I plan to travel in the southern provinces of Songkhla , Yala and Pattani without carrying my passport. If I carry copies of my passport such as my one year visa stamps etc will I have any issues with the local police or military ?

everytime i travel thru the south i carry passport, you need it to check into hotels, ( driving license not enough)
plus,

Why not

Never occurs to me to not take it, but in any case I thought the "rule" was that you could access it within a reasonable time if asked to show it. Presumably that wouldn't be the case on your planned trip.

7 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

everytime i travel thru the south i carry passport, you need it to check into hotels, ( driving license not enough)
plus,

Why not

Never been asked for my passport anywhere to check into a hotel or a train.

Bad plan*

Nobody messing with you but you. 😏

*You should have ID (passport). Wait until you have passport, then travel.

1 minute ago, Jungle Jim said:

Never been asked for my passport anywhere to check into a hotel or a train.

BS, why ask the Q then, it's normal to be asked for you passport, whether it be hotel, banks, police. You're abnormal response to your own question is also odd. aka BS!

Maybe curious what issues others have had maybe?

2 minutes ago, Jungle Jim said:

Maybe curious what issues others have had maybe?

Pattani and Yala are two provinces you may be stopped at a military checkpoint. Why take a chance? Just carry the passport, unless you are comfortable dealing with the Thai military questioning you. Emergency law is in effect in those provinces.

Why would you not want to take your passport ? , common sense really when

traveling in Yala or Pattani , there will be military checkpoints ,and you hope

copies will be accepted ! . copies are not a passport...

regards Worgeordie

Leave it with the agent. They are 100% trustworthy

59 minutes ago, Jungle Jim said:

Never been asked for my passport anywhere to check into a hotel or a train.

In other countries not Thailand.

So what 😄

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

Leave it with the agent. They are 100% trustworthy

What agent ?

2 hours ago, Celsius said:

Leave it with the agent. They are 100% trustworthy

Explain? This doesn't make sense.

21 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Explain? This doesn't make sense.

Sarcasm doesn’t make sense while thinking rationally.

On 7/26/2026 at 4:20 AM, Jungle Jim said:

I plan to travel in the southern provinces of Songkhla , Yala and Pattani without carrying my passport. If I carry copies of my passport such as my one year visa stamps etc will I have any issues with the local police or military ?

My experience: you need originals!

Also at police checkpoints!

I'm not sure why you don't want to carry your passport?

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

My experience: you need originals!

Also at police checkpoints!

I'm not sure why you don't want to carry your passport?

If I do not need to not worth the risk.

On 7/26/2026 at 8:27 AM, marin said:

Pattani and Yala are two provinces you may be stopped at a military checkpoint. Why take a chance? Just carry the passport, unless you are comfortable dealing with the Thai military questioning you. Emergency law is in effect in those provinces.

Martial law only in Narathiwat currently.

3 minutes ago, Jungle Jim said:

Martial law only in Narathiwat currently.

Why do you post questions if you already know the answers? Especially if you are wrong. Pattani is crawling with military units and has numerous checkpoints at this time.

Military and security checkpoints are common on roads throughout Pattani province as part of security operations under martial law in Thailand's deep South. These checkpoints are operated by the Royal Thai Army, paramilitary rangers, and local defense volunteers to monitor traffic and prevent insurgent activity. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Structure and Operations

• Barriers: Checkpoints use makeshift iron fences, plastic cones, or heavy sandbags to slow down and direct traffic.

• Inspections: Vehicles and motorcycles are stopped for ID checks and physical searches.

• Security Level: Enhanced alert statuses and temporary roadblocks are frequently deployed following localized security incidents or threats. [1, 2, 3]

Driver Etiquette and Safety

• Visibility: Drivers approaching a checkpoint are expected to turn on their vehicle's interior dome lights at night and roll down the windows. [1]

• Cooperation: Motorists should be prepared for identity verification and brief questioning by security personnel depending on current threat levels. [1]

3 minutes ago, Jungle Jim said:

If I do not need to not worth the risk.

