Yellow house book (Tor Ror 13) and pink ID card
Adding a foreigner to the yellow house registration book at the district registrar, documents that must be translated and certified, the pink non-Thai ID card, and where they actually help in transactions.
What should I verify about the landlord before signing a lease?
Check the title deed or condominium unit title to confirm the signatory is the owner or holds a genuine power of attorney from the owner, match the ID card to the name on the title, and check whether the property is mortgaged, because a later mortgage enforcement can affect the tenant. Also ask for a copy of the house registration book for the property — you will need it for the TM30 filing and visa applications.
Why do visa and work-permit applications ask for my lease?
Immigration uses proof of accommodation when considering an extension of stay. Officers commonly ask for the lease, copies of the owner's house registration book and ID card, the TM30 acknowledgement, a map to the residence, and photographs of the applicant at the address. Requirements vary by office, so confirm the current checklist with the office where you will file before your appointment.
When do banks ask for a certified letter from a lawyer or embassy?
When the customer has no work permit and no Thai house registration, banks ask for extra identity and address evidence: a residence certificate from Immigration, an embassy letter, or documents whose signatures and copies have been certified. Supporting foreign documents must be translated into Thai or English and legalised as the bank requires.
Can a foreigner buy and register a car in Thailand?
Yes. Thai law does not bar a foreigner from owning a vehicle, but registration requires proof of a Thai address such as an Immigration residence certificate, a yellow house book, or a certificate of residence, together with passport and visa. Transfers are executed before the registrar or by power of attorney on the department's form; check any hire-purchase or encumbrance on the vehicle first.
What is the yellow house book (Tor Ror 13)?
It is the house registration book for non-Thai nationals lawfully residing in the Kingdom, issued by the district or local registrar under the civil registration law. It differs from the blue book used for Thai nationals. Being listed in it grants no land ownership right, but it provides official proof of address for many transactions.
What is needed to be added to a yellow house book?
Generally a passport with a valid visa, the TM30 acknowledgement, evidence of residence such as a lease or unit title, copies of the housemaster's house book and ID card, and witnesses as the registrar requires. Foreign documents such as passports and marriage certificates need Thai translations certified in a form the registrar accepts. Requirements vary by registrar office, so ask in advance.
What is the pink card for non-Thai nationals used for?
It is an identification card issued by the registrar to people listed in the non-Thai house registration book. It makes proving identity and address easier with domestic agencies and some hospitals. It is not a travel document and not evidence of a right of residence — your stay still rests on your visa and the permission granted by Immigration.
If I am in the house book, do I still report every 90 days?
Yes. The duty to notify your address every 90 days comes from section 37(4) of the Immigration Act and attaches to temporary-stay permission; it is not removed by being listed in a yellow house book or holding a pink card. Different reporting conditions apply only to holders of a residence certificate and alien registration book.
What does the VIP accompanied-visit service cover?
Advance document review, queue booking or appointment coordination, Thai-English or other-language interpreting as agreed, and an attorney or staff member attending with you at the Land Office, district registrar, Immigration, the Department of Land Transport or a bank — plus sequencing filings across agencies so nothing expires mid-process. Ask about scope and fees by phone, LINE or email.
What is the yellow house book (Tor Ror 13) and is it worth getting?
It is the house registration book for non-Thai nationals resident in the Kingdom, and it serves as address evidence that Thai authorities accept. It smooths several processes: driving licence applications, account opening at some banks, vehicle registration, and land transactions. Applications usually require a passport with valid visa, evidence of occupying the property, a certified translation of the passport, the house master and witnesses. Processing times differ between municipalities, so ask locally first.
Can a foreigner register a car or motorbike in their own name?
Yes. The Department of Land Transport registers vehicles to foreigners who can evidence a Thai address. The core documents are a passport with a valid visa, a residence certificate from immigration or your embassy or a Tor Ror 13 house book, and the dealer invoice or sale agreement. Some offices want every stamped passport page copied and signed. On insurance, take comprehensive cover or at least compulsory insurance plus third-party liability — Phuket's accident statistics are high.
