Thai police & passports

[edd]

I always carry my passport when i am in thailand but this is very bad for it, it makes it look awful. does any one know if thai police will take a international driving permit or uk driving licence with a photocopy of my passport as I.D.

EDD.

[francois]

I don't know, it has been said for years that a colour photocopy of your passport (with the latest stamp) should be ok  ???

well, that's what I am doing, I scan my passport and print it.

I have never been checked so far  

and once I used this for a credit-card buy as an ID proof, so ...

[Dexlowe]

Legally, when in a foreign country, you must have your passport with you at all times, and you are required to produce it when asked by the authorities. That is an accepted fact endorsed by all countries and their embassies and consulates (who will advise you of such, should you care to ask them).

You are also required, when taking up residency in a foreign country, to notify your embassy (or whichever embassy accepts responsibility for you when your country does not have diplomatic representation) and register your name and address.

No other ID is acceptable -- technically, that is.

For sure, things are quite relaxed in Thailand, but you shouldn't be surprised if you get tossed into Tung Mahamek immigration cells for not having your passport on you should the police stop you for a conventional check. (I know this for a fact, because I had to bail out a colleague one night.)

Francois, in Thailand you can usually get away with a photo copy (I do it when my passport is being processed for work permit and visa by my office staff). So my advice, if you are worried, is to keep a photo copy of your passport and visa with you at all times, even though things are usually pretty relaxed in Thailand.

Another piece of advice is to keep your embassy's emergency phone number in your wallet (or in your sock with your spare cash, in case you're worried about being pickpocketed by a katoey on a Bangkok pedestrian overpass).

[Herald]

I always carry my passport when i am in thailand but this is very bad for it, it makes it look awful. does any one know if thai police will take a international driving permit or uk driving licence with a photocopy of my passport as I.D.

EDD

A couple of things...I have used a photocopy of my passport info at hotels with no problem. I have been told that using Thai Airlines for domestic flights this was no problem either but I did carry my passport then in anycase.

I don't drive so wouldn't be stopped by the police routinely but I suppose other than that it would depend on why they stopped you and your sobriety/attitude at the time as to what would happen...I think you have 24 hours to produce the real one...but not sure about that.

As far as carrying my passport was concerned, I use a version of a moneybelt that wraps around your calf as opposed to your waist. I felt more secure with it down there.

However, the first time I went out in +35C my passport/work permit was soaked in sweat. This was not good for the long term ...so I decided to put my WP and Passport in a "zip-lock" plastic bag before stowing in the belt...That worked like a charm. I still kept the photocopy in my wallet but the real one was there if I needed it (on journeys)...while working I kept the real one in a secure place (hidden) in my room.

[frequentatore]

For sure, things are quite relaxed in Thailand, but you shouldn't be surprised if you get tossed into Tung Mahamek immigration cells for not having your passport on you should the police stop you for a conventional check. (I know this for a fact, because I had to bail out a colleague one night.)

Where that happened? Have you done anything wrong?

[pnustedt]

In HK they've just introduced "smart" ID cards. These cards contain a computer chip that store all personal details, thumb prints, etc.

From next year they can be used for entry into HK - you put the card into a reader, put your thumb on a scanner for verification and you're in (assuming your card details are OK). No immigration officials!

It is also feasible that these cards could be used instead of credit or ATM cards as they are more secure, so maybe they can eventually replace all cards, passports and even cash.

Seems pretty good to me but I'm sure that some will worry that big brother is watching them!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

In time the world will have smartcards replacing passports etc, but they all gotta agree, country by country. Might take a bit of time yet. Co-operation isn't a huge feature of international relations.

[wolf5370]

Banks always seem to want the original passport. I always carry it, but I have full photocopies at my Father-in-Law's house in case i loose it or it gets nicked. Depending in the weather, Its either in an inside pocket or a secure pocket (money belt etc).

[Axel]

All good advises I read here before, incl. photocopies of PP,

(certified to be true and correct) Thai driving licence if you have one.

Depends also a bit where you are going. If Pornochai is on the prowl to close all bars at 2:00 am, might be better to have the real thing on you. Also for the next few weeks the boys in brown might be a bit nervous with the APEC-thing.

[SoCal]

Just leave in the hotel safe. If you are in enough trouble that they are asking for your passport, they will take you there.

[Dexlowe]

frequentatore

Yes, I know this for a fact -- and you don't have to do anything wrong.

The person I referred to had a valid visa and work permit. It was just that his passport was with our personnel office at the time, and he did not have photo copies (serious mistake). But he was arrested in an immigration police sweep because he did not have his passport with him, and he was thrown into the Tung Mahamek police cells -- yet at the same time, and I do not joke, our office staff girl was 2 floors below him renwewing his visa. An incredibly bizarre twist of fate.

[frequentatore]

he was arrested in an immigration police sweep

That's why I asked... I drive here and went many times to the police station for fines and once for a car accident; regular cops don't care about your passeport as long as you can show an ID.

But OK I understand, safer to have a photocopy...

[3dweb]

I lived in Bangkok for 7 years and never carried my passport. Then I moved back to American and visited Thailand 4 years later. I was in a bar my first night back and a drunken guy started speaking Thai to me. I should have just pretended I didn't understand him, but I hadn't spoken Thai for a while and I wanted to see how rusty I had gotten.

Turned out he was a police Captain. As he got drunker he turned from a friendly funny guy to a real scary menace. He demanded to see my passport, and when I told him I left it at the hotel he actually pulled a gun on me an demanded money ($100 US). I told him to put the gun away and I'd give him the money. He did and I got up to get the money out of my wallet and ran like ####. He was burried behind a couple of bar girls so he couldn't get up in time to chase me. The only time I was really scared in Thailand.