On 3/27/2026 at 7:43 AM, NE1 said:

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

Last time I renewed my TDL in Udon Thani they would not accept my Yellow Tabien Ban as proof of residence and instead insisted on a COR from Immigration or a Pink ID card. It was a simple matter to obtain the ID card upon presentation of my Yellow Tabien Ban at the local Amphoe Office.

12 hours ago, wil iam not said:

My local Amphur in Bang Rakam INSISTED that we be married before Yellow Book/Pink Card issued. I questioned this many times and eventually the Boss of our village went with us and insisted they issue them. 30 minutes later I had both, which I have used for hotel check ins.

Same at my Amphur; 1) Resident for at least 12 months AND 2) Legally married. When both applied I went back to ask for my Yellow Book and pink foreigners ID card. They then wanted a translated certified copy of my passport and full form birth certificate with my parents details. I had recently supplied the copy of passport for marriage registration. They told me I must go back to the British Embassy in Bangkok and obtain another 'original' copy. I only have a short form birth certificate. I gave up at that point. Four years later, at a blood donor session held in the town hall my wife spoke to the head of customer services. He was sympathetic and told his staff to 'give over' and copy the scanned documents they already held. Next day I got my Yellow Book and pink ID card!

12 hours ago, jayboy said:

I think the risk, such that it is, would arise with giving a fictitious TIN to foreign banks - but probably not much risk there either.

Even less risk, I would have thought, unless your home country bank happened to be fully clued in on the operational mechanics of the Thai taxation system!

8 hours ago, OJAS said:

Even less risk, I would have thought, unless your home country bank happened to be fully clued in on the operational mechanics of the Thai taxation system!

You miss the point.These days banks exchange information with other banks and their domestic tax authorities.If a customer provide false information on his tax status, that could definitely be a problem.

I've not read every post but having a pink ID (and a bank account linked to it), was a requirement of our local Social Security office in order to continue paying the monthly (432 Baht) fee to retain access to the Thai healthcare system after stopping work here. I also got a very nice refund of my SS payments coz I didn't take up the option of the (microscopic) Thai pension.

It also works for sending items at the post office and via courier (Flash etc.).

It's a valid 13 digit Thai ID number which (in theory) is your DL, TIN and Social Security number.

Someone mentioned using it to get a Rabbit card, it's my understanding that it's NOT acceptable for that (or an MRT card) but I've not worked for BTS for 2 years now.

As others have noted, if it's easy to get a yellow housebook then the pink ID is a simple add on, if a yellow book is a nightmare then ...

On 3/28/2026 at 4:58 PM, zhangxifu said:

I have also opened bank accounts, in several banks actually, using TB and only 30 day free entry stamp in passport but this does not mean it can be done in every bank nor even in every branch of the same bank.

Lately, after the latest visa rules regarding bank accounts, I have not heard anyone doing that with out a yearly stay permit in their passport. So regarding bank accounts all we can agree on is that the requirements vary greatly.

Yes the YB is most certainly NOT required elsewhere
bangkok bank "requiring" it to open a bank account is the first time i have ever heard it being required for anything.
this must be new and specific to BKKB if true (need to see confirmation from BKKB)
I cannot see this ever being widespread as not every expat can get a yellow book but immigration will require many expats to have a Thai bank account

15 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

It's certainly not universally accepted throughout Thailand.

Believe years ago it was.

"Years ago" what timeframe would that be - 10 years?

The pink card was introduced in Feb 2016, the yellow book which is the base factor was in use years ago and widely accepted by many.

There was a mixed reaction to the card introduction, some never batted an eyelid while others shrugged and asked for a passport. However abuse destroys everything and with the lack of a chip every chance there is now many fakes knocking about. Why some institutions want to see the book.

"not universally accepted" ? A wide ranging assertion, I use mine every time I walk into any of the 5 government hospitals I am registered with. The medics prefer to deal with someone on the database, that became very apparent during covid.

3 minutes ago, sandyf said:

"not universally accepted" ? A wide ranging assertion, I use mine every time I walk into any of the 5 government hospitals I am registered with

Stop will the trolling and taking snippets of my posts out of context

The "not universally accepted" Was post being specific about use of pink card for TDL renewal. Some transport offices insist on COR.

