Passport ID card

[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!