Passport ID card

[Kenny]

Just got back from getting a credit card sized copy of my passport made. (Kodak shop Jomtien, cost 70 baht).
The back of the card has my current visa stamp copied on it as well so the card will no longer be valid after the end of the visa period, I presume.
I was just wondering what other board members do in this regard - carry a credit card sized copy of their passport, the passport itself or neither?
What are the implications of not having either type with you when you are out and about in Thailand?
:unknw_mini:

[Manforallseasons]

Just got back from getting a credit card sized copy of my passport made. (Kodak shop Jomtien, cost 70 baht).
The back of the card has my current visa stamp copied on it as well so the card will no longer be valid after the end of the visa period, I presume.
I was just wondering what other board members do in this regard - carry a credit card sized copy of their passport, the passport itself or neither?
What are the implications of not having either type with you when you are out and about in Thailand?
:unknw_mini:

Mandatory death penalty!

[frequent]

In 30 years of living in Thailand I've never carried ID and I've never been asked for it. Obviously if I'm going somewhere I need it eg. to the bank, then I carry it, otherwise not

[gerefan2]

Mandatory death penalty!

Worse...life imprisonment and sharing a cell with a well known SGT poster.

[neddy3]

Just got back from getting a credit card sized copy of my passport made. (Kodak shop Jomtien, cost 70 baht).
The back of the card has my current visa stamp copied on it as well so the card will no longer be valid after the end of the visa period, I presume.
I was just wondering what other board members do in this regard - carry a credit card sized copy of their passport, the passport itself or neither?
What are the implications of not having either type with you when you are out and about in Thailand?
:unknw_mini:

I carry a card just like yours.
I've never needed it, but feel more assured having it with me.

[dinagam]

You wouldn't want to cause any embarrassment to your customer when the hotel reception rejected the copy ID would you?

[francois]

I carry a full size copy of my passport front page and my extension of stay page laminated together. Foolish not to have ID with you at all times.

[gerefan2]

I carry a full size copy of my passport front page and my extension of stay page laminated together. Foolish not to have ID with you at all times.

Same same. The police have said a number of times that this is acceptable. Under no circumstances does mine ever leave my safe unless I know it’s needed...

[Nirish guy]

Same same. The police have said a number of times that this is acceptable. Under no circumstances does mine ever leave my safe unless I know it’s needed...

Same same same.......I treat my passport like it's gold and the it's the first thing in and out of my room safe and NEVER go's on the streets with me ( unless for a specific reason of course). I too normally copy my main page and whilst the visa thing on the back is a good idea and as I usually make mine here in the UK before I travel ( and use it in other Countries too) I have a copy of my both my emergency contacts phone numbers ( in the UK) and also the 24hr helpline number for my travel / medical insurance listed - along with a line printed in big letters saying "I HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE and PASSPORT IN HOTEL ROOM SAFE".

Whilst that might sound a little anal I put it there on the very rare risk that I might be involved in some serious accident and perhaps unconscious and some random ambulance or doctor asks "ok so what hospital we well take him too ?" As in my head anyway I always hope that by including that one line that just might be enough to get me taken to the RIGHT hospital and fast, rather than some small shit local hospital and THEN on to the right one an hour later ( and hence using up that "golden hour" they talk about where treatment can save your life or stop you becoming a vegetable later perhaps.

A long shot I know but anything that speeds along the process at the side of the road or even when in A&E and they're trying to work out who you are and how they should treat you ( expense wise) was to me worth it. No doubt I'll be told now that "dont be daft you get the best treatment FIRST and then they worry about money etc later" hmmm perhaps you're right, but being Thailand ( and the other Countries I visit) if adding one line of text fast tracks their decisions then I think it's worth a try always - plus also by THEM ringing the UK medical centre number the UK may well divert you from one hospital to another too if they feel that local CLINIC ( in Bali for instance) that you may have been taken too isn't qualified or registered to deal with your injuries.

I also usually carry a business card from whatever hotel I'm staying at in my wallet so that again if I'm found unconscious the police etc can check my wallet ( steal my money) and then contact the hotel and go get my passport ( in my safe) ands start doing their thing there with the consulate if required ( i.e if I'm dying etc).

Might all sound a bit overly dramatic but after numerous trips NOT doing that it did dawn on me after a close shave nearly getting knocked down by a very drunk driver one night that had that happened quite far from the main tourist area that had that happened no one would have had a CLUE as much for my own peace of mind if nothing else I guess.

[ceejay]

Personally, I just carry a Thai driving licence most of the time. A while back, they were having a bit of a purge on overstayers in Chiang Mai, and some people were stopped at random. For a week or two I carried the original passport.

One place where you must carry the actual passport is on a train. The railways have their own police force and they have, I believe, a policy of always arresting if you are caught without it. This is on the grounds that, if you are on a train then your passport is not readily available as it would be if it was in a condo or hotel room 10 minutes across town.

I have had my passport checked on a long distance train. The sleepers often have 1 or 2 railway police on them and, on a 12-14 hour journey, it gives them something to do.

[gerefan2]

I have had my passport checked on a long distance train. The sleepers often have 1 or 2 railway police on them and, on a 12-14 hour journey, it gives them something to do.

For long distance train journeys of course I would carry my passport as I would in all probability also be moving hotels and the new hotel would need to see it.

But for any other short day train trip I would only carry the copy, for all the good reasons given before.

[Nirish guy]

One place where you must carry the actual passport is on a train..

Very useful info, I wasn't aware of that.