Which I repeat Pink card is not universally accepted.

32 minutes ago, sandyf said:

I use mine every time I walk into any of the 5 government hospitals I am registered with.

Yeah, but I strongly doubt whether the 6th government hospital you might walk into for the first time will accept your "wondrous" pink card these days, though!! I personally can see possession of both the pink card and yellow tabien baan becoming, to all intents and purposes, a completely pointless waste of time within the next 10 years for all foreigners, save for those seeking permanent residency or Thai citizenship, for whom possession of the pink card and yellow tabien baan are, I understand, prerequisites.

I have had both the yellow book and pink id card for many years. I use both to renew my drivers license or buying or selling vehicles. I travel a lot in Thailand and never carry my passport although I keep a miniature copy in my wallet, I always show my pink card at the reception of hotels which has always been accepted without question other than one resort owner who was an expat who said I had to show my passport to him. Never went back there again.

I have been here for 25 years I have bought condos I have bought automobiles bought motorbikes dealt with Thai legal system. I have yet to be asked for a pink card or told I need one to do anything. Like others have said it might come in handy but when I did question about getting one I was told I had to bring two Thai people to City Hall with me. They both have to have property they have to bring their chinotes and their blue books. They actually said that this would have to happen twice. I couldn't see the need

If you can obtain one without too much trouble, I would say get one. I use mine quite a bit and it has come in handy a number of times.

On 3/27/2026 at 1:00 AM, MikeWill said:

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

Very handy for me, as it is an official proof of address together with your Yellow House Book. You need to be obtained in a Yellow House Book before you are eligible for a pink ID-card. The Pink ID-card might also gives you access on same terms as a Thai national; i.e. paying Thai-entrance fee instead of farang-price.

3 hours ago, OJAS said:

Through this thread:

https://aseannow.com/topic/1359645-does-your-sim-registration-and-bank-details-match/

On 3/30/2026 at 4:46 AM, patman30 said:

Yes the YB is most certainly NOT required elsewhere
bangkok bank "requiring" it to open a bank account is the first time i have ever heard it being required for anything.
this must be new and specific to BKKB if true (need to see confirmation from BKKB)
I cannot see this ever being widespread as not every expat can get a yellow book but immigration will require many expats to have a Thai bank account

This topic was not about bank accounts but I can assure you that TB is a compulsory requirement for every thai national for opening a bank account.

Not all foreigners have TB so luckily there is the COR option reserved for them also but if you have TB you WILL be much more likely to succeed opening the bank account.

So to answer the OP, yes it is beneficial to register to the official system of residence registration in Thailand and obtain TB, if possible.

People mention the pink card here often. It sounds like many don't understand that the pink card alone is mostly nothing, just a queue number at the hospital at best BUT combined with the TB it is the strongest proof of residency Thailand offers.

Of course the TB is a prerequisite for the pink card but in official use, such as DLT or banks, BOTH must be presented to achieve full results.

E.g. If you tell a thai you have a pink card they will ask what is that. If you tell a thai you have TB they will understand. Immigrants from the neighbouring countries might have pink cards because that was the original purpose of it in the 90's.

Here is a link to a nice collection of official thai documents and some statistics from 2019

https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/meetings/2019/newyork-egm-crvsims/docs/presentations/Thailand.pdf

The Pink ID is very comfortable to have.

I use it as an ID in banks, domestic flights, etc. It also contains your name and address in Thai, and it is. easy to get and cheap.

5 minutes ago, BEngBKK said:

The Pink ID is very comfortable to have.

I use it as an ID in banks, domestic flights, etc. It also contains your name and address in Thai, and it is. easy to get and cheap.

So you don't have to show your passport as ID in your bank?

They ask my pink card every year when i submit my tax reimbursements. This in Chiang Mai.

On 3/27/2026 at 7:58 AM, hotandsticky said:

No use outside your home province I heard.

My experience of that was, I was allowed to board a domestic flight on an outward journey with my pink card, but not on the return.

