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

[Tchooptip]

There is no discrimination here. Thais have to carry their ID card at all times too or face a fine. They also have to report travel to other province and change of residence. Don't see why expats should be allowed special rules.

All the Thai people I know never report to any one when they go see their family all across the country...not sure the many millions I don't know do report by the way  

[farang1979]

Is this just in Hua Hin or in Bangkok too?

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[khunpa]

Instead of trying to suddenly enforce existing rules, they should spend their time thinking of how to make reporting as easy as possible for foreigners here. (like e.g. reporting online). It always has to involve traveling to a place, stand in a cue, pay money and lots of old fashion stamps.

 

Again and again, we see rules put in place or suddenly enforced, that ends up being nothing else than trouble, waste of time and just a new opening for more corruption and "the-money" for the officials having to handle it. Now the police have just been given a new way to collect. Smart move!

 

After begin through the time-wasting head ache of company setup, visa and work-permits here, I am now very close to having had enough of it all here. Personally, I have already started looking at the surrounding countries, where things are just so much easier and who will appreciate skilled foreigners and their money/investment.

 

I really do not understand the idea of making things as difficult as possible for foreigners under 50 years old to be here? What is the point? So now the idea is to hunt foreigners on the street and ensure they carry a valid ID and have reported their address correctly? And if they don't have all papers on them, then fine them THB 2.000... Great way to show people they are welcome here. 

 

Well, better spend half a day on getting the copy of my passport stamped tomorrow then. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid... considering I could just do a quick reporting on a website, if it is so important for them to constant track all foreigners at all time.

 

Prostitution is also illegal in Thailand... What about they spent some of their time on actually enforcing that rule?? This place is going down the drain, if at some point they do not start to realize that many foreigners actually have other options, when it comes to choice of living and investments.

 

 

[BeforeTigers]

meh.

If they want to know where I am 24/7 they can hire someone to follow me around.

[Pattaya46]

What is a "Temporary Entry Permit" ?... as I see that only people with such permit are concerned.

[MJCM]

meh.

If they want to know where I am 24/7 they can hire someone to follow me around.

 

You will find plenty in Soi 6 Pattaya

[BKKBrit]

My eyes are bleeding after just two pages of 'contributions'. There appears to be a palpable lack of reading glasses (or just an inability to read?) before the hounds of hell are let loose from the fingertips of the angst-ridden TVF community. Get a grip people. 

 

[JockPieandBeans]

 

 

UK driving licence has a photo, surely this can be used as photo ID?

 

It could, but question does your UK Driving License have your passport number on it ? I think that Immigration wants that so they can check your Immigration Status.

 

Does aThai driving licence have your passport number on it?

 

 

Yes

[ukrules]

 

 

"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?

 

 

 

They already do this and have been doing it for years.

 

The hotel, guesthouse / villa owner needs to do this - not the tourist, at least that's the way it's always been.

 

This is why you need to provide your passport when checking into a hotel - the details are sent straight to immigration - they have a web based system for people to enter the deails, I've used it myself before.
 

So is this just a clampdown on the existing rule or a new rule ?

[lovinglife]

 

Wonder how Thais would like it if similar rules were enforced upon them when living overseas. Thais in the UK can travel freely without any of this nonsense.

 

I wonder how you'd feel if you had to go through a months long interview process and present your financial information and your underwear size to even get into Thailand for a holiday.  

 

Same as Thais must do to visit the UK.

 

 I would prefer it if it meant more freedom when I got there. It would also keep out a lot of the scummy sex tourists and druggies that find their way into Thailand. 

[navara]

I think it is discrimination, because a Thai does not need to carry any ID (I never have heard off any). Having said this, in many European countries EVERYBODY need to carry an ID. This for national security (as said so)

 

So when I leave for the 7-11: I need my moped, my cigarettes', my lighter, key of the house, phone, key of the moped, my money and now a days my ID. BUT, everybody knows who I am, where I live.... it's me and 5000 Thai people including the police.

Edited July 29, 2014 by navara

[brewsterbudgen]

 

UK driving licence has a photo, surely this can be used as photo ID?

 
It could, but question does your UK Driving License have your passport number on it ? I think that Immigration wants that so they can check your Immigration Status.

Does aThai driving licence have your passport number on it?

 
Yes, but it doesn't give your visa status or indicate whether you are in Thailand legally.

[user82374298374]

For the sake of less than B100 and a trip to one of the print shops in every supermarket I think it is a no brainer.

 

What print shops in every supermarket?

 

I've been to Tops, Central, Foodland, Villa Market, et. al., and never seen any print shops.  Shops for making keys, yes; florists, sometimes.  But print shops?  Nary a one in sight.

 

Are they hidden away somewhere?

[Boatfreak]

why can Immigration not just be friend with us on Facebook, that way they will know where we live, where we drink, what we like, who our friends are....oh wait...

the CIA has been doing this for year, a certain Snowden pretend that governements know everything about us so why do we still need to inform them?

[GAZZPA]

It looks like this is just Hua Hin at the moment.

 

I don't really see what it is all about. I am ok that you have to carry ID on you at all times, this is the same as many countries but the reporting of your residence within 24 hours is just silly. 