What does a relocation concierge actually do?
It covers the tasks that need Thai and queueing at government offices: booking and accompanying you to immigration for extensions or residence certificates, filing TM30, applying for the Tor Ror 13 house book, attending bank account opening, arranging driving licence appointments, finding housing and reviewing the lease, liaising with schools, and providing an interpreter on key appointment days. We build a personal document checklist first, which cuts the repeat trips that cost new arrivals the most time.
What should I settle before leaving Thailand permanently?
The commonly forgotten items are cancelling the work permit and closing the Non-B visa in the correct order, filing personal income tax for the departure year and obtaining a tax payment certificate if a foreign authority will need it, closing or keeping bank accounts per the bank's guidance, deregistering from the Tor Ror 13 house book, terminating lease and utility contracts in writing, and collecting key documents such as employment certificates or medical records with certified translation and legalisation done before you go.
What is the yellow house book and how useful is it?
The house registration for foreign residents, commonly called the yellow book, is a civil-registration document naming a foreign national as a resident of that address, issued by the district office. It is not compulsory, but it helps in practice with driving licences, opening accounts at some banks, vehicle registration and proving your address to government offices. The usual documents are your passport with a certified translation, the house registration of the property, the house owner's ID and the witnesses each district requires.
Which documents are needed for a Thai driving licence after relocating?
Typically a passport with a valid visa, proof of address such as a residence certificate from Immigration or your embassy or the yellow house book, a medical certificate issued within the prescribed period, and your foreign licence with a certified translation if you wish to be exempted from the practical test. Applicants without an existing licence take the classroom session, the physical aptitude test, the written test and the road test. The first licence is valid for two years before conversion to the five-year type.
What kind of lease do Immigration and banks actually accept?
The lease should name a landlord matching the title deed or house registration, spell your name exactly as in your passport, state the full address including unit and building name, run beyond the current date, and carry both signatures. Attach a certified copy of the owner's ID card, the house registration and proof of ownership. If you rent from a company, include the company affidavit and a power of attorney. The most common defect is a landlord who is not the registered owner, which invalidates the residence notification and every filing built on top of it.
What do foreigners need to open a Thai bank account?
Banks look at identity, immigration status and the reason for the account. Commonly requested items are a passport with a valid entry stamp, proof of a Thai address such as a certificate of residence or a yellow house book, an employment letter or work permit if you have one, and a Thai mobile number. Some branches also ask for a reference letter from an employer or business partner. Practice varies by branch, so bring more supporting documents than you think you need and approach a branch used to serving foreign customers.
What is the yellow house book and where is it obtained?
The house registration book for foreign residents, commonly called the yellow book, smooths domestic transactions such as opening accounts, registering a vehicle, obtaining a driving licence, and dealing with local offices. Apply at the district office covering the property with your passport, proof of residence, ownership documents or the householder's consent, certified translations, and the witnesses the registrar requires. Processing time varies by district.
Other topics
Official sources referenced
- • สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง — แจ้งที่พักและรายงานตัว 90 วัน (immigration.go.th)
- • กรมการปกครอง สำนักบริหารการทะเบียน — ทะเบียนบ้าน ท.ร.13 (bora.dopa.go.th)
- • กรมการขนส่งทางบก — ใบอนุญาตขับรถ (dlt.go.th)
- • ธนาคารแห่งประเทศไทย — หลักเกณฑ์การรับลูกค้าและเงินตราต่างประเทศ (bot.or.th)
- • สำนักงานคณะกรรมการส่งเสริมการศึกษาเอกชน (opec.go.th)
- • สำนักงาน คปภ. — ธุรกิจประกันภัย (oic.or.th)
- • BOI — วีซ่าผู้พำนักระยะยาว LTR (ltr.boi.go.th)
- • กรมที่ดิน — การจดทะเบียนการเช่า (dol.go.th)
Government fees and processing times on this page were last verified in July 2026 by our Notarial Services Attorneys registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Figures follow published agency schedules, may change without notice, and actual turnaround depends on each authority's queue. Please reconfirm with the issuing authority before you file.