Aliens must now carry valid ID at all times, report within 24 hours
Following yesterday’s news regarding the requirement for foreigners in Thailand to carry ID with them at all times, Thaivisa.com
and local Immigration offices have been inundated with messages and
comments from foreigners concerned about how they may be affected by
this news.
In
order to seek fruther clarification about this, Thaivisa.com has today
met with Pol.Col. Thanasak Vongluekiat, Superintendent of Prachuap
Khirikhan and Phetchaburi Immigration.Pol.Col. Thanasak confirmed the following:
1. By law, all tourists and expats nationwide are required to carry their original passports with them at all times. There is no exception to this. Failure to carry your original passport may result in a 2,000 THB fine. The reason behind this is that Immigration needs to keep track of overstayers and foreign criminals who may be staying illegally in the country.
2. The information provided at an Immigration meeting yesterday was unclear. The correct information, which has always been the case, is that no other forms of identification are acceptable. This includes any other form of photo ID, such as a Thai/foreign driving license or a photocopy of your passport.
3. Immigration does not provide any kind of ‘stamp’ verification on a photocopy of a passport as announced at the meeting yesterday. Therefore, you are required to keep your original passport with you at all times as per point #1 above.
Thaivisa.com would like to thank Pol.Col. Thanasak Vongluekiat and his staff for taking time out of their busy schedule in order to clarify this.
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Hua Hin Immigration is from today enforcing the existing rule
that foreigners are required to carry a valid photo ID at all times.
At a meeting with Hua Hin Immigration and municipality, Thaivisa.com was informed of the news about the immediate enforcement regarding the requirements for foreigners - both tourists and expats - to carry valid photo ID at all times. Thaivisa has learned that Immigration is likely to enforce this nationwide.
Valid ID's are:
- Thai Drivers License
- Passport original
- Copy of passport verified and stamped by Hua Hin Immigration
Penalty:
Failure to carry valid ID as above is 2,000 Baht.
24-hour reporting
Hua Hin Immigration is from today also enforcing the requirements that you and your landlord (condominium owner, house owner etc) must report to Immigration within 24 hours of moving in to a new address. On your arrival card you already reported your place of stay, and if that changes you need to visit Immigration and report your new address. This applies to both tourists and expats.
Here are the two Immigration forms to be used, they can be downloaded from Thaivisa here:
Here is the TM28 form that must be used from now in Hua Hin, and nationwide if/when enforced:
http://www.thaivisa....-over-24-hours/
There is also another reporting obligation, and this applies when a foreigner visits another province and stays for more than 48 hours. In that case the reporting of the new address must be provided to the police, or the immigration, within 48 hours.
Here is the form to be used by house master or owner or possessor of the residence where foreigners reside:
