The yellow tabien baan – getting registered
What is the Tabien Baan?
A tabien baan (ทะเบียนบ้าน), or house book, is simply a government issued booklet listing all the people registered at a particular address in Thailand. It is a basic administrative document and forms the basis of Thailand’s registration system for all citizens and permanent residents.
With this basic document, ID cards can be issued, and together they then allow further access to a myriad of government services (e.g. health, licenses, welfare, tax) as well as being useful for all types of banking and other financial services.
Being on a tabien baan does not signify ownership of the place of registry. It merely lists those who are officially registered at that address. All tabien baans will be controlled by a ‘house master’, which is a designated person who gives permission for a person to be registered at that address. Similarly, that person need not be the owner.
There are two types of tabien baan:
- The blue tabien baan (Thor.Ror 14 or ท.ร.14) for Thai nationals and permanent residents and;
- The yellow tabien baan (Thor.Ror 13 or ท.ร.13) for foreigners without permanent residency in Thailand.
Blue tabien baan’s (Thor.Ror.14 or ท.ร.14) are reserved for Thai citizens and permanent residents.
Yellow tabien baan’s (Thor.Ror.13 or ท.ร.13) allow all other people with valid visas to be registered into Thailand’s national registry system.
Many foreigners living in Thailand don’t bother registering on a yellow tabien baan. This has mainly been because of a lack of awareness of both foreigners, but also Thai officials, of their existence.
However over recent years the documents have become more popular as being on a tabien baan provides foreigners a unique ID number, useful for dealing with certain government agencies.
Without a tabien baan, banks and government agencies will normally use your passport number as a default ID. This generally works fine, however in the event that a passport expires and is replaced, your new passport number will not match your previous records on file. These small discrepancies have caused major hassles for instance when people try to replace lost bank books or credit cards and your ID on record doesn’t perfectly match.
In many cases, the yellow tabien baan also negates the need for a foreigner to get a ‘residency confirmation letter’ from their embassy, which is often required for opening bank accounts or applying or renewing driver’s licenses. Depending on the embassy, they may only be a single use document (requiring multiple trips) and many embassies also charge a pretty penny to issue them.
Requirements for a yellow Tabien Baan
Unlike most of the requirements for applying for Thai citizenship which are pretty exacting, getting a tabien baan issued really comes down to the whims of the officials in the local district office (สำนักงานเขต). However, for the most part the documents requirements usually consist of the ones outlined below. These include copies of:
- Your passport’s data page;
- Your birth certificate;
- Your passport page showing your Thai visa;
- Your spouse’s Thai ID Card (if married);
- A rental contract (if applicable);
- Blue tabien baan of the address you wish to be registered;
- A copy of your marriage certificate (if applicable);
- Two passport sized photo’s;
- Two Thai citizen witnesses aged 20 or above; and
- Given the tabien baan will all be in Thai, written details in Thai of your basic data information (name, date of birth) as well as your parents’ names.
Given you will be entered on someone’s house registration, the ‘house master’ will need to attend and formally give permission for you to be entered on the tabien baan. If you are a rural area, occasionally the village head, or ‘phu yai baan’ (ผู้ใหญ่บ้าน), is also asked to attend.
In some cases, the district office may require you to have Ministry of Foreign Affairs registered translations of documents which are not in Thai or have been procured overseas.
As mentioned earlier, given that each Thai district office applies their own take on the rules for issuing a yellow tabien baan, it is worth checking in with your district office in advance to see what their exact requirements are.
Processing time
Depending on how familiar your district office are with issuing them, they can be issued with little fuss in under an hour. For more remote district offices, you may find officials pulling out the Thai civil service instruction manual on issuing the documents, and it may take a number of days if sign-offs from senior officials in that particular office are required. Others yet, may also want to interview you as well to double check why you want to be registered, as well as to verify your relationship if married.
Unfortunately, from time to time, certain offices are reluctant to issue them for no good reason, but this is fortunately less common in Bangkok and larger cities.
Do you need to live where you are registered?
The simple answer is ‘no’. It is very common for most Thai’s to not actually live where they are registered, particularly people who have to move provinces for work. Landlords generally don’t let their tenants be registered on their tabien baan either.
Citizenship applications: where should I be registered?
