Thai (Non Thai) Id Card For Permanent Residents

[onthemoon]

I got it at the beginning of the month, and I am a yellow book holder, here is my id

I wonder what the card for the yellow-book holders say instead of "PR holder". Do you know any of them and could obtain a copy to post here (minus the personal details)?

Thanks!

First line says: "ID card for person that does not have Thai nationality". Same as my card.

Second line: (Number blacked out)

Third line: "General foreigner". Mine says: ""PR holder". So that is the difference.

Noticing that, I wonder what the card for Cambodian/Laotian citizens say.

May I ask when you got your card issued? And where?

I just got mine in Ban Chang and it also does not have third line which is quite disappointing. The most important thing this card would be to me is proof that I am a permanent resident. Without the third line this is not very obvious though (except for the ID number starting with a 8).

I was the firs PR holder to get he card in Ban Chang. I made a lot of noise about the missing third line and I showed them an example of a card that has the "PR holder" comment on it. My friend with a yellow book got an ID card the same day showing the "general foreigner" comment. So to me that shows that the system supports the possibility to print a third line.

I figure that by now they are getting a bit bored of me and they have told me that the system has changed since the beginning of the year and the card I showed them was from last year and that that is the reason the third line does not print for PR holders.

If your card has the third line and was issued in 2016, it would be very helpful for me to to be able to show it to them. If you could post a picture with all your personal data scratched out it would be great.

I applied at Bangkok, Prakanong District. The card was issued not there but at the Ministry of the Interior and that's why I had to wait a few weeks before I could pick it up. I was the first PR holder to get the card at Prakanong. It was issued in 2015.

I'll do the scanning when I get back to the office, but I am currently travelling and it will take a week.

[jarno1973]

Thanks!

I got it at the beginning of the month, and I am a yellow book holder, here is my id

First line says: "ID card for person that does not have Thai nationality". Same as my card.

Second line: (Number blacked out)

Third line: "General foreigner". Mine says: ""PR holder". So that is the difference.

Noticing that, I wonder what the card for Cambodian/Laotian citizens say.

May I ask when you got your card issued? And where?

I just got mine in Ban Chang and it also does not have third line which is quite disappointing. The most important thing this card would be to me is proof that I am a permanent resident. Without the third line this is not very obvious though (except for the ID number starting with a 8).

I was the firs PR holder to get he card in Ban Chang. I made a lot of noise about the missing third line and I showed them an example of a card that has the "PR holder" comment on it. My friend with a yellow book got an ID card the same day showing the "general foreigner" comment. So to me that shows that the system supports the possibility to print a third line.

I figure that by now they are getting a bit bored of me and they have told me that the system has changed since the beginning of the year and the card I showed them was from last year and that that is the reason the third line does not print for PR holders.

If your card has the third line and was issued in 2016, it would be very helpful for me to to be able to show it to them. If you could post a picture with all your personal data scratched out it would be great.

I applied at Bangkok, Prakanong District. The card was issued not there but at the Ministry of the Interior and that's why I had to wait a few weeks bee first PR holder to get the card at Prakanong. It was issued in 2015.

I'll do the scanning when I get back to the office, but I am currently travelling and it will take a week.

Thanks for your reply but if the card is issued in 2015 it does not help my case so don't bother scanning it. I just read back several older posts and it really seems to look like the system has been changed since beginning 2016 and now does not print PR status on the third line anymore.

Seems very strange to me as they are still printing the "general foreigner" status for yellow book holders.

If there is someone reading who has a card with the PR status printed on the third line on a card issued in 2016 it would be interesting to know.

[johnh869]

Thanks!

I got it at the beginning of the month, and I am a yellow book holder, here is my id

First line says: "ID card for person that does not have Thai nationality". Same as my card.

Second line: (Number blacked out)

Third line: "General foreigner". Mine says: ""PR holder". So that is the difference.

Noticing that, I wonder what the card for Cambodian/Laotian citizens say.

May I ask when you got your card issued? And where?

I just got mine in Ban Chang and it also does not have third line which is quite disappointing. The most important thing this card would be to me is proof that I am a permanent resident. Without the third line this is not very obvious though (except for the ID number starting with a 8).

I was the firs PR holder to get he card in Ban Chang. I made a lot of noise about the missing third line and I showed them an example of a card that has the "PR holder" comment on it. My friend with a yellow book got an ID card the same day showing the "general foreigner" comment. So to me that shows that the system supports the possibility to print a third line.

