Immigration: Foreigners must now carry valid ID at all times, report within 24 hours

[george]

Immigration: Aliens must now carry valid ID at all times, report within 24 hours

 

Representatives from the expat community, thaivisa.com and from local hotels was today Tuesday informed by Thai Immigration

and Hua Hin Municipality.

 

HUA HIN: -- [thaivisa.com] Hua Hin Immigration is from today enforcing the existing rule that foreigners are required to carry a valid photo ID at all times.

 

At a meeting with Hua Hin Immigration and municipality, Thaivisa.com was informed of the news about the immediate enforcement regarding the requirements for foreigners - both tourists and expats - to carry valid photo ID at all times. Thaivisa has learned that Immigration is likely to enforce this nationwide.

 

Valid ID's are:

 

- Thai Drivers Licence

- Passport original

- Copy of passport verified and stamped by Hua Hin Immigration * please click here for updated information as of 2014.07.31

 

Penalty:

Failure to carry valid ID as above is 2,000 Baht.

 

24-hour reporting

 

Hua Hin Immigration is from today also enforcing the requirements that you and your landlord (condominium owner, house owner etc) must report to Immigration within 24 hours of moving in to a new address. On your arrival card you already reported your place of stay, and if that changes you need to visit Immigration and report your new address. This applies to both tourists and expats.

 

Here are the two Immigration forms to be used, they can be downloaded from Thaivisa here:

 

Here is the TM28 form that must be used from now in Hua Hin, and nationwide if/when enforced:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/files/file/15-tm28-form-for-aliens-to-notify-their-change-of-address-or-their-stay-in-the-province-over-24-hours/

 

There is also another reporting obligation, and this applies when a foreigner visits another province and stays for more than 48 hours. In that case the reporting of the new address must be provided to the police, or the immigration, within 48 hours.

 

Here is the form to be used by house master or owner or possessor of the residence where foreigners reside:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/files/file/16-tm30-notification-form-for-house-master-owner-or-the-possessor-of-the-residence-where-aliens-have-stay/

 

[tv]2014-07-29[/tv]

 

Below is the announcement in force from today in Hua Hin, Prachuapkhirikhan:

 

 

 

 

 

Related link:
All Thai Immigration forms for download:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/files/category/6-thai-immigration-application-forms/

 

[bkkjames]

Does this include everywhere else? 

 

Meaning I only have to carry my Thai Drivers Licencse - no need to keep my passport or a copy with me as well?

[DrTuner]

 Great. They're starting to enforce the laws written before the dawn of ages. And those rules are actually in the act, so they're not going anywhere soon. Enjoy filling a form every day, oh happiness. 

[wilcopops]

 

is it just me or do others detect a "trend" here?

[pinkpanther99]

As with any announcement from Immgration, I am always left with more questions than I have answers...

 

So are tourists here for two weeks now meant to take their passports to the beach, trekking through the jungle or in a soapy massage??

[dagobert]

They have been doing this in Indonesia eversince i have been here 17 years
they call it S.M.P. Surat Melaporkan. its for tax purposes!

Sent from my GT-P3100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[wilcopops]

 

so first of all one has to find a "competent official?" - shouldn't be too hard...........

[paz]

 

 

is it just me or do others detect a "trend" here?

 

 

Yes the trend is that many offices do something to look good to their superiors. Of course, the laws have always been in place.

 

At least that confirms that unlike some parrot has been claiming, keeping the original passport all the time, it NOT the law.

[wilcopops]

 

"Hua Hin Immigration is from today also enforcing the requirements that you and your landlord (condominium owner, house owner etc) must report to Immigration within 24 hours of moving in to a new address. On your arrival card you already reported your place of stay, and if that changes you need to visit Immigration and report your new address."

 

 

......kind of a hassle for those on a tour of Thailand?

 

Edited July 29, 2014 by wilcopops

[culicine]

Does this include everywhere else? 

 

Meaning I only have to carry my Thai Drivers Licencse - no need to keep my passport or a copy with me as well?

Yes...seems like it...but wait there's more!