As outlined in other sections of this website, for those who are applying for Thai citizenship via marriage or permanent residency routes, then being registered in Bangkok is ideal as that will allow a dedicated Police Special Branch naturalization unit to process your application.
I currently live with my wife of 30 years in her family home of Petchaburi. I have a yearly Retirement visa.
We visited the ampur muang office to request adding me as a permanent resident to her tabien baan blue book. She is the homeowner. We were told we need to get my American passport translated! I wonder why?
US Embassy as of March 1st no longer provides a letter of residence. Can we get a letter of residence or added to the tabien baan at the provincial Thai Immigration office here?
Likewise, can we get a letter from Thai immigration in Bangkok even though we live in Petchaburi?
Hi Robert.
Apologies – I’m unfamiliar with the process for letters of residences either via embassies or immigration, so I can’t answer your questions on those issues.
With respect to getting registered on the tabieen Baan, please note that you aren’t eligible to be put on the blue tabieen Baan. You can only be put on the yellow one, where non-Thai citizens can be registered.
As for the translation of the passport, given your name will be written in thai on the tabieen Baan, district offices will sometimes want an official translation of your name if it is not already available on an alternative document such as a thai work permit. Hopefully that explains the reasoning behind the need for a translation.
Hi, i am looking for a unofficial / official English version of yellow Tan Bian Baan (Translation version ) in pdf or word format or any format , do you have this ? Thanks in advance
Hi there – unfortunately I don’t. I’m sure one is out there in the internet somewhere. Sorry I can’t be more help.
TC
The MFA provides an official Blue Book translation template. I would say the yellow book is not that different. Maybe it helps. See here: https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/publicservice/ตัวอย่างแบบฟอร์มเอกสารภาษาอังกฤษ
Hi, I want to apply for citizenship at some point (via the marriage route) and I need to get a yellow tabien baan. I live in a house in Bangkok with a long-term rental contract, but my in-laws are offering to put me on their house registration (also in Bangkok). Would the discrepancy between the tabien baan address and my actual address cause any problems, either with the citizen application process, or with immigration (90 day reporting, visa extension, etc)? Thank you!
It won’t be an issue. Special Branch in Bangkok just need your name on a tabieen baan in Bangkok so they can process your application. It isn’t necessary you actually live there. Plenty of people who live in the provinces move their names to a Bangkok address so they can take advantage of the central office, but never actually move there. You’ll be fine.
Cheers
TC
My mother died recently and had a yellow tabien ban, how soon do I need to cancel it and her pink is card
There isn’t any real reason to and from what I understand no definitive timetable, but you can take her death certificate to the district office and they will do so.
Do I get my Passport attested by my own Consulate/Embassy before submitting?
Hi Jimmi,
This will really depend on where you apply – some will be happy for your passport ‘as is’ and your name spelled out in Thai. Others will want a formally translated document. Unfortunately each district office will interpret the requirement differently.
Cheers
TC
My uncle had tabian baan yellow book. He has sadly passed away whilst in the UK. Does the yellow book mean he was domiciled in Thailand?
Sorry to hear about your uncle. The Tabieen Baan is simply a registered address for the government records. The definition of ‘domiciled’ can vary depending on what you are talking about (eg tax). The yellow tabieen baan doesn’t say anything to that, nor does it provide any comment on their visa type while in Thailand, which you would normally find in the passport.
Just been to get a Yellow Tabian baan book for myself and they require a certified and translated proof of my British passport!!!! WHY??
Does the passport not prove who you are? it works at immigration coming and going to Thailand. Such a colossal waste of time!!
Hi Nicol
Its not about proving who you are per se.
The Tabieen baan will have your name written in Thai, as such the district office (which is a separate entity with their own rules and standards) will want a certified translation of your name (which is done by the MFA) to ensure it adheres to standard translation protocols between Thai and English.
Cheers
TC
If I am reading this correctly, this is the procedure for being listed on the yellow Tabien Baan of a Thai person. I own a freehold condo in Bangkok. Can I apply for my own Tabien Baan?
Hi S – yep, if you own your own place then you can get yourself on your own yellow Tabieen baan.
Hi, would that be the same process as above?
Hi Steve, yes it would.
Great Article. Many thanks. I assume (I know I should in Thailand 555) that there is a form to complete? Does anyone know the form name or where to download. Many thanks and Stay Safe!
