What exactly is a Thai pink ID card?

[Equatorial]

What is its purpose? How does one get it? What are the advantages, disadvantages? 

[KhunLA]

12 minutes ago, Equatorial said:

What is its purpose? How does one get it? What are the advantages, disadvantages? 

Fairly obvious, simply a Thai ID most will accept, instead of passport.  I use mine when ever asked for ID.  One less person paging through my PP is a good thing.  Really can't remember when it wasn't accepted.  Used it the other day, to do my 3rd or 4th month withdrawal from BBL.  She didn't even bother making a copy of it.   The usual if presenting a PP.

 

Simply ask for one at the Amphur office, if having a yellow book.  Not sure if Cert. of Res. will work, as never asked.

[unblocktheplanet]

I use mine to buy a purple Elder Card for BTS. Yes, they've hassled me exactly twice since BTS was built.

[KhunBENQ]

39 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Simply ask for one at the Amphur office, if having a yellow book.  Not sure if Cert. of Res. will work, as never asked.

You start with obtaining a "yellow housebook".

Procedure can be simple or close to impossible.

You are exposed to arbitrary handling at the district office (amphoe).

For me (married to Thai), upcountry it was really easy. Simple passport translation by local translator and copies copies copies.

Name transcript was ready from marriage documents.

 

Procedure for yellow book includes creating a 13 digit foreigner ID analogue to the Thai persons ID. Also your name is transcribed to Thai script. Can be funny.

Some say this ID nowadays is a valid tax ID (I can't confirm, never bothered about the much hyped tax for foreigner topic).

Whether yellow book and pink card are accepted also varies from office to office.

Here it's quite handy for proof of address at the DLT (motor office).

Pattaya will deny (from reports).

 

Toyota dealer even registered my new car based on this pink card.

Doctors assistant will be happy to file you under the pink card details.

 

Which region do you live? Living on one year extension? Visa type?

Yes, try to check what your district office requires.

Depending on that you can decide whether it's worth the office.

 

Worst cases: been sent to your consulate in Bangkok for passport "verification" and then to foreign ministry (apostille) etc. Would have given up in such case.

 

Tons of older threads about the topic...

[KhunBENQ]

I don't want to create a long list of yellow book threads.

Google for:

 

Quote

yellow book site:aseannow.com

Check age of threads.

[Captain Flack]

I have moved the topic, better suited in the section, for better responses.

[Crossy]

30 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I use mine to buy a purple Elder Card for BTS. Yes, they've hassled me exactly twice since BTS was built.

 

Interesting, when and at which location did you obtain said card?

 

[unblocktheplanet]

2 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Interesting, when and at which location did you obtain said card?

 

Rajadamri. They changed them a few years ago which was a bit of an adventure. The trick is NEVER give up your card if they harass you. I've been hassled just twice (Phayathai & Phrom Pong).

 

At Phayatai, a BTS gal & security ran up to the platform; all smiles whenI showed then pink ID (and I don't even look Burmese!). At Phrom Pong, security tried to grab my arm & I screamed bloody murder in Thai & the whole station just stopped. Helps to tell them to call in BTS lawyers.

 

I also carry a copy of the passages in the Thai Constitution which prohibit discrimination on the basis of age or nationality.

 

I'm so invested in equality, I'm fully prepared to tell them to call in the BiB and have me arrested for theft of services. Somehow, I doubt they will!

 

Further advice: pick an out of the way station for top-up. I usually keep B500 on mine.  

[Crossy]

2 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Rajadamri. They changed them a few years ago which was a bit of an adventure. The trick is NEVER give up your card if they harass you. I've been hassled just twice (Phayathai & Phrom Pong).

 

At Phayatai, a BTS gal & security ran up to the platform; all smiles whenI showed then pink ID (and I don't even look Burmese!). At Phrom Pong, security tried to grab my arm & I screamed bloody murder in Thai & the whole station just stopped. Helps to tell them to call in BTS lawyers.

 

I also carry a copy of the passages in the Thai Constitution which prohibit discrimination on the basis of age or nationality.

 

I'm so invested in equality, I'm fully prepared to tell them to call in the BiB and have me arrested for theft of services. Somehow, I doubt they will!

 

Further advice: pick an out of the way station for top-up. I usually keep B500 on mine.  

