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What are the advantages of having a yellow book versus being included in a Thai household blue book for a foreigner married to a Thai citizen?

Household Book Yellow Book Blue Book Thai Immigration Visa rules Expats in Thailand Foreign Spouses

Feb 24, 2025

13 days ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

A question about house books, as I feel I might be missing something here. For a foreigner married to a Thai lady, what is the difference between, or advantage of, having your own yellow book or being included on your wife's blue book? TIA

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The distinction between a Yellow Book and a Blue Book in Thailand is significant, particularly for foreigners. The Blue Book is exclusively for Thai nationals, whereas the Yellow Book is designated for foreigners. Key advantages of holding a Yellow Book include the ability to apply for licenses (like a driving license), purchase cars or bikes, and avoid certain immigration requirements like the TM30 when traveling. Conversely, foreigners cannot be included in a Blue Book, which reinforces the importance of getting a Yellow Book for benefits and legal identification while residing in Thailand.

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Robin *******

I have just learned a lot thanks guys

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Dca *****

Only Thai citizens are in any given Blue Thai Household Book (ท.ร.14) and can only be in one Blue Thai Household Book at a time; and those without Thai citizenship/nationality (aliens/foreigners) are in any given Yellow Thai Household Book (ท.ร.13)

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Ally ************

This is correct.. but just for clarification.. a foreigner staying here on a 'married' visa and living in the marital home (owned by the spouse) cannot be added to their blue book.. but they can apply for their own yellow book.. which will be issued in their sole name and does not name the spouse.. ie. they are not added to the foreigners yellow book.. the yellow book then becomes your proof of address for all interactions in Thailand that would otherwise demand a residency certificate.. so govt agencies like immigration, land transport office, amphur, municipality etc.. and also makes it easier to open a bank account.. you also need it before you can apply for the foreigner ID card (the 'pink' card) which the lto is now asking to see when you renew your driving license!

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Dca *****

I want to add a clarification about Blue Thai Household Books (ท.ร.14): aliens/foreigners who have Thai Permanent Residency (Thai PR) can be included in the Blue Books, so not exclusively for Thai citizens, but getting Thai PR is quite the process and requires years of holding a Thai Work Permit and the requisite Extensions of Stay and minimum earned income (wage/salary) in Thailand requirements along with many other things....

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Doug *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thank you for clarifying

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Doug *********

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Michael ********

With my yellow Book i can do my driving liecence, buy a car in my name or Bike, without going to Immigration, and when i travel i dont need to do a TM30. And you can get the pink ID card.

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Michael ********

@Michael *******

What do you mean dont need TM 30. I have yellow book and Pink ID.Yes i use ID when travelling, but yellow book got nothing to do with TM30

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Michael ********

@Michael *******

my immigration doesn't need a TM30 every time I come back if I have a yellow book. Immigrations are all different.

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Michael ********

@Michael *******

ok, mine does

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Eddie *******

@Michael *******

mine does also.

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Eddie *******

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Andy **********

@Michael *******

another question , would that be the same for us renting a house until our house is built ?

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Roy *********

@Andy *********

I git yellow book from my landlord, it's up to the landlord if they want to help you get it

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Michael ********

@Andy *********

not sure about that, but I wouldn't bother if was building wait until the house is finished.

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Andy **********

@Michael *******

ok thanks 🙏

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Andy **********

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Andy **********

@Michael *******

thanks , that’s fills a little gap in my knowledge about what I have to do in the future 👍

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Andy **********

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John **********

Can you be included in a blue book? I thought that was for thais only. And you go on a yellow book if you want to go in one.

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Doug *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

thanks, I'm not really sure. I seem to recall someone saying that they were on their wife's house book, but I may not have understood this correctly. Hence my question, I just wanted to know if both alternatives are available, which would be the better one, thanks again.

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Lennart **********

I’m swedish, and my name is printed in my girlfriends blue housebook. As a father of our son.

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John **********

only one option for you, the yellow book. But it's not a huge advantage anyway

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Jeff *******

@John *********

True but at the same time you can get the pink ID card which is useful, means your passport never needs to leave the house.

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John **********

my Thai driving licence is accepted pretty much everywhere

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Jeff *******

@John *********

Yes anything they can photocopy but my point being the ID card has it's uses. Many people say it's pointless

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John **********

only one as far as I can figure out and that doesn't hold true everywhere and that's to circumvent the need for a residence certificate

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John **********

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Vinny **************

you can get yellow book in your name . Blue book is for wife and children

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Vinny **************

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Graham ******

@John *********

correct

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Graham ******

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