Pink I.D Card & Yellow Book

[scorecard]

55 minutes ago, Isan Farang said:

 

It may depend on location, my last recent DL renewal in Ubon required a residence letter, previousl one they accepted copy of yellow book. They told me the rules had changed.

On 10/29/2024 at 6:24 PM, Liquorice said:

Amphoes may also differ by what they name the holder of the book and others named in it.

 

I have a number of translations from House books.
The most common status name is the "head of household" or "householder" for the holder of the book.

For other status, 'resident' is the most common term used.

'House master' also commonly used. And, as already said it doesn't need to be the owner of the house. 

[jayboy]

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Correction: some five star hotels in Bangkok and Hua Hin that you may have stayed at have accepted you pink ID.

 

Ok that's correct.Do you or anyone else know whether there are 5 star hotels which still don't accept the Pink card?

[transam]

Just now, jayboy said:

 

Ok that's correct.Do you or anyone else know whether there are 5 star hotels which still don't accept the Pink card?

I thought the Pink ID card was not valid outside the issuing area.....

[jayboy]

1 hour ago, transam said:

I thought the Pink ID card was not valid outside the issuing area.....

 

In practice it is accepted everywhere notwithstanding the stipulation on the back of the card one shouldn't leave the issuing area.There's background to this which has been covered elsewhere on this forum.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, jayboy said:

 

Ok that's correct.Do you or anyone else know whether there are 5 star hotels which still don't accept the Pink card?

 

Simply pointing out that your experience, like the many, many different and varied experiences of others in Thailand, including mine, aren't empirical.

[NanLaew]

1 minute ago, jayboy said:

 

In practice it is accepted everywhere notwithstanding the stipulation on the back of the card one shouldn't leave the issuing area.There's background to this which has been covered elsewhere on this forum.

 

Yes, some have said in other threads that it was accepted by their bank without much clarification.

 

My experience, with an Udon Thani-issued PID, it wasn't accepted at the Pattaya branch of Bangkok Bank where I was doing a transaction on my personal account held at that branch. It had to be my passport.

 

With regard to applying for finance in my name, both the YB and PID were copied, but this was purely a belt-and-braces approach for proof of address in addition to my Thai DL. They love their copies here, and that is empirical!

[transam]

19 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

In practice it is accepted everywhere notwithstanding the stipulation on the back of the card one shouldn't leave the issuing area.There's background to this which has been covered elsewhere on this forum.

The card does say it is not proof of who you are......

[jayboy]

58 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Yes, some have said in other threads that it was accepted by their bank without much clarification.

 

My experience, with an Udon Thani-issued PID, it wasn't accepted at the Pattaya branch of Bangkok Bank where I was doing a transaction on my personal account held at that branch. It had to be my passport.

 

With regard to applying for finance in my name, both the YB and PID were copied, but this was purely a belt-and-braces approach for proof of address in addition to my Thai DL. They love their copies here, and that is empirical!

 

I was only referring to Pink card acceptance by 5 star hotels.I still am (mildly) interested in knowing whether there are 5 star hotels which do not accept it and insist on passport.

[jayboy]

49 minutes ago, transam said:

The card does say it is not proof of who you are......

 

Yes it does have that rather odd statement.But so what?

[oldcpu]

On 10/29/2024 at 1:14 PM, jayboy said:

 

It's not needed.You will never be asked for it.It can however be useful eg upscale hotel check ins.The only occasion I'm aware of  when it was definitely something to have was the initial Government COVID shot programme.But you may have had access to that anyway under social security cover. In short. better to have it than not have it, but it doesn't really matter if you don't.

 

I agree nominally its not needed.  In my case it has come in handy.

 

My Thai wife pressured me to get the yellow book & pink ID. Her Thai family (brothers/sister) thought it a bit funny, as they believed the pink-ID was nominally more for migrants from Myanmar or Laos (or other bordering countries) who are filling low paying jobs that the Thai nominally don't want to do.   I do NOT know if that is true.  They did laugh at the pink-ID.

 

I do recall getting both the yellow book and pink-ID was a pain to get .... and took some time sitting in various government offices in Phuket.  However my wife was insistent (and a happy wife is a happy life). 🙂 

 

While the pink-ID is not needed, I can not deny it has come in handy on rare occasion.

