Answereda year ago
What are the yellow book and blue book in Thailand and how do they help expats?
Hi, new to Thailand on a retirement visa, can someone explain yellow book and blue book I keep hearing about and what it helps you accomplish, Thanks
Answer summary
The yellow book and blue book refer to the house registration books in Thailand, where the yellow book is designated for foreigners and the blue book for Thai citizens. While obtaining these documents can help with local residency verification and facilitate administrative processes like opening a bank account and securing a driver's license, many expats feel the effort may not be worth it. The process varies by district and often includes document verification and local endorsements. Many expats find that alternative proof of residence suffices for their needs.
42 repliesnewest first
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Olav *********
I have lived here since August 2024.
I wanted a bank account and driver license.
So first l went to immigration and got a paper that allowed me to be written in my girls bluebook.
Then l went to amphoe in my district, they did the translation,the only thing l need to translate was my name to thai for the pink card.
Then a village elder/worker hade to come there and sign l live where we say. Costed 60 baht.
I then got the pink id,yellow book and went to the bank and got an account.
Then l went to the office for driver license and got my Norwegian driver license translated to thai,watched a 1hr movie and took reaction test and light test payed 200 baht and 10min l got the license.
This was 3weeks ago in wangsaphung.
Hope it helps you little.
I wanted a bank account and driver license.
So first l went to immigration and got a paper that allowed me to be written in my girls bluebook.
Then l went to amphoe in my district, they did the translation,the only thing l need to translate was my name to thai for the pink card.
Then a village elder/worker hade to come there and sign l live where we say. Costed 60 baht.
I then got the pink id,yellow book and went to the bank and got an account.
Then l went to the office for driver license and got my Norwegian driver license translated to thai,watched a 1hr movie and took reaction test and light test payed 200 baht and 10min l got the license.
This was 3weeks ago in wangsaphung.
Hope it helps you little.
Pertti *************
When you build or buy your house you get blue book and when you register that you moved in you get yellow book👍
Alan *******
My proof of residence receipt and 90 day checks will do me ,a thai licence yes i will need.
Jeff *************
OPThank You all for the advice, im not going to worry about tge books but I am getting a driver's license, just finished tge online course online going in tomorrow
Adam ******
The yellow book isn't worth the effort involved.
Donald **********
@Martyn **********
Not everyone spends their time propping up bars, smart arse. The Yellow House Book was quoted as being a requirement for opening a bank account with a local branch of the SCB bank and the description of the obtaining of it was a heads up on how involved it could be, for someone who enquired. Be a good idea to figure out how to compose sentences before posting stuff too. 'waste of time and error...' Care to shed some light on that, or was it composed from the top of a bar stool?
Martyn ***********
@Donald *********
ahh... It's obvious your one those people then, hit nerve did it? 555You carry on with your precious little yellow book, maybe you can find someone who's impressed by it... 👍
Donald **********
@Martyn **********
Wolf actually and a photo taken by myself you wee nonentity!Martyn ***********
@Donald *********
says the bloke with a dog as his profile pic.. 😂Donald **********
@Martyn **********
Not so big brave keyboard warrior aren’t you, twinkle toes? Hiding behind a locked profile like the rest of the tossers.Donald **********
@Adam *****
in your humble opinion. Others have their own opinion so don’t presume to speak on behalf of others.Adam ******
@Donald *********
Go on then ..... enlighten me. " I’m sure the yellow housebook will have uses too that are not immediately obvious yet" ....... your words, not mine.Donald **********
@Adam *****
Have you got your wee Gucci bag to keep your passport pristine in then you wee Status Quo seeetheart you! Some people actually use their passport multiple times a year and prefer to limit it’s use when possible. Now toddle off and fantasise about Rick Parfit, although I imagine your Rocking All Over the World days are long past! BTW if you took your head out of your arse you’d see other people quoting the SCB bank as requiring a Yellow Book in order to open a bank account with them too!
Adam ******
@Donald *********
The pink ID card was never mentioned in the original post. I think the SCB made that yellow Book rule up on the spot just to piss you off. This statement ..... "Saves wear and tear on your passport" is laughable.Donald **********
@Adam *****
The Pink ID card has already proved it’s worth oh mystic one as I’ve explained previously. Or maybe you prefer carrying your passport about in a man bag? I’ve no doubt the Yellow Book will prove it’s worth too but I’ll speak from experience on that rather than make an unresearched statement. BTW the Pink ID card was received through the same process that the Yellow card was so came as a package that didn’t require further bureaucracy to obtain.Thinking back, the reason I decided to apply for the Yellow House Book now, rather than later, is that it was mentioned by a local branch of the SCB as being a requirement for opening a bank account with them.