On 3/28/2026 at 6:00 PM, Bday Prang said:

The amphur will not answer his question , which was, "is it worth having" they will only advise as to what paperwork is required.

Personally I don't see the point in having either the yellow book or the card at present, But, that may well change in the future, and if it does I can imagine the requirements to be met in order to obtain them will invariably become more difficult,

So It could actually be a good move to get one now before things get more tricky

well, IMHO, they will not change this as i have been here for over 40 years, many different governments and only on this forum do I see anyone suggesting it to be a good or great idea. For anything official, one's passport has always been sufficient and most often necessary. But, If one wants to do it, then welcome to additional paperwork which seems to be a non-starter for many here too.

I was issued a pink card when I got my name put on the blue tabien baan (I have PR). Don't think I've ever used it!

On 3/29/2026 at 8:29 AM, scorecard said:

Some Thai organizations do accept the foreigners pink ID as their official ID.

E.g. K Bank prefers to add your pink card number rather than a new passport number. It only needs to be recorded once. BBL the same.

Also the Thai Social Security Fund uses the citizen ID number on the pink ID card. some time back viisited my preferred hspital, I offered my passport and pink ID car. receptionist took the pink ID card.

Well, since the pink ID card number i have heard is the same as your Thai tax ID number, and seeing the concern of many users of this forum about giving the Thai Revenue a Thai tax ID number puts you in their realm for any future tax changes for tax residents and being an expat. Just saying, as others complain about having to do extra paperwork all the time here, I also wonder why anyone would subject themselves to that when in reality it doesn't really improve one's life here also IMHO.

1 hour ago, roo860 said:

So you don't have to show your passport as ID in your bank?

I fail to understand how the bank can conform to CSR or FATCA regulations unless they have and use your passport number as without it, how would any country know who you are as a citizen?

23 hours ago, newnative said:

If you can obtain one without too much trouble, I would say get one. I use mine quite a bit and it has come in handy a number of times.

Likewise.

Handy because Thais don't read English. Saved me 200Bhat at Wat Arun. 55

2 hours ago, Presnock said:

Well, since the pink ID card number i have heard is the same as your Thai tax ID number, and seeing the concern of many users of this forum about giving the Thai Revenue a Thai tax ID number puts you in their realm for any future tax changes for tax residents and being an expat.

What I was told from the Thai Revenue Department (in Phuket) is that even though one has a Yellow Book/Pink-ID, the number on it, needs to be activated by the Thai RD to be active as a tax ID. It nominally is not activated as such. Hence I don't think one should have any concern there about the Thai RD immediately assigning and activating a tax ID if one has such a pink-ID.

2 hours ago, Presnock said:

Just saying, as others complain about having to do extra paperwork all the time here, I also wonder why anyone would subject themselves to that when in reality it doesn't really improve one's life here also IMHO.

I 100% agree.

Mine was a PIA to get, and I only know of a couple cases (very obscure but were relevant to me) where Passport was not enough an Pink ID 'saved the day'.

• obtaining Thai government bonds (pink ID demanded by Bangkok Bank to purchase such bonds - passport alone for that Bangkok Branch inadequate) - where I needed some Thai government bonds as small part of my investment in Thailand for an LTR visa

• passing to a couple foreign financial institutes as a possible Thai tax ID (allowing me to unfreeze one foreign account) as it being my potential tax ID (where I also provided the caveat to the foreign financial institute it was not yet activated by Thailand as a tax ID - as I wanted to stay 100% legal - my passport number was inadequate for that (obviously),

My pink-ID was useful during COVID, where I was able to sign up a bit earlier for my first COVID jab in Thailand (as my ID allowed me to get on the Thai list). Of course only useful if one thinks such COVID jab's useful. While a passport would not help me there, even thou I was in my late 60s during COVID, I am moderately fit and I think I would have survived a COVID case without that first jab (in Thailand) - albeit my symptoms would likely have been worse. Obtaining later jabs did not obtain any advantage by having the pink-ID. Passport was adequate to get later jabs.

