Can I use a different amphur to obtain the yellow book in Thailand?

It was easy for me in 2006 to obtain a yellow tabien.

My wife and I only took necessary documents and a witness to Banglampoo office.

It cost 25 or 50 baht..took about 40 mins.

My post is only to show the differences over the years in applying

It took some months for mine. They wanted written statements from locals including the village head, a certified translation of my passport and extension of stay page (certified by the translater). The proctors keep leaving so we started over a couple of times and finally got the yellow book and the pink ID with my name in Thai characters. Used the pink ID card at the hotel and at the zoo received the Thai entry price. When in CM I will see if the banks will accept the ID card.

That translation and certification of the passport killed it for me. I don't want to cave in to their madness unless I'm forced to.

Took me about an hour for both yellow book and pink card about 5 years ago in Phetchaburi.. is it needed? No.. Is it convenient? Absolutely.. domestic travel, proof of residency, hospital access, open bank accounts (this may be the only current need it provides), hotel registration, no need to have your passport, some discounts/thai price for tourist attractions (not all).. so needed.. no.. but very convenient to have if you can get it. May even be required for some bank accounts at some branches so I hear.. and sure you can accomplish most of those things with other documents, but with more scrutiny... it's a farang+ card.. you get extra smiles as you are clearly not a tourist when you have those documents. So, I find it generally easier to do things with less questions or random document requests.. What's your time worth? I prefer to keep as much of mine as possible not chasing random documents...

I tried once got all my paperwork done went back they gave me other paperwork that would need me to travel back to the uk to sort it ie our wedding certificate verification as we married in the uk

When I got back I was told as I’ve been out of the country I can’t apply for 6 months

Took me 20 mins, showed passport/visa, quick interview with the Poo Yai Baan present, end of. All depends on which province, amphur etc, and people you know.

As an aside, went to a hospital the other day, handed over the pink card, the girl behind the counter asked if I had a driving licence as your name is written in English on that.

Same here in Nong Bua Rawe, Chajyaphum. Ridiculous. I pass.

I was asked by the SCB bank for the Yellow House book in order to open an account with them when I required a Thai bank account in order to deposit my 800k for the 12 months retirement extension. My wife and I approached our local Amphur in Far East Isaan and got a similar set of requests, including involving the local headman and his two underlings in the process and also neighbours and relatives of my wife from our village. My wife dealt with all this and I basically only had to turn up for photos and to sign things. The most inconvenience was with the passport verification, it being a second passport and not the one I was married under. (It also had 10 years validity and was the one my Non-O was registered with). It took me 16 days to get an appointment with the British Embassy in Bangkok. We made the most of it and booked a long weekend in Bangkok to accommodate the passport verification and translation. No big deal, just a hotel bill and two return flight costs for a pleasant time there. We got the translated verification certified by our local MFA office and reported back to the local Amphur office. Once that was presented there was a meeting arranged with the headman and villagers at the local Amphur office and all the signing off was done by everyone. One further visit to get my photographs and fingerprints taken and I got issued my Yellow House Book and also my Pink ID card. Sounds a lot more onerous than it actually was thanks to my wife’s input.

Embassy to verify a passport 🤦🤦🤦

Morons, how do they think you got into the country ffs

The Thais don’t know what they want so how the hell are we supposed to know what they want

I want both. I don’t care if people say it isn’t useful or needed. I want both. So far my application has been in since November. Just last week my Amphor said I needed to translate my visa stamp into Thai. 🤷‍♂️ I did that took it in. Now it’s being passed up to his boss. If he wants something else I will do that too. I want one so will do what’s requested regardless if they are any benefit to me. So do not give a rats arse for comments about not needing it.

If you have money in Thailand you can get anything

I don't see any advantage of getting a yellow book it means nothing a complete waste of time just another thing cause an expat has one they are special and get privalages same as thais thats a load of crap it don't mean nothing your a ferang and you always be treated like one regardless yellow book pink card or what

I got 99% of all that and I don't have a yellow book wether you got an I'd card or not you won't get into national parks free ferang have to pay the going rate

It helps if your partner or someone in your extended family or one of their mates comes to the Amphur with you and speaks on your behalf.

i got mine within 24 hrs BUT in banglamung its a nightmare. very much depends on the man in charge of them and his willingness to do his job. here was easy, I am in a rural area with no issues with non THais. I really wouldnt bother again in banglamung.. i tried and gave up too

How does one get a "certified copy of a passport"?

