Registering Marriage in Thailand (Foreign boy and Thai girl)
The first thing is to get an affidavit from your embassy. An Affidavit is a legal document showing your current marital status (Single/married/divorced/separated). Each embassy has its own rule and processes for providing an Affidavit, so please follow the guidelines of your respective Embassy to get an Affidavit.
Click here http://binfocorner.weebly.com/blog/how-to-receive-an-affidavit-for-marital-status-from-the-nepal-embassy (for information regarding steps for preparing an Affidavit from Nepal Embassy)
2. Translating the Affidavit from Thai language
The received affidavit from your embassy needs to be translated in Thai language by translator, approved by Thai foreign ministry. There are many agencies that provides paid service of translation and submitting the documents to foreign ministry for attestation. Contact information of translation agencies can be find from internet.
Contact information of some translation agencies
http://www.masterpiecetranslation.com/translation-service.html
http://www.translations.co.th/en/index.html
http://www.expresstranslationservice.com
http://www.siamtranslation.com
http://www.thaitranslation.info/index.html
3. Submitting the translated document to Legalization Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The translated document has to be attested by legalization department of department of consular services of Thailand.
Papers to be submitted at Legalization Division
- Translated Document
- Copy of passport
- Filled up application form for legalization
It will take up to 2-3 working days to process the applications. A lots of agencies provides paid service for both translation as well as submitting documents to legalization division. It is easy and fast to go through them for this process. We can send documents through courier & transfer money to them, and thereafter can receive finalized documents through courier at our residence. It takes nearly 5-6 days to receive the final documents from the agency. Usually the service charge for both processes (translation & submitting document at legalization division) is around THB 1,500-2,000 in total (including government processing charge of THB 400 for general service and THB 800 for express service), depending upon the agency.
Sample of application form for legalization
Sample of document for handing over Power of Attorney to the agency
Address of legalization Division
In Chiang Mai: In Bangkok:
Legalization Division Legalization Division
Department of Consular Affairs Department of Consular Affairs
Chiang Mai Provincial Hall Building Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Chotana Road, T.Chang Puek 123 Chaeng Wattana Road, 3rd Floor
A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50000 Tung Song Hong, Laksi district, Bangkok
Tel.: 053-112-748, 053-112-749, or 053-112-750 Tel.: 025751056-59
In Songkhla: In Ubon Ratchathani:
Legalization Division (South of Thailand) Legalization Division (North East of Thailand)
Department of Consular Affairs Department of Consular Affairs
Government Complex Songkhla Province Office of Provincial Administrative Organization
Ratchadamnoen Road Muang ubon Ratchathani Province 34000
Muang Songkhla Province Tel.: 045-242313 up to 14, fax: 045-242301
Tel.: 074-326508 up to 10, Fax: 074-326511
Note: Hours: 8:30-1:30; Mon-Fri (closed on Saturday - Sunday and public holidays)
4. Submission of document and registration at District Registrar/Amphur Office
Unless and until the marriage is registered in district registrar’s office or Amphur office, it would not be considered legal in Thailand.
Documents to be submitted at Amphur
Boy
a. Copy of passport along with arrival card
b. Legalized translated document (original and photocopy)
c. Attested Affidavit
Girl
a. Identification card/ citizenship card
b. House registration paper
- If girl is under age twenty: Written consent of the parents. If this is not in Thai, you should also bring a certified translation.
- If boy or girl was previously married to someone else: Original, government-issued document showing that the marriage ended, such as a death certificate, divorce certificate, or court decree. If this is not in Thai, you should also bring a certified translated copy.
The officer at Amphur office can take parents of girl as eye witnesses, otherwise we have to manage at least 2 eye witnesses for the registration of marriage. According to new Thai law, even after marriage girl can keep her parental surname as it is. Amphur would provide two copies of Marriage Certificate separately; one for the girl illustrating her original surname and other for boy. The certificate would be provided in Thai language.
Sample of Marriage Certificate
5. Translation of Marriage Certificate to English and certification at Ministry of Foreign Affairs It is optional unless you need the marriage certificate outside the Thailand. Since Amphur office would only provide Marriage Certificate in Thai language, so it is advised to translate it in English and then certify in Ministry of Foreign Affairs for future use outside the Thailand.