 

Aside from trivial discounts at national parks, the biggest (and not insignificant) use for the Pink-ID/Yellow book was when I was asked for a Thai tax ID by the Canadian bank where I have a large (for me) trading account.  The Canadian institution wanted my Thai Tax ID Number (TIN) else they advised they would freeze my account (or force me to with draw  everything from that account).  

 

Also, another Canadian institution wanted my Thai TIN before they would allow me to open an account with them.  I had important financial reasons to open that account.

 

Although I reside in Thailand for >180-days, since I haven't brought foreign income into Thailand since last year, the Thai Revenue Department (RD) wouldn't give me a Thai Tax ID Number (TIN).

 

The Thai RD noted my pink-ID/yellow-book # could be my Thai TIN only after they activated it.  They saw no need to activate it yet.

 

So I passed to the Canadian financial institutions my Thai TIN, advising the Canadian financial institutions that the TIN was not yet active. They accepted that.

 

That was a major benefit - but I concede most likely won't encounter that need.

 

I also needed to buy some Thai government bonds as proof of part of my investment in Thailand for an LTR visa.  The Thai bank advised they would only allow me to buy the bonds if I provided a Thai tax ID.   Again, my pink-ID/yellow book number was accepted as a TIN (even thou not yet activated).

 

So the Yellow Book/ID can come in handy at times.

 

I do concede , it was a pain to get,  and I suspect the vast majority of expats will have no need for such. 

Edited October 31 by oldcpu

[4MyEgo]

15 hours ago, Isan Farang said:

 

It may depend on location, my last recent DL renewal in Ubon required a residence letter, previousl one they accepted copy of yellow book. They told me the rules had changed.

 

They either had no idea, wanted to make life difficult for you, or the rules did change, personally I would have challenged it as immigration is a 3 hour round trip for me, and if they changed the rules on me, I would probably do as most of Thailand does, drive without one and if pulled over, ooops, forgot it in my other car and slip the cop 200 baht 🙂

 

Thailand, the land of constant rule changes.

[NickyLouie]

12 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

I was only referring to Pink card acceptance by 5 star hotels.I still am (mildly) interested in knowing whether there are 5 star hotels which do not accept it and insist on passport.

 

Yes often as they want to see your visa.

 

Pink card is accepted as ID in place of passport all the time but hotels are obligated to know your visa status.

[transam]

12 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

Yes it does have that rather odd statement.But so what?

Because it also says cannot be used outside the issuing area, which is why you cannot use it as ID proof outside that area....😉

[jayboy]

1 hour ago, transam said:

Because it also says cannot be used outside the issuing area, which is why you cannot use it as ID proof outside that area....😉

 

When the sun finally explodes and destroys the universe we know, we will finally hear no more from those who agonize about the Pink Card and wonder why it can be used throughout Thailand notwithstanding the weird restrictive wording on the back.

[klauskunkel]

17 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

Yes, some have said in other threads that it was accepted by their bank without much clarification.

 

My experience, with an Udon Thani-issued PID, it wasn't accepted at the Pattaya branch of Bangkok Bank where I was doing a transaction on my personal account held at that branch. It had to be my passport.

 

With regard to applying for finance in my name, both the YB and PID were copied, but this was purely a belt-and-braces approach for proof of address in addition to my Thai DL. They love their copies here, and that is empirical!

I have accounts with SCB and BKK Bank. SCB accepts my pink ID and my passport for any transaction, because I have registered both with them.

BKK Bank only accepts my passport for withdrawals only, because I have not registered my pink ID with them, however, they do accept my pink ID for cash deposits even if not my account.

Edited November 1 by klauskunkel

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

I have accounts with SCB and BKK Bank. SCB accepts my pink ID and my passport for any transaction, because I have registered both with them.

BKK Bank only accepts my passport for withdrawals only, because I have not registered my pink ID with them, however, they do accept my pink ID for cash deposits even if not my account.

 

...at some branches in Bangkok.

[richard_smith237]

On 10/29/2024 at 12:45 PM, CFCol said:

Rubbish. No certified copies of passport data page and no birth certificates required.

Got mine and my British wife's on Samui in July. Lawer charged 5000B each and accompanied us to Tessabhan for yellow book. Went to Amphur ourselves for pink,( not an ID) card. No problems.

 

Rather a naïve comment – anyone with any reasonable exposure to Thailand already understands how much things can vary...

