The Complete Guide to Document Legalization in Thailand (2024)

From time to time, you may need to have your document legalized in Thailand. Some may call it as a MFA certificate.

The process may seem like a headache, but it can be easier than you think.

Let’s take a look at how you can do it in Thailand.

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What is it?

The whole idea is similar to apostille, which is about authenticating your document so that it can be recognized when you need to use it overseas.

For example, if you want to use a document from Thailand overseas, you may need to have it legalized.

On the other hand, if you need to use your overseas document in Thailand, you may need to have it legalized as well.

When do you need it?

Normally, an embassy or government office in Thailand may ask for it for government-issued documents such as house registration, marriage certificate, divorce certificate.

For example, if you want to marry in Thailand, you need to get an affirmation of marital status from your embassy. Or if you want to apply for a marriage visa in Thailand, you need to have your marriage certificate from your home country legalized.

After that, you need to have it translated into Thai language and legalized, so that you can use it for obtaining a marriage certificate in Thailand.

How to do it?

Only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) can legalize your document in Thailand. It’s done by the Department of Consular Affairs (DCA). 

Here’s what you need to do.

Translate Your Document

The first step to legalize a document is to have it translated into either Thai or English, as required by the organization you need the document for.

For example, if you want to register a marriage in Thailand, you need to have your personal document translated into Thai and then legalize it.

On the other hand, if you want to use your Thai document outside of Thailand, you then need to translate it into English and then legalize it.

Please note that the MFA can only legalize Thai or English documents. If your original document is in other languages, you need to have it translated and certified first, before you can legalize it.

Book an Online Queue

The next step is to make an online queue at the Thailand Consular website.

Here you can choose a place, date, and time you want to go.

This is important since certain consular offices do not accept walk-ins.

Prepare Document

Here’s the document you need for document legalization:

• An original document. If it’s from oversea, it needs to be certified by your embassy first.
• A translated document that is certified correct.*
• A power of attorney with a signed copy of your passport (only if you send someone to do it on your behalf).

If you translate the document yourself, you can certify it yourself. If you use a translation agency, they will do it for you.

Visit the Department of Consular Affairs

When you visit the DCA to legalize a document, here’s what you need to do:

• Fill out a legalization application form. The form can be picked up there.
• Go to an information counter to get a queue number.
• Submit your document.
• Pay the fee.

Translation Check

After that, you need to wait for the DCA officer to check your translation.

During this process, you should expect a few revision requests. It can be from typos or using incorrect terms.

For example, an officer may want you to use a specific term on your translated document.

Even if you use a translation agency, this may still happen since terms can change all the time based on the officer you meet on that day.

Once it’s fixed, resubmit the document and wait.

Pick Up Document

The processing time depends on your options.

If you choose an express option, you can pick it up on that day.

If it’s a regular option, you can pick it up within 3 business days. Or you can have it sent to you by Thailand Post (60 baht).

Please note that the MFA will only certify the original document by stamping it. They do not certify the content or the translation of your content.

Fees

There are two government fees involved in document legalization:

• Legalization fee – 200 baht for the regular option and 400 baht for the express option per document.
• Translation check fee – 200 baht per document.

For example, if you have your affirmation of marital status legalized and choose the express option, you need to pay 600 baht in total.

If you hire an agent or a translation agency to do it on your behalf, they normally charge around 1,000 baht per document.

Where to Do It

You can visit any of these locations to legalize your document.

Please note that it’s a government office, so you need to dress politely. This means no shorts and slippers.

Bangkok

Pattaya

Chiang Mai

Ubon Ratchathani 

Songklha

Phuket

What Time Should I Go There?

If you plan to do it yourself, you should go to the consular office early in the morning. This is to make sure that you can revise and resubmit your document before the office closes.

Should I Use a Translation Agency?

In our opinion, it’s much more convenient to use a translation agency.

After translating your document, a translation agency can go there and legalize the document on your behalf.

They normally charge a 1,000 baht fee on top of the cost of translation.

Is It the Same as Notary Public?

While it’s similar, it’s not the same. 

To put it in simple terms, a notary public is normally done by a law firm to ensure that the document is a “true copy” of the original document.

On the other hand, a legalized document is done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make this document able to be legally used in other countries.

Is It the Same as Apostille?

It is similar. However, since Thailand is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, you cannot use an apostilled document in Thailand.

In the same way, you cannot apostille a document here as well.

Now, on to You

While it may sound complicated, it’s actually easy to legalize your document in Thailand.

If you don’t want to do it yourself, the key is to just find a good translation agency that can translate and legalize your document at the same time.