I made the biggest mistake of all time: I have a 8:30 PM bus from Pattaya to Korat, via Kabinburi, and I just realized I didn't bring my passport. Is there a risk of police or immigration checks? The trip lasts from 9 PM to 3-4 AM. And I don't even have copies of it. If there's any risk of checks, I'd rather wait tomorrow.

40 minutes ago, Mika78 said:

I made the biggest mistake of all time: I have a 8:30 PM bus from Pattaya to Korat, via Kabinburi, and I just realized I didn't bring my passport. Is there a risk of police or immigration checks? The trip lasts from 9 PM to 3-4 AM. And I don't even have copies of it. If there's any risk of checks, I'd rather wait tomorrow.

What for? They only ask when buy ticket but ive used car licence

are you staying in a hotel?

wont the hotel require your passport? 

 

35 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

are you staying in a hotel?

wont the hotel require your passport? 

 

No. Will be there for two nights at my friend's house.

I've never taken my passport on a Thai bus trip.  And I use my pink ID for hotels.

1 hour ago, Mika78 said:

I made the biggest mistake of all time: I have a 8:30 PM bus from Pattaya to Korat, via Kabinburi, and I just realized I didn't bring my passport. Is there a risk of police or immigration checks? The trip lasts from 9 PM to 3-4 AM. And I don't even have copies of it. If there's any risk of checks, I'd rather wait tomorrow.

 

who's going to check? Even small owner run hotels don't always ask for it but I don't stay at enough hotels alone to be 100% sure of that. Pretty sure the last little homestay didn't ask but I booked online and maybe gave it over then.

7 hours ago, Mika78 said:

No. Will be there for two nights at my friend's house.

 

Don't forget the TM30 report,

I always carry my passport except in Pattaya where I carry a copy. In saying that I've driven to Korat several times each year for the past 25 years and I've never been asked for my passport.  Of course I always carry my drivers licence when driving, even then at road blocks my drivers licence was sufficient I was never given a ticket or even a demand for a bit of folding stuff.

Keep digital copies in your phone.

 

Passport

Visa stamp

Licence

 

 

 

 

 

Troll post removed.

 

@2long

 

The OP asked for advice.

12 hours ago, Mika78 said:

I made the biggest mistake of all time: I have a 8:30 PM bus from Pattaya to Korat, via Kabinburi, and I just realized I didn't bring my passport. Is there a risk of police or immigration checks? The trip lasts from 9 PM to 3-4 AM. And I don't even have copies of it. If there's any risk of checks, I'd rather wait tomorrow.

I've made bigger mistakes in the last 24 hours.  The odds of a government authority asking for your passport is miniscule.  The greatest risk is while on the bus where authorities occasionally enter to check IDs  but I'm sure there are work arounds.  Type out an explanation now  using google translate providing name, date of birth and passport number(if you remember).  Your partners telephone number, condos telephone number, etc. 

 

Don't 99% of expats have their passport somewhere online. Even in an email that was sent in the past.  In the last 3 months I have had to send my passport pic 3-5 times for health insurance applications, events and whatever.

11 hours ago, save the frogs said:

are you staying in a hotel?

wont the hotel require your passport? 

 

 

 

Hotels will accept driving licences as ID

2 hours ago, Mason45 said:

I always carry my passport except in Pattaya where I carry a copy. In saying that I've driven to Korat several times each year for the past 25 years and I've never been asked for my passport.  Of course I always carry my drivers licence when driving, even then at road blocks my drivers licence was sufficient I was never given a ticket or even a demand for a bit of folding stuff.

 

 

I never carry my passport when traveling within province. My passport stays in my safe except when traveling.

20 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Hotels will accept driving licences as ID

Hotels need to do TM30s and these need passports.

2 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Hotels need to do TM30s and these need passports.

 

 

No they don't.

 

I have used Thai DLs in 95% of check ins over the last 20 years.

 

 

No problem for hotels as the DL has my passport number on.

Probably nothing to worry, as long as the bus does not pass in the vicinity (50km?) of the border...

Lucky you if this is indeed your "mistake of the century" .......... keep up the good work! 