I figure that by now they are getting a bit bored of me and they have told me that the system has changed since the beginning of the year and the card I showed them was from last year and that that is the reason the third line does not print for PR holders.

If your card has the third line and was issued in 2016, it would be very helpful for me to to be able to show it to them. If you could post a picture with all your personal data scratched out it would be great.

I applied at Bangkok, Prakanong District. The card was issued not there but at the Ministry of the Interior and that's why I had to wait a few weeks bee first PR holder to get the card at Prakanong. It was issued in 2015.

I'll do the scanning when I get back to the office, but I am currently travelling and it will take a week.

Thanks for your reply but if the card is issued in 2015 it does not help my case so don't bother scanning it. I just read back several older posts and it really seems to look like the system has been changed since beginning 2016 and now does not print PR status on the third line anymore.

Seems very strange to me as they are still printing the "general foreigner" status for yellow book holders.

If there is someone reading who has a card with the PR status printed on the third line on a card issued in 2016 it would be interesting to know.

You are correct! They shouldn't have changed the front of the card....The back of the card should reflect the true status of the card holder as well. I've been around Thais now for 46 years and as the saying goes...."You can tell a Thai but not very much"!

Edited April 3, 2016 by johnh869

[scorecard]

I got the pink PR ID card yesterday at the Chiang Mai amphur office.

Following is a summary which I just shared with another Chiang Mai resident:

Hi xxxxxxxx,

Hopefully good news.

The Thai wife of the owner of the small hotel I use when I'm teaching in Bangkok is a lawyer and she has quite some experience with PR, citizenship etc etc., and she speaks perfect English. A couple of weeks back she mentioned that the issuing process for the pink PR ID card has been totally changed and is now issued locally at amphur offices and it's quite easy for the staff to process.

Yesterday I went alone to the Chiang Mai amphur office and I got the pink card, I'll summarize in bullet points:

- At home I prepared a photocopy of:

- A copy of another farangs' pink PR ID card with his name / photo / ID number blocked out. I put this on top of all the documents.

- Passport (photo / details page only).

- Tabien baan book, copy of opening page and the page specific to me.

- Main front pages of Resident certificate book (first 3 or 4 pages only, re-entry stamps, in / out old stamps etc., not needed).

- Main pages of the red police registration book pages - they wanted copy of every page which has writing on it.

- Copy of my Thai lifetime driving license (this was suggested by my lawyer lady, she had seen it requested before in Bkk, just one license if issued, she thinks they want to see it to check spelling, but in fact the photocopy of the license was given back after they very quickly checked something and I'm not sure what. If no license issued apparently not a problem at all. In fact the copy of the drivers license was not in the final pack of document copies they kept).

- The CM amphur office is behind / or in front of CM jail, and just down the road from the 3 kings monument, easy to find on google maps English, not that far from the Tar Paer gate area. It has a fairly big car park area.

- I parked and Walk up to the canopied front of the building (originally built as a drive through but this now closed and it's a walk up / motor cycle parking area). There's a statue in front and a big Thai flag pole.

- Walk up the few stairs and open the door. Walk in and you'll see a queue number machine a few more steps inside and slightly to the right.

- The queue ticket machine has many options but all in Thai so I pressed the first button. It was obvious from the loud speaker system they were calling the numbers is order, all in Thai. and fairly quickly.

- My number was called with instruction to go to desk number 1. (I'll digress back to walking up the steps and opening the main door, desk no. 1. is immediately inside the front door on the left side).

- The lady quickly realized what I wanted when she saw the photocopy of the farang PR ID card, and she laughed a little and said politely in Thai 'ohh wrong queue, never mind everybody has wrong queue, I will take care for you'. She quickly compared the photocopies with the original books then said 'all OK' and gave the originals back to me.

- Then she took me to the supervisor (for orientation think of the front door, walk in, look to the left about 7 or 8 metres, there sits the supervisor). A pleasant lady, no English at all, but with a friendly smile, she held up the photocopy of the PR ID card and said 'thum dai' (can do), 'ekasarn all OK' (documents all OK).

- This was about 09:45 am in the morning. The supervisor then shared politely that Monday is always a nightmare with way too many customers. She continued: 'It will be mid afternoon before we can fully process your case, I can't reserve a place for you later but please come back at 3:30 pm.' It was obvious the place was overflowing with people including one beautifully dressed and groomed hi-so lady who was obnoxious and demanding immediate service - the staff just ignored her.

- I did return at 3:30 pm, the original desk 1 lady spotted me and quickly again took me to the supervisor, they chatted a bit and said 'about 30 minutes more, can you please wait'.