Jo **********
@Adam *****
trueJo **********
neither are necessary or useful
Wayne ********
@Jo *********
I have to show a copy of our house blue book every time I apply for my one year extension to stay.
Ian **********
@Jo *********
My local Bangkok Bank said I couldn't open an account without a yellow book unless I had a work permit or a letter from my embassyDonald **********
The requirements for obtaining your yellow book and pink ID card vary depending on the district (sub district) office you are dealing with and what property you are registering as your home. Can include passport verification at your embassy then translation to Thai and certification by the Thai MFA. Can also include same for birth certificate. Interviews with your neighbours and local headman(men) and meeting at the district office with same. Photographs of same people above at your property. Copies of your visa and(or) extension of stay. Mine took just over a week to accomplish after obtaining the certification from my embassy and I already had papers from my previous marriage requirements. First thing to do is to approach your local district office and check what they want. Having a Thai person (partner) with you simplifies things and be prepared to financially compensate the Thai witnesses and headman(men) for their time to the level of the local daily wages.
Jo **********
@Donald *********
neither are necessary or usefulDonald **********
@Jo *********
Allow me to disagree with you there. I’ve already found the pink ID card more convenient for registering at hotels and as ID for domestic flights. Saves wear and tear on your passport and in the case of men who don’t feel the need to carry handbags, it fits in your wallet. I’m sure the yellow housebook will have uses too that are not immediately obvious yet.Jo **********
@Donald *********
ok for sureDonald **********
@Jo *********
I’m sure that will be more difficult to obtain than a yellow book and ID card. I was filling in time while my 800,000k matured and was a good excuse to spend a few days in the fantastical Bangkok.Jo **********
@Donald *********
ok but lived in Thailand for 15 years no drivers license no books . in 2 years I will have my PR
Tony *******
Following
Colin **********
If you own a condo you can get a blue book.
Rudi ***********
@Colin *********
Colin Chaffers: As a foreigner, we can only get the yellow house book (Tabienbaan). I'm currently working on obtaining the yellow house book.Colin **********
Cool Peter
Rudi ***********
@Colin *********
Als buitenlander kunnen wij alleen het gele huisboek = tabien baan krijgen. Ik ben bezig met het verkrijgen van het gele huisboek.Jo **********
@Rudi **********
i lived in Thailand for 10 years never needed it and by the way I was educated in the polder and can speak EnglishJo **********
@Rudi **********
rudeJo **********
@Rudi **********
you are a rude person I am Dutch and will never post something in a language others will not verstaan.Rudi ***********
@Jo *********
If you look at my Dutch comment, you'll probably see that I replied to a woman who spoke Dutch. Your comment is therefore incorrect. And everyone is welcome to see my profile, you friendly man.
Sascha **********
@Rudi **********
niet helemaal waar, ik ben huiseigenaar en heb een blauw boek met mijn naam erin. Het is idd niet erg gebruikelijk.Rudi ***********
@Pete ******
When my apartment was registered at the land office, in the presence of the building owner and the lawyer, I received the official registration certificate with my name in Thai on the back, including the blue house book. However, this book has no entries; it needs to be converted to a yellow house book, just as you said.
Pete *******
@Rudi **********
as a foreigner you cannot be registered in a blue book. Foreigners are registered in the yellow book.Rudi ***********
@Pete ******
There is at least one person who believes me, right ...🫠Pete *******
@Colin *********
a blue book is a civil registration of your address, blue for Thai yellow for non Thai. If you own a condo you can get a blue book but it will be blank. You as a foreigner cannot be registered in a blue book. A blue book has nothing to do with ownership just civil registration.Colin **********
@Rudi **********
unnesscesary comment, if you legally own a condo you are entitled to a blue book. In my experience the Yelllow book is limited use, but that might change.Rudi ***********
@Sascha *********
dat vind ik heel raar, aangezien alleen Thaise mensen een blauw boek kunnen krijgen. U bent misschien gehuwd met een Thaise man?
Andi ***********
They refer to house registration. Yellow is for foreigners, blue for Thai.
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