hotels insisting on passport at checkin (for TM30?)

[flexomike]

7 hours ago, namatjira said:

Sadly I travelled everywhere without my passport,  the license always worked, until it didn't,  in Bangkok and it was crackdown time....need passport......raining 9.00 pm at night and every hotel turned me away, I was due to fly out in the morning.....asked a cabbie to find me a place close to the airport and I got a 600 baht cab ride in the opposite  direction....most miserable night in my life in the most disgusting room available....do not recommend.....do not get caught like me, take your passport

so you were going to fly out without a passport?

[Seeall]

20 hours ago, digbeth said:

Some hotels won't let you check in with just Thai driver license now, 'policy is for passport' 

What exactly is required of them in order to report T.M. 30? the passport number on driving license might not be current is understandable

 

for hotels that is this strict about reporting I doubt pink ID card would be acceptable too, it's not like they can put you down as a Thai person checking in

Don't you have a passport to show

[borderhopper2005]

In Thailand, foreigners have always been required to produce their passport at the time of their check in(even before the enforcement of TM30 in the 21st century).

And the same applies to the case of renting an apartment room.  On that occasion, their passport photocopies needed to be submitted. That is what I have experienced by now.

Edited April 12 by borderhopper2005

[TigerandDog]

14 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

It's impossible to qualify each statement with what rogue offices do re TM30.

 

There are ~75 offices and I posted the law and what normal offices such as CW enforce. 

CM is another rogue office. 

Don't agree re CM on this. I've got friends who have been in Thailand for around 10 years who had recently returned from holidays to their home countries (USA & Canada) who upon their return went to CM to have TM30's lodged and told not necessary as they returned to their same permanent address. 

I will be travelling to Vietnam later this year and whilst I was at CM Imm Office last week doing my extension I asked whether I needed to do a TM30 on my return. I was told that if I was returning to the same permanent address that it would NOT be necessary. So CM are NOT a rogue office with everything, just some things.

[sandyf]

22 hours ago, digbeth said:

Some hotels won't let you check in with just Thai driver license now, 'policy is for passport' 

What exactly is required of them in order to report T.M. 30? the passport number on driving license might not be current is understandable

 

for hotels that is this strict about reporting I doubt pink ID card would be acceptable too, it's not like they can put you down as a Thai person checking in

The talk of hotels being strict is to a certain extent  a bit hypocritical, they have in fact an obligation under the law to report foreigners staying on the premises.

Is it the view that hotels should break the law?

I as much as anyone don't like the regulation but it's there and normally my wife will check in and they just ignore  me, now and again there is a jobsworth.

Hotels have 2 separate reasons or checking ID, either for immigration or hotel security policy. If it is the latter they will normally accept DL or pink card, the former however requires they check the permission to stay date.

[DrJack54]

18 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

So CM are NOT a rogue office with everything, just some things.

Good to see they have fallen into line. 

[sandyf]

20 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Pretty sure you don"t have to do that anymore.....and I have never done it.

Quite, my TM30 slip is dated 2015.

Before any untoward comments, I did a new extension a couple of months ago with new passport and new visa, NO new TM30 required.

[WilliamSmits]

Just make sure to have a picture of pp data page, last entry stamp + visa page on the phone.

Why risk having to look for another hotel?

Last trip to koh Mak the hotel asked for pp. They fill the data in excel form and upload (daily?) to TM30 app.

[ChaiyaTH]

37 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

Don't agree re CM on this. I've got friends who have been in Thailand for around 10 years who had recently returned from holidays to their home countries (USA & Canada) who upon their return went to CM to have TM30's lodged and told not necessary as they returned to their same permanent address. 

I will be travelling to Vietnam later this year and whilst I was at CM Imm Office last week doing my extension I asked whether I needed to do a TM30 on my return. I was told that if I was returning to the same permanent address that it would NOT be necessary. So CM are NOT a rogue office with everything, just some things.

How does that even relate, going abroad obviously does not create new TM30's, as it is not the same as when one travels domestic.

