Carry Your Passport in Thailand? Section 37 Lists 5 Duties
Section 37 of the Immigration Act lists the duties of a foreigner on a temporary stay. They cover work, address and ninety-day reporting. Police may ask to check your passport, and if you do not have it you could be asked to produce it within 24 hours.
On this page
Section 37 of the Immigration Act sets the duties of a foreigner permitted to stay temporarily. Carrying the passport is not on that list. Police may still ask to see it.
What section 37 requires
The section lists these duties for an alien permitted to stay in the Kingdom temporarily. The Thai text is on the page above.
| Duty | Rule |
|---|---|
| Work | Do not work unless permitted under the alien work law |
| Address | Stay at the notified place, and report a move within 24 hours |
| Police notice | Notify the local police within twenty-four hours of moving to a new residence |
| Travel | Notify the police within forty-eight hours when you stay over twenty-four hours in a province |
| Ninety days | Notify the immigration officer in writing every ninety days |
Penalties for the section 37 duties
Failing section 37(1) carries up to 1 year in prison or a fine up to THB 10,000, or both. Failing section 37(2), (3), (4) or (5) carries a fine up to THB 5,000 plus up to THB 200 a day until compliance.
| Duty failed | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Work without permission, s.37(1) | Up to 1 year in prison or a fine up to THB 10,000, or both |
| Address, police notice, travel notice, ninety-day report, s.37(2) to (5) | A fine up to THB 5,000, plus up to THB 200 a day until compliance |
These penalties attach to the duties above.
What happens when police ask for your passport
Police may ask to check your passport. If you do not have it with you, you could be asked to produce it within 24 hours at a police station.
Is a copy enough
Usually, a copy of the photo page of your passport will be sufficient. This is the advice of the UK government for travellers in Thailand. No Thai instrument read states that a copy is accepted.
What to carry
Carry a copy of the photo page. Keep the original where you can fetch it within 24 hours.
Do not leave your passport as a deposit
Do not hand your passport over as a guarantee, for example to motorcycle or jet-ski rental businesses. Companies may hold on to passports against claimed damage.
If your passport is lost or stolen
Report a lost or stolen passport to the local police as soon as possible. Ask the police for a statement about the loss or a crime report, because you may need it for an insurance claim.
The tourist police take reports from foreign visitors; see the tourist police guide for the hotline and the app.
Not confirmed: Whether another Thai instrument sets a duty to carry the passport, with its own fine, is unconfirmed, and no fine for not carrying it is quoted here. Carry a copy of the photo page.
Common questions
Do I have to carry my passport in Thailand?
Section 37 of the Immigration Act lists the duties of a foreigner on a temporary stay. Police may ask to check your passport.
Is a copy of my passport accepted?
Usually, a copy of the photo page of your passport will be sufficient. That is UK government advice, not a Thai rule.
What if police ask and I do not have it with me?
You could be asked to produce it within 24 hours at a police station.
Can a rental shop keep my passport as a deposit?
Do not hand your passport over as a guarantee, for example to motorcycle or jet-ski rental businesses. Companies may hold on to passports against claimed damage.
What do I do if my passport is lost or stolen?
Report it to the local police as soon as possible. Ask the police for a statement about the loss or a crime report.
What are the duties of a temporary stayer?
Do not work unless authorised. Stay at the notified place and report a move within 24 hours. Notify the police within forty-eight hours when you stay over twenty-four hours in another province. Report every ninety days.
What is the penalty for not reporting every ninety days?
Failing section 37(2) to (5) carries a fine up to THB 5,000 plus up to THB 200 a day until compliance.
What is the penalty for working without permission?
Failing section 37(1) carries up to 1 year in prison or a fine up to THB 10,000, or both.
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General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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Comments (4)
ChicoGuerrera
Get good quality pictures of your passport biodata, entry/exit stamp and (if applicable) visa page(s). Keep them on your phone. Leave your passport in the safe. You only really need it to change money or buy a SIM card.
itsafinedey
There is a police booth in Thonglor where the police check for passports and shake you down if you don't have it. Always carry a photocopy of both photo and visa.
OkSmile
A picture on your phone is sufficient for a random police/immigration request. But you will need the actual passport to exchange money or buy a sim or rabbit/mrt card.
not5150
If you're going to the beach, I highly recommend leaving your passport in the hotel safe/room (take a pic of your passport face page and entry stamp and put it in a folder called TRAVEL DOCS). If you insist on carrying your passport into the water, double ziplock bag it and have it tied onto you. I've seen and have witnessed several horror stories of people having their backpack stolen while they swam or the passport/phone bag floats away because it wasn't attached securely.