 

Whenever I go to visit the wife's family over the weekend (or go anywhere for more than 24 hours), I have to call her brother's (who are policemen) to tell them I'm coming! lol. Why doesn't immigration put tracking collars on all foreigners. They there we know where we all are 24/7. That's basically their goal. Tourists / backpackers who want to travel extensively, will just not want to come to Thailand for fear of being fined when they don't report their whereabouts. 

 

And could my wife be fined for not reporting I've lived in our house the last 14 years? (despite the fact we do 90 day reports!!!)

[AloisAmrein]

And what about car and motorbike rentals who ask for passport deposit? Is this now illegal?

[DrTuner]

So are tourists here for two weeks now meant to take their passports to the beach, trekking through the jungle or in a soapy massage??

Or a copy certified by immigration. And don't forget to find a jungle police while trekking since you're changing your residence constantly. 

 

The immigration offices are going to get real cramped if all of this actually starts. The stock price for Double-A might skyrocket, though.

[apetley]

My local Immigration office, Kanchanaburi, told me some while ago, that I should carry some form of photo ID with me at all times but that it need not be a passport and that a drivers licence was sufficient.
Seems that once again this is nothing new just the enforcing of existing rules.

[wilcopops]

 

Does this include everywhere else? 

 

Meaning I only have to carry my Thai Drivers Licencse - no need to keep my passport or a copy with me as well?

Yes...seems like it...but wait there's more!

 

Whenever I go to visit the wife's family over the weekend (or go anywhere for more than 24 hours), I have to call her brother's (who are policemen) to tell them I'm coming! lol. Why doesn't immigration put tracking collars on all foreigners. They there we know where we all are 24/7. That's basically their goal. Tourists / backpackers who want to travel extensively, will just not want to come to Thailand for fear of being fined when they don't report their whereabouts. 

 

And could my wife be fined for not reporting I've lived in our house the last 14 years? (despite the fact we do 90 day reports!!!)

 

 

 

I see that others have noticed a trend here....

[paz]

And what about car and motorbike rentals who ask for passport deposit? Is this now illegal?

 

Not illegal. It just make a major fool and a potential victim of those who does that, check "MH370 stolen passports".

[Tywais]

 

So are tourists here for two weeks now meant to take their passports to the beach, trekking through the jungle or in a soapy massage??

 

"Copy of passport verified and stamped by Hua Hin Immigration"

 

Not clear though how wide spread this policy will be as it seems Hua Hin only at the moment.

 

[bkkjames]

 

Does this include everywhere else? 

 

Meaning I only have to carry my Thai Drivers Licencse - no need to keep my passport or a copy with me as well?

Yes...seems like it...but wait there's more!

 

Whenever I go to visit the wife's family over the weekend (or go anywhere for more than 24 hours), I have to call her brother's (who are policemen) to tell them I'm coming! lol. Why doesn't immigration put tracking collars on all foreigners. They there we know where we all are 24/7. That's basically their goal. Tourists / backpackers who want to travel extensively, will just not want to come to Thailand for fear of being fined when they don't report their whereabouts. 

 

And could my wife be fined for not reporting I've lived in our house the last 14 years? (despite the fact we do 90 day reports!!!)

 

 

Just leave for an hour and come back and start the 24 hour cycle again? 

[DrTuner]

And what about car and motorbike rentals who ask for passport deposit? Is this now illegal?

At least in my case it's always been illegal. I don't own the passport, it belongs to my native country and I'm not allowed to give it to anybody.

 

Practical solution for long timers is to get a Thai driving license, for tourists .. a PITA, I'd go for a certified copy as losing a passport means a world of trouble.

Edited July 29, 2014 by DrTuner

[culicine]

 

 

"Hua Hin Immigration is from today also enforcing the requirements that you and your landlord (condominium owner, house owner etc) must report to Immigration within 24 hours of moving in to a new address. On your arrival card you already reported your place of stay, and if that changes you need to visit Immigration and report your new address."

 

 

......kind of a hassle for those on a tour of Thailand?

 

 

 

It's a great money maker for the police - no id/no reporting presence in another province...a cool 2000 baht fine. I don't see how any of this helps tourism.

[Guest]

Why doesn't Hua Hin just place a bill board on the town line stating "We do not want you here, go away"
Ummm, i am not expert on this area...but they do make a fair sum on Foreign Tourists ... yes?

Done.