Risk of ????

I carry my passport with me all the time, when both of us are out of the house, that includes locally. Along with my yellow book, and bank passbook. 3 of the smallest things in my 'man bag' 🤣

Why ... because it is my most important document I own. Along with, on very rare occasion, a hotel may ask to see it. Also, one of the last times I was down South, a check point did ask to see it.

If you are prone to losing your ID, then I might understand not wanting to carry it. How many times have you lost your passport, or been damaged and need replacing ???

I don't lose important sh!t. Higher risk of someone stealing it from house, then me losing it, so low to no risk of losing or damaging PP while having it nearby me.

It's in a plastic sleeve, in my man bad, and my 10 yr old used passports at the house, look as good as the day they were issued. Not seeing any issue, unless you are irresponsible with carrying your passport.

"But what if" ... when was the last time, 'what if' happened to your PP ?

I really don't understand the reasoning for not carrying one's passport, especially when it is the law. Though most will accept copies, what if the one that asks you for it, 1000 kms from home, won't accept a copy ??? You sit at PoPo or IO till someone brings it to.

UP2U, but I think anyone is an idiot to go to those southern provinces without their passport, as much higher risk of being ask for it.

Edited July 27Jul 27 by KhunLA

47 minutes ago, Jungle Jim said:

If I do not need to not worth the risk.

Risk? What is wrong with your passport? Doctored? Arrest warrant pending?

Tell us

Went to a hotel in Sri Racha about a month ago. Not only did they want to see our passports, they wanted to see our visa stamp.

Fortunately they accepted copies on my phone. Although the visa doesn’t really show that it’s connected to me, could have been a copy of someone else’s.

On 7/26/2026 at 8:27 AM, marin said:

Emergency law is in effect in those provinces

The Cabinet recently approved a three-month extension of the State of Emergency in parts of Thailand's southern border provinces from July 20 to Oct 19.

19 years and continuing!

The SE typically provides state officials and security personnel with broad immunity from civil, criminal, and disciplinary penalties for actions taken in good faith while executing the decree's provisions. (my bold)

So yeah, carry your passport.

30 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

So yeah, carry your passport.

From a practical standpoint, it is so easy to fake a passport copy that I'd expect to be detained while they're running it through immigration from a police checkpoint. Between false information and the fact that entry stamps aren't on the same page as personal identification, a diligent cop should detain anyone presenting a copy. Whether they do or not, I don't claim to know.

From personal experience in Songkhla, some hotels absolutely insist on an original passport to check in. That was pre-Covid. I haven't been down there since.

I'm with you. I carry my original passport and don't risk it. Copies may work fine, until they don't.

Thanks everyone for your opinions leaving by train in the morning. So this subject is now closed.

You are asking for trouble, for no good reason. (Unless, there IS a reason????) 555

It (WAS) nothing more than a "look at me" post.
"I'm going to the deep south; aren't I manly?"
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Tool.

1 hour ago, Jungle Jim said:

So this subject is now closed.

It is not closed until the Mods close it!

If you want it closed I suggest you ask them to do so.

Foreigners are not required by Thai law to carry their passports with them at all times. However, foreigners are required by law to prove when asked by "relevant authorities" that they have permission to be in Thailand. That is done by showing a passport with the appropriate visa stamps.

Sometimes the Thai police may accept photocopies or images on a phone, but other times won't. You have to show your passport and could be in for a lot of hassle if you can't. Don't count on being able to show a photocopy at a military checkpoint.

On 7/25/2026 at 8:45 PM, Jungle Jim said:

Never been asked for my passport anywhere to check into a hotel or a train.

That is indeed strange, as Thai hotels are required by law to ask to see passports and record details when foreigners register.

*This topic is closed*

48 minutes ago, MarcelV said:

*This topic is closed*

That's why it should end on an accurate note.

Edited July 27Jul 27 by Evil Penevil