Translation and Legalization in Thailand. In legal, administrative, and cross-border transactions in Thailand, translation and legalization serve as critical formal processes to ensure that foreign documents are officially recognized for use in Thai courts, immigration procedures, corporate filings, property transfers, marriage registrations, and various governmental applications. These steps are not mere formalities, but rather statutory procedures with legal implications, governed by national regulations and institutional practice.
This article provides an in-depth explanation of how translation and legalization function in Thailand, including legal frameworks, process stages, institutional roles, document types, and practical considerations, especially for foreign individuals and entities engaged in Thai legal or administrative procedures.
While no single statute comprehensively governs the entire translation and legalization process, the following instruments and bodies provide the relevant legal authority:
Civil Procedure Code of Thailand
Thai Revenue Department, Immigration Bureau, and Ministry of Interior regulations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) guidelines on document certification
Internal policies of Thai embassies, courts, and local administrative bodies
Legalization is mainly an administrative process that ensures the authenticity of a foreign document or a translation thereof, thereby making it legally acceptable to Thai institutions.
It’s important to distinguish key terms:
Translation: Rendering a document from one language (commonly English or another foreign language) into Thai.
Certification: Affirming the accuracy of the translation, often by a licensed translator or competent authority.
Legalization: Verification of the document’s authenticity and official character by recognized institutions—typically MOFA or foreign consulates.
Notarization: Authentication of signatures and declarations, often used for affidavits or powers of attorney.
When a foreign document is to be used in Thailand (e.g., marriage certificates, corporate documents, academic transcripts), the process generally involves three steps:
The document must be certified or authenticated by the issuing authority (e.g., Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Department of State of the issuing country).
In some countries, this involves certification by a notary public followed by a government-level endorsement.
🔺 Thailand is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilled documents are not automatically accepted in Thailand and must undergo bilateral legalization.
The document must be accurately translated into Thai.
Translators may be:
MOFA-registered translators
Licensed translation companies
Lawyers providing certified legal translations
Literal accuracy and completeness are critical—discrepancies can result in rejection by Thai authorities.
MOFA verifies both:
The authenticity of the original document (via consular channels)
The accuracy of the Thai translation
After verification, MOFA attaches a legalization stamp, certifying the document as legally valid for use in Thailand.
When a Thai national or resident needs to use Thai documents in another country (e.g., birth certificates, marriage certificates, corporate registrations), the process is reversed:
Translate the document into the target country's official language (if required).
Obtain legalization from MOFA.
Submit the document to the embassy or consulate of the destination country located in Thailand for final authentication.
Some countries also require additional notarial certification or authentication by local legal bodies.
Birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates
Passports and ID cards
Police clearance certificates (for visa applications)
Proof of single status (for marriage abroad)
Diplomas and transcripts
Letters of enrollment or graduation
Certificate of incorporation
Memorandum of Association (MOA)
Shareholder resolutions
Business licenses
Power of attorney
Contracts and agreements
Court orders or judgments
The Legalization Division of MOFA is responsible for:
Reviewing original documents and verifying authenticity
Ensuring the translation corresponds exactly with the original
Providing official legalization stamps or stickers
Chaeng Watthana Government Complex (Bangkok): Primary office for legalization
Sathorn Office (limited services)
Original foreign document (authenticated in home country)
Thai translation
Copy of the applicant’s passport or ID
Completed MOFA legalization application form
Standard service: THB 200 per document (3 working days)
Express service: THB 400 per document (1 working day, subject to workload)
Thailand does not recognize general notaries public. Instead:
Licensed Thai attorneys who are registered as Notarial Services Attorneys under the Lawyers Council of Thailand can perform notarizations.
Common uses include:
Powers of attorney
Affidavits and declarations
Certifying identity for overseas transactions
For documents needing notarization before foreign submission, a two-step process is often followed:
Notarization by a Thai notarial services attorney
Legalization by MOFA
Consular authentication by the relevant embassy
Inaccurate or incomplete translations can lead to outright rejection.
Documents with complex legal language, such as court judgments or corporate contracts, require translators with legal expertise.
Some Thai government offices are strict about terminology and format—particularly immigration, marriage registrars, and the Land Department.
Misunderstandings frequently occur regarding names, dates, and numerical values due to differences in script and calendar systems.
MOFA does not retain permanent copies of legalized documents. Therefore, it is advisable to:
Keep certified copies of all documents and translations
Digitally scan legalized versions for long-term access
Record dates of legalization, as some government offices only accept documents legalized within the past 6 months
Many embassies in Thailand offer document legalization and certification services for documents issued in their home countries or prepared in Thailand for overseas use. However:
Procedures and fees vary significantly
Some embassies require prior notarization
Consular legalization is often not sufficient on its own for use within Thailand—MOFA legalization is still required in most cases
A document may be rejected by Thai authorities if:
It contains inconsistent information between original and translation
The foreign document is apostilled but not legalized via MOFA
The translation is done by an unauthorized party
The document is forged, altered, or uncertified by the issuing authority
Translation and legalization in Thailand are formal legal procedures, not administrative conveniences. Foreign individuals, investors, litigants, and residents must ensure that their documents are translated accurately and legalized properly to be accepted by Thai courts, ministries, and regulatory authorities.
This requires coordination between professional translators, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies, and sometimes even judicial authorities, depending on the document’s use. The margin for error is slim, and non-compliance can delay or invalidate entire applications, whether for marriage registration, corporate setup, or immigration compliance.