Answereda year ago

What precautions should I take if a Visa Agent, realtor, or Insurance agent requests photos of my passport in Thailand?

Passport Safety Visa Agents Thai Visa Regulations Expat Advice Document Security Thailand Immigration

Don **********

asked Jul 22, 2025

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Is there any precaution I should take if a Visa Agent, realtor, or Insurance agent requests photos of my passport?  Can this cause problems for me?

Answer summary

It's common practice in Thailand for agents and businesses to request copies of your passport. Many establishments, such as hotels and banks, routinely handle passport information. If you are uncomfortable providing your passport, consider carrying extra copies to share instead. Always ensure that the copies are returned, and never allow anyone to keep your original documents. Trust your instinct and use common sense when sharing personal information.

9 repliesnewest first

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Mike *******

1. Make sure they give it back after copying. 2. No.

a year ago

Paul ********

Just do it. There is some level of risk in everything, including merely crossing a street. Or cowering in your hotel room.

Use your common sense and never let anyone keep your original anything, and you should be just fine.

a year ago

Sheen ************

This common across many countries

a year ago

Don **********

a year ago

Ling *****

@Don *********

there is no way you will get anything done for you at a visa agent if they don't take copies of your passport.

a year ago

Pete *******

If you are not comfortable with businesses taking a copy of your passport perhaps international travel is not for you. Completely normal.

a year ago

James *******

In Thailand every hotel gets passport copy, every bank gets passport, if you don't want to give 2000 thb deposit motorcycle rental shop keeps your passport.. it is very common to give passport info in Thailand

a year ago

Phil *******

How would you expect them to do their jobs without taking a copy?

a year ago

Ant ***********

I would be more worried about various , car or motorcycle rentals than those you have listed , it’s very common to take copies of your passport in many situations.

If you don’t feel comfortable giving them your passport to copy , do about 10 copies & carry them with you .

Visa agents may hold passports whilst things are pending for up to a week or more .

a year ago