 

Requirements and standards differ from region to region, amphur to amphur, office to office, and even officer to officer.

All you've highlighted is that you naïvely paid 5,000 baht for something that is free (actually, the pink ID costs about 40 baht).

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

On 10/28/2024 at 10:08 AM, Bangkok Black said:

I got the impression they don't get many farangs with Thai wives asking for pink ID cards and yellow books so it could be the old "I don't know what I am doing to just give an excuse and get rid of them" line.

 

OP - a similar thing happened to me at first. 

 

When my Wife went (I was overseas working at the time) - the Amphur officers reply was 'cannot' that visa doesn't exist (when the Wife showed a photocopy my visa)....  It was apparent that the Amphur officer simply did not want to go through the process. 

Once 'challenged' about the validity of the visa, the next 'hurdle' was an apointment, with availabilty in another two months...  this was clearly another tactic to avoid the issue.

 

The delay suited me as I was away at work, then would be overseas for Christmas etc so I was happy with the timing. 

 

On the day of the appointment, we turned up with required documents (including MFA certified translation of Embassy verified copy of my passport)...    

 

... it was then I realised why the reluctance... its quite a lot of paper work and took well in excess of an hour of form filling -  its a lot of work fro the amphur officer - this I think their standard go to is 'cannont'.. (which translated is "I dont really want to be doing this... candy crush is more fun" !!!! 

[richard_smith237]

6 hours ago, transam said:

Because it also says cannot be used outside the issuing area, which is why you cannot use it as ID proof outside that area....😉

 

Yet is still so widely accepted....  (I've been using it for years now).... 

 

I think Jayboys response below is fairly valid...  No need to agonise over this and get into the technicalities of the wording etc... 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, jayboy said:

When the sun finally explodes and destroys the universe we know, we will finally hear no more from those who agonize about the Pink Card and wonder why it can be used throughout Thailand notwithstanding the weird restrictive wording on the back.

 

[richard_smith237]

7 hours ago, NickyLouie said:

19 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

I was only referring to Pink card acceptance by 5 star hotels.I still am (mildly) interested in knowing whether there are 5 star hotels which do not accept it and insist on passport.

 

Yes often as they want to see your visa.

 

Pink card is accepted as ID in place of passport all the time but hotels are obligated to know your visa status.

 

I've not been asked for my Passport in hotels in Thailand when checking in with the Pink ID.

- Marriott, Hilton, The Standard are the most recent ones... 

 

This may also be because I was travelling with my Wife.

As these hotels were in another province, I also had my passsport with me in my bag (just in case its needed).

 

The last time I used my Pink ID was to withdraw a large amount of Cash from SCB Bank, and they pay it into Bangkok Bank

 

(Banks were next door to each other - but charged a 200 baht trasfer fee - which IMO is cheeky - and SCB do not allow foreigners to transfer amounts above 50,000 baht using the SCB Easy App as they are not set up with NDID for forigners - transfers can be made of the foriegner signed a waver waving bank responsibility for any fraudulent transfers - which I wont sign...... Meanwhile, with the Pink ID I was able to set up NDID with Bangkok Bank - so can make large transfers and still have the fraud protection).

 

 

 

 

[flexomike]

On 10/29/2024 at 4:10 PM, khunPer said:

It can be quite handy, to be registered in a yellow house book – including having a pink ID-card for aliens – for example for proof of address for banks, vehicle registration and driver's license.

Renewed my license in May for the first time they wouldn't accept my yellow book, told me if I used it my license would only be good in Rayong. Wasn't going to argue with them. So off too Immigration for the certificate, two and a half hours of driving

[Andycoops]

58 minutes ago, flexomike said:

Renewed my license in May for the first time they wouldn't accept my yellow book, told me if I used it my license would only be good in Rayong. Wasn't going to argue with them. So off too Immigration for the certificate, two and a half hours of driving

My driving license has my yellow book and Pink ID card number on it, instead of my passport number.

 

I renew my driving license without needing a resident certificate from immigration, so far.

 

I have no idea why the local land transport office put my Thai ID number on the original 5 year licence but so far I am happy not to do a 180 km roadtrip to get a certificate.

[Bangkok Black]

Update,

 

Went back to the government office today with my wife.

Ended up seeing the same woman as the first time when we got sent away.

 

This time she seemed in a better mood and more helpful.

