If you are a resident in Thailand, should you always carry your passport with you?

[bkk6060]

Never,  Carrying it is risky for theft or losing it. The Thai DL has the Passport number on it.

And, in 10 years I have never presented a passport for domestic hotels or domestic flights.  Just Thai DL.

[thesetat2013]

16 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

There will be very mixed responses to this...  

There has been mixed advice, with some regional police chief's suggesting a photo-copy is fine, while others suggest you need to carry your passport. 

 

 

IMO - the choice is individual.

 

Within province - a Photo of the Passport on your phone (and entry stamps / visa etc) is sufficient. 

As is carrying a photo-copy (many laminate this)

For most Police your Driving License will be fine. 

A copy of a Pink ID will also act as Government issued photo ID.

 

Outside of province - I carry my passport with baggage, but keep that at the hotel so its accessible within a reasonable time frame should it be necessary. 

 

The risk of passport loss and hassle of replacement, plus impact on travel arrangements for the time it takes to replace by far exceeds and potential of the Police specifically demanding to see my passport and subsequent potentail hassle of not having the actual passport in possession. 

 

In any such sitation, if handled politely in the vast majority of situations the Police will be more than satisfied with a PhotoCopy, Photo on your Phone, Driving License, or Pink ID. 

 

-------

 

As pointed out - As far as the 2014-2015 issue of the Police in Sukhumvit Bangkok (Thonglor Police) asking for passports and fining people without - this reached national headlines - the police officers turned out to be 'somewhat rogue' and were told to stop.

 

 

Americans have always been advised not to carry their passports with them as the risk for loss or theft was too great. 

[stoner]

13 hours ago, Celsius said:

"resident of Thailand"

 

LOL

 

papers please. 

[spidermike007]

No. Absolutely not. Only when dealing with immigration, if you need it for banking, or when traveling outside of the country. Too risky otherwise. 

 

A color copy of your passport and visa page is ALWAYS adequate. Or a pink ID card, or local DL is fine. 

[Andycoops]

A copy will suffice, I carry a credit card size laminated copy in my wallet along with my other cards.

Available in photo shops for a couple of hundred baht, or less.

[new2here]

10 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Only a copy of the passport photo page and permission to stay needs to be copied and they can be sized to credit card/wallet size and laminated back to back to preserve them.

this is exactly how I carry mine. Passport data page, last entry stamp, extension .. color copied, scaled down to credit card size and nicely laminated.  In the maybe handful of times that I’ve been asked by any kind of law enforcement entity, it’s been accepted without comment.

 

Of course banks and when applying for any kind of government action (ie immigration matters, work permit matters) you’ll need the original-  but for the random law enforcement contact, i’ve never had anyone ask for or demand the actual hard copy document. 

[Bangkok Barry]

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

The risk of passport loss and hassle of replacement, plus impact on travel arrangements for the time it takes to replace by far exceeds and potential of the Police specifically demanding to see my passport and subsequent potentail hassle of not having the actual passport in possession. 

 

Bingo!

[newbee2022]

19 hours ago, BangkokBernie said:

In my opinion, the answer is no, it's not necessary. In over 30 years in the country, I've never carried my passport with me unless I am traveling around the country and need to have it with me to check in for a domestic flight or hotel. I've also never been stopped randomly and asked to show it to any form of immigration or law enforcement officer during the entire time that I've been here. 

 

The only time I was ever asked for my passport was once very many years ago during a routine traffic stop/road block at night. I politely explained to the police officer that I didn't have it with me and that was the end of it. 

 

The truth is that many foreigners in the country will also be without their passport at times when it's with a lawyer or visa agent and while their visa is being renewed. When I used to work for a company in Thailand, there were even times that my passport was not in my possession for weeks at a time. 

 

Anyway, none of the people that I know who live here full-time carry their passports with them either. I think it's more common for tourists to carry their passports, but not residents. I always have a photo of my passport, a photo of my current visa and my latest entry stamp, and even a copy of my last 90 day report receipt, all in my phone with me at all times. Something I only started doing 5-6 years ago. Before that I never had anything with me related to my passport or visa. 

 

In addition, I have a Thai driving license and a pink card so I have plenty of ID with me to prove my identity, that I've been here for some time and that I'm not a tourist. So it's never been an issue for me or anyone I know and I really don't expect it to become one in the future. 
 

I also don't reside in a major expat area or live in a rural part of the country on an O Visa, so that probably helps to avoid these random, isolated checks that some people seem concerned about.

It's not (only) about your ID, but about your visa (and 90 days report).

That's why authorities want you to carry your passport with you 🙏

[KhunLA]

I do, as it's my most important document, so why would I leave it anywhere unsecured.   Safest with me.  I'd state it's the law, but that would start a long discussion / debate, for another thread.

 

I do think most will accept copies, or so I read, of which I do have on my phone, along with next pulse check, for times I do leave it at home, when wife is there.   Not an inconvenience to carry, as I carry my wallet & loose money, along with plastic sleeve it is in,  and even my yellow & bank book, when out of the house with wife.  