Has anyone any direct experience of getting asked for their passport - or worse been arrested for not having it on them perhaps ? ( aside from the OP being asked of course)

[frequent]

Very useful info, I wasn't aware of that. Has anyone any direct experience of getting asked for their passport - or worse been arrested for not having it on them perhaps ? ( aside from the OP being asked of course)Long-distance trains and domestic air travel both require ID. I have been asked for ID (police checkpoint on the highway) on a long-distance bus, but I suspect that that's because it was a cross-border bus (from Vientiane to Udon Thani), so I had it on me. On another long-distance bus (Udon Thani - Khon Kaen) the police at the checkpoint simply ignored me and were interested only in Thai/other Asian ID. However as ceejay points out, it's photo ID that's acceptable generally, not specifically a passport. A friend of mine has had his Australian driver's licence accepted at check-in/security for domestic travel (he's as bloody-minded as I am when it comes to bureaucracy so he thought he'd try it on - he was carrying his passport as back-up)

[Nirish guy]

A friend of mine has had his Australian driver's licence accepted at check-in/security for domestic travel

Surely a driving licence IS taken and accepted almost everywhere as a standard and acceptable form of photographic ID (for domestic flights) and it is only international flights require a passport ID to be shown, I use my licence all the time as my ID when flying (domestically).

[frequent]

Surely a driving licence IS taken and accepted almost everywhere as a standard and acceptable form of photographic ID (for domestic flights) and it is only international flights require a passport ID to be shown, I use my licence all the time as my ID when flying (domestically). You're making the fatal mistake of assuming that Thailand resembles the real world in any way. You've never heard the ex-pat war cry "This is Thailand" or even "Amazing Thailand"?

[pennyboy]

I copy the relevant pages and store in my phone.

[Jacky]

Me too. I take a picture of my passport with my phone

[Blacktouch]

I carry a colour photocopy of my passport front page. Its always in my travel wallet.

I have never had to use it anywhere I've been in the World.

And if ever stopped and checked, and they ask to see the actual passport, then they can escort me to my accommodation?

[gerefan2]

And if ever stopped and checked, and they ask to see the actual passport, then they can escort me to my accommodation?

Correct, as I said above the police have said several times that a copy is acceptable.

If they want to see the original, and escort you to your room to see it, I suspect that will be the least of your problems!

[Blacktouch]

And if they are good looking, they can have some fun with me too. I like a man in uniform! Wink wink!

[christianpfc]

Credit card size means it's scaled down by about 2? Difficult to read?


One place where you must carry the actual passport is on a train. The railways have their own police force and they have, I believe, a policy of always arresting if you are caught without it. This is on the grounds that, if you are on a train then your passport is not readily available as it would be if it was in a condo or hotel room 10 minutes across town.

I have had my passport checked on a long distance train. The sleepers often have 1 or 2 railway police on them and, on a 12-14 hour journey, it gives them something to do.
I have spent an estimated 30,000 km on the Thai railway network and don't remember having been asked for a passport! Most of these trips were staying in hotel, so I had my passport with me.

My experience:
6 months of carrying my passport with me every day and having it stolen once (Songkran 2013).
5 years of not carrying my passport with me and never been asked to see it on the street.
For this experience, I leave my passport at home unless I know I need it.

Every time I enter Thailand, I take pictures of front page, entry stamp, exit card with my phone, but do not make a photocopy.

However on a recent trip (Khon Kaen, Mahasarakam), I forgot my passport at home. Fortunately, an expired German ID card was accepted for check-in in both hotels I stayed (my valid German ID card was safe at home, like my passport). For that reason, I might switch to carrying a paper copy with me all the time. And should it be necessary, I rather give a paper copy to someone who asks for it, than my mobile phone. The downside is that I have to make a new copy every time I enter Thailand (which is 60 days or less on tourist visa).

[francois]

Credit card size means it's scaled down by about 2? Difficult to read?


The downside is that I have to make a new copy every time I enter Thailand (which is 60 days or less on tourist visa).

I agree, Christian, the credit card size is difficult to read.

And a new copy every 60 days is not a big issue. Better than losing the passport.

[newalaan2]

Credit card size means it's scaled down by about 2? Difficult to read?

Scaled down? howso? Before my first trip of the year I photocopy the full size photo page of passport, on the back put my contact details in Thailand and UK with my Travel insurance details.....Company, email, current emergency numbers and policy number so Hospitals can treat me without delay (sometimes the difference between life/death/life changing results). Laminate it and when folded neatly in half is Credit Card size. It easily lasts a year between new travel insurance policy annual renewals. When I arrive in Thailand, the first hotel I stay photocopies the immigration slip on check-in which I keep in the middle of the folded plastic laminated passport copy. I have produced it only once in 15+ years, it was when our taxi in Bkk was stopped for 'official' police stop coming back from Rachada at 3am one time a few years ago. Officer just said as I handed copy, 'fine, where you going?' quick pat-down of pockets and was on our way.

When driving to Issan and around Thailand I have my passport anyway along with the rest of my stuff, have been stopped multiple times over the years in traffic stops official and unofficial, and they always ask for my original passport and driving licence. Never yet as far as I remember been asked for International Driving Licence which I do have. Some officers actually wave it away if I offer it...'not need'. Keep credit card size laminated copy in top pocket of whatever shirt with a credit card size copy of Tourist Police logo and number, just having that has sorted out a couple of minor disputes very quickly in the past.

[christianpfc]

My passport pages are larger than two credit cards, however fold in half it would fit in my wallet in credit card compartment.