- I politely indicated that I understood there were many people and I'm very happy to wait my turn.

- About 4:00 pm I was called to another desk in the same area to do a final signature and get my photo taken. All done in 2 minutes, all polite, organized and professional. Paid 65Baht for the card issuing, plus 10Baht for a plastic sleeve

- The supervisor came again with another officer who spoke English, she explained that the actual card printing machine (right there on the spot) is under very strict security arrangements. The hi-tech card printer is locked inside a secure casing and only very senior officers have access and same situation for the actual blank cards, all under strict security. This senior officer opened a mid size security safe and took out 1 pink card, all staff present had to sign for it, then the blank pink card was given to the immediate supervisor.

- The senior supervisor then explained further that I will unfortunately have to wait until all Thai ID card have been issued for the day then she will come back and open the printer, take out the remaining Thai ID blanks and put in the pink PR ID blank, she also said 'I think about 20 minutes and I apologize for keeping you waiting'. Time now about 4: 30 pm.

- About 4:55 last Thai person was processed, guess who - the hi-so lady who was again being obnoxious and being ignored.

- Senior came quickly, removed all the blank Thai ID cards and inserted the blank PR card.

- One minute later my new pink PD ID card in my sticky hand. And lots of smiles all round.

- Overall a bit of a wait but not the fault of the staff who were quite efficient and focused and polite, just too many people.

Now your turn!

Good luck!

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Edited April 6, 2016 by scorecard

[sas_cars]

Congrats. to you. Does your card has the PR status line?

[onthemoon]

Congrats scorecard and thanks for the story.

It is good news that the pink cards can now be printed directly at the amphur/khet.

[Jsu360418]

About a month or two ago I was called back to my district office via my lawyer. They said the system had changed and that I needed to be iasued a new pink ID card. I went there gave them the old one, which was originally issued in 2015, and they gave me a new one. It does not say PR Holder on the third line it. On the 2nd line there is now a number sequence starting with the number "8". The card is good for 10 years. And has, I think, more detailed holograms for security purpose. No change to the back.

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[eskatonia]

Ok haven't read this entire thread, but my question is why? Whats the benefit to having one of these vs just having a Thai drivers license and carrying that instead of a passport?

[thedemon]

Ok haven't read this entire thread, but my question is why? Whats the benefit to having one of these vs just having a Thai drivers license and carrying that instead of a passport?

The chief benefit is that the card is a nice colour.

[eskatonia]

Ah, ok then I'll stick to a drivers license. Pink clashes with my curtains.

[sas_cars]

About a month or two ago I was called back to my district office via my lawyer. They said the system had changed and that I needed to be iasued a new pink ID card. I went there gave them the old one, which was originally issued in 2015, and they gave me a new one. It does not say PR Holder on the third line it. On the 2nd line there is now a number sequence starting with the number "8". The card is good for 10 years. And has, I think, more detailed holograms for security purpose. No change to the back.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

That's a pity. If the card no more tells your status as being PR, what good in having it anymore?

[MadMac]

That's a pity. If the card no more tells your status as being PR, what good in having it anymore?

It's good for all of us none-PRs that have the card. We can now pretend we are .

Got one last month in BKK. So far had no chance to test it in a 500B tourist trap. That may be the only purpose for this card, but haven't seen any reports about Thai price when presenting the card as a no longer accepted drivers license in the past.

[Jsu360418]

In my experience using the card gives a lot more respect (and support in some cases) to me at government offices, banks, other types of officialdom, and with friends and colleagues This is Thailand and the fact that a foreigner went through the time, hassle and expenditure to get a PR and the Pink ID card shows Thai people that you respect them at a deeper and a not superficial or transactional level. Those optics matter here in small and big ways.

The times I have used it where two tier pricing was in effect I got the Thai price.

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[overherebc]

I have been told by some, and I completely disagree by the way, that if you get one of these you don't need to do 90 day report anymore because their wives read the card and said so.

[onthemoon]

I have been told by some, and I completely disagree by the way, that if you get one of these you don't need to do 90 day report anymore because their wives read the card and said so.

It has nothing to do with their wives. If you have PR, you don't need to do 90-day report any more, regardless of whether you have the ID card or not.

There are many official issues, from opening a bank account to renewing a driver's licence, for which you can use the pink ID card but not the driver's licence. Without the pink ID card, you need to carry your passport, Alien Book, and whatnot with you, as has been mentioned in this thread several times.

