Yellow House Book (Tabien Baan) for Foreigners in Phuket: What It Is and How to Get One

Yellow versus blue

The house registration book, tabien baan, comes in two main types. The blue book (Tor Ror 14) lists Thai nationals and, according to guides, foreigners with permanent residence. The yellow book (Tor Ror 13) is for foreigners without permanent residence who live in Thailand on a valid visa. When a foreigner buys a condo or house, the property's book is normally the blue one, so many owners hold an empty blue book and no yellow book at all.

Who may apply and where

Legal commentators say the yellow book is issued under the Civil Registration Act to foreigners on a non-immigrant visa who are temporary residents, and also to their children born in Thailand. You apply at the district office (amphoe) or municipality that covers your address. One guide says offices should not charge for issuing or renewing a book, so be cautious about anyone asking for extra money. Whether a visa type such as the DTV qualifies is unclear in the sources I found, so ask the office directly.

Documents usually asked for

• Your passport and a non-immigrant visa or extension, plus passport photos.
• If you rent, the lease with a copy of the landlord's ID card and the landlord's blue house book.
• If you are married to a Thai, your marriage certificate with the spouse's ID card and the blue house book of the home.
• If you own a condo or house, the property documents and the existing blue book.

Requirements differ between offices, and some want a residence certificate or other papers, so bring copies and originals.

Why people get one

Guides say the book gives simple proof of address. Expats use it for marriage-based visa extensions, for renewing a driving licence, and sometimes to avoid needing a residence letter from an embassy. Another legal source says it is not an important document for most foreigners. It does not give voting or other citizen rights. It is separate from TM30 reporting, which landlords and tenants do with immigration, so see the TM30 guide. For marriage steps see the marriage guide, for licences the driving licence guide and for bank letters the banking guide.