Carrying passport

[simv]

Some countries want tourists to carry their passports all along with them wherever they go and produce every time any govt authority (eg. police) demand. Do you need to carry your passport around Hua Hin or say Thailand? Is it risky to keep it in a safe in Hotel room? Is it risky to carry it to places like massage parlour?

[pharvey]

With work, I really do travel - many times to places I'd rather not be!! If I can lock my passport away, or hide it, it will never be carried with me..... far safer that way in my book. By law, if you are required to carry your passport a notorised copy will be acceptable - this I always carry. Basically, it's (or should be) a colour copy of your passport (personal details page) with a covering letter/note from the UK Embassy (in my case), stating that it is copy of a valid passport.



[EDIT] Sorry - should add that I've never seen a reason to carry passport or copy whilst in HH.

[STEVE G]

Yes, technically you're supposed to carry it in Thailand, and most other countries, but I never do.
I've found that generally any form of officially produced photo ID card like a driving license will satisfy most police or government officials.
I carry the ID card part of a UK driving license and a photocopy of my passport in my wallet everywhere and that's it; a passport is just too inconvenient to carry around with you.
Having said that, it pays to have your passport somewhere where it can be produced by someone else in an emergency as I have heard of rare cases of people being locked up in some countries by police who don't care much that you can't go and fetch it because you're in their cell for not having it but that is highly unlikely if you're a tourist in Hua Hin.

[hhfarang]

I'm never without mine when I leave the house... it's the law... simple as that, but if you are prone to drunkenness or other behavior where you are not in control of you faculties, then you may not want too.

[TimandT]

I have put a copy of my passport on Windows Live Skydrive, that way as long as I have access to a computer I have my passport with me.

[STEVE G]

I'm never without mine when I leave the house... it's the law... simple as that, but if you are prone to drunkenness or other behavior where you are not in control of you faculties, then you may not want too.

There are other situations as well, for instance if you go for a swim off the beach or go out doing sport where it's going to get sweaty and generally in the way.
Personally I wish they would come up with an ID card that went with the passport that was a bit more convenient for day to day use.

[hhfarang]

There are other situations as well, for instance if you go for a swim off the beach or go out doing sport where it's going to get sweaty and generally in the way.

Steve, I know what you mean, but I would never go for a swim off any beach near here (after seeing the one meter diameter sewage pipes that flow directly into the sea) and if traveling to a cleaner beach resort and swimming, I would keep it in the safe in the nearby hotel.

Plus, I dare you to find anyone who sweats more than me in this climate as I usually look like I've gone for a swim in my clothes (soaked head to toe) here after ten minutes of being outside. The simple solution to that is to keep the passport (and yellow book as I do) in a zip lock baggie. Generally, the contents of that baggie are the only thing on me that's dry.

[buksida]

I never carry mine but have a laminated copy of the details page plus a couple of other Thai ID cards that keep most of the constabulary at bay!

[Kel]

(after seeing the one meter diameter sewage pipes that flow directly into the sea)

Hi HH,

Sorry, off topic but.....Are you serious about the raw sewerage? Do you know exactly whereabouts the pipes enter the water? The othar day I noticed a lot of dead fish at a spot near the river outlet I usually take the kids to, and wondered why?

[buksida]

You might want to start a new thread on that, this one is about passports.

[Dr Mike]

Carry a copy and have an arrangement with a friend who keeps a copy on his computer.

[BaaBaa.]

have an arrangement with a friend who keeps a copy on his computer.

Or Email it to yourself so you can pick it up anywhere.

[pharvey]

I'm never without mine when I leave the house... it's the law... simple as that, but if you are prone to drunkenness or other behavior where you are not in control of you faculties, then you may not want too.

HHF - As I said earlier, a notorised copy is also sufficient. It's not that I'm a drunk or lack control of my faculties (well, not normally), but as I travel extensively my passport is somewhat important. I'd rather not lose it, have it stolen or otherwise. Why carry it when I can place it in a safe and carry a copy to satisfy local authorities?

All - IMHO Have a copy of your passport made regardless, if lost stolen etc. at least you have all details. Sorry, not trying to tell people how to suck eggs..........

[Takiap]

The only time my passport goes anywhere with me is when I'm going to immigration, or leaving the country. I never carry it with me, and have never been asked to produce it. I've had one nicked in the past, and it was a real pain in the butt, and a pain in the butt that followed me for years. Because it was stolen, every time I crossed a border, my replacement passport would lock the immigration computers the minute they swiped the barcode. Fortunately my new one I have now seems to be okay, so it stays locked away at all times.

If you're concerned, just carry a copy, or even your Thai driving license.

[poosmate]

Laminated passport copies are okay for ID but ensure current visa status page is also copied and updated. A driving licence will not prove that you are legally in Thailand - the reason for the carry passport law.