A while back there was a problem when stocks of the smart cards used for Thai ID cards ran out.

Does anyone know if things are back to normal in Pattaya, and cards are once again being issued?

I've always been told by Thais that it was necessary to go back to their

home province to obtain a replacement ID card. Don't know whether

that's factual or not. Some of the locals have a rather bad habit of

lending, borrowing, or not wanting to produce their own. Other than

seeing the new cards now have both Thai and English and a chip I have

to confess I don't understand any of the other changes with them.

I've always been told by Thais that it was necessary to go back to their

home province to obtain a replacement ID card. Don't know whether

that's factual or not. Some of the locals have a rather bad habit of

lending, borrowing, or not wanting to produce their own. Other than

seeing the new cards now have both Thai and English and a chip I have

to confess I don't understand any of the other changes with them.

Not necessary anymore.

Although I seem to recall that if you apply for a new card when not in your home town, that you need to be accompanied by a person who is registered locally and can vouch for you.

In Pattaya, persons not registered here, have to apply at city hall on North Pattaya road.

To add to Monty's comments they have abandoned the smart card system. It was not as smart as they hoped and did not work. According to a thread elsewhere they even recalled the issued smart cads and have gone back to the mag stripe ones. A new round of specifications and contracts will occur some time in the future. Someone is getting another retirement fund organised.

To add to Monty's comments they have abandoned the smart card system. It was not as smart as they hoped and did not work. According to a thread elsewhere they even recalled the issued smart cads and have gone back to the mag stripe ones. A new round of specifications and contracts will occur some time in the future. Someone is getting another retirement fund organised.

Oh so very true.

But what was wrong with the original? My wife re-registered, because she is a property owner here in Pattaya, so she and the kids are no longer Isaan-ees. She is now Pattayan, as I understand things, and has an ID card to show it.