How to Check if a Thai ID Card is Fake
June 22, 2025 - Reading time: 7 minutes
Updated: June 27, 2025

If you're dealing with Thai identity documents such as Thai ID cards, passports, or driving licences, verifying their authenticity is critical. Fake Thai ID cards can present major risks, particularly for employers, business owners, or individuals entering personal relationships. In this guide, you'll learn practical ways to check if a Thai ID card is genuine, understand the structure of the 13-digit Thai identification number, and discover when professional verification is needed.

Why Check if a Thai ID Card is Genuine?

Verifying a Thai identity card's authenticity is essential for several reasons:

  • Pre-employment screening in Thailand: Protect your business from employing individuals with fake IDs and avoid serious legal consequences.
  • Romantic relationships: Confirm your partner’s true identity to reduce the risk of romance scams and deception.
  • Business partnerships: Prevent fraud by verifying the true identity and reputation of potential business partners.
  • Legal compliance: Avoid complications related to immigration or fraudulent identification in employment practices.
  • Fraud prevention: Protect yourself from identity theft and financial scams by ensuring documents are legitimate.

💡 Did You Know?

Can you check if a Thai person is married by looking at their ID card?

The answer is no. For men, Thai ID cards always show the title "Mr." For women, the title can be "Mrs." if they specifically apply to change it after marriage. However, many married Thai women still carry the title "Miss" on their ID cards because either they don't realise they can update it or choose not to. Thus, the ID alone doesn't reliably show marital status.

If you're involved with someone who turns out to be married, their partner could sue you under Thai law for interfering in their marriage. To avoid this scenario, a thorough background check is highly recommended.

Understanding the Thai 13-Digit ID Number

Every genuine Thai ID card features a unique 13-digit personal identification number. These digits represent specific information:

  • Digit 1: Indicates the registration category (Thai national or resident).
  • Digits 2 to 5: Represent birth year and province or region of registration. Digit two indicates the century ("1" for the 1900s, "2" for the 2000s), followed by three digits for province identification.
  • Digits 6 to 10: Encode date of birth details and regional registration information.
  • Digit 11: A mathematically calculated checksum digit ensuring the ID number is valid.
  • Digits 12 and 13: Random digits ensuring the ID number's uniqueness.

How to Validate a Thai ID Number Online

You can easily validate a Thai ID number online using a checksum validator. The checksum (digit 11) verifies that the number sequence follows a legitimate mathematical pattern.

A Thai national ID number validation tool

Image: Despite being invalid, the number passes validation due to its adherence to the correct sequence described earlier.

Try using this convenient online tool to quickly test any Thai ID number:

👉 Thai National ID Validator by Chukkrit Visitsaktavorn

If the ID fails this checksum test, it's definitely fake. However, even if it passes, this does not guarantee authenticity because scammers might use legitimate numbers belonging to others (these are easy to find online), or digitally alter an ID which features a genuine ID number.

Types of Fake Thai ID Cards to Be Aware Of

Common forms of fake Thai ID cards include:

  • Digitally altered documents: Genuine ID card images modified with fake details or photos.
  • Professionally printed fake IDs: Completely fabricated ID cards used by illegal migrants or fraudulent individuals.
  • Stolen genuine numbers: Using authentic ID numbers belonging to other individuals, making initial checks appear valid.

Subtle digital manipulations or professional counterfeit documents can often evade basic visual inspections or online validators.

Limitations of DIY Thai ID Card Verification

Although online checksum validation helps identify obviously fake IDs, it’s important to recognise its limitations:

  • An ID card using a stolen genuine number may pass the checksum test.
  • Digitally manipulated ID images may look real unless checked professionally.
  • Other identification forms like Thai passports or driving licences need professional cross-checking beyond simple ID validators.

When Should You Hire a Professional to Verify Thai IDs?

For situations where authenticity is critical, such as employment, serious relationships, or important business deals, it's best to hire professional verification services. At Bangkok Investigators, we provide:

  • Verification of ID details against official Thai government databases.
  • Comprehensive background checks, including marital history, criminal records, and employment verification.
  • Detailed analysis to detect counterfeit Thai passports and verify Thai driving licence authenticity.

🔍 Did You Know?

Many fake Thai ID cards we've uncovered passed basic checksum validators online. Digital manipulation and sophisticated forgery methods mean that initial checks are often insufficient for total confidence.

To protect yourself fully from fraudulent identities, consider hiring a private investigator specialising in Thai ID verification and thorough background checks.

For guaranteed peace of mind: Explore our professional verification services now.

Authenticating Thai identification documents involves more than basic online checks. Professional verification is essential if you need to be certain of someone's identity and background. By taking these extra steps, you minimise risks in employment, business, and personal relationships and ensure decisions are based on accurate, verified information.

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