Immigration: Foreigners must now carry valid ID at all times, report within 24 hours

[george 2,896]

Immigration: Aliens must now carry valid ID at all times, report within 24 hours

 

Representatives from the expat community, thaivisa.com and from local hotels was today Tuesday informed by Thai Immigration

and Hua Hin Municipality.

 

HUA HIN: -- [thaivisa.com] 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 Licence

- Passport original

- Copy of passport verified and stamped by Hua Hin Immigration * please click here for updated information as of 2014.07.31

 

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.com/forum/files/file/15-tm28-form-for-aliens-to-notify-their-change-of-address-or-their-stay-in-the-province-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:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/files/file/16-tm30-notification-form-for-house-master-owner-or-the-possessor-of-the-residence-where-aliens-have-stay/

 

[tv]2014-07-29[/tv]

 

Below is the announcement in force from today in Hua Hin, Prachuapkhirikhan:

 

 

 

 

 

Related link:
All Thai Immigration forms for download:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/files/category/6-thai-immigration-application-forms/

 

[bkkjames 3,815]

Does this include everywhere else? 

 

Meaning I only have to carry my Thai Drivers Licencse - no need to keep my passport or a copy with me as well?

[DrTuner 24,558]

 Great. They're starting to enforce the laws written before the dawn of ages. And those rules are actually in the act, so they're not going anywhere soon. Enjoy filling a form every day, oh happiness. 

[wilcopops 2,684]

 

is it just me or do others detect a "trend" here?

[pinkpanther99 3,582]

As with any announcement from Immgration, I am always left with more questions than I have answers...

 

So are tourists here for two weeks now meant to take their passports to the beach, trekking through the jungle or in a soapy massage??

[dagobert 79]

They have been doing this in Indonesia eversince i have been here 17 years
they call it S.M.P. Surat Melaporkan. its for tax purposes!

Sent from my GT-P3100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[wilcopops 2,684]

 

so first of all one has to find a "competent official?" - shouldn't be too hard...........

[paz 2,317]

 

 

is it just me or do others detect a "trend" here?

 

 

Yes the trend is that many offices do something to look good to their superiors. Of course, the laws have always been in place.

 

At least that confirms that unlike some parrot has been claiming, keeping the original passport all the time, it NOT the law.

[wilcopops 2,684]

 

"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."

 

 

......kind of a hassle for those on a tour of Thailand?

 

Edited July 29, 2014 by wilcopops

[culicine 1,392]

Does this include everywhere else? 

 

Meaning I only have to carry my Thai Drivers Licencse - no need to keep my passport or a copy with me as well?

Yes...seems like it...but wait there's more!

 

Whenever I go to visit the wife's family over the weekend (or go anywhere for more than 24 hours), I have to call her brother's (who are policemen) to tell them I'm coming! lol. Why doesn't immigration put tracking collars on all foreigners. They there we know where we all are 24/7. That's basically their goal. Tourists / backpackers who want to travel extensively, will just not want to come to Thailand for fear of being fined when they don't report their whereabouts. 

 

And could my wife be fined for not reporting I've lived in our house the last 14 years? (despite the fact we do 90 day reports!!!)

[AloisAmrein 494]

And what about car and motorbike rentals who ask for passport deposit? Is this now illegal?

[DrTuner 24,558]

So are tourists here for two weeks now meant to take their passports to the beach, trekking through the jungle or in a soapy massage??

Or a copy certified by immigration. And don't forget to find a jungle police while trekking since you're changing your residence constantly. 

 

The immigration offices are going to get real cramped if all of this actually starts. The stock price for Double-A might skyrocket, though.

[apetley 4,058]

My local Immigration office, Kanchanaburi, told me some while ago, that I should carry some form of photo ID with me at all times but that it need not be a passport and that a drivers licence was sufficient.
Seems that once again this is nothing new just the enforcing of existing rules.

[wilcopops 2,684]

 

Does this include everywhere else? 

 

Meaning I only have to carry my Thai Drivers Licencse - no need to keep my passport or a copy with me as well?

Yes...seems like it...but wait there's more!

 

Whenever I go to visit the wife's family over the weekend (or go anywhere for more than 24 hours), I have to call her brother's (who are policemen) to tell them I'm coming! lol. Why doesn't immigration put tracking collars on all foreigners. They there we know where we all are 24/7. That's basically their goal. Tourists / backpackers who want to travel extensively, will just not want to come to Thailand for fear of being fined when they don't report their whereabouts. 

 

And could my wife be fined for not reporting I've lived in our house the last 14 years? (despite the fact we do 90 day reports!!!)

 

 

 

I see that others have noticed a trend here....

[paz 2,317]

And what about car and motorbike rentals who ask for passport deposit? Is this now illegal?

 

Not illegal. It just make a major fool and a potential victim of those who does that, check "MH370 stolen passports".