Marriage Registration in Thailand is an essential step to make your marriage to your spouse legally binding in Thailand and overseas. The process is simple and straightforward.
To begin the process, both parties should visit their home country’s embassy in Bangkok to complete statutory declarations affirming that they are single and free to marry. The embassy will then translate these documents and passport copies into Thai. The translated documents are then taken to the Legalisation Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for authentication.
There are some requisites that must be met by couples looking to marry in Thailand. Firstly, they must get a statement affirming their freedom to marry from their home country’s Embassy in Bangkok. This will have to be translated into Thai by a reputable translation office before it can be submitted for legalization at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand. After these documents have been approved, they can be filed at the local district office or ’Amphur’ in Thailand.
The registrar will verify the authenticity of all documentation and then record the information in the national registry system. The couple will then receive their official Marriage Certificate, which is a legally binding document that proves the marriage took place.
Couples wishing to register their marriage in Thailand must also present a copy of the male’s birth certificate, his passport and house registration certificate. The female must also provide proof of her identity, including her address and name (and the name of her father if applicable). She must also show a letter from her doctor stating that she is not pregnant. If she was previously married, she must obtain a divorce in Thailand decree and change her last name in her passport and household registration certificate before remarrying. She is also prohibited from marrying a close blood relative or an adopted person.
While a couple can celebrate their marriage at their choosing, it is not legally effected until the union is registered with the local Amphur (Thai district office similar to a county office). In order to register a marriage in Thailand, a foreigner must bring their passports and an affidavit stating that they are free to marry from their embassy or consulate.
For Thai nationals, the process is very simple – they need to present their House Registration Certificates and their national ID cards to a government officer. If they want to get married in a church, they can do so on the same day they submit their documents.
A prenuptial agreement, if agreed upon by the couple, must also be presented when they register their marriage. Having the document in hand can help them protect their assets against future problems or disputes.
For those who are not Thai citizens, the procedure can be a bit more complicated as they will have to visit their embassy for an affidavit stating they are free to marry. These affidavits must then be translated into Thai and legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok. Once the documentation has been verified, the couple can go to their local Amphur for registration and receive their marriage certificates. If they are unable to do so in person, they can ask their embassy in Bangkok to assist them.
The cost of registering a marriage in Thailand depends on whether you or your spouse are a foreigner. Foreigners must first get their marital status affirmation and certified copy of passports from their embassy. These must be translated into Thai and 'legalised' by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand before they can be used for marriage registration in Thailand. This will normally take a few hours. A DFAT representative can authenticate these documents at your request by appointment.
After that, the endorsed documents and a photocopy of both parties' passports are taken to the district office (Amphur or Khet) where they will be registered in Thailand. This will give them legal validity in Thailand and make them valid for overseas use as well.
If a couple are planning on having children, the Registrar will also need to see a copy of each party's birth certificate or a letter from the female's local Amphur stating her name and title. This is to make sure the woman is not already married or have a child with someone else.
If the parties are Australian citizens, they can complete a certificate of no impediment to marry (CNI) from their home country. This must be signed in the presence of a consular official. If either party is unable to travel, a power of attorney can be granted to someone else to sign on their behalf.
The process of marriage registration in Thailand can take some time. This is largely due to the fact that key documentation has to be acquired and prepared before you get there. Additionally, a lot of paperwork must be translated to Thai and certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The entire process could turn your holiday into a work vacation if you are not well organized. For this reason, it is advisable to seek the help of a professional Thailand family lawyer who can ensure that all required steps are taken in a timely fashion.
One of the major hurdles in the process is the fact that a foreigner must report their marriage at their home country’s government or consulate in Thailand. This is a requirement even if the couple is planning to live in Thailand permanently.
Once the declaration has been verified, it must be brought to the local District Office (called Amphur) for registration. Both the husband and wife must publicly declare their consent to become husband and wife before the registrar and will be issued a legally recognized Marriage Certificate that is valid worldwide.
If a woman has been married before she must present a divorce certificate from her ex-husband. She must also change her name in the Household Registration and passport to her maiden name before she can remarry.