Thread: how to obtain the yellow book

Good stuff thanks - a bit confusing because I joined the gold card scheme (not prakan sangkhom) and I don't have a yellow book, they accepted my tax card

Different rules at different hospitals?

I would not discard the government hospitals because I am a westerner, they're pretty good (except the waiting times so I'll still avoid them as long as I can afford to...). Thanks for link

Originally Posted by MikeyIdea

The possibility to get free hospital treatment at Thai hospitals is not linked to the yellow tabien baan, it's linked to paying tax

German guy living near me got his Yellow Book and they gave him the Thai medical card, so he tells me. He doesn't pay tax.

Originally Posted by MikeyIdea

I would not discard the government hospitals because I am a westerner, they're pretty good (except the waiting times so I'll still avoid them as long as I can afford to...). Thanks for link

Most doctors at government hospitals have private surgeries outside their work hours. If you can find their clinic, it's a way to fast track the system, at little cost.

Think I'll give up went through the process of spending 3,000 baht to get documents translated to Thai and stamped.Go to the local office again for the yellow book told stamp the wrong one have to go to Bangkok to get the right one seem's the only stamp to keep these lazy pricks happy is in Bangkok.Also very strange I went to a party at my best friends house 100 klms away yesterday a woman showed up at his house took his documents off him and none had the majic stamp from Bangkok,left come back 1 hour later with a yellow book for him he didn't leave his house.COST WAS 1500 BAHT AH AMAZING THAILAND

Well for those who want to know I finally have the yellow book cost probably 15,000 baht on trip to Bangkok getting documents translated to Thai and stamped with the magic stamp and 100 baht to the local office to process.

Was it worth it, for what it's worth ? I personally don't think so.

Originally Posted by roadking96cube

Think I'll give up went through the process of spending 3,000 baht to get documents translated to Thai and stamped.Go to the local office again for the yellow book told stamp the wrong one have to go to Bangkok to get the right one seem's the only stamp to keep these lazy pricks happy is in Bangkok.Also very strange I went to a party at my best friends house 100 klms away yesterday a woman showed up at his house took his documents off him and none had the majic stamp from Bangkok,left come back 1 hour later with a yellow book for him he didn't leave his house.COST WAS 1500 BAHT AH AMAZING THAILAND

Don't know why you had to come up with so much translated paper. I got a Tambien ban in about 4-5 hours without having anything translated. Just goes to show how the requirements vary depending on where you are and who runs the local store. (I did have some help from a Thai bank manager who had relatives working in the lands department..)

I'm also puzzled by these reports of people getting free medical treatment and drugs because they have a Tambien Ban. We have had this discussion before on this forum, and the consensus was that it was not possible (or at least not normal) I spend a fair amount of time and energy myself trying to get a "Gold card" but I was told by everyone that I could not get one because I was not a Thai citizen. Again; different reading of the rules in different places... My wife has a "cousin" that works in hospital admin (senior position) and she checked it out for me, but no luck. I spend 45K a year on health insurance and I doubt if that will go down as I get older.. Sometimes, somebody gets lucky and manages to get something done that is outside the rules...but I think we need to view these situations as the exceptions...not the rules. Maybe it's just as well for me after visiting a couple of government hospitals over the last year I feel much better about the 45K premium to access a private hospital with a nice room and decent food etc. Some of the "free" hospitals are pretty gruesome even at the best of times...again there may be exceptions, but that seems to be the "norm".

Dumb question: What is the Tessaban? I know it's different from city Hall where they have the blank Yellow Books on hand.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by koman

I'm also puzzled by these reports of people getting free medical treatment and drugs because they have a Tambien Ban. We have had this discussion before on this forum, and the consensus was that it was not possible (or at least not normal) I spend a fair amount of time and energy myself trying to get a "Gold card" but I was told by everyone that I could not get one because I was not a Thai citizen.