 

All tidy in my bag, which stays in the car or MB, if not carrying.  All much more convenient than the hassle or replacing all those.

 

Will I ever need it, though rarely visit touristy areas where one might be aske for it.   That said, 23+ years, and I've been asked for it once, I think.  

 

I use my pink ID when asked for ID for any reason, very rare, but keeps fingers out of my passport, and when renewed, the old one (10 yrs old) still looks brand new.

[SportRider]

I've lived in numerous countries in the region for about 25 years in aggregate, with 10 in Thailand.  Never have carried my passport on the off-chance of being asked. 

 

Was only ever asked once, in 1995 in Bandung Indonesia, about 1am on the way back from a bar.  

 

Today, I have all docs on my phone and can show electronically or send to plod by Line if needed. 

[DPKANKAN]

19 hours ago, NativeBob said:

It was really annoying and policemen were very rude. Pure extortion, nothing to do with "fighting terrorism and illegals" 

As for nowadays - just carry copies of photo page and latest visa page. Sufficient.

After every annual renewal I get a credit card size photo done. Passport one side, new visa extension date other side, sealed in plastic case and carry in wallet. Job done!!!

[shackleton]

I always carry a copy of my passport so far in all the years I have been here  never been stopped or ask to show my passport Bangkok and else where 

[The Theory]

only have passport (1st page & latest  stamps photos in my phone.

[The Theory]

only have passport (1st page & latest  stamps) photos in my phone.

[paddypower]

19 hours ago, HugoFastor said:

If you go over to BS's latest nauseating, slush pile of a post from today you will find a whole bunch of negative, fear-mongering, anecdotal spewing about this topic, which all seems like fairly useless conjecture.

What's been written here so far is very sensible. I do the same as the OP. I have copies of everything in my phone, never carry my passport, and I've never had a problem either.
 

Will be interesting to hear what other sensible people think about this subject and if there is any good reason to change personal practices or not. I doubt doing anything different will be needed when going forward. 

although this has been covered, i prefer to keep a hard copy of the photo page and most current retirement visa extension stamp in my ''man bag''. which now weighs so much it should be registered as a ''weapon of mass destruction'' . altho' off topic, i also carry one plasticized copy of each of the merchant's bills i deal with where i have membership. I'm getting old. often i forget to take the Makro card with me. a copy of a Makro bill is always accepted. Ditto with presenting a copy of a bill,  with the tax number of my company, for obtaining tax receipts at Home Pro, Thaiwatasadu, etc. etc.

 

[mokwit]

21 hours ago, BangkokBernie said:

In over 30 years in the country

Congratulations on living here 30 years and only making 5 posts on AN, especially as you must have come here in your late teens..

 

On another thread started by you.

Hello everyone - I'm new to this site, but I’ve been living in Thailand about 50% of the time since 2018 and have been in a relationship with a wonderful Thai woman (that I met in a yoga class) since around 1.5 years ago. We are both in our late forties.

 

[mokwit]

16 hours ago, BigStar said:

So then if you don’t have your passport with you, you’ll need to produce it within 24 hours. Wisely, they’ll not trust you to do so on the honor system, but detain you until somebody brings it to you.

 

But if heavens! no one can bring it to you, then the police, for a service charge, will escort you to its location. Note that at no point will you be under arrest or charged or penalized simply for not carrying your passport. That’s not an offense.

This is the point I was trying to make on another thread. If you don't have ID on you things can go very wrong.

[Liverpool Lou]

12 hours ago, RSD1 said:

13 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Only a copy of the passport photo page and permission to stay needs to be copied and they can be sized to credit card/wallet size and laminated back to back to preserve them.

Sounds cute. But too much work. 

Cute?  It's no work at all, just tell the person in the photo/copy shop to do it.

[AustinRacing]

Immigration police I believe have the right to know that you’re here legally. If you can prove it any other way then you’ve done well. 

[NoshowJones]

18 hours ago, RSD1 said:

Is that just for the branch that you go to regularly where they know you personally, or all BBL branches?

Banks are like IO's they all make up their own rules. TiT.

[DaveBart]

When ever I renew my 90 day or yearly non o I take pictures of them and keep them on my phone,I never carry my passport with me 

[kevin612]

No way , always leave passport at home. It is too big anyway 

[Ralf001]

Nope, don't carry. No need to !

[worgeordie]

In 36 years of living here i have been asked to see my passport once,

at the time there was a Coup in progress ,so I thought I better carry

my passport ,was stopped at a roadblock by group of soldiers , one

asked to see my passport ,but he was reading it upside down ,so maybe

that does not count ....

