Foreigners’ Pink ID Cards in Thailand
In Thailand, most residents have two identification cards. The first is a standard blue ID card with the person’s picture, name, and address, and the other is the blue house book Tabien Baan ID that certifies the person’s official address.
However, many people are surprised to learn that foreigners living in Thailand also have their own identification cards.
Though everyone should always have their passports on them, having a pink ID gives Thailand foreigners another way to identify themselves. Here is everything you need to know about the pink Thai ID card.
What Is a Pink ID Card?
The pink ID card is formal identification for non-Thai nationals. Stateless people in Thailand or those with alien status and permanent residency may be eligible for a pink ID card. According to the Registration Act of 2008, anyone who meets the eligibility requirements for an ID card for foreigners can get one.
What Is a Thai ID Number, and How Do You Get One?
One of the primary requirements for obtaining a pink ID card is a Thai ID number. You must register your current Thailand address with the government to obtain a number to get a number.
As a foreigner, you will get a Yellow Book Tabien Baan with your name listed as an occupant of your address when the government accepts your registration. The book will contain your ID number, which you will need to apply for a pink ID card. Permanent residents and Thai nationals will get a blue book, not yellow.
How to Get a Pink ID Card
When you are ready to apply for a pink ID card, you will need to have the following documents:
- A work permit, if you have one
- Your passport with a visa and photocopies of the photo and visa pages
- Your yellow or blue book
- Marriage certificate if you have a spouse
- Permanent residency books, if applicable
Bring your documents to your area’s district office along with two Thai nationals to serve as witnesses to the application. The witnesses will also need to have their ID cards.
The office officials will take a little time to verify the witnesses’ identities and process your documents. When they finish the process, you will get your picture taken for your new pink ID card and submit your fingerprints to keep on file at the government office.
In most cases, foreigners can get their pink IDs the same day they file their applications. However, some people have to wait up to 30 days to receive their Thai identification.
Benefits of Having a Thai ID Card
Having a pink ID card not only provides identification for a foreign Thailand resident. It also comes with additional benefits. For instance, the government requires foreign nationals to carry their passports everywhere, but the pink ID card can be a substitute form of identification in some situations.
The card will also allow you to travel domestically by plane, check into some hotels, and open bank accounts in select banks that don’t require passports as the only form of valid identification. You may also use your Thai pink ID card to receive discounts at some tourist attractions.