I think if there is any paperwork then the officer will probably be the one filling it in. But I am happy to stand corrected on this, it’s been so long since we’ve done it, but I don’t recall filling in a form.
Is it possible to get multiple yellow books for multiple residences or can you only get one.
No, your name can only be listed at one address at any one time.
Thank you for the great information!
1.) Is a Tabien Baan in Nonthaburi just as good as one from Bangkok, or is Bangkok better for getting the process done smoothly?
2.) Can you go to the Special Bureau of Police before you actually get on a Tabien Baan, or is the Tabien Baan step 1?
A Bangkok Tabieen Baan means you can apply via Special branch HQ. TB in Nonthaburi means you have to apply via there. I haven’t heard of any applications being successful done from there however.
You can certainly speak to special branch HQ to begin with but they won’t process your application until you have your name on a TB.
Great information!
Do you happen to know if the housemaster is required to physically be present at the District Office in order to put a foreigner on a Yellow Tabien Baan, or is it possible that the housemaster signs a form that is presented to the District Office without the Housemaster there (provided I have 2 adult witnesses and all the other necessary forms of ID and paperwork.)
My housemaster is in Hua Hin, but owns a house in Bangkok. Can the Yellow Tabien Baan from a Bangkok house be updated in a Hua Hin district office?
Sorry these are probably tough questions.
Yes, generally the HM will need to be there for anything to do with amending an entry to a yellow book.
Do you have experience with a district office in rural Thailand with holding your documents for no apparent reason. The Phyuai Baan and all village heads have signed off agreeing to add me to my mothers home. The office in Bangkok asked for the paperwork to be sent over. 2 years later nothing has happened. I am in the U.S. due to COVID restrictions. At this point would you advise getting a lawyer? Any advice would be much appreciated.
Very informative Website
Hi, do you have an experience doing the yellow book in nakhon pathom district? I was going to the district office this friday but just trying if ever there is more info in here.
Hi unfortunately we don’t. Every district office will have their own interpretation of the rules.
Sorry I can’t be if more help.
TC
Hi, I’m a single guy and I’ve bought a condo in Bangkok. I don’t have any Thai Visa. I do have a Apec card. Do you think if I’m entitled obtain a yellow tabien baan? I now only got the blue one after I bought the freehold condo there. Thank You.
Unfortunately every district office is a little bit different – you can certainly try but don’t be surprised if they want a non immigrant visa of some sort.
My husband is registered in Pratum Thani but we live in BKK. Do I get the landlord to approve me for a yellow tabien baan in BKK or do I apply for the same address as my husbands in Pratum Thani. Do we then apply for citizenship in BKK as this is where we live
Hi Roslyn,
So you’ll definitely need to be registered in Bangkok to apply in Bangkok – and so will your husband.
Landlords typically don’t take well to having their tenants being put on their tabieen baan, but if you are good friends with them they may be agreeable. The other option is to find the tabieen baan for some Thai friends who are willing to have your name be put on theirs.
In terms of applying for the yellow book, you can apply for it now where your husband is registered, and once you’ve located a Bangkok address, you can easily move your name and your husbands name to the new one.
Hope this helps.
TC
If we register in BKK then does my husband have 2 tabien baan registrations and will he have to change his ID card also.
What is the situation like to apply in Pratum Thani ? There are a lot of foreigners living there.
My House Master lives abroad , Will a power of attorney / copy of ID card be enough?
Hi Richard, you need to check with the district office as the documents required can vary from office to office. If no luck there, then you should look for another person who’d be happy for you to go onto their house book. Its not uncommon here to be registered at a different place from where you actually live.
Hello; I am a foreigner who bought a house in Hua Hin in a developpment complex. The house that I have paid for is on leasehold regarding the land. I have the blue book. How do I proceed to get the yellow book as the developpers were suggesting it had to be done in Bangkok, that it was very complicated and so on ?
Hi there – yeah not sure what the developers are talking about. They probably don’t even understand the concept of the yellow book. If I were you, I’d head down to the same district office that your house is registered in and ask them for the documents required to get onto the yellow book. It will be fairly similar I expect to what is in this article, but each place will be a little bit different in what info they want. Hopefully yours is straight forward.