 

If you are here on holiday and staying in a hotel then its not likely you are going to move. 

If you are here on holiday travelling around the country then you won't bother with all that nonsense

And if you are here longer term then you report your address to immigration every 90 days anyway.

 

So, the authorities data is likely never much more then a couple months out date anyway. This looks like a lot of additional administration,, does anyone ever think these things through?

 

If they want to find someone urgently for a serious matter then those people are unlikely to disclose whereabouts and just get someone else to do the tenancy agreement.

 

Whats next? Microchip with GPS tracker on entry?

 

It all seems a little unnecessary and yet another bureaucratic process making foreigners feel even more unwelcome, the vast majority of which are normal, decent people. I like the fact that the military "seems" to be squashing the old corruption and trying to clean things up but I am slowly getting the feeling that its time to say goodbye to this land and earn my living somewhere else.

 

 

[Equalizer]

Going on a 3 nights 4 days golf trip to Hua Hin 5th August with the golf society. Going to be funny us all piling into the immigration with our golf clubs in hand hahahahaah.

[Kitbaikitmah]

So long and thanks for all the fish.

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DvLBKOcUbHR0&sa=U&ei=5H3XU_OONM-8uASVjIKoAg&ved=0CA0QtwIwAQ&sig2=1EhkgsIXtktrFcOQHl6UHA&usg=AFQjCNF9Tek7DDfwUEfTd4-FEaXHqVzF1A

I am off to peddle my wares in Hong Kong, in couple of weeks.....I like the clear rules.

Good luck to those who live 'on the edge' in Thailand....'times are a changing'

[aripengu]

As far as I know until now in Chiang Mai, one had to carry an ID like Driver's License or a copy of the Passport (better both) and if leaving the province Passport would be mandatory. I have stashed copies of my Passport (with last visa stamp) in all my vehicles.

[ianf]

I am sad to notice that I am seeing a clear trend developping here, with more and more policies being developped against long stay foreigners, accompanied by the hope that tourism, which is currently in the doldrums, will not suffer from the sudden implementaion of the law, after years or decades of freedom through slackness.
I am personnaly not impressed and although my longterm visa situation is fully in order and I have the means to be here; I do not see Thailand as a welcoming country anymore and I will therefore soon leave for good, hopefully for more friendly skies, if not, less prone to bigotry and corruption.
From what i have heard around me, I am far from being the only thinking this way.

 

I'm seriously thinking that my days in Thailand are numbered.

[farang1979]

Can't help feeling a creeping nationalism creeping into Thailand. Especially with the ASEAN community opening the doors for surrounding countries next year.

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[krystian]

I think my family will be skipping Hua Hin for the long week end next month

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[Boatfreak]

 

 

 

UK driving licence has a photo, surely this can be used as photo ID?

 
It could, but question does your UK Driving License have your passport number on it ? I think that Immigration wants that so they can check your Immigration Status.

 

Does aThai driving licence have your passport number on it?

 

 
Yes, but it doesn't give your visa status or indicate whether you are in Thailand legally.

 

yes but with the number of stamps, ninety days, re-entry permits, etc (all a full page)......there is no way your passport last as long as your driving licence. 

[DrTuner]

 

Wonder how Thais would like it if similar rules were enforced upon them when living overseas. Thais in the UK can travel freely without any of this nonsense.

 

Maybe so, but if Thailand imposed the sorts of rules for getting into Thailand to stay long term the UK has, one suspects a lot of the farangs living here currently wouldnt be in the country to start with.

 

So yes why not make it harder to get in and more free once in ..

I'm all for that. Unfortunately the toothpaste is being squeezed from both ends. 

[Bernard Flint]

I think it is discrimination, because a Thai does not need to carry any ID (I never have heard off any). Having said this, in many European countries EVERYBODY need to carry an ID. This for national security (as said so)

 

So when I leave for the 7-11: I need my moped, my cigarettes', my lighter, key of the house, key of the moped, my money and now a days my ID. BUT, everybody knows who I am, where I live.... it's me and 5000 Thai people including the police.

 

 

I thought thais DO need to carry id with them.Also non thais always have had to carry id with them, but the friendly Junta man has enforced the laws more rigid

[harrycallahan]

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

Next step, passport numbers tattooed on the wrist.

[Card]

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??

Certainly do. You never know who the person next to you in a police uniform is when he is covered in froth, so be prepared at all times.

[Bernard Flint]

I think my family will be skipping Hua Hin for the long week end next month

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WHY?????

[leggo]

I would think they would need an extra large police force to carry this out in Pattaya - maybe an extra 2-3000 ha bloody ha!

[banagan]

Ok, carrying your passport everywhere is obviously not practical, in fact it's pretty stupid.

 

I have pictures on my phone of my passport and visa... but I take it this wouldn't be accepted during a shake down.

 

So I need a photocopy with some sort of stamp? I'm in Chiang Mai, do I get a stamp from the Police station, immigration?

[wordchild]

what is the situation for someone (farang)  who owns  a condo in HH but whose main residence is in Bangkok? do they need to report themselves when they go there for the weekend?