 

I was armed with all I had, passport with visa stamps,  work permit book, Thai driver's license and UK, residence certificate, bank book, and my laptop as I could if needed log in and show her my TM30 on the immigration website.

The wife had the house book, marriage certificate, i.d card and anything else she could think of.

 

The woman didn't ask for TM30 but scanned most of what I listed. She then did some reading and listed what was needed for us.

I need to book an appointment with the UK embassy to get certified copies of my birth certificate and passport.

She gave us a contact for translating said documents into Thai.

 

So that's the story so far.

Next step embassy website........

 

 

 

 

 

[Upnotover]

20 minutes ago, Bangkok Black said:

Update,

 

Went back to the government office today with my wife.

Ended up seeing the same woman as the first time when we got sent away.

 

This time she seemed in a better mood and more helpful.

 

I was armed with all I had, passport with visa stamps,  work permit book, Thai driver's license and UK, residence certificate, bank book, and my laptop as I could if needed log in and show her my TM30 on the immigration website.

The wife had the house book, marriage certificate, i.d card and anything else she could think of.

 

The woman didn't ask for TM30 but scanned most of what I listed. She then did some reading and listed what was needed for us.

I need to book an appointment with the UK embassy to get certified copies of my birth certificate and passport.

She gave us a contact for translating said documents into Thai.

 

So that's the story so far.

Next step embassy website........

 

 

 

 

 

Wow!  It's quite a challenge, good luck!  I got my yellow book some years back, I never even went to the amphur, my wife sorted everything with a copy of my passport, not certified, not translated, nothing more except....1 basket of that chicken essence stuff they seem to like - deal was done based on that alone I think!

[Mutt Daeng]

33 minutes ago, Bangkok Black said:

Update,

 

Went back to the government office today with my wife.

Ended up seeing the same woman as the first time when we got sent away.

 

This time she seemed in a better mood and more helpful.

 

I was armed with all I had, passport with visa stamps,  work permit book, Thai driver's license and UK, residence certificate, bank book, and my laptop as I could if needed log in and show her my TM30 on the immigration website.

The wife had the house book, marriage certificate, i.d card and anything else she could think of.

 

The woman didn't ask for TM30 but scanned most of what I listed. She then did some reading and listed what was needed for us.

I need to book an appointment with the UK embassy to get certified copies of my birth certificate and passport.

She gave us a contact for translating said documents into Thai.

 

So that's the story so far.

Next step embassy website........

 

 

 

 

 

If you are from the UK, the British embassy won't process your birth certificate. I had to send my BC to the Legislation Department in Milton Keynes to be "legalised", then to the Thai Embassy  in London to get their stamp of approval. After that, it had to be translated into Thai and  then verified/stamped by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Edited November 1 by Mutt Daeng

[Bangkok Black]

More detail,

 

The woman also showed us an example of the certified copies needed.

Ths was from some Japanese dude who had done the same to get yellow book and i.d card.

I noticed this dude had used MBK centre for this as  on a receipt it had MBK on it.

 

Has anyone used MBK before for this service? I think that's 5th floor.

[Mutt Daeng]

20 minutes ago, Bangkok Black said:

More detail,

 

The woman also showed us an example of the certified copies needed.

Ths was from some Japanese dude who had done the same to get yellow book and i.d card.

I noticed this dude had used MBK centre for this as  on a receipt it had MBK on it.

 

Has anyone used MBK before for this service? I think that's 5th floor.

Hi. If you posted the confused emoticon, what are you confused about. Perhaps I can help?

[Mutt Daeng]

27 minutes ago, Bangkok Black said:

More detail,

 

The woman also showed us an example of the certified copies needed.

Ths was from some Japanese dude who had done the same to get yellow book and i.d card.

I noticed this dude had used MBK centre for this as  on a receipt it had MBK on it.

 

Has anyone used MBK before for this service? I think that's 5th floor.

Sane at my amphur. They showed me copies of the docs that a Norwegian had provided. His embassy would process his birth certificate. The UK embassy will not provide this service, 

[Bangkok Black]

Now I have made an appointment at the UK embassy.

So can get a copy of the passport.

 

The translation dude said once I have that he can take that, and copy of my birth certificate to MBK to the Ministry of Foreign  Affairs to get stamped.

 

Phew!!!

 

Then back to local office and try again !!!

 

[Mutt Daeng]

Who/what is MBK?