 

I did get a couple of "interested" BTS security guards when I had a BTS Employee pass (it puts on the same light as an elder card) but showing my BTS creds got me a nice salute. No longer an employee so can't do that now 😞 

 

Must give it a try 🙂 

[unblocktheplanet]

In the name of equality...and half-price whichnever expires!

[Crossy]

It's also vital if you have anything to do with Thai Social Security, such as claiming your pension or refund of SS payments when you retire.

 

The system is geared round the Thai 13 digit ID and simply cannot handle passports.

 

The same people also use it to enable you to continue to pay into SS and retain your Thai national health cover for the princely sum of 432 Baht per month. 

[KhunLA]

My yellow book was a lot easier to get than posted above, but it was 20+ years ago.   Simply asked for it, a few times before the actually issued it.  Think they got tired of me asking for it.  Then when Pink ID were available, that was even easier, just asked & received.  Good for life, if over 60 (?).  Though address has been updated a few times already.

 

And no, don't feel superior, just smarter by not letting people have access to my PP.   Or needing to get a Cert. of Residence when asked for, to buy something or what ever asked for now of days, if not having either a yellow book or Pink ID.   Also haven't needed a C or R in over 20 yrs.

 

Also used for hotel check ins, which was convenient in the past, as doesn't have the info to process a TM30, so I never needed to inform Imm when returning home after an O&A, since never reported away from home.  Still use now if asked for ID at hotels, which is rare, since I never check in anyway.   The wife just goes and gets the key, while I wait with the dog in the car.

 

Only time I give here the Pink ID for check in, is if staying at Ibis, as may ask, but rare she needs to presents it, as a regular customer w/Accor member card.  Again, I just sit with the dog until she gets the key card.

[spidermike007]

It is a very convenient thing to have. I never carry my passport. Either my pink card or Thai DL is almost always enough. 

[Lacessit]

52 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

You start with obtaining a "yellow housebook".

Procedure can be simple or close to impossible.

You are exposed to arbitrary handling at the district office (amphoe).

For me (married to Thai), upcountry it was really easy. Simple passport translation by local translator and copies copies copies.

Name transcript was ready from marriage documents.

 

Procedure for yellow book includes creating a 13 digit foreigner ID analogue to the Thai persons ID. Also your name is transcribed to Thai script. Can be funny.

Some say this ID nowadays is a valid tax ID (I can't confirm, never bothered about the much hyped tax for foreigner topic).

Whether yellow book and pink card are accepted also varies from office to office.

Here it's quite handy for proof of address at the DLT (motor office).

Pattaya will deny (from reports).

 

Toyota dealer even registered my new car based on this pink card.

Doctors assistant will be happy to file you under the pink card details.

 

Which region do you live? Living on one year extension? Visa type?

Yes, try to check what your district office requires.

Depending on that you can decide whether it's worth the office.

 

Worst cases: been sent to your consulate in Bangkok for passport "verification" and then to foreign ministry (apostille) etc. Would have given up in such case.

 

Tons of older threads about the topic...

I can remember when I applied for mine, the process took two visits of several hours each, and the official even wanted details of my parents.

[LennyW]

22 minutes ago, Crossy said:

It's also vital if you have anything to do with Thai Social Security, such as claiming your pension or refund of SS payments when you retire.

 

The system is geared round the Thai 13 digit ID and simply cannot handle passports.

 

The same people also use it to enable you to continue to pay into SS and retain your Thai national health cover for the princely sum of 432 Baht per month. 

Indeed it does, my pink ID card carries my SS number as the ID, makes life very simple in that regard.

[Captain Flack]

Trolling posts removed.

[Sheryl]

A number of troll replies removed.

 

As others have explained, the card is issued based on (and links to) a yellow tabian ban, must have that first before you can get the pink card. How difficult/easy to get yellow tabian ban, varies greatly from place to place.

 

It provides proof of address and also has your name and address written in Thai.

 

Personally I have found it very useful, but not everyone does.

 

Required to continue SS benefits after retirement.

 

Post offices and delivery services will usually accept it in lieu of other ID.

 

Some (but not all) hotels will as well.

 

Some (but not all) parks etc will agree to local price based on it.

[NickyLouie]

Absolutely super useful if you actually live here , it's an official Thai government issued ID card.