Edited April 11, 2016 by onthemoon

[overherebc]

I have been told by some, and I completely disagree by the way, that if you get one of these you don't need to do 90 day report anymore because their wives read the card and said so.

It has nothing to do with their wives. If you have PR, you don't need to do 90-day report any more, regardless of whether you have the ID card or not.

There are many official issues, from opening a bank account to renewing a driver's licence, for which you can use the pink ID card but not the driver's licence. Without the pink ID card, you need to carry your passport, Alien Book, and whatnot with you, as has been mentioned in this thread several times.

If the guy tells me his wife read the card and told him he doesn't need to do 90 day reports then isn't that what I said.

The guys in question don't have PR but are now talking about getting these cards because they believe it will mean no more 90 day reports.

[ubonjoe]

I have been told by some, and I completely disagree by the way, that if you get one of these you don't need to do 90 day report anymore because their wives read the card and said so.

It has nothing to do with their wives. If you have PR, you don't need to do 90-day report any more, regardless of whether you have the ID card or not.

There are many official issues, from opening a bank account to renewing a driver's licence, for which you can use the pink ID card but not the driver's licence. Without the pink ID card, you need to carry your passport, Alien Book, and whatnot with you, as has been mentioned in this thread several times.

If the guy tells me his wife read the card and told him he doesn't need to do 90 day reports then isn't that what I said.

The guys in question don't have PR but are now talking about getting these cards because they believe it will mean no more 90 day reports.

Nothing exempts a person who is on a temporary permit to stay from doing reports of staying longer than 90 days in the country other than not staying here that long.

[camerata]

I got my pink card in Bangkok recently. No PR status line. Took about half an hour.

[onthemoon]

I have been told by some, and I completely disagree by the way, that if you get one of these you don't need to do 90 day report anymore because their wives read the card and said so.

It has nothing to do with their wives. If you have PR, you don't need to do 90-day report any more, regardless of whether you have the ID card or not.

There are many official issues, from opening a bank account to renewing a driver's licence, for which you can use the pink ID card but not the driver's licence. Without the pink ID card, you need to carry your passport, Alien Book, and whatnot with you, as has been mentioned in this thread several times.

If the guy tells me his wife read the card and told him he doesn't need to do 90 day reports then isn't that what I said.

The guys in question don't have PR but are now talking about getting these cards because they believe it will mean no more 90 day reports.

The pink ID card says nothing about the 90-day report. I wonder what the wife read...

[sas_cars]

I got my pink card in Bangkok recently. No PR status line. Took about half an hour.

I wonder the non sense in removing the PR line from the ID card. What would have prompted it?

[skyaslimit]

I was wondering if it is possible to get this card in bangkok, having a red book and thabian baan in korat? any thoughts?

[walailak]

Tried to use my new pink id card today at the Sattahip Naval Base to view the ship, was stopped at the entrance, the officers in charge told my wife entrance is only for Thai citizens !! They had a good look at the Id card but not good lol we left immediately. Apparently Foreign visitors require permission from Royal Thai Navy ) oh well TIT

[skyaslimit]

I was wondering if it is possible to get this card in bangkok, having a red book and thabian baan in korat? any thoughts?

Any thoughts?

[jayboy]

I have been told by some, and I completely disagree by the way, that if you get one of these you don't need to do 90 day report anymore because their wives read the card and said so.

It has nothing to do with their wives. If you have PR, you don't need to do 90-day report any more, regardless of whether you have the ID card or not.

There are many official issues, from opening a bank account to renewing a driver's licence, for which you can use the pink ID card but not the driver's licence. Without the pink ID card, you need to carry your passport, Alien Book, and whatnot with you, as has been mentioned in this thread several times.

How much effort is involved in taking along pp/alien book etc when opening a bank account? Answer - none at all. Sensible to take them along anyway as even with pink id card might well have to produce at least pp.I've never carried anything except documents scans in my iphone - and never been asked for them.LIfetime driving license works well at parks etc.

But an interesting question remains.Are PR holders required to carry passport around? If the answer is definitely yes (though I never have), then I would procure a pink id.

[onthemoon]

I have been told by some, and I completely disagree by the way, that if you get one of these you don't need to do 90 day report anymore because their wives read the card and said so.

It has nothing to do with their wives. If you have PR, you don't need to do 90-day report any more, regardless of whether you have the ID card or not.

There are many official issues, from opening a bank account to renewing a driver's licence, for which you can use the pink ID card but not the driver's licence. Without the pink ID card, you need to carry your passport, Alien Book, and whatnot with you, as has been mentioned in this thread several times.

