[kelly]

A lot of people have been asking me what are the current rules on passports in Bangkok.
Firstly this forum is not really the best place to post this stuff, however I assume readers of this web page do visit, or planning to visit Thailand.

Generally if you’re out and about the city, or visiting bars or night clubs, you only need to carry a copy of your passport. A photocopy of the face page and a copy of your visa.
Get a small plastic credit card holder and use that to protect the photocopies. Some guys get a high quality color photocopy of the face page, scale it down to credit card size, and then get it laminated. You will need it if you’re buying anything with your credit card.

The general rule is, don’t carry your original passport around the streets, if you lose it, or it is stolen, it will ruin your trip,
you will have to get a temporary passport, which means a visit to your embassy, paying a fee, and hanging around all day until they prepare a passport for you.

Remember you can’t leave Thailand, or even enter your own country without a passport. It’s a valuable document, take good care of it. Use a photocopy, it might save you a big headache.

However, if you want to mail a letter from the Post office, you actually will need your full passport.
The reason given for this is to deter drug dealers from using Thai Post to send their merchandise through the mail.
Initially when you hear this, you might think well okay, that sounds reasonable, but if you stop and think about it for a minute or two.
If you are a drug dealer, all you have to do is get your Thai buddy to mail your package. No passport required....Duh!

Anyway enjoy your trip to Bangkok, you will have fun, and take care of yourself, and your passport.

Kelly.