On 9/18/2025 at 8:10 PM, Mika78 said:

I made the biggest mistake of all time: I have a 8:30 PM bus from Pattaya to Korat, via Kabinburi, and I just realized I didn't bring my passport. Is there a risk of police or immigration checks? The trip lasts from 9 PM to 3-4 AM. And I don't even have copies of it. If there's any risk of checks, I'd rather wait tomorrow.

I don't carry my passport around with me everywhere I go. I would take it on a trip like the one you have described. What I do have, however, are photos of all my IDs (passport, pink card, driver's licence, etc.) on my phone. I've never been asked for my passport, but if I were, I'd show them the photo (the first page with my photo and other information). If that isn't satisfactory to them, I think they would at least give me time to obtain my passport and return to show it to them.

On 9/18/2025 at 8:10 PM, Mika78 said:

I made the biggest mistake of all time:

No risk at all 

 

I just carry my driver's licence when travelling, also have a copy passport, visa and extension on my phone. 

 

You are either a very boring person or a very, very lucky guy if this is your all time biggest mistake. 

 

Enjoy your trip 

On 9/18/2025 at 10:12 PM, NorthernRyland said:

 

who's going to check? Even small owner run hotels don't always ask for it but I don't stay at enough hotels alone to be 100% sure of that. Pretty sure the last little homestay didn't ask but I booked online and maybe gave it over then.

Op said he stay at a friend's house. No hotel

4 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Op said he stay at a friend's house. No hotel

Friend needs to do TM30

Just now, CFCol said:

Friend needs to do TM30

...and if he/she doesn't....? Are you the Police?

Go back to the topic. It's not about TM30 but forgotten Passport 

On 9/19/2025 at 9:09 AM, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I never carry my passport when traveling within province. My passport stays in my safe except when traveling.

I never carry my passport when traveling within province.......But He IS Travelling, On A BUS !!

On 9/19/2025 at 9:07 AM, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Hotels will accept driving licences as ID

License should have your passport number that Thai authorities and hotels can cross check with your visa. 

To finally ANSWER the OP's question, go ahead and enjoy your trip!

 

Chances are negligible that you will be in any serious trouble that you can't get out of without a simple explanation, and perhaps a phonecall or two, to a friend or two.

On 9/18/2025 at 8:10 PM, Mika78 said:

I made the biggest mistake of all time: I have a 8:30 PM bus from Pattaya to Korat, via Kabinburi, and I just realized I didn't bring my passport. Is there a risk of police or immigration checks? The trip lasts from 9 PM to 3-4 AM. And I don't even have copies of it. If there's any risk of checks, I'd rather wait tomorrow.

 

Should be no problems. During my 20 years living in Thailand, I made many inter-provincial bus journeys and I never experienced RTP/Immigration Officers boarding the bus to inspect passports/ID cards.  Have a pleasant journey. Unfortunately you will be travelling in darkness to appreciate the scenery from Kabinburi to Korat along Highway 304. 

Loving all these answers - The Op made his post at 8:10pm on Thursday - any post after the 5th post is moot !!!... he would already have been at his destination... 

 

That said: There will no doubt be a return trip where he can now relax a little more having had the experience himself. 

That doesn't eradicate the possibility of the the BiB going through a check-point - so it would good if he could somehow get hold of a Digital copy 'just incase'...

 

 

I showed my passport several years ago on a bus trip back from Sisaket. However, I don't know if my drivers licence would have sufficed.

On 9/18/2025 at 10:00 PM, Mika78 said:

No. Will be there for two nights at my friend's house.

Same bed?

8 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Should be no problems. During my 20 years living in Thailand, I made many inter-provincial bus journeys and I never experienced RTP/Immigration Officers boarding the bus to inspect passports/ID cards.  Have a pleasant journey. Unfortunately you will be travelling in darkness to appreciate the scenery from Kabinburi to Korat along Highway 304. 

It's only happened to me once in 35 years but we live near the Burmese border, the thai policeman's language skills were poor, when I said I didn't have it in English he didn't know what to do, and I went on my way!

We have to thank the Yanks for this we want to see your papers!

Started in the Vietnam conflict and spread to neighbouring countries!

In England we have the government trying to push digital ids! 2025