Passport Alternative
Jul 18th, 2009 | 02:53 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 435
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Passport Alternative
The print shops in Bangkok will make an ID Card from your passport for 100 Baht. They scan the front page of your passport and split it front to back. Then they laminate it so it is waterproof.
I was able to use it as an ID when I flew to Chiang Mai from Bangkok on TG and was never asked for the original (I had it just in case.)
Many of the Expats use them in Thailand and they may work in other countries.
I was able to use it as an ID when I flew to Chiang Mai from Bangkok on TG and was never asked for the original (I had it just in case.)
Many of the Expats use them in Thailand and they may work in other countries.
Jul 18th, 2009 | 03:22 PM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
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Hi Brad, The laminated copy is a good idea. For many years, I've carried a xerox copy of the front page of my passport and left the passport itself in the safe in my hotel room. The copy works for stores filling out VAT refund forms and other such things. Like you, I wouldn't count on it being accepted as ID getting on a domestic Thai flights, but it's interesting that it was accepted.
Jul 18th, 2009 | 05:15 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,160
Likes: 0
Hi Brad,
I think you got lucky there and it does show the lack of security screening at the BKK airport. Normally there are two ID screenings before boarding a domestic flight and you got passed both of them! Was it a colour printout of the your passport laminated to look like the real thing?
Kathie,
My daughter can board a domestic flight with her school ID and each school has different looking ID which I doubt if the person checking knows if they are real or not. Also, I use my Thai driver's license for the domestic airport screening and my license is a life time license. The picture on it was from when I was 18 and even I myself can't recognize the guy in the picture!
likewise in the States, Europe and other parts of the world I use my international driver's license as proof of ID and the intl. license is rather flimsy. I once corrected the spelling of my name and birthdates, which is written by hand on the intl. license and nobody noticed it. Very easy to fake!
I think you got lucky there and it does show the lack of security screening at the BKK airport. Normally there are two ID screenings before boarding a domestic flight and you got passed both of them! Was it a colour printout of the your passport laminated to look like the real thing?
Kathie,
My daughter can board a domestic flight with her school ID and each school has different looking ID which I doubt if the person checking knows if they are real or not. Also, I use my Thai driver's license for the domestic airport screening and my license is a life time license. The picture on it was from when I was 18 and even I myself can't recognize the guy in the picture!
likewise in the States, Europe and other parts of the world I use my international driver's license as proof of ID and the intl. license is rather flimsy. I once corrected the spelling of my name and birthdates, which is written by hand on the intl. license and nobody noticed it. Very easy to fake!
Jul 18th, 2009 | 08:36 PM
#5
Original Poster
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
Hanuman,
Yes it is color and it is the size of a driver's license. It looks official. A guy from one of the Embassies told me to get one.
It worked outbound, but not coming back. I did have First Class tickets, so they may have been more lenient.
Yes it is color and it is the size of a driver's license. It looks official. A guy from one of the Embassies told me to get one.
It worked outbound, but not coming back. I did have First Class tickets, so they may have been more lenient.