I live in Chiangmai and just bought a house in a Ville but because i am not Thai or Thai PR, the house owner will be my Aunt who is Thai citizen. As per the above for yellow Tabien baan, what or how to qualify to register in it and later how to get pink Thai ID card? Could we need to ask local dustrict office?
Hi Ronald,
Yep, the district office is the place to go for it. They’ll have their list of requirements but hopefully it isn’t too different to the list mentioned in this article. After the issuance of the yellow TB, then they can issue you the Pink ID card.
None of this will give you any property ownership rights, but if you are looking to get Thai citizenship further down the track, they will be needed.
All the best!
As the yellow tabien baan will provide an unique ID number to me, can I apply for some kind of Thai ID card after obtaining the yellow tabien baan? Thanks.
Hi Ray,
Once in the yellow tabieen baan you will be able to apply for the pink ID card which is available to non-Thai nationals. Costs about 30 baht from memory.
So, being registered on a yellow Tabien Baan, would this take away the need for 90 day reporting?
Hi Kevin,
Unfortunately it won’t. It’s an immigration related document.
Cheers
Greetings.
Your website is amazing, and your apperance on the Bangkok Podcast was super helpfull and enlightful.
So I am as of right now on a tourist visa, which I will change into a non-b, and also I will get a work permit as I have got a job as a teacher starting now in May. I have been in Thailand for a couple of months every year the last 10 years and I am now aiming for the citizenship. That’s why I wan’t to register for a tabian baan asap to collect the points down the line.
As I read your requirements above, there is no need to be married to be applicable for a yellow tabian baan.
Would I be eligble to apply allready as of now on a tourist visa or do you think it’s wise to wait for work-permit and a non-b?
Do you have a link to where I can find the requirements for a yellow tabian baan in thai so that I can show my girlfriend and family? They seem pretty convinced that I need to be married to even consider applying for a tabiaan baan. My girlfriends aunt has a house and land so that is where I would register.
Thanks
Terje
Hi there Terje,
The marriage certificate isn’t compulsory and only required if you are actually married. You probably will struggle registering on a tourist visa so best to wait for the non-B and work permit.
Each district office has their own interpretation of things so you really need to ask them, just in case they are easier going that others. Typically what is required is:
– passport translated into Thai and certified
– an extension of stay for one year
– marriage certificate (if married)
– witnesses
– permission of the house master.
Much appreciated .
Do you have any recommendation on where I can get my passport translated? Does there have to be a autorized translator of some kind?
And the certification of it I guess is the Foreign minstry right?
Terje
No recommendations per se. But most translators will be able to handle the translation and then the liason with the MFA to have that translation certified.
Good luck with it all!
Hello and thank you for all this information. I would like to register in Bangkok but the house where I can do that has no ‘house master’ at the moment. Will that still be allowed I wonder?
Many thanks for your thoughts,
Hi there Rachel. To be honest I don’t know for sure. I seem to recall the owner of the house can do the same if there is no house master, but this is something you’d need to confirm with a district office.
Thanks so much. Really appreciate this web site and your taking time.
Hi there
Thank you very much for all of the amazing information contained within your site. You are very generous to spend your time sharing your incredible wealth of knowledge with us.
I have a question on the yellow tabien baan as it pertains to applying for Thai citizenship. I would be applying under the category of being married to a Thai citizen.
I have lived in Bangkok for 12 years and for 9 of those years I have lived in my own condo. I have a blue tabien baan which came attached to my condo but as you know cannot have my name on it given I am not a citizen.
Due to a lack of knowledge on my part I never applied to get a yellow tabien baan.
When applying for Citizenship I would need points under the Residence in Thailand category. This states that I must show evidence of residence (yellow tabien baan) for at least 5 years. If I apply for a yellow tabien baan now will the clock be set back to zero despite me having my own condo here for 9 years? Will I basically have to start again and build up 5 years on the new yellow tabien baan or can I get it backdated somehow to show I have been living here all along?
Any thoughts or advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks & best regards,
Steve
Hi Steve,
Thanks for finding the site and glad you have gotten some use out of it.
Great question and the good news is you have nothing to worry about. There is no minimum amount of time to hold the yellow tabieen baan. Many people only apply for one just before they submit their citizenship applications. The way the rule is written is that you get an extra 5 points for holding that yellow TB for 5 years. So there is no great loss on that front, particularly if your points score is strong in other areas.