 

I never carry my passport while in my provence ,but do when traveling ,

further afield , 

 

regards worgeordie

[khunPer]

On 7/4/2024 at 8:05 AM, BangkokBernie said:

In my opinion, the answer is no, it's not necessary. In over 30 years in the country, I've never carried my passport with me unless I am traveling around the country and need to have it with me to check in for a domestic flight or hotel. I've also never been stopped randomly and asked to show it to any form of immigration or law enforcement officer during the entire time that I've been here. 

 

The only time I was ever asked for my passport was once very many years ago during a routine traffic stop/road block at night. I politely explained to the police officer that I didn't have it with me and that was the end of it. 

 

The truth is that many foreigners in the country will also be without their passport at times when it's with a lawyer or visa agent and while their visa is being renewed. When I used to work for a company in Thailand, there were even times that my passport was not in my possession for weeks at a time. 

 

Anyway, none of the people that I know who live here full-time carry their passports with them either. I think it's more common for tourists to carry their passports, but not residents. I always have a photo of my passport, a photo of my current visa and my latest entry stamp, and even a copy of my last 90 day report receipt, all in my phone with me at all times. Something I only started doing 5-6 years ago. Before that I never had anything with me related to my passport or visa. 

 

In addition, I have a Thai driving license and a pink card so I have plenty of ID with me to prove my identity, that I've been here for some time and that I'm not a tourist. So it's never been an issue for me or anyone I know and I really don't expect it to become one in the future. 
 

I also don't reside in a major expat area or live in a rural part of the country on an O Visa, so that probably helps to avoid these random, isolated checks that some people seem concerned about.

Carry a photocopy, that's the police's advise where I stay. You always need to be able to show picture identification, often a Thai driver's license or a pink ID-card for foreigners can do the job. In some areas of Bangkok I've seen hotel placing warning signs that tourist must all time carry their passport to avoid arrest by police, if checked for ID and don't have a passport to show.

[NativeBob]

20 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Interesting - you have a Cartoon Icon of Stalin as your Image...  You draw a comparison of being required carrying identification to the holocaust...

There's a misunderstanding: Stalin was pro-Israel, most of his cabinet were somehow jewish decent, some georgians and armenians. Stalin's USSR defeated Nazi Germany which was quite anti-jewish. You know - "enemy of my enemy"?

 

Yellow Star of David was a badge to distinguish those prisoners in camps. Nothing to do with Holocaust. 

I'm not sure what LGBTQ+ had as ID - maybe rainbow unicorns?

There were also other "stars" or "badges" for Soviet officers POW, gypsies and others so called "untermensch"

[Dexxter]

On 7/4/2024 at 7:05 PM, RSD1 said:

That's a good analog way if you can get all your visa and entry stamps and your passport picture page all photocopied onto one piece of paper. But then my experience has been that folded up pieces of paper in a wallet don't last that long. I also don't carry a full sized wallet anymore. 

 

I take a photo of relevant pages in my passport, health insurance certificate, address and important phone numbers, and a few other things. Edit and reduce all the photos onto a single page on my computer and then print it out. All on half a page of A4, neatly folded so all the text is on the inside and protected. The paper copy lasts a for the period of my visa and time in Thailand. I also have a copy of all the original photos on my phone.

The only time I had to show my actual passport was when visiting some big celebration/fair near the Royal Palace a few years ago where all Thais had their cards electronically checked and foreigners had to have their passports scanned.

The only time I had to show my photocopied passport was when changing cash at SuperRich before Covid, however, I then discovered that my local money changer gives better rates than SuperRich and does not need a passport.

[BigStar]

4 hours ago, khunPer said:

In some areas of Bangkok I've seen hotel placing warning signs that tourist must all time carry their passport to avoid arrest by police, if checked for ID and don't have a passport to show.

 

False info, however. (Lot of that around, in tourist guides, even Embassy websites.) If checked for ID, you must have an ID. Nor can you be arrested for not carrying your passport, as it's not a chargeable offense. You can be detained if you're under suspicion--and it goes from there.

[SingAPorn]

A Thai driving licence is usually excepted but again it all depends on the mood of the officer and how much money he already has extorted from other foreigners since morning,🤣

[SingAPorn]

2 hours ago, Dexxter said:

 

I take a photo of relevant pages in my passport, health insurance certificate, address and important phone numbers, and a few other things. Edit and reduce all the photos onto a single page on my computer and then print it out. All on half a page of A4, neatly folded so all the text is on the inside and protected. The paper copy lasts a for the period of my visa and time in Thailand. I also have a copy of all the original photos on my phone.

The only time I had to show my actual passport was when visiting some big celebration/fair near the Royal Palace a few years ago where all Thais had their cards electronically checked and foreigners had to have their passports scanned.

The only time I had to show my photocopied passport was when changing cash at SuperRich before Covid, however, I then discovered that my local money changer gives better rates than SuperRich and does not need a passport.

 

 

Very true as those exchange booths in the basement of BKK airport are not all that good deals. even the exchange booth a hua hin mall was giving similar or even a bit better rates then at those previously very popular exchange booths in Bangkok Airport basement.