13 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Inconvenient to carry pp how.

I have a man bag and pp lives in there.

Of course it's inconvenient to carry one's PP all the time.No sensible person does it.Every sensible person should have photocopy of PP and obviously carry PP when it's likely to be needed.Pink Card is sometimes helpful but not essential.

On 3/27/2026 at 8:04 AM, 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, 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.

I lived in BKK for a decade, and carried my laminated front page (face page) of passport, and on the back, a copy of current VISA. I used it to enter office buildings, as ID in other settings ... it was treated like a genuine USA document, never questioned, and saved a lot of life's hassles. When you compare how cheap and easy they are to make, compared to the cost / hassle of replacing a real passport and getting new stamps ... not even close.

57 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

I'm rather amused that you are so determined to defend the so-called benefits of a pink card that you are ignoring my heads up that you have been filing TM30's unnecessarily for the past 6 years. Do some more research; there's ample evidence that this requirement was rescinded in June, 2020.

reading comprehension ... haven't filed TM30 over 10 years. if read previous post, some offices may still require.

HAVE A NICE DAY

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Only thing consistent, is inconsistency in TH, have a read ...

https://aseannow.com/topic/1313782-tm30-required-when-returning-to-the-previously-reported-address/page/3/#findComment-19337289

https://aseannow.com/topic/1313782-tm30-required-when-returning-to-the-previously-reported-address/page/3/#findComment-19410786

Agreed. Same as hotels not filing a TM30 because you have Pink ID. The rules are a TM30 must be filed if a foreigner stays at your property. Nothing about what ID they use.

2 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

Agreed. Same as hotels not filing a TM30 because you have Pink ID. The rules are a TM30 must be filed if a foreigner stays at your property. Nothing about what ID they use.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

For us, since we are O&A, quite a bit and that is out of province, it eliminates the need for wife to file a TM30 every time we return home. Since the Pink ID does not have enough info (PP#) on it, for hotels to file a TM30, if they bother at all doing so. But one less thing to be concerned about.

3 hours ago, patman30 said:

This is pure commitment bias
it does not make life easier
it is just the same,
the punk card does not perform magical wonders
and no, authorities or educated Thai's do not suddenly treat you differently for having a pink card

How would you know?

3 hours ago, patman30 said:

I don't carry my PP anywhere either, my DL does just fine,
but I typically do not carry any ID, unless I 100% know I will need ID
and no, I do not carry a little copy either
but when I know I will need ID it is not difficult to grab my PP if needed, or my DL is in the car
I also do not carry a wallet either, which would be the convenient place to keep the pink card, right next to DL...

You should carry ID 100% of the time because that is the law in Thailand. You have found a rather strong use case actually.

14 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Another 7 page thread on this old chestnut.

Inconvenient to carry pp how.

I have a man bag and pp lives in there.

When I travel eg to Pattaya, I check in with pp.

When I go to bank same same.

Pulled over by police (once) I have my TDL + PP.

The only concession I give is that some Transport offices (not all) still accept PC which avoids need for COR. That's handy every 5 years.

For me not.

Geez talk about flogging a dead horse

Are you really saying that the police has pulled you over and asked for your pp?

Actually the most traffic police has no authority to even check your passport. They might ask fro TDL or ID though.

6 minutes ago, zhangxifu said:

Actually the most traffic police has no authority to even check your passport.

Has happened twice. Passport required both times.

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

If you don't have or need a yellow book, and happy with getting a Cert of Res. when needed, then I wouldn't bother with Pink ID card.

If getting the Yellow Book, then take the extra 15 mins, and get the Pink ID, as you may find it handy, or not. But will the 60 baht set you back a little, one less beer.

For us, since we are O&A, quite a bit and that is out of province, it eliminates the need for wife to file a TM30 every time we return home. Since the Pink ID does not have enough info (PP#) on it, for hotels to file a TM30, if they bother at all doing so. But one less thing to be concerned about.

We haven't filed a TM30 since having the Pink ID. That's about 10 yrs time. That's a lot of TM30 filing avoided. I'd say that a pretty handy use of the ID.

Now, will someone please tell me how useless it is. Granted, if you never leave the bar stool, you probably won't get much use out of one.

15 mins to get Pink ID vs 100's of TM30s to file over the past 10 yrs. Along with 100s of people, paging through PP.

NO THANKS

I can do my own TM30 in 2 minutes online with the logins I got with my TB and pink card. I do it every time I arrive to Thailand from another country, even if I would plan on staying in Thailand for one day, since it is so easy to report. I don't need to report my wife cos she's a thai national but I could report another foreigner staying at my place also.

I don't bother reporting after local hotel stays in Thailand. Most hotels do ask for pp these days though if I travel alone. Many hotels don't ask any ID if my wife checks in instead of me. The law says hotels must ask pp to do TM30. It might be a different situation if you are on PR though.

2 hours ago, PhilipHabib said:

90% of the people here don't qualify for a Thai ID card.

What are the qualifications?

Isn't a long term stay permit combined with yellow book enough?

It is hard for me to understand why would the state or the resident resist this registration. I think law actually encourages it.

5 minutes ago, zhangxifu said:

What are the qualifications?

The qualifications are whatever your amphur says they are. Some are laughably simple. Some are literally impossible, and they will straight up not do it.

So anyone that says anything like "90% of people will not qualify" have no idea what they are talking about, because there are hundreds of amphur offices, and each one makes their own requirement.

17 minutes ago, zhangxifu said:

I can do my own TM30 in 2 minutes online with the logins I got with my TB and pink card. I do it every time I arrive to Thailand from another country, even if I would plan on staying in Thailand for one day, since it is so easy to report. I don't need to report my wife cos she's a thai national but I could report another foreigner staying at my place also.

