Can I walk around in Thailand without a passport?
Dear readers,
I am aware that you must carry your identity papers everywhere. This is the case in Belgium and suppose it is no different in Thailand, with the difference that in Belgium we have a plasticized self that fits easily in the wallet.
This is of course different with your international passport, where do you stay with it because you can't just put it in your pocket. Not just for fear of losing it, but what would it look like after a month? Of course there will be special covers for it and my wife has already made fabric covers herself, but this all makes it take up even more space.
We have been coming to the same resort for many years now and they immediately make a copy of our passports at check-in. These copies go into our backpack that goes with us to the beach and to the market and when we go shopping and also on most excursions. The passport goes into the safe and only comes out when we do a multi-day excursion, usually Bangkok because we then have to check in at another hotel, but it also goes into the safe there. But when we don't have our backpack with us for a short walk and when we go to a restaurant, for example, we don't have any papers with us.
I don't think we are the only ones walking around at night without a passport. I'm curious about your experiences with this and any problems.
Regards,
Gigi (BE)
Usually it will be good if you have proof of your identity somewhere and if you can prove that you are legally in the country at that time. The latter in particular is usually the reason for an inspection.
This does not always have to be done with your official passport. Normally the copies are sufficient.
Simplest is actually just taking a photo of your passport and your period of residence in your Smartphone if you have one. Usually it will be fine.
Well, and if you really want to see the original, you will have to find out, or show it later at the police station, but those are exceptional cases.
Yes, if you can take a smartphone with you, you can also take your passport with you, I think.
Especially given the raids on illegal foreigners, I always take my passport with me in Bangkok.
In my place of residence, a driver's license or pink ID card is sufficient.
That's the advantage of a Smartphone…. everything goes in and all your administration is within reach. Give it a try I'd say.
You don't even have to take the phone book with you. Can also be used in the Smartphone … ..
And then just hope that you don't lose your Smartphone in one way or another.
Yes, but then you can lose your passport together with your Smartphone or somehow
And so there is always a reason. The hotel can also burn down with your passport in the safe, or your safe is broken into, or whatever… luckily your photos are stored elsewhere and it is already a lot easier to identify yourself.
In many copy shops in Thailand they can make a small ID plastic ID from your passport. Your passport is on the front, the 1st page is on the back of your possible visa. Costs 100 Bht. But a copy is also no problem. If you have a Thai driver's license, this is also equivalent to your passport.
What Fred quotes here I've been doing for years, in the shop where I'm going they make a reduced paper copy, bank card size and plasticize it; perfect solution… is possible from 20 Thb.
There are places where you can walk without a passport, and other places where it is mandatory to have your passport with you.
Kind of like with all things in Thailand.
Allowed here, forbidden there.
As far as I know it is now allowed on Phuket, but if there is a different chief of police tomorrow it could suddenly be completely different.
If you still want to go out without a passport, I would take at least copies of the photo page, the visa and the valid until date.
I have my passport and driver's license in my phone [photo], and also a copy of the passport, it's only an A 4je!.
For all my trips outside Europe I have a copy of my passport at hand. So don't always have to put on my waist belt, for example when checking into a hotel room, so that others can see where I keep my valuable papers. If problems with police, I refer to my hotel. In some countries, the police are so corrupt that when they show your real passport, they keep it back and only give it back upon payment. Had this before in Mozambique!
I make this copy (or several) at home. Color copy of the first page of the passport and possibly a copy of my visa on the back. This goes in a plastic folder. Cut off the excess plastic and seal with clear tape. Simple and safe. So do.
A copy on paper or on a smartphone will suffice if you are not too far away from your locker/hotel. When in doubt, the police will call the hotel if you have checked in there with a passport. If there are still doubts or if they want a thorough check, they will guide you to your hotel.
I usually try to keep original. Not for beach visits or other activities where the passport is at risk.
Photo copy on your phone can.
I myself have a small pocket sewn on the inside of my pants
in it my passport, and important phone number to call in case of emergency.
The disadvantage is if you have a copy of your passport on your phone. which is mostly locked.
and you have an accident
It may then be difficult to get important data from you.
a lesson learned from practice unfortunately.
Theoretically, as a foreign tourist in Thailand you are obliged to have your passport with you.
Always.
Copies, etc. are not legal proof of identity.
If a policeman settles for a copy, you're in luck.
If you are registered in Thailand, you do not need to have your passport with you, within 24 hours is sufficient.
The pink Thai ID is then sufficient until that moment.
I remember an article from a few years ago about whether or not it is compulsory to carry a passport. I still found it.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/436133/passports-better-safe-than-sorry
Pol Col Thanasak Vongluekiat, superintendent of the Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi Immigration office in Hua Hin.
“He said that by law, all tourists and expats nationwide are required to carry their original passports with them at all times. There's no exception. Failure to carry your original passport may result in a 2,000-baht fine. A photocopy, stamped or not, or a driver's license is not an acceptable substitute.