Hopefully that answers the question and good luck with your citizenship application!
Really good site you got here, thanks for sharing your knowledge.
A question regarding blue or yellow book.
1. I’m married with Thai, i am working and having tax ID etc. can i get in the blue book or only yellow book for me?
2. In case i can get in blue book and i have tax ID already, do i still need all the above mentioned documents, i feel they have all information when i’m already having tax ID?
3. Same would i be able to get yellow book with only showing tax ID and work permit, or is all the papers still needed?.
Thanks for sharing
Br.
Anders
Hi Anders.
Glad you like the website!
The only people who can get on the blue tabieen baan are Thai citizens or those with Thai permanent residency. For everyone else it is the yellow book.
The list of documents outlined in this article are the ones typically asked for, but for the yellow book at least, each district office seems to have alot of latitude in determining what documents they do want, so be prepared for more than what I’ve got here, or much less.
Hi. I own a condo which I bought 5 years ago, in Pattaya. I have the Chanote and the Sale/Purchase agreement but no Book. So if I apply for a yellow book, I will be deemed as housemaster? As there is no blue book for my condo
Hi Steve,
There should be a blue book attached to your condo – but if there isn’t I’d see about getting one issued by the district office. Perhaps there was an oversight during the purchase process. With respect to who can be the house master – to be honest I’m not sure if it can only be Thai citizens, or whether foreign owners can be counted as the house master (but I have a sneaking suspicion they can). Assuming it is the case, then getting the yellow TB should be a formality.
Just tried to get yellow Tabien Baan in Pak Chong. Crazy they say I need to be married first and the waiting time is 1 year. Should I forget it or try and do it in Bangkok. Do I need an address in Bangkok or can I use the one in PakChong.
Hi Neil,
Yes, your story isn’t an uncommon one, particularly in the provinces where interpretations of the rules make it difficult. Bangkok is generally easier, but you’ll need an address in Bangkok you can use, and obviously the head of that household (on the house registry) to approve your being registered there. As said in the article, there is no need for you to actually live there.
Following getting it, it is a relatively easy procedure for you to move addresses after that – whereby you ask your current district office to print out some papers indicating you’ve been moved off, and a new district office will simply add you to a new yellow book without having to go through the initial rigmarole.
many thanks for your informative website and extensive personal replies.
I have one question though, in the Yellow Book requirements “visa” is stated. Does this need to be a long-term visa, or can it be a tourist visa as well?
Ultimately I want to apply for a non-O visa, I believe a marriage visa is called. But firstly I need a bank-account, but the banks are giving me great grieve and are not very helpful and understanding. It looks like I cant open an account without a long-term visa and I cant get a long-term visa without a bank-account.
So possibly having a Yellow Book will help to open an account, provided I can get one without the need for a long-term visa.
Thanks, Sander
Hi Sander,
In the case of the yellow tabieen baan, it should be that any valid entry permission can be shown, but I say this asking you to take it with a large grain of salt, as different district offices will have different interpretations. As for your situation about getting a bank account, it is a chicken and egg situation, but I’d look to open a bank account in the more touristic areas of Bangkok as they seem to have a better track record. Having said that, getting a non-O visa and then subsequent extension of stay is probably going to help you out the most on that front (from my limited knowledge).
Hi,
Many thanks for everything. I tried to post my question on another part of the site but not sure if it was posted.
My question is:
I meet all the requirements including work permits, marriage certificate, salary, thai child, speak and write / read thai etc. however, I only got the yellow taibaan registration 6 months ago when reading your site. Can I likely apply with 7-8 years of work permits but only registered on the yellow book for 6 months?
Hi Jack – yep responded to the other post. Apologies, to protect from spam that all need to get approved. As said in the other one, no need to hold your yellow tabieen baan for any length of time to apply.
I have asked about Yellow book and they say I have to be married to the lady whose house I live in. Crazy I don’t want to marry!
Hi Mark,
Yes, district offices can be a bit hit or miss on this, and in your case, they are wrong. You really have two options, go back to them and ask them to show you the regulation. If you don’t want to do this, perhaps get registered in district where the officers know what they are doing. Once registered, it is easy enough to move your registration anywhere else.
Sorry to hear you are having trouble but sometimes on this issue, a little persistence is needed.