 

I can confirm that CM is rogue in this way, and they often want a fresh new TM30 again, if you also came there to extend. If I would fly abroad and come back, you are right, usually they are fine with the old one. The last time they wanted me to a new TM30 as well because I submitted myself without any end date, as it is our house. Then they wanted to see one with an end date (makes zero sense but whatever).

Edited April 12 by ChaiyaTH

[CecilM]

It's policy set by hotel Mgmt and that won't be questioned by front staff. Photocopy of passport must be made.

I was refused check-in without passport (even though the driver's license and the pink ID have the passport number on them).

A photo of the passport on the phone also wasn't accepted. 

[ChaiyaTH]

22 hours ago, digbeth said:

Some hotels won't let you check in with just Thai driver license now, 'policy is for passport' 

What exactly is required of them in order to report T.M. 30? the passport number on driving license might not be current is understandable

 

for hotels that is this strict about reporting I doubt pink ID card would be acceptable too, it's not like they can put you down as a Thai person checking in

They are more focused on catching overstayers or something, it is the same with domestic flights, was a month or so ago in the news, that they want to enforce that now too. The same actually happened recently in Vietnam, they also require passports again for domestic flights while a driving license as possible before too (for foreigners).

 

I am pretty sure however that most hotels would still let you check-in, if you can show them a digital or printed copy, aside from a Thai driving license, that matches the exact same name / photo etc. I never had issues to check-in without, when drunk, and showing them my phone copy / send via LINE.

Edited April 12 by ChaiyaTH

[actonion]

I keep  a Credit Card size Photocopy of my Passport  in my Wallet, it shows  expire date, and current Visa, but that was not acceptable at a Hotel check in in  Bangkok 

[Mike Lister]

1 minute ago, actonion said:

I keep  a Credit Card size Photocopy of my Passport  in my Wallet, it shows  expire date, and current Visa, but that was not acceptable at a Hotel check in in  Bangkok 

So pointless really then! 

[thepanom]

23 hours ago, digbeth said:

Some hotels won't let you check in with just Thai driver license now, 'policy is for passport' 

What exactly is required of them in order to report T.M. 30? the passport number on driving license might not be current is understandable

 

for hotels that is this strict about reporting I doubt pink ID card would be acceptable too, it's not like they can put you down as a Thai person checking in

 

[thepanom]

1 minute ago, thepanom said:

 

I use allways the pink ID card, never any problem

[brianthainess]

20 hours ago, Denim said:

I had this issue once when visiting a friend in Bangkok and had forgotten my passport at home. Just stayed at a curtain hotel instead. No questions at all except would we want drinks or food.

 

Pretty good place with excellent wifi and big bath with plenty of hot water.

 

I won't mention the several porno channels or strange chair thing in the corner because I am sure AN readers would not be interested. 

Car parked downstairs behind curtain, room upstairs.

We my wife and I checked into one of those and it had a gynecologist chair Stirrups an all 😱 I dread to think what went on in that room, we left forthwith.

[brianthainess]

23 hours ago, digbeth said:

the passport number on driving license might not be current is understandable

Ah that useless pink card that I got my driving license with, my DL has the number of my pink card not my passport number. I have checked in to 4* hotels with it, no problem. But I do always carry my PP if going away from home, plus photos of it on my phone with current extension.   

[Rampant Rabbit]

23 hours ago, digbeth said:

Some hotels won't let you check in with just Thai driver license now, 'policy is for passport' 

What exactly is required of them in order to report T.M. 30? the passport number on driving license might not be current is understandable

 

for hotels that is this strict about reporting I doubt pink ID card would be acceptable too, it's not like they can put you down as a Thai person checking in

1. take a Thai with you use their name

2  many small places by me 500 baht a night dont even bother, did it myself 3  months  ago whilst neighbour was making a lot of noise one night, gave them cash walked in at 8pm walked out 7am no paperwork, good  for them and me, stuff the state and its nosiness. Rural area.

