby step. But, will anything change at the pre-historic immigration offices?

 

Recently returned from immigration, after renewing my marriage visa. The upside to this visa, is that only 400,000 is needed as a deposit, and it does not have to stay in the bank, once your visa is granted. The downsides are:

The hurdles you need to jump over, in order to get a marriage visa are stupid, ridiculous, unnecessary, draconian, wasteful, and silly. I understand the need for them to verify that you are a legitimate couple. Upon the first application. But, the dumb requirements should not relate to renewals. You should not be required to show fresh images of the house each time, copies of the marriage papers, the house documents, either come with a local Thai witness, or bring a signed affidavit from a local Thai each time, provide new maps to the house, and dozens of other requirements. Maybe 60 pages in printed documents!

I just do not even know what to say about the process. I felt like a street dog by the time I left. After hours of paperwork, copy after copy after copy, each page having to be signed, and then being grilling by the surly officer, I literally felt like a street dog. The level of disrespect that immigration shows married couples here, and foreigners in general, is totally uncalled for, beyond the pale, and inane. The copy woman, the guy sorting our papers, they were all nice. But, the officers? Such sourpusses. The woman who was helping us was so difficult to work with, when she finally rejected us over the tiniest thing she did not like, after nearly an hour of reviewing every document with a microscope, so to speak, and said no, I responded by saying yes. YES, you are going to do this. Yes, you are going to do this right now. YES, you are going to stop saying NO to me right now. This ends now. She looked at me and did not know what to say. I asked for the manager. The top brass came over, and we had it sorted in 30 minutes. Took nearly 3 hours. And as usual, it will be a month, until I have final approval. Is it worth it? NO. It is my last marriage visa. I will go back to a retirement visa next year, or leave the country, before I subject myself to that abuse one more time.

I use the marriage visa, and they inevitably like to throw in something, to increase the difficulty of the process. Frankly, I think at least some of this comes from the rather extreme level of xenophobia and the toxic racism of the army. It filters down throughout the government. I do not think they want us here. And making these procedures difficult is one way of expressing that. 
 
Fortunately, I feel very little of that sentiment from the non governmental Thai people. 
 
I still love it here. But, if I had the required cash, I would likely spend 6 months a year in Turkey or Spain, or Mexico. And a few months traveling, a month in the US (family and work), and two months a year here. 
 
I really despise the army and their administration. But, I guess that much is obvious! 

I totally blame Prayuth, and the biggest joke. Immigration has gotten worse under their tutelage and their arrogance, and their insufferable xenophobia knows no bounds. This whole thing leaves a bitter, sour, nasty, foul taste in one's mouth, and the stench can be smelled for kilometers. Thailand is moving backwards on so many levels, I do not even know where to begin. I believe at this point, that if Brittany Spears were to declare her candidacy, she would beat Prayuth, hands down. That is how much he and the army are despised, at this point. Especially after the recent stunt he pulled.

[spidermike007]

I guess for a nation that has been moving backwards at a pace that could break one's neck, for the past decade or so, any progress is miraculous. So, I guess let us be thankful for the little things in life, as not much more can be expected from the toxic dinosaurs in charge.