How much effort is involved in taking along pp/alien book etc when opening a bank account? Answer - none at all. Sensible to take them along anyway as even with pink id card might well have to produce at least pp.I've never carried anything except documents scans in my iphone - and never been asked for them.LIfetime driving license works well at parks etc.

But an interesting question remains.Are PR holders required to carry passport around? If the answer is definitely yes (though I never have), then I would procure a pink id.

No, you don't need the PP to open a bank account if you have the pink ID card. Anyway, there is no obligation to have the card, even though the regulations actually stipulates that.

Once you have the pink ID card, you have to carry it. Like the Thais have to carry their ID card. You do not need the PP any more.

[onthemoon]

I was wondering if it is possible to get this card in bangkok, having a red book and thabian baan in korat? any thoughts?

Any thoughts?

I don't really know, that's why I didn't answer yesterday. But my thought is that if Thai people have to get their ID at the Amphur/Khet where they are registered (as per tabien baan) then the same would apply for pink-card holders.

[jayboy]

I have been told by some, and I completely disagree by the way, that if you get one of these you don't need to do 90 day report anymore because their wives read the card and said so.

It has nothing to do with their wives. If you have PR, you don't need to do 90-day report any more, regardless of whether you have the ID card or not.

There are many official issues, from opening a bank account to renewing a driver's licence, for which you can use the pink ID card but not the driver's licence. Without the pink ID card, you need to carry your passport, Alien Book, and whatnot with you, as has been mentioned in this thread several times.

How much effort is involved in taking along pp/alien book etc when opening a bank account? Answer - none at all. Sensible to take them along anyway as even with pink id card might well have to produce at least pp.I've never carried anything except documents scans in my iphone - and never been asked for them.LIfetime driving license works well at parks etc.

But an interesting question remains.Are PR holders required to carry passport around? If the answer is definitely yes (though I never have), then I would procure a pink id.

No, you don't need the PP to open a bank account if you have the pink ID card. Anyway, there is no obligation to have the card, even though the regulations actually stipulates that.

Once you have the pink ID card, you have to carry it. Like the Thais have to carry their ID card. You do not need the PP any more.

With respect I simply do not agree that even holders of the pink card would never be asked to show their passport when opening a bank account.In any case it's a non issue since it is so easy to take along a passport.

But my question remains unanswered - do PRs have to carry their passports around with them? I was advised not - possibly wrongly - and in practical terms a lifetime driving license has been sufficient.

But I can absolutely see the point of keeping a pink id in ones wallet in these uncertain times.

[camerata]

I don't know how opening a bank account with the pink card would work since our name is not printed in English. Surely it would mean that Thai would be the primary language of the account and they would need some other document to get the English spelling? In my case, Immigration got the Thai spelling of my name wrong on the Residence Book, so it doesn't correctly reflect the English spelling (i.e. "Cameraka").

I've had mixed results checking into hotels with a driving licence. Often, they have a specific registration form for Thai or foreign guests, and so they prefer a passport for foreigners. Even with a passport I get asked about a visa or "Where is your white Immigration card?"

[onthemoon]

I don't know how opening a bank account with the pink card would work since our name is not printed in English. Surely it would mean that Thai would be the primary language of the account and they would need some other document to get the English spelling? In my case, Immigration got the Thai spelling of my name wrong on the Residence Book, so it doesn't correctly reflect the English spelling (i.e. "Cameraka").

I've had mixed results checking into hotels with a driving licence. Often, they have a specific registration form for Thai or foreign guests, and so they prefer a passport for foreigners. Even with a passport I get asked about a visa or "Where is your white Immigration card?"

Yes, the bank account that I opened with the pink ID card shows my name in Thai.

You won't have problems checking in at hotels if you use the pink ID card instead of your PP without TM card, or your driver's licence.

[camerata]

I don't know how opening a bank account with the pink card would work since our name is not printed in English. Surely it would mean that Thai would be the primary language of the account and they would need some other document to get the English spelling? In my case, Immigration got the Thai spelling of my name wrong on the Residence Book, so it doesn't correctly reflect the English spelling (i.e. "Cameraka").

I've had mixed results checking into hotels with a driving licence. Often, they have a specific registration form for Thai or foreign guests, and so they prefer a passport for foreigners. Even with a passport I get asked about a visa or "Where is your white Immigration card?"

Yes, the bank account that I opened with the pink ID card shows my name in Thai.

You won't have problems checking in at hotels if you use the pink ID card instead of your PP without TM card, or your driver's licence.

If you book through Agoda etc do you type your info in Thai?