Carrying Identification In Thailand

[david96]

Ref: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/vie...it_Requirements

Ref. para. on Local Laws.

Foreigners are required to carry identification at all times.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport.

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Identification in this case would be any document that identifies you to any person or entity.

This could be;

A current passport, a motor vehicle drivers licence or a document that shows your name,

date of birth, a photograph of the bearer and a tracable document number.

A photocopy of the personal particulars page of your current passport would meet the criteria

for identification.

A passport is a document that should always be in a secure place to minimise the risk of theft

so many will only carry their passport when it is required, eg at a bank, immigration, or when travelling etc.

In most cases all one only has to prove is his identity.

Only immigration or an employer wants to know your visa type, so here you would show your

passport and visa.

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When would a traveller not carry their passport?

A tourist, whose passport and valuables are held in a hotel safe or:

When a passport has been lost or stolen.

With the number of visitors to Thailand, including temporary residents, one is more likely to have problems due to loss, theft or damage than for not carrying a current passport.

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I was once asked for ID at a police station when I required a replacement for a Thai document about 10 years ago. The ID I used was a current Australian motor vehicle drivers licence.

If they had wanted my passport I would have returned the next day with it.

[astral]

A Thai driving licence will usually suffice.

However when travelling away from home, I always carry my passport.

It is a good idea to keep a photocopy of the passport id page and current visa pages

at home. It makes renewal much easier if the original is stolen or lost.

[macb]

A Thai driving licence will usually suffice.

However when travelling away from home, I always carry my passport.

It is a good idea to keep a photocopy of the passport id page and current visa pages

at home. It makes renewal much easier if the original is stolen or lost.

I do exactly the same : I keep a photo copy in the truck at all times, if I travel out of Province I take my passport. In 5 years never been asked for passport, I am always asked for driving licence international or Thai I always produce my Thai one.

[harrry]

I feel the OP was deceptive as it appears that the Australian government has said it is ok to use other identification. Nowhere on the site does it say that, it states that the user must carry identification but does not qualify that.

It seems it is only the OP's belief that other forms are OK and not fact.

[lopburi3]

I agree and have reported the post to moderators.

[Lite Beer]

This is the only part of the OPs post that I can see on the site he linked to

Foreigners are required to carry identification at all times.

Until he or someone can provide links to anything else it is just the Ops opinions and not information provided by the Australian Government.

[Boo]

I have edited the op to make it clear that the infiormation contained in the post IS NOT the advice as stated on the link from the Australian government. It is the OP's opinion only.

As per Litebeers post above, pm with some more links to back up the op & this topic can be reopened.

[Mario2008]

David96 asked to post the following:

The post was not intended to be deceptive, the first part

refering to the website is correct. It refers to identification

not a passport specifically and documents for ID in Australia are varied and legal.

The other paragraph(s) are the interpretation of the OP as interpreted under Australian requirements as read by an Australian passport holder.

The post was for discussion and for other opinions.

I would like to point out that recently there was a discussion about the same subject in this forum. The conclusion of this discussion ws that there is no law that requires you to carry an ID at all times, however you must be able to produce one within a reasonable time.

While driving a car or motorcycle you should of course always cary a license.