I don't bother reporting after local hotel stays in Thailand. Most hotels do ask for pp these days though if I travel alone. Many hotels don't ask any ID if my wife checks in instead of me. The law says hotels must ask pp to do TM30. It might be a different situation if you are on PR though.

Your passport number is on your driving licence.

1 minute ago, BrandonJT said:

The qualifications are whatever your amphur says they are. Some are laughably simple. Some are literally impossible, and they will straight up not do it.

So anyone that says anything like "90% of people will not qualify" have no idea what they are talking about, because there are hundreds of amphur offices, and each one makes their own requirement.

The is only one immigration law though.

7 minutes ago, zhangxifu said:

What are the qualifications?

Isn't a long term stay permit combined with yellow book enough?

It is hard for me to understand why would the state or the resident resist this registration. I think law actually encourages it.

The law has nothing to do with it.............................................unless you can provide a link to the contrary

1 minute ago, hotandsticky said:

Your passport number is on your driving licence.

I'm not sure what you mean cos I didn't write about traffic laws but no. My TDL has my 13-digit TID number.

3 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

The law has nothing to do with it.............................................unless you can provide a link to the contrary

Maybe you should start reading it. Better even print it and show it to those officials who cause problems.

I might add that I never had to do that but it is an option. My dealings with the bureaucracy in Bangkok offices has been quite smooth actually. I am aware though that some provinces do have obstacles. Most are probably only miscommunication and easily removed. Some obstacles though require a relocation.

2 hours ago, zhangxifu said:

The is only one immigration law though.

Immigration has nothing to do with yellow book.

14 hours ago, mlkik said:

So what is the advice? Should I get one? What are the plus points and disadvantage points of getting one?

555

They dont help with reading ability.

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

3 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

Agreed. Same as hotels not filing a TM30 because you have Pink ID. The rules are a TM30 must be filed if a foreigner stays at your property. Nothing about what ID they use.

6 hours ago, KhunLA said:

For us, since we are O&A, quite a bit and that is out of province, it eliminates the need for wife to file a TM30 every time we return home. Since the Pink ID does not have enough info (PP#) on it, for hotels to file a TM30, if they bother at all doing so. But one less thing to be concerned about.

The need for TM30 for returning to home address was cancelled long ago, as someone has already pointed out.

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

3 hours ago, zhangxifu said:

Actually the most traffic police has no authority to even check your passport.

Has happened twice. Passport required both times.

zhangxifu is correct - but the nuance is in the wording.

Regular Thai Police are not authorised to enquire of your immigration status unless an immigration officer is also present (i.e. at a check point etc).

When Police ask for your passport - what the really want is 'proof of ID' and Thai law states we should be able to provide 'government issued photo ID'... commonly that means passport, so they simply say "passport" instead of "identification"... the Pink ID suffices in this case, as would a Resident ID card from another nation.

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

They dont help with reading ability.

Seems they also don't help with having a sense of humour.

3 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

The need for TM30 for returning to home address was cancelled long ago, as someone has already pointed out.

Some province amphurs still require, as I posted earlier. Not even sure if mine still does. But from 2016 till the relaxed enforcement in 2020, I didn't need to, since using P ID. 4 yrs of not TM30 filing.

Still use it, if someone request my name & address for anything. As easy for them to read. I could use TDL or PP, but prefer not to, as not easier to replace if loss.

Not that I ever loss anything, or they aren't nearby also. Just habit now, when some asks for ID, that's what they get.

1 minute ago, mlkik said:

9 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

They dont help with reading ability.

Seems they also don't help with having a sense of humour.

Touché..... however, humour is when something is funny...

2 hours ago, zhangxifu said:

I'm not sure what you mean cos I didn't write about traffic laws but no. My TDL has my 13-digit TID number.

Mine has my passport number on - that is why they accept it at check in.

2 hours ago, zhangxifu said:

Maybe you should start reading it. Better even print it and show it to those officials who cause problems.

I might add that I never had to do that but it is an option. My dealings with the bureaucracy in Bangkok offices has been quite smooth actually. I am aware though that some provinces do have obstacles. Most are probably only miscommunication and easily removed. Some obstacles though require a relocation.

So I was right, you don't have a link.

You were right about traffic police though......only once have I been required to show my passport and that was a joint police/Immigration check point.

3 hours ago, zhangxifu said:

The is only one immigration law though.

There are two.

55 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

3 hours ago, zhangxifu said:

I'm not sure what you mean cos I didn't write about traffic laws but no. My TDL has my 13-digit TID number.

Mine has my passport number on - that is why they accept it at check in.

Just to clear this one up.

IF you used your Pink ID / Yellow House Book Combo as proof of address when obtaining your Thai Driving License - the license will have the 13 Digit Thai Identification Number on it.

IF you used a Certificate of address (or Affirmation of Residence) as proof of address when obtaining your Thai Driving License - the license will have your Passport Number on it.

Also - for 'domestic' check-in at the Airport - what documentation is accepted is carrier dependent - some accept Thai DL, some don't, some accept Pink ID, some don't - some will only accept a Passport - Mileage varies.

On 3/30/2026 at 9:24 AM, OJAS said:

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.

You are free to think what you want.

Been useful to me over the last 16 years and very unlikely I will see another 10.

4 hours ago, zhangxifu said:

Are you really saying that the police has pulled you over and asked for your pp?

Actually the most traffic police has no authority to even check your passport. They might ask fro TDL or ID though.

Have been stopped by the police half a dozen times over the years and everytime they wanted to see my passport.