Hi,
Very helpful information here. I am looking to buy my first condo here in Bangkok and in order to get the bank loans/mortgage with “local” terms there is a plethora of hoops to jump it seems.
I am a foreigner working in Bangkok since last 5 years with valid work permit, paying taxes etc and trying to apply for a mortgage. One of the document required is the TOR.ROR14 or the Blue book which I assume is only for Thai Nationals. Would you know if the Yellow book or TOR.ROR13 be the acceptable document. I have a friend/landlord who is willing to add my name to his Tabien Baan and I think that should help. However, not sure if that is sufficient for the banks to approve mortgage? Would you be able to share any advise on this matter please.
Many thanks.
Hi Richi,
I can’t really comment on the mortgage process but unless you have permanent residency you won’t be able to get on the blue house book, and only the yellow house book.
To my knowledge however, unless you do have PR, you won’t be getting a local loan, rather, one of the local banks will be providing you a loan from one of their offshore entities (eg in Singapore).
Hope this has been of help.
Hi – your site is so helpful! I was born and am living in the US but finally found my Thai birth certificate. From what I’ve read here to get the remaining legal docs would I need to do the following in this order?
1.) House Registration (blue book? in the house my parents are registered at in Bangkok)
2.) Thai ID card in Bangkok
3.) Thai Passport from the LA or DC embassy?
Thanks for your advice!
Hi Supat,
Assuming you are born in the US and have your Thai BC from the embassy there, then you can generally apply for your first Thai passport via the embassy. Normally to get a Thai passport its necessary to have an ID number and be registered on a tabieen baan (house registration/blue book) but they waive this requirement for overseas born Thai’s getting their first passport.
So in your case, the order would be 3, 1 and then 2.
Hope this helps.
Must I be married to get a Yellow Book? My partner & I have lived together for 10 years in ‘our’ house, which I bought.
Hi William,
No, anyone can be added on to the yellow book, so long as the ‘house master’ approves. That will be the person named on the first page of the blue book. Note, that the house master doesn’t need to be the owner of the property.
Hi, i live and own condo in bkk. Can i obtain the yellow tabien? Thanks. Ken
Hi Ken,
Yes you will be able to. The ‘house master’ of the blue tabieen baan book will need to be present to approve you but it shouldn’t be an issue.
We have a Condo in Bangkok and also a House in Samat Sakorn which would be better to use.
If it is just to get the Yellow Tabieen baan for the sake of having it, then anywhere is fine.
If you are ultimately using it as a stepping stone to apply for citizenship, then you’ll want it in Bangkok as that is by far the easiest place to apply for citizenship in Thailand.
I recently met with a person who assists in getting citizenship and she said I should get my name listed on a yellow Tabien Baan. My Thai wife and I have lived in Phuket for 26 years and we rent our house. The only Tabien Baan in my wife’s family is in Bangkok. Everything I have (work permit, bank accounts, drivers license, etc) all show me living in Phuket. It seems like a bad idea to be ‘registered’ in Bangkok, but actually living in Phuket.
Do I really need my name in the yellow Tabien Baan?
Hi David,
Yep, having a yellow Tabieen baan is one of the required documents for the application, so there is no real way around it.
On top of that, being registered in Bangkok is our advice to all applicants as Special Branch there have a dedicated citizenship office – unlike the provinces who only may deal with an application from time to time, which normally results in the application not going anywhere at all. Moreover, most Thai citizens don’t live where there Tabieen Baan is, so being in different places isn’t unusual.
The Special Branch people in Bangkok know all about this, so having your registration moved to their jurisdiction won’t be seen as strange (and they have been known to suggest this). Still, have a chat to them about your situation and if you look like qualifying based on your background, they should be quite helpful in suggesting what else needs to be changed. Honest is the best policy I think though, being straight up that your work is in Phuket but Tabieen Baan being in Bangkok shouldn’t be an issue.
Is a birth certificate absolutely necessary? I honestly don’t know where mine is.
The list we presented is a compilation of most documents that have been asked for. Each district office will require slightly different things. In some, they will be satisfied with a smaller set of documents that others. Best to check at the local district office you intend to apply at, and see if they need it. I will likely say it will be needed, at which case you’ll need to apply for a replacement birth certificate in the country of your birth.