Pink ID Card for Long-Stay Foreigners in Thailand

TL;DR

The Pink ID Card (บัตรประจำตัวคนซึ่งไม่มีสัญชาติไทย) — literally "identification card for persons without Thai nationality" — is a Thai government photo ID with a 13-digit personal identification number. It is issued by the Amphur (ที่ว่าการอำเภอ) under the Civil Registration Act B.E. 2534 (1991) and Ministerial Regulations on identification of non-Thai persons. Eligibility extends to Thai Permanent Residents, certain stateless persons, some long-stay visa holders registered on a Yellow Tabian Baan (Tor Ror 13), and foreigners married to Thais and properly registered. The Pink Card unlocks practical day-to-day functions — hospital identification, certain bank accounts, vehicle registration, hotel check-in, SIM registration — without producing the passport each time. It does not replace the passport for visa or immigration purposes and does not grant work rights (a separate work permit is required).

What Is the Pink ID Card?

The Pink Card is the foreign-resident counterpart of the Thai citizen's National ID Card. It is physically pink, with the holder's photograph, name in Thai and Roman script, date of birth, nationality, address from the Tabian Baan, and a 13-digit identification number beginning with 6, 7, or 8 (depending on the holder's status category — citizens' numbers begin with 1-5).

The card is recognised by Thai government agencies, banks, hospitals, schools, and most private businesses as proof of identity within Thailand. Importantly, the 13-digit number is the same number used across all Thai systems — the National Health Service, Social Security Office, tax filings, and so on — meaning that once you have a Pink Card you exist in the Thai government databases on roughly the same footing as a citizen for administrative purposes.

Who Is Eligible

Eligibility is set by the Civil Registration Act B.E. 2534 (1991), its implementing Ministerial Regulations, and the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA / กรมการปกครอง) guidance:

Tourist-visa holders, education-visa holders, and persons on visa-exempt entries are not eligible. The Pink Card is intended for genuinely long-term residents with documented address and status in Thailand.

The Application Procedure at the Amphur

Applications are filed in person at the Amphur (or Bangkok District Office) where the applicant is registered on a Tabian Baan:

1. Pre-register on the Tabian Baan. Without a Yellow Tor Ror 13 (or, for PR holders, the equivalent), you cannot apply. This is the longest part of the process — see the separate guide.
2. Book an appointment (some Amphurs require this; others walk-in). Bring all originals and clean photocopies signed by you on every page.
3. Submit at the Civil Registration counter. The officer reviews documents, takes fingerprints (both index fingers and sometimes all ten), and photographs the applicant on the spot.
4. Sign the Pink Card register and receive the card the same day in most Amphurs. Some Bangkok offices issue within 1-2 weeks.
5. Pay the fee. Typically THB 60 for the card itself (renewals and reissues at similar low rates).

Documents Required

• Passport (original + photocopies of bio page and current visa stamp).
• Yellow Tabian Baan (Tor Ror 13) showing applicant's registered address — original + copy.
• Thai marriage certificate (Khor Ror 2) if applying on the basis of marriage to a Thai national.
• Household head's ID and Tabian Baan where the applicant is registered at someone else's address (e.g., Thai spouse's home).
• Two recent passport-size photos on a white background (the Amphur usually retakes the photo on the day, but bring photos as backup).
• Certified Thai translations of any non-Thai documents, where required.
• PR Book + Alien Registration Book for Permanent Resident applicants.

Validity Period and Renewal

The validity of the Pink Card is tied to the holder's underlying status:

• Permanent Residents: Typically a 10-year validity, renewable on production of the PR Book and Alien Registration Book.
• Yellow Tor Ror 13 holders on long-stay visas: Often issued for the validity of the current visa or for a fixed term that the Amphur sets; renewable on visa extension and re-confirmation of the Tabian Baan registration.
• Stateless persons: Validity per the DOPA category, generally 5 years.

Lost or damaged cards are reissued at the same Amphur on production of the police report (where lost) and the holder's other ID.

What the Pink Card Unlocks

Day-to-day uses that significantly improve life as a long-stay foreigner include:

• Hospital identification. The 13-digit number ties medical records together across hospitals — important for chronic care and emergency rooms.
• Bank accounts. Some banks accept the Pink Card in place of a passport for routine transactions; account opening at certain banks (notably Government Savings Bank) is easier with a Pink Card.
• Vehicle registration. The Department of Land Transport will register a vehicle in your name using the Pink Card; you no longer need to attach passport copies and a Certificate of Residence for routine renewals.
• SIM cards. NBTC-compliant SIM registration is straightforward against the Pink Card.
• Hotel check-in within Thailand, domestic flight check-in (some airlines), and access to government online services that previously required citizen ID.
• Property documentation. Land Department records and condominium juristic-person files accept the Pink Card alongside the passport.

The Pink Card does not confer: the right to work (still requires a work permit under the Foreign Workers Management Emergency Decree), the right to vote, exemption from immigration TM30/TM47 reporting, or any tax-residency benefit beyond what the underlying visa already provides.

Pink Card vs Yellow Tabian Baan vs Work Permit

These documents stack: the Yellow Tor Ror 13 is a prerequisite for the Pink Card; the Pink Card is administrative ID; the Work Permit is a separate authorisation; the PR Book is the highest residency status, of which the Pink Card is one practical consequence.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these traps:

• Applying without a Yellow Tabian Baan. The Amphur will refuse; sort out the Tor Ror 13 first.
• Treating the Pink Card as a substitute for the passport at immigration. It is not — extensions of stay and re-entry permits still need the passport.
• Assuming it confers work rights. It does not. Work without a permit is still an offence under the Foreign Workers Management Emergency Decree.
• Forgetting to renew when the visa changes. If your visa category changes substantially, return to the Amphur and update the record.
• Letting the card lapse and ignoring it. A current Pink Card materially reduces hassles at banks, hospitals, and the DLT.
• Confusing the 13-digit number with a Thai citizen number. It is an administrative ID number, not citizenship.

FAQs

1. Do I need Thai Permanent Residence to get a Pink Card?

No. PR holders are clearly eligible, but so are long-stay visa holders registered on a Yellow Tor Ror 13 — including retirement-visa holders and foreigners married to Thai nationals.

2. Does the Pink Card replace my passport at immigration?

No. The passport remains the document of record for visas, extensions, re-entry permits, and TM30/TM47 reporting. The Pink Card is for in-country administrative use.

3. Can I open a bank account with only the Pink Card?

Some Thai banks accept it for account opening, others still want the passport. In practice, presenting both makes life easiest. The Pink Card definitely helps for routine in-branch transactions.

4. What if I lose my Pink Card?

Report the loss at the local police station, get the report, and return to the Amphur with your passport and Yellow Tabian Baan to apply for a replacement.

5. Does the Pink Card give me healthcare access?

Not directly. It just gives you the 13-digit number that ties hospital records together. Public healthcare access still depends on your underlying status (Social Security contributions, the 30-baht scheme for citizens, or private insurance for most foreigners).

Related Reading

• Yellow Tabian Baan (House Registration) for Foreigners
• Path to Permanent Residence in Thailand
• How to Open a Thai Bank Account
• SIM Card Registration in Thailand
• Birth Registration at the Thai Amphur for Foreign Parents