Rules
Do you have to carry your passport in Thailand?
Short answer
Carry ID; the advice on a copy differs.
Canada and Australia say you must carry identification, but the advice on whether a copy is enough differs. The UK says police may ask to see your passport and a copy of the photo page is usually enough; without it you may have to show the passport at a police station within 24 hours. Canada says carry a copy, but police may still demand the original and you could be detained. We found no Thai legal text that settles it.
Checked · 5 sources · How we check
What governments advise
| Government | What it says |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Police may ask to check your passport. A copy of the photo page is usually enough; otherwise you may be asked to show the passport at a police station within 24 hours.1 |
| Canada | Carry identification at all times: a copy of your passport's photo page and your visa or entry stamp. Police may still require the original, and you could be detained if you can't show it.2 |
| Australia | It is illegal to travel without carrying identification.3 |
In Pattaya
In 2018 Pattaya's Tourist Police commander told foreign envoys that the letter of the law requires tourists to carry their passport, but that officers in practice accept a photocopy (news).4 Identity checks happen: in a June 2026 police raid on an unlicensed Walking Street club, officers checked the passports and work permits of everyone inside (news).5
What to carry
- A copy of your passport's photo page and of your entry stamp.2 Keep it on paper and on your phone.
- Your passport itself when you fly within Thailand: foreign passengers must show it for domestic flights.3
- Never your passport as a deposit for a motorbike or jet ski.1
Unclear: we found no Thai law section in an official source stating the rule. Carrying the original is the safest choice; carrying a copy is what the UK and Pattaya's Tourist Police have described as usually accepted.
Questions people ask
Do I need to carry my passport in Pattaya?
Canada and Australia say you must carry identification. The UK says a copy of the photo page is usually enough, but police can ask you to show the passport at a station within 24 hours; Canada says police may still require the original.
Is a passport copy enough in Thailand?
Usually, according to the UK government and Pattaya's Tourist Police in 2018, but Canada warns police may still demand the original. We found no Thai legal text that settles it.
Sources
- Thailand travel advice: safety and security (updated 12 October 2026), UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Checked 14 October 2026.
- Travel advice and advisories for Thailand (updated 13 October 2026), Government of Canada. Checked 14 October 2026.
- Thailand travel advice (updated 29 September 2026), Australian Government, Smartraveller. Checked 14 October 2026.
- Pattaya: tourists can carry a copy of their passport (news, 13 April 2018), Pattaya Mail. Checked 14 October 2026.
- Police and DSI raid an unlicensed Walking Street club at 3 a.m. (news, 2 June 2026), Pattaya Mail. Checked 14 October 2026.
Facts on this page were checked on the date shown. Rules and prices change; the source is the final word. Found something out of date? Tell us.