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What is the correct process for obtaining a yellow book and pink card in Thailand without traveling to Bangkok?
Yellow BookPink CardPermanent ResidencyVisa RulesThai ImmigrationAmphur OfficeBritish EmbassyMFA CertificationExpat Life in Thailand
Sep 1, 2025
8 months ago
Kenny **********
ORIGINAL POSTERAdvice needed please.
I want to get a yellow book and a pink card. I am looking at applying for permanent residency next year and am informed that having a yellow book makes the process easier.
Background: I am married to a Thai national and have been living and working in Thailand for two years. I have done my tax returns.
My understanding of applying for the yellow book from my local amphur where I enquired about the yellow book is that I need a translated and mfa certified copy of my passport.
I do not have time to travel to Bangkok to get this done so approached a legal firm who informed me that I must travel to the British embassy in Bangkok to get the passport certified first, tgen translated into Thai and then certified by MFA but online it says only a translated copy of my passport with MFA certification.
If I have to travel to the British embassy it’ll be some time before I can do that .
My question which is the correct way to do this and is there an agent who can do this so I don’t have to travel to Bangkok
I want to get a yellow book and a pink card. I am looking at applying for permanent residency next year and am informed that having a yellow book makes the process easier.
Background: I am married to a Thai national and have been living and working in Thailand for two years. I have done my tax returns.
My understanding of applying for the yellow book from my local amphur where I enquired about the yellow book is that I need a translated and mfa certified copy of my passport.
I do not have time to travel to Bangkok to get this done so approached a legal firm who informed me that I must travel to the British embassy in Bangkok to get the passport certified first, tgen translated into Thai and then certified by MFA but online it says only a translated copy of my passport with MFA certification.
If I have to travel to the British embassy it’ll be some time before I can do that .
My question which is the correct way to do this and is there an agent who can do this so I don’t have to travel to Bangkok
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice on the correct process to obtain a yellow book and pink card in Thailand, mentioning their marriage to a Thai national and their residency status. They have been informed that having a yellow book can simplify the permanent residency application process. They are confused about the certification of their passport, as one legal firm advised that they must travel to the British embassy in Bangkok for certification, whereas online information suggests only an MFA certified translation is needed. Several comments provide insights into different experiences, with some expats having successfully navigated the process without traveling to Bangkok, highlighting variability in procedures at different Amphur offices and the role of legal assistance.
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Donald **********
You need to get your passport certified at the British Embassy. To do it in person, there is currently about a 2 week waiting list. First you must register your details and pay the £25 fee. They will then send a link so you can make an appointment. Pretty sure there is a courier/postage option too but I didn't pay it any heed as I will attend in person. Confirmed all this with the local Amphur two days ago and they were very helpful. New passport in my case and not the one certified when I got married a couple of years ago.
Jeremy ********
I just went to a translation company had my passport translated cost was ฿300
Had the housemaster verify my identity and I was living there
Had my meeting with the head of the amphur office that took a week for the appointment
Paid ฿80 for my pink ID card and was given a yellow house book
Super simple barely an inconvenience to get it all done
Had the housemaster verify my identity and I was living there
Had my meeting with the head of the amphur office that took a week for the appointment
Paid ฿80 for my pink ID card and was given a yellow house book
Super simple barely an inconvenience to get it all done
Phil ******
@Ke***
i really think you need to travel to Bangkok as needs to be stamped but MFA in person.Allan ******
Speak if can head of village also
Donald **********
@Allan *****
Head of village will likely pose in a photo with you of the house. I suppose this is to establish that you haven't caused any controversay locally. First stop should be the local Amphur to confirm their exact requirements rather than relying on heresay and whatiferey. Best to have wife/local Thai speaker with you to obtain the correct requirements.Allan ******
@Donald *********
yes very much what will happen andReply to
Allan ******
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Steve *******
I understand that you must have a visa with extensions for a minimum of three years and must have conversational Thai
Pertti *************
@Steve ******
chonburi they just needed non immigrant visa and 6months in country.Steve *******
@Pertti ************
I am aware that different offices can interpret the rules differently, but this is a big step away from the current guidelines.Pertti *************
@Steve ******
yes permanent recidency is step to citizenship if not married. But he was asking tabien baan.Steve *******
@Pertti ************
he was asking about tabien baan as a step towards permanent reesidencyReply to
Steve *******
Reply
Ossie *********
I just took my blue book to the Tassaban office with a Thai friend and 30 minutes later had my yellow book and pink card and due to my age they told me it didn’t have to be renewed this was 2017 think it was about 250 baht I also had my UK passport with current bus stamp
Jim *******
@Ossie ********
How could you possibly get the Blue Book? That is for Thai nationals only.Pertti *************
@Jim ******
you get blue book when you build house or buy condo. But it's empty and if register yourself there you get yellow book.Ossie *********
@Jim ******
two properties two blue booksReply to
Ossie *********
Reply
Jim *******
I hired a lawyer, not an agency. There were more hoops than what you said (could be specific to my City Council, could be less with yours). Certified my Australian passport, then the lawyer went to Immigration. Then with me and my wife to the Samut Prakhan City Council. Took 1 hour, City Council copied whatever they could.
The lawyer ( a wonderful mature lady, great English) came to the nearby Starbucks, with her assistant, with portable all in 1 printer, scanner and copier.
3 weeks later, the lawyer said my yellow book is waiting on me.
Defeats me, I am the owner of the condo, my wife and our daughter (Thai nationals) have their Blue Book. My wife has to sign for my Yellow book.
Well, Thai laws.
Wife and myself live in Japan, daughter in Australia. None of us living in Thai.
The price for the lawyer's service was 15,500 THB. She was great, I may have some other legal dealings in Thai (my will, for example) I would use her services again.
The lawyer ( a wonderful mature lady, great English) came to the nearby Starbucks, with her assistant, with portable all in 1 printer, scanner and copier.
3 weeks later, the lawyer said my yellow book is waiting on me.
Defeats me, I am the owner of the condo, my wife and our daughter (Thai nationals) have their Blue Book. My wife has to sign for my Yellow book.
Well, Thai laws.
Wife and myself live in Japan, daughter in Australia. None of us living in Thai.
The price for the lawyer's service was 15,500 THB. She was great, I may have some other legal dealings in Thai (my will, for example) I would use her services again.
Alphonso ********
@Jim ******
Please forward the Attorneys contact details my name is Alphons Lamour from Cape Town S A im a Property Developer woukd like to settle in Thailand Your support would be highly appreciated. Kind regardsReply to
Alphonso ********
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Stuart ***********
I should have said, my experience with the MFA was that for them to do their certification, you need the passport certified by the British Embassy first. Having said that, i have seen posts from several people who seem to wander into their local Amphur with virtually no documentation and walk out with a yellow book and pink ID card a few minutes later🤷♂️. As always with Thailand it varies from office to office, but it took me weeks to organise mine.
Colin **********
@Stuart **********
yeah my local office gave me a yellow book and pink card without certification but my father inlaw did know the bossStuart ***********
@Colin *********
that would definitely help! That's why I said it, as I have seen several reports from people that I would class as reliable sources of information, saying they had no problem at all, so I know it just depends on the Amphur and who you see on the day.Colin **********
Yes, its so Thai that relationships go along way.
Reply to
Colin **********
Reply
Stuart ***********
You can request it online and send your passport to the British Embassy. I did mine that way a few months ago and it came back in about a week. I don't know where you live, but I was lucky as I live in Hua Hin and could access the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.
Reply to
Stuart ***********
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