Just now, scorecard said:

 

I got approved for Thai PR 28 years ago:

- I was not required to submit any detail whatever se Social Security (SSO) membership or my monthly member payments (deducted by my employer)

- At the interview I was not asked about SSO membership and not asked for any documents re SSO. The interview was conducted by a very senior Immigration officer (located within the police assigned to the immigration office at soi Suan Phlu in Bkk). A long interview nearly 2 hrs, he spoke perfect English, the main thinge he focused on was asking me to explain how my work was helping the development of Thailand, and the level of my knowledge / expertise on the subject involved (he mentioned that PR holders are expected to hold at least 2 masters degrees - not sure if that's the same today). At the start of the interview he asked me to give him 2 or 3 names of the Thai employees who were in my team and their phone numbers, and he indicated he would call them and ask what they were learning, from me, the value of their learning etc. He did call them ( sat with him) and he spoke in English and he listened carefully to their comments / responses. 

- When I received the approval letter I went to the local big amphur office (Pattaya city hall) to get the dark blue covered PR book, SSO as not mentioned.

- Then to the big police centre at Bang lamung to get the Dark covered Police Registration book. SSO not mentioned. SInce been back every 5 years to update my photo etc in the police book. SSO never mentioned. 

 

1 hour ago, Bangel72 said:

Have a look here https://idpeself.sso.go.th/login/,  Its in thai only for the most part, I'm still working so covered but it seems to have sections on voluntary continuation of payments but likely need to be within a certain timelimit of the payments through work.

 

It will also show the history of your payments and pension calculation, note if multiple jobs they may have not linked them to same account so you may have missing years.

 

Takes quite a few years to get a pension though, I think I worked it out about 3k a month so very low but worth it if it keeps you in insurance loop. 

 

You can select a designated hospital once a year, slow service but often same doctors as the paid places, just very slow. 

 

From above "...I'm still working so covered but it seems to have sections on voluntary continuation of payments but likely need to be within a certain timelimit of the payments through work." I am now fully retired:

- I took the lumpsum refund of the monthly SSO membership contributions.

- I then transferred to the Article 33 membership, for retired members, for health etc benefits (this must be done within 6 months of retiring).

The SSO now automatically deducts the standard SSO monthly membership contribution (432Baht per month) from the K Bank savings account number I gave them). This happens on the 15th of every month or delayed to the first normal working day if the 15th is a Sat or Sun or national holiday. I check this every month and there's always an auto deduction on the 15th or as metioned just above).

 

 

   

My red book alien registration 5-year stamp is due October 12.

I seem to remember that it’s possible to do this two weeks before the due date.

Can anyone confirm?  Thanks…

40 minutes ago, Bubbha said:

My red book alien registration 5-year stamp is due October 12.

I seem to remember that it’s possible to do this two weeks before the due date.

Can anyone confirm?  Thanks…

 

You might get a different answer at the different police stations where you can do the 5 year update.

 

Two weeks ago my Thai son took me to the Chiang Mai city police centre to do this update. The police guy who has taken care of this for years has recently retired.  A few 'take aways' from the police guy now doing this job;

- You can do the 5 year update in advance no limit.

- More than 7 days late and there's a 400Baht fine. I had to pay the fine.

- Now needs 3 new photos:, one for the red book, one for the file held at the police centre, and one to be submitted to a regional office, this item new to me.

- For foreigners over 80 years old (me) no need for the foreigner to ever attend again, family member / friend can attend the police centre with the documents and get the update completed. 

- Basic fee is 800Baht with a a full official receipt.

On 9/5/2025 at 5:33 PM, scorecard said:

 

 

From above "...I'm still working so covered but it seems to have sections on voluntary continuation of payments but likely need to be within a certain timelimit of the payments through work." I am now fully retired:

- I took the lumpsum refund of the monthly SSO membership contributions.