Let's see how long this lasts when of all the wonderful surrounding places to visit ... are filled while Hua Hin is empty.

(I do hope it does not include Cha Am, which I MUCH prefer anyway!)

 

PS ... No, no and NO ... I am not carrying my Passport 24 / 7

Passport please.

Ummm... I lost it.

 

You lost it?

 

Yes, I was standing next to one of your "Beware of Pickpocket signs" ... and now it is gone.

 

You have 24 hours to produce it.

On what planet can you replace both a lost passport and your valid visa in 24 hours?

 

In other words, if your photo copy (and perhaps an on the spot 500 THB "processing charge") can not solve it ... the fine is STILL much better than loss of documents.



 

[Bung]

Expect to see a lot more passports lost or stolen. I thought they were cracking down on stolen passports after MH 370? This won't seem to help.

[ubonjoe]

 

 

"Hua Hin Immigration is from today also enforcing the requirements that you and your landlord (condominium owner, house owner etc) must report to Immigration within 24 hours of moving in to a new address. On your arrival card you already reported your place of stay, and if that changes you need to visit Immigration and report your new address."

 

 

......kind of a hassle for those on a tour of Thailand?

 

 

If you are traveling around the country and staying in hotels they are the ones that make the report using a TM30 form. I don't believe you will expected to show up an immigration office.

Most hotels are set up to do their reporting online.

[culicine]

 

 

Does this include everywhere else? 

 

Meaning I only have to carry my Thai Drivers Licencse - no need to keep my passport or a copy with me as well?

Yes...seems like it...but wait there's more!

 

Whenever I go to visit the wife's family over the weekend (or go anywhere for more than 24 hours), I have to call her brother's (who are policemen) to tell them I'm coming! lol. Why doesn't immigration put tracking collars on all foreigners. They there we know where we all are 24/7. That's basically their goal. Tourists / backpackers who want to travel extensively, will just not want to come to Thailand for fear of being fined when they don't report their whereabouts. 

 

And could my wife be fined for not reporting I've lived in our house the last 14 years? (despite the fact we do 90 day reports!!!)

 

 

Just leave for an hour and come back and start the 24 hour cycle again? 

 

BKK/Ratchaburi....it's not very convenient. I just don't think this will be in any way enforced outside of tourist areas (and then only over a short period). Maybe time to go for 80% tint on my car windows 

[paz]

 

And what about car and motorbike rentals who ask for passport deposit? Is this now illegal?

At least in my case it's always been illegal. I don't own the passport, it belongs to my native country and I'm not allowed to give it to anybody.

 

So when you leave you passport to a foreign consulate to get a visa you would be breaking the law ? 

No, is not so. Anywaycountries do not clearly stipulate who has property of the material passport book, so we're discussing on smoke. 

[dagobert]

It clearly states fail to report is a thb 2000 fine !

Sent from my GT-P3100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[BKS22]

Ahhh yes....another excuse to collect tea money.

[TallPalm]

Completely unreasonable and unnecessary.  You can tell by their body language who agreed with and who opposed this nonsense.

 

Edited July 29, 2014 by TallPalm

[BKKdreaming]

can they have a photocopy machine at immigration at the airport ?

charge us 100 baht for a " official photocopy" on Thai Immigration letterhead and stamp it with the date ?

 

opps too easy.....

[Guest]

 

 

So are tourists here for two weeks now meant to take their passports to the beach, trekking through the jungle or in a soapy massage??

 

"Copy of passport verified and stamped by Hua Hin Immigration"

 

Not clear though how wide spread this policy will be as it seems Hua Hin only at the moment.

 

 

Don't tell me, let me guess ... they will make the Hua Hin stamp to fill an entire page.  I mean, if they are going to ram it in... why stop half way.  I am a huge fan of Thailand ... but sometimes I have to shake my head and just wrap it around the fact "You can not fix stupid."

Let's see... we run a resort town.
Let's make coming to it as difficult and uncomfortable as possible.  I mean, it is not like you can find any other beach to go to in Thailand ... right?

[paz]

It clearly states fail to report is a thb 2000 fine !

 

For hotels/guesthouse/home owners only. It has always been like that and occasionally the law is enforced even to homeowners for the purpose of shakedown.