So it's simple. As a foreigner you must always be in possession of your passport. That's the law. Fine is 2000 Baht. This applies to tourists, but also to expats, retirees, etc…. registered or not.
But of course the soup is not eaten as hot as the law prescribes….
“However, late last week, a senior Immigration Bureau official in Bangkok offered a different interpretation. Pol Col Voravat Amornvivat told that he wanted to reassure the expat community.
Making all foreigners in Thailand carry their original passports with them would be very difficult, he said. “It's about being reasonable and using common sense.”
He said tourists would not have to carry their original passports and expats could use a Thai driving license if they have one, or a photocopy of their passport as a form of identification.
……
The pink ID card has also been added (I don't think it's a Thai ID card, but an ID card from a foreigner)
“It's about being reasonable and using common sense.”
Hopefully every police officer and immigration officer feels the same way 🙂
An even more recent article (March 2018) stating that carrying a copy with you will be accepted: https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1033597-pattaya-to-ambassadors-tourists-can-carry-copy-of-passport/
He only speaks for Pattaya of course ….
Had the wrong Thai motorcycle license with me at a traffic control last year.
I drove my old Mitsc pickup on my way to the global house, but I had my Thai driving license for a car in my mobile phone.
Was not accepted, but was allowed to drive home to collect the other driver's license.
My spouse had to stay behind.
This is Thailand, but allowed to drive home without a driver's license to get a driver's license.
And to think that all those schoolboys race around here daily on their souped-up mopeds to and from school without any form of ID, not to mention a valid driver's license, and that is no problem at all.
At the police station at the exit of the school.
As far as passport is concerned, I only exceptionally have this document with me if there is no other way, it is only difficult to use and if you lose it you have a lot of nagging.
Jan Beute
Normally you should be able to install the Driving License App on your Smartphone this week.
This app is published by the Department of Land Transport.
It is then a digital driver's license on your Smartphone and then you no longer have to carry the plastic card with you.
According to I read somewhere, changes to the law must first be published, because until then the police do not want to accept that app, but that would soon happen anyway.
I don't know when exactly, but I will soon hear more about it, I suspect when it will officially start.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1594706/virtual-driving-licence-launched-next-month
I speak from my experience 400 baht fine to have a copy with me as said before in this forum legally you must have the original with you but depends from police to police so I'll take it with me my original
Had the same thing during my last vacation... (2016)
On the road with a rented scooter stopped by a police officer.
Despite the fact that I wore a helmet, had lights on (was at nightfall), used blinkers (was just before the roundabout) and behaved properly in traffic, I was pulled over anyway ...
No problem, I thought, everything is in order and I have neat copies of my papers (visa, driver's license, Belgian ID ...)
That was worthless! … The agent was not satisfied with the copies and laughed … “Copy .. Copy … you do not take copy of money … right ?”
I couldn't say anything about that … the reason for the copies was immediately pressed to the ground!
Consequence : leaving the scooter on the spot, making sure that I could pick up my original papers at the hotel (by scooter-taxi) returning to the friendly but unwavering agent with the thought that then everything was solved ...
Wrong again … When I wanted to ask for the keys of my rented scooter back … I was asked for the receipt … How what receipt .. ??? … Receipt from the PV ! …
Until then I had not realized that I had actually received a report and that had to be paid first at the police station … and then I could get my scooter back!
Still a positive note ... after issuing my passport I received the key to my scooter and I was allowed to drive the scooter to the police station to deposit 400 Bath in exchange for the receipt ...
From now on - and especially when traveling by scooter - I will always take my original documents with me. I will always make the copy(s), but then as a reserve in case something happens to the original …
A person learns every day…
I have copied all my travel documents and put them on the internet via email (gmail)
Created a label there and placed it in it.
I can view the documents anywhere with my smartphone.
So I don't need to have a copy on the smartphone itself.
It reads that there are many possibilities to have some form of ID with you.
I always find the advice to put your data and in this case the passport on your smartphone not so great. Know the people who have panicked because their smartphone has been lost or stolen or dropped in the water. Get rid of your data. Or the advice to hang it somewhere in a cloud or on Gmail; yes, then you have to wait for the next security leak or a wizz kid that means that data of a few hundred million people fall into the wrong hands. Just make your own egg for uncle agent and the soup will never be eaten too hot, so that will suffice.
my passport goes into a hotel safe once I've checked in and that's where my passport will stay until further notice (the safest place for that moment).
Sometimes the passport is needed if I need to change money, but not every exchange box asks for it. Knowing that, if I want to exchange money I will leave my passport in the hotel safe.
In recent years I take a ticket from the hotel with me when I go out. I have been on holiday in various countries every winter for over 30 years and I have never had to show my passport when I am outside the hotel. Bringing a passport always entails a risk, so leave that passport in the hotel safe until the journey has to be continued.
No, you do not need to have a passport on your body. Only when checking in/out at the airport or crossing the border.
ID card or TH driving license to identify yourself.
Go to a bank and ask such a plastic where they put a bank book, your passport fits perfectly and it always stays neat!