- I then transferred to the Article 33 membership, for retired members, for health etc benefits (this must be done within 6 months of retiring).

The SSO now automatically deducts the standard SSO monthly membership contribution (432Baht per month) from the K Bank savings account number I gave them). This happens on the 15th of every month or delayed to the first normal working day if the 15th is a Sat or Sun or national holiday. I check this every month and there's always an auto deduction on the 15th or as metioned just above).

 

 

   

 

I add a bit more:  If there's not enough funds in the personal bank account for the auto deduction don't panic. Just go quickly to any 7/1, take any SSO document and pay the 432Baht (cash only) to the cashier. Cashier will ask '1 month or 2?' basic answer is 'One month'.

 

No need to advise 1506 hotline that you paid a bit late, at 7/11. 

 

Two or 3 days later you can check your payments on the SSO main site and you'll see your payment made at 7/11. 

25 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

You might get a different answer at the different police stations where you can do the 5 year update.

 

Two weeks ago my Thai son took me to the Chiang Mai city police centre to do this update. The police guy who has taken care of this for years has recently retired.  A few 'take aways' from the police guy now doing this job;

- You can do the 5 year update in advance no limit.

- More than 7 days late and there's a 400Baht fine. I had to pay the fine.

- Now needs 3 new photos:, one for the red book, one for the file held at the police centre, and one to be submitted to a regional office, this item new to me.

- For foreigners over 80 years old (me) no need for the foreigner to ever attend again, family member / friend can attend the police centre with the documents and get the update completed. 

- Basic fee is 800Baht with a a full official receipt.

 

Thanks for this. My red book is due for the five-year update in a few weeks. I will make sure I go early.

 

Five years ago, when I offered new photos I was told that after twenty years of updates photos were no longer necessary. I don't have a photo in my red book from the last update. I'll bring photos next month just in case.

 

I asked what would happen if I came late to update and was told they would have to fetch files from another location and it may delay the process. I wasn't told about the fine, but I wouldn't be surprised.

 

 

 

5 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

Thanks for this. My red book is due for the five-year update in a few weeks. I will make sure I go early.

 

Five years ago, when I offered new photos I was told that after twenty years of updates photos were no longer necessary. I don't have a photo in my red book from the last update. I'll bring photos next month just in case.

 

I asked what would happen if I came late to update and was told they would have to fetch files from another location and it may delay the process. I wasn't told about the fine, but I wouldn't be surprised.

 

 

 

These processes change with the wind. 

 

Copied from the poster above: "Five years ago, when I offered new photos I was told that after twenty years of updates photos were no longer necessary. I don't have a photo in my red book from the last update. I'll bring photos next month just in case".

===

Two weeks back the officer scanned my red book then said in good Englsish "I'll need 5 new photos". 

 

Re photos in my red book:

- The original photo when the book was issued 28 years ago.

- Five new photos including 2 weeks ago.

 

 

Next 5 year timing I will be approaching 86 years old. The Chang Mai oficer was very clear that after 80 years old no need for the foreigner to attend. hE explained just that to my son in Thai then said to me in good English: "I just told your son 'next time you (the foreigner) don't need to attend, just bring the red book, other basic docs and 3 new photos.'

 

I responded 'yes, all clear'.

My son responded 'yes i'm all clear with that, after 80 no need for the foreigner to attend, but family must bring the book and the documents and cannot be late.'

 

Then son said to me in advanced English 'Dad, are you all clear on that?' I responded 'YES'.

 

Police guy looked a bit confused, and said 'Do you both speak Thai and English. We both responded YES.

 

Police guy said to my son 'How can you speak English?' Son responded 'I started to learn both Thai and English from birth'. Police guy said Please show me your Thai ID card, which revealed a very common basic farang surname.

 

Police guy then laughed and said 'next'

 

 

23 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

You might get a different answer at the different police stations where you can do the 5 year update.

