Reviewed by ThaiLawOnline, a licensed Thai law firm practising in Thailand since 2006. Thai lawyer of record: Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556.
Last updated on September 5, 2026
The pink ID card (บัตรประจำตัวคนซึ่งไม่มีสัญชาติไทย, the identification card for persons without Thai nationality, also pink card or foreigner ID card) is an identity card issued by the district office under the Civil Registration Act B.E. 2534 (1991) to a foreigner whose name appears in a Thai house register and who therefore holds a 13-digit identification number. It looks like the Thai ID card but is pink, and identifies the holder for daily life: banks, hospitals, hotels, domestic flights. It is a civil registration document, not an immigration one, and changes nothing about the visa.
Table of Contents
The legal basis and who qualifies
Section 38/1 of the Civil Registration Act, added by the amending Act of B.E. 2562 (2019), and the ministerial regulation of the same year, direct the registrar to issue the card to a foreigner entered in the register. The card is therefore not discretionary: once the name is in the yellow house book (Tor Ror 13) and the 13-digit number has been allocated, the district office issues it on request.
The prerequisite is the yellow book, which requires a lawful stay: a non-immigrant visa with extensions, permanent residency, or registered migrant-worker status, and under the 2019 regulation a continuous stay of at least six months. Tourists and visa-exempt visitors cannot get one. Permanent residents, entered in the blue book, receive the same card. The card is valid for ten years, renewable within 60 days before or after expiry, and a card that is still valid on the holder’s 70th birthday remains valid for life.
Applying at the district office
The application is made at the amphoe or, in municipalities, the tesaban office where the yellow book is registered; in Bangkok it is the khet office. Immigration is not involved. Bring the passport with the current visa or extension, the yellow book, two photographs, the marriage certificate or work permit where relevant, and, at many offices, one or two Thai witnesses with their ID cards. Documents in a foreign language need a Thai translation. The fee is 60 baht, for a first card or a renewal.
The card is issued on the spot in most districts. The common mistake is applying for the card before the tabien baan is in hand: the yellow book is the slow step, needing the owner to attend and the address to be verified, and the card follows in minutes once the book exists. Rural offices that rarely see a foreigner may be unsure of the procedure; the 2019 ministerial regulation is the reference to cite.
What the card does and does not do
| Use | Pink ID card | Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Identification at banks, hospitals, hotels, airlines | Accepted | Accepted |
| Domestic flights and SIM registration | Accepted | Accepted |
| Thai-price admission at parks and attractions | Often accepted, varies by site | Not accepted |
| Immigration matters, 90-day report, extensions | Not relevant | Required |
| Proof of right to work | None | Work permit required |
The card removes the need to carry a passport around Thailand and gives a permanent identification number for tax, banking and property registration. It does not give any immigration status: the 90-day report, the TM30 and the yearly extension continue as before, and the holder is struck from the register if the permission to stay ends. It is not a residence permit, not a work permit and not a step towards citizenship, though the 13-digit number follows the holder if either is later granted.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a pink ID card in Thailand?
First obtain the yellow house registration book (Tor Ror 13) at the district office for your address, which gives you a 13-digit identification number. Then apply for the card at the same amphoe, tesaban or khet office with the passport, the yellow book, two photographs and, if asked, Thai witnesses. The fee is 60 baht and the card is usually issued the same day.
Is the pink ID card the same as permanent residency?
No. The pink card is a civil registration document proving identity and address; it is issued to foreigners on ordinary extensions of stay as well as to permanent residents. Permanent residency is an immigration status granted by the Ministry of Interior with its own certificate and books. A pink card holder still needs a visa, extensions and 90-day reports.
Can I use the pink ID card instead of my passport?
Inside Thailand, for most purposes: banks, hospitals, hotels, domestic flights, SIM cards and government offices accept it, and some attractions charge the Thai price on seeing it. It cannot be used for international travel or at immigration, where the passport with the current stamp remains the document of record.
See also: tabien baan, permanent residency, amphoe (district office), tax identification number, and the guides to the pink ID card and the yellow house book.
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