Should I carry passport with me all the time?

[parafareno]

I have a copy of my passport and pictures on my phone....i am afraid to carry passport with me

is that ok?

 

[richard_smith237]

A copy of your passport and also photos on your phone (showing entry stamp etc) should be more than acceptable in the rare occasion that the BiB ask for your ID. 

 

To place this into perspective - I’ve been asked for my passport about 5 or 6 times in over 25 years. 

I’ve never had my passport on me and have shown my Driving Licence... only once was that an issue and the Police were demanding a Passport (I ended up phoning a friend in the BiB to back me up). 

 

So...  while never 100% assured you won’t have a problem, the chances of being stoped and asked for ID in the fist place are minimal...  Then IF on the extremely rare chance you are stopped and asked for ID it would be even more rare that a photo-copy of your passport is not accepted, particularly when backed up with Visa / entry stamp photos on your phone. 

 

The probability of losing a passport when out and about is far higher than getting stopped by the BiB.

The hassle of replacing a lost passport is far higher than dealing with the BiB IF on the extremely rare chance they do demand a passport and nothing else.

 

 

 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

For the last two decades nobody ever asked for my passport in Thailand on the street or in any bar, restaurant, etc.

 

I only bring my passport if I go to something official or, in very rare cases, some office building security want to see a passport to allow entry. But those are definitely not the rule but the rare exception.

[parafareno]

you are right i was never asked for my passport before

but for driving licence many times lol

[In Full Agreement]

 

I just go to a Kodak shop and have my passport copied onto a credit card sized card. On one side is the first page of my passport and on the back is my current visa extension.

 

The cost is less than 50 baht. 

[parafareno]

2 minutes ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

I just go to a Kodak shop and have my passport copied onto a credit card sized card. On one side is the first page of my passport and on the back is my current visa extension.

 

The cost is less than 50 baht. 

i will do that thank you

[worgeordie]

Once in 35 years , there was a coup on ,that's why I had it with me,

out in the countryside stopped by a soldier , he looked at it upside

down , so maybe that does not count , just carry a copy ,I don't

even bother with that , but always carry my driving licence.

 

regards Worgeordie 

[Kwasaki]

22 minutes ago, parafareno said:

I am afraid to carry passport with me

is that ok?

What you is what i do and in 17 years never a problem wherever I've been in Thailand and that's all over. ????

[RafPinto]

I came back from Pattaya last week.
Went to see a friend who opened a bakery.

Drove some backroads to reach to motorway.
Before entering motorway, I saw some police officers, stopping cars, especially with foreigners.
A few foreigners were already out of their cars.

One police off. came to me and asked driving license.
I had to park a bit further.
Didn't ask for road tax or insurance or car documents.
Asked for my passport.
I told him, he has my driving license in his hands and I don't have my passport on me but a photo on my phone.
I had to step out of my car.
He was looking at my phone when I was searching the right picture.
I told him to give me a bit of privacy and don't stare at my phone.
I showed him my passport page and visa stamp.
He insisted to make a photo of it with his phone.
Later I had to stand in front of my car and he wanted to take a picture.
I asked him what the problem is and that I will call a friend in BKK.
I called and my friend took the call.
Quickly I got my drivers license back and off I went.

[KannikaP]

18 minutes ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

I just go to a Kodak shop and have my passport copied onto a credit card sized card. On one side is the first page of my passport and on the back is my current visa extension.

 

The cost is less than 50 baht. 

It will be barely readable at that size, especially the Visa stamp.

[richard_smith237]

Note: I never carry my passport in BKK (never did - but have photos on phone & pink Id). 

 

BUT... whenever I go out of the province... i.e. on Holiday to Samui, Phuket, Trat etc...  I always bring my passport with me (it stays locked way in my bag). 

 

I bring the passport ‘just incase’ its needed... i.e. I end up with some issue (car accident or whatever can be imagined or envisaged where I need my passport accessible within a reasonable time frame). 

 

In Bangkok, my passport remains locked in my safe unless specifically needed.

 

 

 

 

[Kwasaki]

1 minute ago, KannikaP said:

It will be barely readable at that size, especially the Visa stamp.

Yeah pix on phone OK and best you can enlarge the details. 

[richard_smith237]

4 minutes ago, RafPinto said:

I showed him my passport page and visa stamp.
He insisted to make a photo of it with his phone.
Later I had to stand in front of my car and he wanted to take a picture.

Very strange behaviour from the BiB - it seems the Police in Pattaya (and Phuket) have this strange attitude towards foreigners that we are all potential criminals or something. 

 

4 minutes ago, RafPinto said:

I asked him what the problem is and that I will call a friend in BKK.

I'd be very interested in the ‘why’... there may have been a logic..  I’d just be very curious to know why I was stopped etc...   usually they just say something like ‘big boss say’.. .but that doesnt answer the question...  I want to know whats going on in their heads.. 

 

4 minutes ago, RafPinto said:

I called and my friend took the call.
Quickly I got my drivers license back and off I went.

The 'phone a friend option’ can be very useful.... I don’t like to use it and always try to sort out any issue directly myself - but a couple of times the past I’ve had to resort to the 'phone a friend option’ which resolves a simple issue very quickly...

 

[RafPinto]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

Very strange behaviour from the BiB - it seems the Police in Pattaya (and Phuket) have this strange attitude towards foreigners that we are all potential criminals or something. 