 

Two weeks ago my Thai son took me to the Chiang Mai city police centre to do this update. The police guy who has taken care of this for years has recently retired.  A few 'take aways' from the police guy now doing this job;

- You can do the 5 year update in advance no limit.

- More than 7 days late and there's a 400Baht fine. I had to pay the fine.

- Now needs 3 new photos:, one for the red book, one for the file held at the police centre, and one to be submitted to a regional office, this item new to me.

- For foreigners over 80 years old (me) no need for the foreigner to ever attend again, family member / friend can attend the police centre with the documents and get the update completed. 

- Basic fee is 800Baht with a a full official receipt.

Is there a form you can fill in advance of going to the police station?  I also likely have the situation that the one police guy who knew what to do has moved on, last time when he was not there I had a point blank cannot do that here and redirected to border immigration which I knew could not do it, got lucky that someone had his number and he was nearby that day.  Thinking if theres a form to fill, that could help if he is not there next time. The regional office part also new to me, hope its not across the board as standard.

23 hours ago, scorecard said:

I add a bit more:  If there's not enough funds in the personal bank account for the auto deduction don't panic. Just go quickly to any 7/1, take any SSO document and pay the 432Baht (cash only) to the cashier. Cashier will ask '1 month or 2?' basic answer is 'One month'.

 

No need to advise 1506 hotline that you paid a bit late, at 7/11. 

 

Two or 3 days later you can check your payments on the SSO main site and you'll see your payment made at 7/11. 

Scorecard - thanks very much for your advice about timing of Alien Registration/Red Book renewal.  I plan to do this next week and will report back here.

 

Would you be able to share the website link for the SSO main site?  I cannot seem to find this.....thanks!

3 hours ago, Bubbha said:

Scorecard - thanks very much for your advice about timing of Alien Registration/Red Book renewal.  I plan to do this next week and will report back here.

 

Would you be able to share the website link for the SSO main site?  I cannot seem to find this.....thanks!

 

Sorry a bit slow to respond:

 

 

 

You can see there's a 4 digit speed dial entry - 1506  in very big font size.

 

1506 is the easiest way to talk to an officer. There's an automatic answer process which offers connection to a Thai speaking or an English speaking officer.

 

If you select English and nobody answers it will then automatically revert to the Thai speaking officer. Don't give up, it just means an English speaker is not available at that time. Try again maybe 30 minutes later or the next day. The English speaking officers are very polite and very helpful, worth the wait. 

 

And there's another option: if you open the main site you can see there's a 'chat' facility down the right hand side of the screen. You can use that in English.

Again if no English speaker is available it may be a few hours to get a response. You'll get a phone call and then you can discuss by phone. The phone call might be late at night. There seems to be a policy that all questions put on the chat line must be answered the same day. 

 

Good luck.

 

 

3 hours ago, Bangel72 said:

Is there a form you can fill in advance of going to the police station?  I also likely have the situation that the one police guy who knew what to do has moved on, last time when he was not there I had a point blank cannot do that here and redirected to border immigration which I knew could not do it, got lucky that someone had his number and he was nearby that day.  Thinking if theres a form to fill, that could help if he is not there next time. The regional office part also new to me, hope its not across the board as standard.

 

I don't know a specific answer to your question. I'm a bit surprised you were on the spot advised to go to another police station to do the update. My police registration records are held specifically at the Chiang Mai city police centre and I'm not aware of any option to go elsewhere.

 

If you need to go to the Chiang Mai city police centre there is a new officer in attendance and he speask fair English. 

On 9/5/2025 at 5:33 PM, scorecard said:

 

 

From above "...I'm still working so covered but it seems to have sections on voluntary continuation of payments but likely need to be within a certain timelimit of the payments through work." I am now fully retired:

- I took the lumpsum refund of the monthly SSO membership contributions.

- I then transferred to the Article 33 membership, for retired members, for health etc benefits (this must be done within 6 months of retiring).