The immigration officers want you to use an agent, 😉😉😉

every amphur requires different things. Some are way way more easy than others.

yep the yellow book is way to hard , not going to get my self all fired up for some thing that I have not had a need for ,going on 15 years now , just will use cash !

A recurring discussion among expats is whether it is worth applying for the Yellow Book (which lists the foreigner's residence in a property) and the Pink Card (a Thai ID card for foreigners).

The general answer is yes, as they can often ease the burden of repeated visits to the immigration office. They can be used to register a SIM card, become a patient in a hospital, open a bank account, enter fee-based facilities including national parks, report to police stations and transfer vehicle ownership.

Why do I say “often”?

Because every bureaucracy has the power to either accept the Yellow Book and Pink Card or insist on a specific letter from immigration confirming one’s address.

For example, most DLT’s (land transport offices) actually require a letter from immigration as part of the process for applying for or renewing a driver's license.

From a certain “age” on, of the Yellow Housebook, they might ask you for an updated version or a more recent “certificate of residence” from Immigration

Applicants for the 5 – 20 year Elite visa will also find that they require proof of address from immigration. Buyers of a vehicle will find it useful to be able to buy and register the vehicle with the help of the Yellow Housebook.

But it's still worth making the effort. If only because owning the Yellow Book and Pink Card will set you apart from the general Farang crowd in Thailand.

The documents required to apply vary somewhat from province to province and from Amphur to Amphur

You will definitely need your original passport and preferably a non-immigrant or better visa.

If you have a work permit and/or a marriage certificate, they are very useful, but don't worry, they are not actually required.

You will most certainly need the blue housebook (and ID card) for the residence where you live, as well as the owner's permission if you do not own the property. Or the owner must be present when you apply.

Whether you need to provide embassy confirmation of your passport and a birth certificate depends on the policy of your local jurisdiction.

What you definitely need for the application to the Yellow Housebook, is a legalized transcript of your full name, into Thai script. The approval of the transcript can be made by your embassy and further the Thai MfA.

In my case, the Amphur boss accepted the transcript of my farang name into Thai script, done by the principal of a school in our district. I felt privileged and was glad I didn’t have to travel to Bangkok for this.

Other requirements may include address confirmation from immigration, photographs and a police clearance certificate in some local authorities.

Some will tell you also need two witnesses, one of whom can be your Thai lawyer if you choose to hire one.

The advantage here is familiarity with the process, as the lawyer will accompany you to the interview at the town hall or district office.

In the Pattaya area, the venue for applications depends on the location of your address: City Hall for Pattaya and district offices in Banglamung, Nongprue and Huay Yai

As you probably already know, a foreigner's name cannot appear in the blue housebook or “Tabean Baan” of a property. Even when you own a Condo as a foreigner, your name will not appear in the “Tabean Baan” of the Condo.

Having the Yellow Book does not prove that you own the property. The Yellow Housebook is just a registration of you, the foreigner residing there.

However, there is an exception to the exclusion of foreigners from the blue book: A foreigner who holds a Permanent Residency Status, may be listed there. Permanent residents are foreign nationals who do not have a date specified in their passport by which they must renew or leave the Kingdom. They also have a red book that they use to report to the police station and not to immigration. Permanent residency is a privilege typically given to foreigners who have successfully worked in Thailand and/or benefited Thailand in some significant way through their presence and activities.

Think you are going to find a certified copy of passport is required at all amphurs.

You have to use your local Amphur, the yellow book doesn't do much to be honest other than sometimes saving the need to get a residence certificate from immigration

You know I have lived in Thailand for 16 years now, never need the yellow book or pink card, my Thai drive licence is far more useful.

You can only use the local Amphur for the district you live in.