They were targeting foreigners.

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I'd be very interested in the ‘why’... there may have been a logic..  I’d just be very curious to know why I was stopped etc...   usually they just say something like ‘big boss say’.. .but that doesnt answer the question...  I want to know whats going on in their heads.. 

He didn't speak a word of english. Not interested in my car documents. Wanted my passport and me out of the car. Wanted to take my phone to look for passport photo himself. Told him to not touch my phone and to give me some privacy. Later took photo of my passport and visa picture. Insisted to take a photo of me, in front of my car.

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

The 'phone a friend option’ can be very useful.... I don’t like to use it and always try to sort out any issue directly myself - but a couple of times the past I’ve had to resort to the 'phone a friend option’ which resolves a simple issue very quickly...

 

Yes, he didn't like it. No call he said.
I did call, phone was ringing and the other end accepted the call.
Investigation was quickly over.

[EVENKEEL]

Yes, at all times, anywhere and every where you roam.

[KhunLA]

I carry mine, almost always, except locally on my scooter, AND, if wife is in the house.  If she's out, then 'bag' goes with me, or just small wallet on the scooter.

 

Since my most important document, it's in my cross body bag, with; phone, DL, bank book, yellow book, billfold w/plastic, specs, blade.  All neat & tidy, with pocket for my 'wallet', which actually holds; DL, cash, important plastic.  Wallet goes with me on scooter.

 

And no, rarely, if ever asked for PP the past 20ish years.  It is the law though.

[scubascuba3]

Yeah fine

[stoner]

21 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Since my most important document, it's in my cross body bag, with; phone, DL, bank book, yellow book, billfold w/plastic, specs, blade.  All neat & tidy, with pocket for my 'wallet', which actually holds; DL, cash, important plastic.  Wallet goes with me on scooter.

did you leave any space for your lip gloss and rouge ? 

[DaLa]

41 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Yeah pix on phone OK and best you can enlarge the details. 

Tried that, useless on my Nokia.

[In Full Agreement]

43 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

It will be barely readable at that size, especially the Visa stamp.

 

 

My vision is far from the best but I can read every letter showing on my copy.

 

Maybe your passport info isn't clear or you need to have the job done at a different place.

 

[In Full Agreement]

3 minutes ago, DaLa said:

Tried that, useless on my Nokia.

 

Nokia, expensive but worst phone I ever owned.       Taking a photo on it was a joke.     Impressive settings  for a photo but it took about a lifetime before I could ever take a second photo in rapid succession.

 

I don't recall the model # but I do remember I paid 450. USD for it.

[KannikaP]

3 minutes ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

 

My vision is far from the best but I can read every letter showing on my copy.

 

Maybe your passport info isn't clear or you need to have the job done at a different place.

 

My passport is clear, the scan I made of it is too. But a printout at C Card size is too small. Photo on phone is fine as it can be zoomed in.

[In Full Agreement]

4 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

My passport is clear, the scan I made of it is too. But a printout at C Card size is too small. Photo on phone is fine as it can be zoomed in.

 

 

Did you have it done at a Kodak shop as I described?   In your case you should continue on with just using your phone photo.      ????

 

 

[RafPinto]

19 minutes ago, stoner said:

did you leave any space for your lip gloss and rouge ? 

BritmanToo (btw, where is he? Very quiet lately), he has a special department for his "condom" collection.

[Kwasaki]

24 minutes ago, DaLa said:

Tried that, useless on my Nokia.

No problem on my cheapo Vivo. ????

[Lacessit]

I carry copies of my passport on my smartphone, have paper copies in my car and scooter.

I've been here 12 years, and not once have I been asked for my passport by the police.

 

Different banks have different rules, some accept photos on the phone, others want the original passport.

[In Full Agreement]

5 minutes ago, RafPinto said:

BritmanToo (btw, where is he? Very quiet lately), he has a special department for his "condom" collection.

 

New or used?       ????

[mikeymike100]

51 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I carry mine, almost always, except locally on my scooter, AND, if wife is in the house.  If she's out, then 'bag' goes with me, or just small wallet on the scooter.

 

Since my most important document, it's in my cross body bag, with; phone, DL, bank book, yellow book, billfold w/plastic, specs, blade.  All neat & tidy, with pocket for my 'wallet', which actually holds; DL, cash, important plastic.  Wallet goes with me on scooter.

 

And no, rarely, if ever asked for PP the past 20ish years.  It is the law though.

I have seen many posts, not just in this thread, but on many occasions some folks say you have 24 hrs to take it to the police station, or a picture on your phone is OK or you need the original document, its the law.

Not arguing with you, but to clear up the obvious confusion, to which law are you referring?

[xylophone]

It might've been mentioned already, however just for the record, I took my passport along to a copy shop and got them to make a small copy of it, about credit card size, which they then laminated, and which I carry around in my wallet all the time.

 

I have presented it at various places when asked for a passport, and it has been accepted, as has my Thai driving licence.

[mikeymike100]

You would be totally crazy to carry your original passport with you at all times.

The chances of being stopped and asked for it are extremely small, usually a picture on your phone, showing the details page and when you are allowed to stay will suffice, if you are stopped.

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-thailand-has-a-large-market-for-stolen-passports-2014-3?op=1

 

If you lose your passport or get it stolen its a much bigger problem than the police asking for it, plus the expense and hassle!