I was talking to some other expats recently and it was suggested I should get a foreigner ID card? I think its also called the Pink ID card.

So, does anyone here have one, do you find it handy to have?

Thanks

I have one. It is handy, especially in conjunction with a yellow family book.

You can use it as ID in some cases in Thailand. I think in hospitals, clinics etc.

The number on it can be used as a Thai TIN. TINs are sometimes demanded by non-Thai financial institutions.

I am sure there are more, this is just a brain dump from my increasingly faulty memory.

Oh no... here we go...

Yes, no, maybe, its useless, its useful, its too much effort - you'll get all those answers.

Ultimately - only you can decid if its worth putting in the effort and leg work to obtain the yellow house book (which is required before you get a Pink ID which is very simple after that).

There are lots of threads on this, lots of debate.

I have found the Yellow house book & Pink ID useful - its saved me both time and money.

Its a convenience - but not a necessity.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1340768-pink-id-card-yellow-book

21 minutes ago, MikeWill said:

I was talking to some other expats recently

That was a mistake...

Did they outline all the Pros of having Pink Card.

In years past it could assist with things such as renew TDL.,

Instead of having to obtain COR from immigration.

Bottom line is many (suggest most) expats live here in Thailand without one.

I use my pp for the majority of things such as checking into hotels, hospitals etc

It's my understanding that many popular expat destination countries (especially in Latin America) REQUIRE a rather easy to obtain specific foreigner ID card to function there as a longer term resident (for example to open a bank account). The yellow book isn't that. I've felt for many years that Thailand should have such a universal foreigner ID card but as usual, their country, their rules.

Then again the Pink card and the Yellow book means nothing to renewing a TDL in some areas.

In Chiang Mai I needed one to sell a motorbike and change ownership of a another bike, that was a couple of years ago, I had the yellow book as well, seemed like this rule was only in Chiang Mai province. Was an easy process to get the pink card, cost me 70bt, have to take a Thai witness as well.

55 minutes ago, BeastOfBodmin said:

I have one. It is handy, especially in conjunction with a yellow family book.

You can use it as ID in some cases in Thailand. I think in hospitals, clinics etc.

The number on it can be used as a Thai TIN. TINs are sometimes demanded by non-Thai financial institutions.

I am sure there are more, this is just a brain dump from my increasingly faulty memory.

No use outside your home province I heard.

It depends on how easy it is to obtain.

First you need the yellow house book and the pink card should be easily obtained afterwards.

The ease of obtaining the yellow house book will depend on your location and Amphur, it has been reported ( on here ) that it can be obtained as easily as offering your passport and a 20 baht fee to an outright refusal to issue and anywhere in between.

Often documents ( passport certifications and translations, birth certificates etc) or witnesses ( as proof you are living at the yellow book address) are required and these requirements vary. Sometimes they will refuse if you are not married to a Thai.

Only correct thing to do is visit your Amphur and ask for the list of requirements, then decide for yourself if it is worth pursuing.

Asking on here you will receive varying information and opinions, visit your Amphur.

A couple print shops make laminated cards; front page (face page) of your passport, and on the back, a copy of your current VISA. Would a “pink card” be better, maybe, but this works & as I do not like to carry my passport around, handy. Note, if traveling around in Thailand, carry a PP.

Thai Driver's license; auto & motorcycle, Thai bank cards, hospital ID etc. You might have more ID on you than you realize.

9 minutes ago, Dcheech said:

A couple print shops make laminated cards; front page (face page) of your passport, and on the back, a copy of your current VISA. Would a “pink card” be better, maybe, but this works & as I do not like to carry my passport around, handy. Note, if traveling around in Thailand, I do carry PP.

Thai Driver's license; auto & motorcycle, Thai bank cards, hospital ID etc. You might have more ID on you than you realize.

If its 'only' for ID purposes the Pink ID card is somewhat pointless.

In all these topics - the lines between the Pink ID itself and Yellow Housebook burr - effectively they are the 'same package'... and come combined (ok - the pink card takes an additional 15 min step to obtain at the Amphur office after processing the Yellow House Book which is a far more long winded process)

But 'combined' with the Yellow House Book and the 13 digit Non-Thai ID number is where usefulness of the 'Pink ID - Yellow House Book' can be experienced.