The SSO now automatically deducts the standard SSO monthly membership contribution (432Baht per month) from the K Bank savings account number I gave them). This happens on the 15th of every month or delayed to the first normal working day if the 15th is a Sat or Sun or national holiday. I check this every month and there's always an auto deduction on the 15th or as metioned just above).

 

 

   

I have continued my medical and Injury cover (transferred to article 33 cover) and I pay direct to the SSO by a personsl automatic debit to my K Bank savings account, 432Baht late evening on the 15th of every month. 

Is anyone able to confirm the current fees for an endorsement + reentry?

kind regards

Repton

3 hours ago, Repton1 said:

Is anyone able to confirm the current fees for an endorsement + reentry?

kind regards

Repton

 

Earlier this year I paid baht 5,700 for an endorsement and multiple re-entry. I think the breakdown was 1,900 for the endorsement and 3,800 for the re-entry.

On 9/24/2025 at 2:31 PM, Bubbha said:

Scorecard - thanks very much for your advice about timing of Alien Registration/Red Book renewal.  I plan to do this next week and will report back here.

I went to get a 5-year stamp at my police station today.

It was all very routine and took less than one hour.

I brought a bunch of pictures that they didn't need.

I'm good for another 5 years (2573).

 

@scorecard - thanks very much for the website for Thai Social Security. Like you, I pay (have deducted) 432 THB per month. 

I've never used this service very much but the monthly fee isn't something I think twice about and I like having this as fall back insurance.

 

 

2 hours ago, Bubbha said:

I went to get a 5-year stamp at my police station today.

It was all very routine and took less than one hour.

I brought a bunch of pictures that they didn't need.

I'm good for another 5 years (2573).

 

@scorecard - thanks very much for the website for Thai Social Security. Like you, I pay (have deducted) 432 THB per month. 

I've never used this service very much but the monthly fee isn't something I think twice about and I like having this as fall back insurance.

 

 

 Good points.

 

I have used the medical / dental services but first let me please share some stock / standard negative comments often thrown around plus my observations  experiences, all at Rajavej Hospital in Chiang Mai:

 

- Standard basic comments often thrown around re all Social Security hospital services , all hospitals - very very long wait to see a doctor. And lacking in politeness and good explanations.

At Rajavej I've never waited more than 30 minutes, and I've never experienced any rudeness or abruptness.  Always plenty of English.

 

One visit was for the no charge annual medical health check; Registered (1 minute), waited for 5 minutes, senior nurse politely shared "I'm just getting a nurse prepared to take your blood, then a 1 hr wait for the pathology blood report". Reality: Blood taken within 5 or 6 minutes, nurse was very professional always checking I was OK,  40 minutes later sitting with a polite English speaking doctor who had the blood report in Thai and in English, he explained the results one by one in good detail (luckily all showing no issues) in English, in detail.  Then gave a polite comment "at your age (80) please walk every day and drink a lot of water"

 

I've never experienced any rudeness or abruptness from any staff member.

 

Dental. 2 visits (at Social Security Dental clinic within Rajavej hospital), First visit was a check up then back next morning for a filling. Not free, overall 400Baht including x rays. dentist and assistant both spoke good English, very focused, very polite and professional.

Second visit, some pain back of upper jaw. Many x rays, dentist decided I should go to the dental school facility within Chiang Mai university medical/dental school. Senior lecturer did a thorough inspection then said "there is some small jaw break down, you just need a long course (4 weeks) of strong antibiotics". Four weeks completed, pain all gone. Dentists Fee 300Baht, all waived because of something I didn't understand. 

 

 

 

 

I have had Permanent residence for over 35 years. Always update my Alien book every 5 years Had to obtain a new PR book in Bangkok some years ago as the original was full with stamps

 

Until recently I made many overseas trips, and both my passport and PR book needed to have stamps and re-entry permits 

 

Now I am unlikely to be making any more overseas trips (Old age). I have heard but not seen written anywhere, that holders of PR do not need valid passports. Can anyone advise/confirm this?