All other cases IMHO don't make having the pink ID "that" useful. (ie not useful enough to put up with PIA to obtain) . Sure, I have used the pink-ID instead of a Certificate of Resident (to renew my Thai driver's licence) and to use in lieu of a COR to open a new Thai bank account). However a COR (obtained from Thai immigration) would work just as well.

I note my pink-ID was never accepted by a Thai airline (I tried a couple of times : (Bangkok Air, and Thai Airways) - only passport accepted. Also I tried a few times at different hotels and only my pink ID never accepted by hotels - only my passport accepted. Perhaps this is a case of YMMV.

I think those who do not want to bother to get a yellow book / pink-ID are in the most part perfectly OK in their approach.

6 hours ago, Presnock said:

well, IMHO, they will not change this as i have been here for over 40 years, many different governments and only on this forum do I see anyone suggesting it to be a good or great idea. For anything official, one's passport has always been sufficient and most often necessary. But, If one wants to do it, then welcome to additional paperwork which seems to be a non-starter for many here too.

6 hours ago, Presnock said:

well, IMHO, they will not change this as i have been here for over 40 years, many different governments and only on this forum do I see anyone suggesting it to be a good or great idea. For anything official, one's passport has always been sufficient and most often necessary. But, If one wants to do it, then welcome to additional paperwork which seems to be a non-starter for many here too.

6 hours ago, Presnock said:

well, IMHO, they will not change this as i have been here for over 40 years, many different governments and only on this forum do I see anyone suggesting it to be a good or great idea. For anything official, one's passport has always been sufficient and most often necessary. But, If one wants to do it, then welcome to additional paperwork which seems to be a non-starter for many here too.

"...which seems to be a non-starter for many here too."

Well pleae don't assume that the yellow tabien bahn book and pink card are available to all foreigners. That's not true. In quick summary these items are available to foreigners who hold PR and very long term visas.

Also, if a foreigner hasa contract of employment with a work permit (except teaching) that foreigners must join the Thai Social Security Office / Fund (SSO).

In fact the employer is legally resposible to lodge an application for that foreigner to join the SSO and lodge it at the same time the employer deducts the monthly member SO member contribution* and the employer then sends both the member application form to the SSO.

• the company adds a 'top up' amount to the member contribution (deducted from the foreigners salary every month) and the total amount goes to the SSO.

• If the foreigner already has the pink card then the pink card will show the Thai ID number for that foreigner and that same that number will become the SSO member number / ID for that froreigner.

6 hours ago, Presnock said:

Well, since the pink ID card number i have heard is the same as your Thai tax ID number, and seeing the concern of many users of this forum about giving the Thai Revenue a Thai tax ID number puts you in their realm for any future tax changes for tax residents and being an expat. Just saying, as others complain about having to do extra paperwork all the time here, I also wonder why anyone would subject themselves to that when in reality it doesn't really improve one's life here also IMHO.

I guess what you mention is just Thailand trying to become more efficient same as with a large proportion of countries across the world. And here in Thailand that is needed. Not really a personal choice.

4 minutes ago, scorecard said:

I guess what you mention is just Thailand trying to become more efficient same as with a large proportion of countries across the world. And here in Thailand that is needed. Not really a personal choice.

4 minutes ago, scorecard said:

I guess what you mention is just Thailand trying to become more efficient same as with a large proportion of countries across the world. And here in Thailand that is needed. Not really a personal choice.

for some, I don't see any need for change as in my case, i do not have to pay taxes, exempt by VISA and exempt by my income because it is a US retirement annuity. I see no reason for them to require any ID other than my Passport which contains my ID criteria and visa status. I only have to provide to the Immigration folks my residence once per year unless I leave the country and then can wait an additional year to provide that address. Bank has my picture ID together with my bank account and PP and is able to do the FATCA report from my data. I no longer drive here so don't need to extend my driver's license either. i go through airport with no problems using passport boarding pass and tickets. By adding additional id for people would not make the system more efficient but would IMHO increase paperwork for both the individual and the government offices.

6 pages pretty much about nothing.

Title:

"Do I Need" = No

"Should I Get" If easy to obtain = Maybe

If difficult to obtain = No