[Rampant Rabbit]

27 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

So pointless really then! 

just like the whole scheme then.

[moe666]

23 hours ago, digbeth said:

Some hotels won't let you check in with just Thai driver license now, 'policy is for passport' 

What exactly is required of them in order to report T.M. 30? the passport number on driving license might not be current is understandable

 

for hotels that is this strict about reporting I doubt pink ID card would be acceptable too, it's not like they can put you down as a Thai person checking in

This has been going on for a couple of years. the bank started requiring passport now before I show drivers licenses

[Liquorice]

16 hours ago, quake said:

Please go tell that to the immigration office in nongkhai.

You report there, you go tell them.

Supply them with a copy of the new regulations, it maybe the first time they've seen them.

Edited April 12 by Liquorice

[Mike Lister]

19 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

We my wife and I checked into one of those and it had a gynecologist chair Stirrups an all 😱 I dread to think what went on in that room, we left forthwith.

I checked into a hotel many many years ago that had one of those contraptions in it, I asked the young lady I was with why it was there and she, quick as a flash, said she believed the hotel used to be a hospital at one time and this was left over equipement.

[Rampant Rabbit]

21 hours ago, digbeth said:

 

If you can avoid being reported to 'checked in' at a hotel you can save yourself the trouble of re-reporting yourself when you're home, for the immigration office that insist on it

 

say you had a weekend away and the hotel reported you moved there say in Phuket or whatever and you didn't report that you 'moved' back to your usual place, would this be a problem when you present the initial TM30 at immigration that might not match where they had you last in their system?

just the fact youre being tracked where you go is enough for me to try and avoid it.

[StayinThailand2much]

21 hours ago, digbeth said:

 

If you can avoid being reported to 'checked in' at a hotel you can save yourself the trouble of re-reporting yourself when you're home, for the immigration office that insist on it

 

say you had a weekend away and the hotel reported you moved there say in Phuket or whatever and you didn't report that you 'moved' back to your usual place, would this be a problem when you present the initial TM30 at immigration that might not match where they had you last in their system?

 

That's exactly why I cancelled a few holidays away from home. Not wanting to get into trouble with "late" and different TM.30 reports... Well done, Thailand!

[quake]

11 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

You report there, you go tell them.

Supply them with a copy of the new regulations, it maybe the first time they've seen them.

Nah, they know 100% what they are doing.

Like many government offices for many different things,  they just make the rules up

themselves.

Nothing you can do about it.

 

 

[Mike Lister]

6 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

That's exactly why I cancelled a few holidays away from home. Not wanting to get into trouble with "late" and different TM.30 reports... Well done, Thailand!

That law was changed, it's not an issue today, you stay away and come back and not have to report.

[quake]

5 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

That law was changed, it's not an issue today, you stay away and come back and not have to report.

 

Most of the time.

but not always.

[chrissables]

22 hours ago, digbeth said:

 

If you can avoid being reported to 'checked in' at a hotel you can save yourself the trouble of re-reporting yourself when you're home, for the immigration office that insist on it

 

say you had a weekend away and the hotel reported you moved there say in Phuket or whatever and you didn't report that you 'moved' back to your usual place, would this be a problem when you present the initial TM30 at immigration that might not match where they had you last in their system?

It would depend on waht immigration office. Arriving back in Pattaya and a bike tour i have never reported i am back and never had an issue.

[chrissables]

10 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

So you broke the law and got away with it - well done.

I fail to understand why so many people are afraid to report where they are staying in Thailand.

It used to be the TM 6 card but that did not work. It relied on the honesty of the traveller.

Now it is the TM 30.

 

Photo id is OK on domestic flights.

But you do have to tell them your Nationality. (It's not on the DL.)

I once boarded a flight using a Tarongo zoo pass.

He did not break the law, the hotels have the duty to report customers.

[chrissables]

4 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

This is not new. Most hotels larger than a hole in the wall B500 guesthouse have required PP for many years. 

I am not long back from a 40 day motorbike tour in Thailand, only one hotel would not accept a drivers licence.