 

Would a PR book be deemed sufficient by banks, the Police if stopped at a road check, or even immigration themselves, should they come calling??

 

26 minutes ago, prakhonchai nick said:

I have had Permanent residence for over 35 years. Always update my Alien book every 5 years Had to obtain a new PR book in Bangkok some years ago as the original was full with stamps

 

Until recently I made many overseas trips, and both my passport and PR book needed to have stamps and re-entry permits 

 

Now I am unlikely to be making any more overseas trips (Old age). I have heard but not seen written anywhere, that holders of PR do not need valid passports. Can anyone advise/confirm this?

 

Would a PR book be deemed sufficient by banks, the Police if stopped at a road check, or even immigration themselves, should they come calling??

 

 

Banks may still need to see a passport in order for them to comply with KYC as well as FATCA or CRS reporting requirements. If they have the expiry date of your passport on file, depending upon how efficient they are, they may want to see the replacement when the old one expires,  or if you go to get a new ATM card or something like that.

 

Unless you need to travel abroad, I don't think the Immigration Department needs to see your passport again.

 

In theory, I think the police are supposed to be satisfied with seeing the red police book, but I suspect they will want to see a passport as well, even if technically they should be satisfied with the red book.

2 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

Banks may still need to see a passport in order for them to comply with KYC as well as FATCA or CRS reporting requirements. If they have the expiry date of your passport on file, depending upon how efficient they are, they may want to see the replacement when the old one expires,  or if you go to get a new ATM card or something like that.

 

Unless you need to travel abroad, I don't think the Immigration Department needs to see your passport again.

 

In theory, I think the police are supposed to be satisfied with seeing the red police book, but I suspect they will want to see a passport as well, even if technically they should be satisfied with the red book.

Allow me to add: It depends on the bank. BBL is happy with the pink ID and blue tabien baan, while Kbank and SCB insist on the passport.

 

For the government (driver's licence, or any other occasion on which you have to ID yourself), airline check-in (for domestic flights) and hotels, the pink ID is sufficient in my experience. 

25 minutes ago, onthemoon said:

Allow me to add: It depends on the bank. BBL is happy with the pink ID and blue tabien baan, while Kbank and SCB insist on the passport.

 

For the government (driver's licence, or any other occasion on which you have to ID yourself), airline check-in (for domestic flights) and hotels, the pink ID is sufficient in my experience. 

 

Perhaps 4 years ago I went to BIG C at Don Chan Chiang Mai for shopping and took all my K Bank stuff with me. I had just received a new passport and planned to go into the big K Bank branch (at Don Chan) to update my passport details with K Bank (4 accounts).

I put all my K bank items, old/new passports and my PR book (27 years) and pink card on the  service assistants counter. She started updating my passport (new p.port) details into the K Bank database. A pleasant supervisor (excellent English) looked over the service assistants' shoulder and spotted my pink card. She instantly politely told the service lady to stop updating my passport details and she quickly gathered all the service staff and explained. "If the customer has this pink card check if's expiry date is the Thai word 'cheewit' (lifetime). The supervisor then politely guided the service lady to enter my pink card number, all accepted. then she guided the service lady to do the same with the 3 further B Bank savings passbooks on the counter. All accepted.

Then any questions? none. Just one comment from a bank staff member meaning 'so easy'.

I didn't have the family Tabien Baan book (dark blue cover) with me and I wasn't asked for it. 

2 hours ago, onthemoon said:

 

For the government (driver's licence, or any other occasion on which you have to ID yourself), airline check-in (for domestic flights) and hotels, the pink ID is sufficient in my experience. 

 

Yeah, for things like this a Thai driver's license or pink card would normally suffice.

 

I'm not sure about whether they would in the event of a more serious inquiry. I just don't know.

