Carrying Your Passport in Thailand

[TotallyOz]

I was alerted to this today:

 

http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/95338/late-night-check-north-pattaya-pubs-police-government-officials/

 

In the article, it says that foreigners were arrested for not having their passport with them. I hope this is not going to be a regular thing.

 

I have always had a copy with me but always leave the actual passport at home. I also have a copy of the visa page that I take with me. I always thought that would be sufficient.

[Guest fountainhall]

Carrying your passport is the law not only in Thailand, but in quite a number of countries - Canada, China and many European countries included.

 

That said, I never carry it around! In Thailand, I copy the information page and the retirement visa page. I then cut to size, place them back to back and have them laminated. I make two copies and always have one with me. It is not obeying the law, but it might satisfy the bib in the case of a random check.

[Rogie]

Even if you assume the only likely place you will be asked for it is in clubs or other drinking establishments, these are the very places many of us would not want to take our prized possession. 

[Guest fountainhall]

My 'prized possession' comes with me everywhere - I just can't detach myself from it!  

[Rogie]

Don't forget you're living in a Buddhist country FH, hang on to it by all means, but there's a lot to be said for letting yourself go.

 

Regarding the concept of detachment, or non-attachment, Buddhist texts in Pali mention Nekkhamma, a word generally translated as "renunciation". This word also conveys more specifically the meaning of "giving up the world and leading a holy life" or "freedom from lust, craving and desires."

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detachment_(philosophy)

[Guest fountainhall]

Whilst I may not hang ON to it, I assure you I let it hang around firmly affixed to my body.  ​  And I do let myself go from time to time. As for freedom from lust, craving and desires, then I am no Buddhist. Mind you, nor are any of the people I know who profess to be Buddhists 

[ChristianPFC]

Why do people have their copies of their passport laminated? I don't think this makes any difference. A laminated copy of your passport is as worthless as an unliminated copy when the original is required. I remember in Berlin, laminating the monthly ticket for S-Bahn made it invalid.

 

I carry a copy (not laminated) with me, the original is locked at work. Before my passport was stolen on Songkran, I carried it with me all the time.

[Guest fountainhall]

Why do people have their copies of their passport laminated?

 

Have you seen what an ordinary photocopy looks like when you have dragged it around with you for several months - and perhaps have spilled liquid and goodness knows what else on it? It can become all but unreadable, whereas a laminated copy costs only a few Baht and remains in pristine condition no matter where you keep it. Simple!

[Guest]

Why do people have their copies of their passport laminated?

I have a reduced size copy laminated in my wallet.

That's useful when I need the passport number.  As I have a cheap laminator, I also laminate key travel insurance details too.

[Guest anonone]

I have a reduced size copy laminated in my wallet.

That's useful when I need the passport number.  As I have a cheap laminator, I also laminate key travel insurance details too.

I do the same as well.  Keeps it readable and looks a bit more "official".

 

I was able to use the laminated copy of my passport this trip to exchange money, which was nice. 

[kokopelli]

Where  can you get a passport copy laminated?  I do carry a copy but in some sort of plastic sleeve but not laminated.

[Bob]

I remain in the minority and always carry my passport for the 8-9 months I'm in Chiangmai every year.  Not a problem at all, just like carrying one's wallet.  Come to think of it, I keep an extra copy of the photo page of the passport in my wallet too!  During Songkran, it's in a plastic baggie (and has never gotten wet/moist even though I'm totally soaked for at least a couple of days).

 

And....not sure why I do this (other than I'll have copies of everything if I should ever lose the damn thing) .... but I've scanned all used pages of my current passport into my computer. And emailed (gmail) those to myself so, if I ever had to, could dig back and find those online too.

[Guest fountainhall]

Where  can you get a passport copy laminated?

 

Almost all shops which offer print services and office equipment. In BKK, there's one in the building housing Home Pro on the corner of Ploenchit/Wittayu and another close to the Ibis Hotel on Sribumphen.

[Guest Enchanter]

I just carry it with me in a nice leather case...fits nicely under my slim mobile phone. No trouble at all.

 

Lots of dodgy foreigners frequenting those sort of bars so not a bad idea for cops to arrest them till they can show valid ID.

[Rogie]

When I'm out and about in cooler climates I like to wear a jacket, which serves two functions, style and practicality. Plenty of pockets to keep wallets etc well hidden, but easily accessible.

 

In contrast, when I'm in Thailand I seldom wear a jacket, except for the occasional evening in the 'cool season' when it really is cool. I don't like stuffing my trousers with anything lumpy (I'm being serious here!) and shirt pocket (if it has one) ditto. My solution is to carry all my stuff in a smart little bag (you could call it a bum bag, but as it's Italian I daresay it has a more classy name in Italy). Maybe male handbag would desribe it as I confess to cluttering it up with way too much stuff. I do not, however, carry my passport in it.

[kokopelli]

. My solution is to carry all my stuff in a smart little bag (you could call it a bum bag, but as it's Italian I daresay it has a more classy name in Italy). Maybe male handbag would desribe it as I confess to cluttering it up with way too much stuff. I do not, however, carry my passport in it.

 

Ahem Rogie, the common term for this accessory is a fag-bag!

[Rogie]

I'm not convinced! Mine isn't one of those!

[ChristianPFC]

I take so much stuff with me when I go out, I need cotton wool tote bag (which is common for shopping in Germany and you often can get it for free with advertising printed on it). In this, I have several other papers of A4 size in a plastic sleeve, I keep my passport copy with them and even after months they look like new. No need to laminate for me.

[vinapu]

When on the road I carry passport in old fashioned money belt next to my body in my undies. Un-laminated copy always inside of main luggage. When settled in the hotel I keep passport in the luggage which is always locked with solid padlock. Have some Id with me like driving license when hitting streets . Only time I carry passport is when hitting bars or  massages just in case it'll be raided, you need also to show  passport when exchanging money in many places

[Rogie]

Money belts are fine and probably the best choice if visiting a bar and you want to have your passport on your person. However, my preference would be to leave the passport either in the safe in my room or in the hotel or guest house safe. As the chances of being required to produce the original of your passport when out for an evening's entertainment is pretty remote I prefer to 'take my chance' and leave it behind. At the end of the day you are balancing the likelihood of carrying your passport and risking losing it to being asked, nazi-style, to 'show me your papers'.