I managed to get one and never asked for it.
I got my yellow Tabien Baan and a few months later a medical gold card arrived.
Apparently they stopped giving them to farangs over a year ago so you won't get one now.

i got a yellow book from hua hin tessabahn, it was a long procedure.

certified translations of passport, birth certificate and fathers name, then have them authenticated by the ministry of foreign affairs in bangkok.

then take all that along to the tessabahn with the property chanote, who spotted that the thai spelling of my name on the chanote was different to the thai translation of my name from my passport, they wanted me to go back to bangkok and have the spellings matched up. after some negotiation with the head honcho at the tessabahn they accepted the misspelling and gave me a yellow book there and then.

about 3000b for the translation and certification service and 100b to the tessabahn.

it seems that every tessabahn have their own requirements, some onerous and some easy.

i was never offered a health card, although after reading this thread i may go down to the tessabahn and ask for one.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Apparently they stopped giving them to farangs over a year ago so you won't get one now.

If you're referring to the 'Gold Card', farangs around here are still getting them. I can't confirm that they do where I live, as I haven't got it yet, but certainly in the neighbouring Amphur they are.

^
Blimey, I wonder if there are two Amphurs in the whole of Thailand that work to the same rules.

^ Sorry I should have said that the 'Gold Card' is issued at your local government hospital. The Amphur don't issue the card, only the 'yellow book'.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Originally Posted by koman

I'm also puzzled by these reports of people getting free medical treatment and drugs because they have a Tambien Ban. We have had this discussion before on this forum, and the consensus was that it was not possible (or at least not normal) I spend a fair amount of time and energy myself trying to get a "Gold card" but I was told by everyone that I could not get one because I was not a Thai citizen.

I managed to get one and never asked for it.
I got my yellow Tabien Baan and a few months later a medical gold card arrived.
Apparently they stopped giving them to farangs over a year ago so you won't get one now.

They are definitely issuing the 'Gold Card' for free treatment at your local government hospital. A cover letter was issued today and the full card to be issued within one month.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

^
Blimey, I wonder if there are two Amphurs in the whole of Thailand that work to the same rules.

Nope!

Hi, me again.

I want to start the process next week. It's the translation part of my passport that is puzzling me.

Is it just a full translation of the I.D. page that is required? And a letter from my embassy confirming my passport? Can I go to any translators, who can stamp it and then on to the ministry of foreign affairs, for their seal?

get a copy of the passport (i.d. page) verified as a true copy by the embassy, then get it translated by a notary office, make sure to get the official notary license stamp on the translation.

most notaries will be able to get your documents stamped etc. at the ministry of foreign affairs, save you the time and undoubted hassle of having to do it yourself.

Originally Posted by taxexile

get a copy of the passport (i.d. page) verified as a true copy by the embassy, then get it translated by a notary office, make sure to get the official notary license stamp on the translation.

most notaries will be able to get your documents stamped etc. at the ministry of foreign affairs, save you the time and undoubted hassle of having to do it yourself.

Thanks.

I have been to the ministry before, to get my marriage certificate stamped....Not a biggie, as I live in Min Buri and it's not that far away.

I have already been to Lad Krabang Ampur to inquire about a yellow book and they were really helpful and gave me a list of the stuff I need.

It goes to show how things differ from area to area.

The whole process can be done by post, for those that live too far away from BKK. I did mine by post. It took about a week total, and cost me 4,900 Baht for everything.

Originally Posted by superman

The whole process can be done by post, for those that live too far away from BKK. I did mine by post.

This, I would like to know more about. Please share the details. Greened.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

The US Citizen Services (what a misnomer that name is) will charge me $50.00 USD per doc.

Cheap as chips; try going to the British embassy and see how much they charge!

Originally Posted by superman

I now have to go to the local government hospital to get my 'Gold Card'. And yes you do get free medical & dental treatment with the 'Gold Card', incl medicines.

I don't begrudge your guys, good for you - but, why the fuk should the Thai populous cover your health bills? Don't take this the wrong way chaps.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

The US Citizen Services (what a misnomer that name is) will charge me $50.00 USD per doc.

Cheap as chips; try going to the British embassy and see how much they charge!

Originally Posted by superman

I now have to go to the local government hospital to get my 'Gold Card'. And yes you do get free medical & dental treatment with the 'Gold Card', incl medicines.

I don't begrudge your guys, good for you - but, why the fuk should the Thai populous cover your health bills? Don't take this the wrong way chaps.

I suppose it's the same as the British Government does when Thais live in the UK....