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 hour ago, Equatorial said:

What is its purpose? How does one get it? What are the advantages, disadvantages? 

Another form of id, can’t see there being any disadvantages, the advantages vary from who you speak to.

Is it worth getting ?

I would say yes, it might save you a few hundred baht getting into a National Park or means you can leave your passport back in the safe.

 

Many topics on here ending up in the usual bickering about it’s usefulness.

 

As also stated, the ease of obtaining the yellow house book ( the pink id comes easily after that ) varies greatly between Amphurs and can be anything from presenting your passport to an outright refusal with several different stages of hoops to jump through in between.

 

To sum it up:

The yellow book and pink id are useful but not a necessity.

Depending on your Amphur’s requirements will determine whether you go for them or not.

[Ralf001]

2 minutes ago, NickyLouie said:

Absolutely super useful if you actually live here , it's an official Thai government issued ID card.

In what way super useful ?

[saakura]

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I use mine to buy a purple Elder Card for BTS. Yes, they've hassled me exactly twice since BTS was built.

At what age is one eligible to apply for the Elder Card and how much discount does it get you?

[richard_smith237]

4 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

In what way super useful ?

 

Scores of other threads discussing this which turn into a bicker-fest of pro's and con's... 

 

If you're looking for usefulness, try the search function - thats useful.. Super-useful in-fact...  (links to many threads easily found, also linked below).

 

Andrew Dwyer's post above, pretty much sums it up perfectly, without the need to re-hash the same thread with the same arguments for the nth time,

 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1317702-pink-id-card-for-foreigners/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1222532-pink-id-card/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1181925-pink-id/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1299418-yellow-house-book-revisited/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1244244-yellow-book-whats-the-procedure-for-getting-one/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1237004-yellow-book-requirements/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1298255-how-to-get-a-yellow-house-book/

 

[Ralf001]

13 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Scores of other threads discussing this which turn into a bicker-fest of pro's and con's... 

 

If you're looking for usefulness, try the search function - thats useful.. Super-useful in-fact...  (links to many threads easily found, also linked below).

 

Andrew Dwyer's post above, pretty much sums it up perfectly, without the need to re-hash the same thread with the same arguments for the nth time,

 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1317702-pink-id-card-for-foreigners/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1222532-pink-id-card/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1181925-pink-id/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1299418-yellow-house-book-revisited/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1244244-yellow-book-whats-the-procedure-for-getting-one/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1237004-yellow-book-requirements/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1298255-how-to-get-a-yellow-house-book/

 

 

Have lived and worked here 20 years.

 

Not yet seen a reason why having a pink card is beneficial.

[Sandboxer]

Mostly useful for amusing hookers when I pretend to be an albino Burmese. Otherwise useless a teats on a bull.

[Ralf001]

2 minutes ago, Sandboxer said:

 Otherwise useless a teats on a bull.

 

Yep.

[richard_smith237]

9 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Have lived and worked here 20 years.

 

Not yet seen a reason why having a pink card is beneficial.

 

 

Good for you - you can read about it on those threads linked, rather than pollute yet anther thread by turning it into a bicker fest... 

 

For some, the card is useful, for others like yourself there is no usefulness then can identify... thats the crux of it as per Andrew Dwyer's comment.

 

 

 

 

 

[Caldera]

It's pretty much useless, as it doesn't have a chip unlike the ID card for Thais. None of the automated/online ID verification systems that work with Thai ID cards work with the pink card, so wherever you need to use it for ID, you still need to go in person, just like any other foreigner who doesn't have a pink ID card. If I have to go somewhere in person anyway, I can just as well use my Thai DL (wherever that works) or my passport (in all other cases) for ID.

 

I've never bothered getting one for that reason. I'd change my mind if they implement NDID functionality for it.

[Ralf001]

10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

Good for you - you can read about it on those threads linked

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why ?

 

[petedk]

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I use mine to buy a purple Elder Card for BTS. Yes, they've hassled me exactly twice since BTS was built.

 

I tried with my pink card but was refused. "Only Thai people!"

[petedk]

50 minutes ago, saakura said:

At what age is one eligible to apply for the Elder Card and how much discount does it get you?

 

On the MRT it is 60. I bought one without any problems. Just showed my passport.

 

BTS refuse to sell them to foreigners. Just as the 20 baht flat rate will be for Thais only.