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[Jonathan Fairfield]

Hua Hin Immigration clarifies rules on foreigners carrying ID

 

 

HUA HIN:-- Following yesterday’s news regarding the requirement for foreigners in Thailand to carry ID with them at all times, Thaivisa.com and local Immigration offices have been inundated with messages and comments from foreigners concerned about how they may be affected by this news.

In order to seek fruther clarification about this, Thaivisa.com has today met with Pol.Col. Thanasak Vongluekiat, Superintendent of Prachuap Khirikhan and Phetchaburi Immigration.

Pol.Col. Thanasak confirmed the following:

1. By law, all tourists and expats nationwide are required to carry their original passports with them at all times. There is no exception to this. Failure to carry your original passport may result in a 2,000 THB fine. The reason behind this is that Immigration needs to keep track of overstayers and foreign criminals who may be staying illegally in the country.

2. The information provided at an Immigration meeting yesterday was unclear. The correct information, which has always been the case, is that no other forms of identification are acceptable. This includes any other form of photo ID, such as a Thai/foreign driving license or a photocopy of your passport.

3. Immigration does not provide any kind of ‘stamp’ verification on a photocopy of a passport as announced at the meeting yesterday. Therefore, you are required to keep your original passport with you at all times as per point #1 above.

Thaivisa.com would like to thank Pol.Col. Thanasak Vongluekiat and his staff for taking time out of their busy schedule in order to clarify this.

 

[tv]2014-07-30[/tv]

[chiang mai]

Hmm, that's less than good, let's hope he's wrong, changes his mind or that this is solely a Hua Hin issue.

[khwaibah]

Thats very very clear.

[saakura]

This is worse than what was reported yesterday. Not at all convenient to be carrying your original passport with you everywhere.

Can ThaiVisa check about the requirements for other major cities? Edited July 30, 2014 by saakura

[DrTuner]

 I reckon I'm going to breach this rule then and pay up the 2k when caught. Replacing the passport with all it's stamps if it's stolen is a far larger risk.

[LucidLucifer]

While I can appreciate the requirement to carry some form of photo ID, carrying a passport at all times is impractical and bonkers imho......

 

I'm off to Hua Hin in a couple of days with the family, any idea if this is actually going to be enforced e.g. checkpoints?

[Crossy]

Did the good Colonel actually quote the law that requires this?

 

It's been a burning question here for years.

[Franky Bear]

 I reckon I'm going to breach this rule then and pay up the 2k when caught. Replacing the passport with all it's stamps if it's stolen is a far larger risk.

Agreed

[Tywais]

It just isn't realistic or practical for many of us.  I've been working here for 21 years and if I had been keeping it with me all this time it would bound to have either been lost, stolen or damaged at some point.  Plus stress of that happening or forgetting it. 

 

I thought there was a policy of presenting it when asked in a reasonable amount of time such as 24 hours.  Guess not.

[clockman]

Thai Logic!

[pinkpanther99]

I have no problem being required to carry ID on me at all times in Thailand. However, carrying my passport with me at all times just isn't practical. What if it gets lost or stolen?

 

Isn't my Thai driving license and work permit already enough identification?

 

Or how about giving farangs some kind of ID card same as they do with people from Laos and Myanmar?

Edited July 30, 2014 by pinkpanther99

[Thaddeus]

Sounds like someone is having a bad hair day.

[brimacthai]

A police check point near my apartment asked for my licence (I was driving my motorbike at the time) and my Passport. I started carrying the original about 6 months ago and keep a copy in my wallet, under the seat of my motorbike, and in my apartment... just in case I lose the original and just in case someone wants/needs a copy I have one for them.

[khunpa]

No way I am going to carry my passport around everywhere. Will then just pay the 2000 THB fine instead. For sure I will not follow this rule. Losing the passport is too much of a risk. 

[terryp]

never have done in almost 40 years and not going to start now .... immigration really need to wake up to the 21st Century

[LivinLOS]

Does this include when swimming ?? White water rafting ?? In the sauna ?? 

 

Its the law !! 

[brewsterbudgen]

So how about a copy that shows the ID page and the visa/extension stamp?

 

No one (in their right mind) takes their passport out with them every day.

[DrTuner]

Did the good Colonel actually quote the law that requires this?

 

It's been a burning question here for years.

I've been digging and so far I think it's in the  National Identification Card Act, but haven't found the legal text for it. 

[terryp]

actually the most important part about registering when out of province seams to have been overlooked ..have they realised something?

[offset]

It is only the Passport that tells anybody if you are legally in the country, no other ID card tells whether you have a Visa or have done you 90 day reporting

[paz]

Oh! Someone just lost face. Someone shown his true face.

[Jingthing]

Basically it's a way to be able to find the vast majority of foreigners in violation of the law. Again, it is not normal to carry passports everywhere. More power to the authorities ... even less power to foreigners. 

[cmsally]

Not good news for Brits, looking at the fiasco of our passport renewal process.

Been here for xx years (lots) and not going to start carrying it now.

But must admit totally expected and I'm sure this isn't the end of it. It will probably get worse.

Edited July 30, 2014 by cmsally

[khunpa]

In some way, I actually hope they really start to enforce this law. The law is now official, so do it properly!

 

Stop all tourists/expats and fine them all THB 2.000 for not carrying their passport to the beach. Make big raids in bars, saunas, massages places etc. and ask for peoples passport. See a foreigner, then check him and fine him on the spot! Actually, why not arrest and beat up the tourists/expats that violate the law more than two times? Come on... shows us you can really enforce the law!

 

Guess after a while, they will then have to start thinking about why tourists stay away from Thailand. Smart move and smart law!

Edited July 30, 2014 by khunpa

[Expattaff1308]

I have a driving licence which has my photo, passport number and address on, I report to Immigration every 90days despite living at the same address for 5 years, what more can I possibly do? 

You only have to read the posts on replacing a new UK Passport (when you still have the old one) I shudder to think what we would need to do if it was lost.

I too will risk the fine, its a lot cheaper and hassle free than the alternative.

[janpharma]

I have no problem being required to carry ID on me at all times in Thailand. However, carrying my passport with me at all times just isn't practical. What if it gets lost or stolen?

 

Isn't my Thai driving license and work permit already enough identification?

 

Or how about giving farangs some kind of ID card same as they do with people from Laos and Myanmar?

 

And on top of that, the Thai drivers license also shows the (foreigners) passport number and name written both in English and Thai...why make it so complicated?

This is really farang-unfriendly...
 

[herb59]

a try is always to carry a driver-license and discuss it if caught. a lost or broken passport causes more problems than 2000,- THB.

[diehard60]

This is the way it is supposed to be. the police have the right to ask to see your passport anytime they want. Now granted most of the time just your Thai drivers license is good enough, but there are times when they will ask for it and you are supposed to keep it with you at all times.

[MJCM]

 I reckon I'm going to breach this rule then and pay up the 2k when caught. Replacing the passport with all it's stamps if it's stolen is a far larger risk.

Agree 100%, will do the same, but I take comfort from the text "may result in 2000 thb fine", so I think there will be some leniency as in (maybe) showing your passport in a reasonable time frame.


Sent from my iPad so Please excuse any typos Edited July 30, 2014 by MJCM

[AlphMichaels]

This official, indeed ALL immigration officials, need to NOW be instructed to defer to a "final authority" on all current and future matters regarding immigration changes.   Watching all that has happened the last few months tells me this is a poorly organized and structured department.  

 

I won't be carrying mine either.   Risk too great and if they think about it, they open up criminals to actually target all foreigners for their books.   Where ever, whenever, etc.