7 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

Banks may still need to see a passport in order for them to comply with KYC as well as FATCA or CRS reporting requirements. If they have the expiry date of your passport on file, depending upon how efficient they are, they may want to see the replacement when the old one expires,  or if you go to get a new ATM card or something like that.

 

Unless you need to travel abroad, I don't think the Immigration Department needs to see your passport again.

 

In theory, I think the police are supposed to be satisfied with seeing the red police book, but I suspect they will want to see a passport as well, even if technically they should be satisfied with the red book.

 

What about arrival in another country. I suspect everybody will need to submit a current passport. How could it be any different? 

2 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

Yeah, for things like this a Thai driver's license or pink card would normally suffice.

 

I'm not sure about whether they would in the event of a more serious inquiry. I just don't know.

Driver's licence is informal. I use it in addition to the pink ID whenever they need my name in English.

 

The pink ID is official and will be sufficient for all government interactions.

 

Why some private companies like some banks don't accept is, is a contradiction in my understanding.

12 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

What about arrival in another country. I suspect everybody will need to submit a current passport. How could it be any different? 

 

Sure, when you cross borders, you need a passport. That is clear and not the issue of this discussion.

2 hours ago, onthemoon said:

 

 

Why some private companies like some banks don't accept is, is a contradiction in my understanding.

 

I have heard that it is possible to open an account with the pink ID as the primary ID and then subsequently use it for teller transactions. But if the passport is used as the primary ID, the bank wants to see the passport at the counter.

 

I have no direct experience of this, however.

 

Recent answers to my question of yesterday have centred on the need for a passport or other ID required by Thai Banks.

My basic question - in the PR thread - was whether when having PR, it was a legal requirement to have an overseas passport when there is no intention of leaving Thailand.  There are all sorts of ways of dealing with bank ID requirements

1 hour ago, prakhonchai nick said:

Recent answers to my question of yesterday have centred on the need for a passport or other ID required by Thai Banks.

My basic question - in the PR thread - was whether when having PR, it was a legal requirement to have an overseas passport when there is no intention of leaving Thailand.  There are all sorts of ways of dealing with bank ID requirements

 

I got Thai PR 28 years ago. I had to submit a copy of my home country pasport and show the real home country passport at the interview (this was / is the only passport I had/have. I guess you could label that as an overseas passport for a foreigner living in Thailand

 

Thai people don't apply for Thai PR (they already have full citizenship and therefore a Thai passport). So their only passport would be a Thai passport.

 

If needed I guess their Thai passport could be labelled as an overseas passport (useable to enter countries abroad - if other visa requirements have been fulfilled).

1 hour ago, prakhonchai nick said:

Recent answers to my question of yesterday have centred on the need for a passport or other ID required by Thai Banks.

My basic question - in the PR thread - was whether when having PR, it was a legal requirement to have an overseas passport when there is no intention of leaving Thailand.  There are all sorts of ways of dealing with bank ID requirements

I don't think there's a legal requirement of having a valid Passport if you already have PR. If you don't intend to leave the country, you can happily let it expire and the Red Book serves as your legal ID in Thailand

Any one have any recent info about whether PR holders can use auto gates to enter and exit Thailand?

4 hours ago, sas_cars said:

Any one have any recent info about whether PR holders can use auto gates to enter and exit Thailand?

For departure yes - I have used about 15 times. For arrival most recent information that I know of is that apart from Thai Nationals, autogates can only be used by Hong Kong and Singapore PP holders but I don't know if PRs with these PPs can use.  

On 10/11/2025 at 7:21 PM, rimmae2 said:

For departure yes - I have used about 15 times. For arrival most recent information that I know of is that apart from Thai Nationals, autogates can only be used by Hong Kong and Singapore PP holders but I don't know if PRs with these PPs can use.  

What happens about stamping the residence book on departure? Is it just left without an exit stamp? Last time I went through the manned desk I did ask about that and was advised not to use the autogates