🇩🇪 Thai documents for use in Germany
Quick answer
German translation by a sworn translator (beeidigter/vereidigter Übersetzer). The document is then legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs and attested at the Germany mission in Thailand where the receiving body requires it.
The Apostille fact
Thailand acceded to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026 and it enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so no Thai Apostille is issued yet, so no Apostille is issued in Thailand. The working route is certified translation, legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs (MFA), and then attestation at the destination country’s mission in Thailand where the receiving authority requires it.
Destination facts
- Receiving authority
- The German Embassy in Thailand, the Standesamt and the Ausländerbehörde in Germany
- Translation standard
- German translation by a sworn translator (beeidigter/vereidigter Übersetzer)
- Accepted languages
- German
- Caution
- Thai civil-status documents used in Germany are often subject to a document-verification step first; ask the German mission early because it takes longer than the standard route.
By document type
- Birth certificate → Germany
- Marriage certificate → Germany
- Divorce certificate → Germany
- House registration → Germany
- Thai national ID card → Germany
- Change of name certificate → Germany
- Police clearance certificate → Germany
- Academic transcript → Germany
- Degree certificate → Germany
- Company affidavit → Germany
- Power of attorney → Germany
- Bank statement or bank letter → Germany
- Medical certificate → Germany
- Death certificate → Germany
- Adoption order → Germany
- Court judgment → Germany
- Employment certificate → Germany
- Certificate of single status → Germany
- Military service document → Germany
- Driving licence → Germany
- Tax document → Germany
- Land title deed → Germany
By visa category
Frequently asked questions
How is a Thai document legalised for use in Germany?
For Germany, the Thai document is translated to the standard the receiving side accepts (German translation by a sworn translator (beeidigter/vereidigter Übersetzer)), legalised at the Department of Consular Affairs, and then even though Germany is an Apostille contracting party, a document issued in Thailand cannot be apostilled here, so the consular-legalisation route is used instead. Thailand acceded to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026 and it enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so no Thai Apostille is issued yet, so no Apostille is issued in Thailand. The working route is certified translation, legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs (MFA), and then attestation at the destination country’s mission in Thailand where the receiving authority requires it.
Does Germany accept a Thai Apostille?
No Thai Apostille is available yet, because Thailand acceded to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026 and it enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so no Thai Apostille is issued yet to the Hague Convention of 1961. Germany is a contracting party, but the Convention only operates between contracting states, so a document issued in Thailand still follows consular legalisation and embassy attestation.
What translation standard does Germany expect?
German translation by a sworn translator (beeidigter/vereidigter Übersetzer). The receiving side is normally The German Embassy in Thailand, the Standesamt and the Ausländerbehörde in Germany.
What is the most common mistake with documents sent to Germany?
Thai civil-status documents used in Germany are often subject to a document-verification step first; ask the German mission early because it takes longer than the standard route.
Which language should the translation be in for Germany?
Receiving bodies in Germany normally work in German. Where a specific authority states another language, follow that authority’s published requirement.
Original or copy for the Germany legalisation chain?
Consular Affairs legalises documents that the issuing authority has certified, so obtain a registrar-certified or issuer-certified copy rather than a self-made photocopy.
Can the Germany legalisation chain be handled from outside Bangkok?
Yes. We work nationwide by document transfer and have offices in Bangkok (Wang Thonglang), Khon Kaen and Udon Thani; the filing steps at Consular Affairs and the destination mission remain the same.
Which documents are most often legalised for Germany?
Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Divorce certificate, House registration, Thai national ID card, Change of name certificate, Police clearance certificate, Academic transcript
Which documents need translation and legalisation for a Germany spouse visa?
Applying as a legally registered spouse. The documents usually requested are Marriage certificate, Divorce certificate, Birth certificate, House registration, Thai national ID card, Police clearance certificate. Caution: Where there was a previous marriage, evidence of how every prior marriage ended is required, not only the most recent one
Which documents need translation and legalisation for a Germany student visa?
Applying to study at an institution in the destination country. The documents usually requested are Academic transcript, Degree certificate, Birth certificate, Bank statement or bank letter, Thai national ID card, House registration. Caution: Institutions usually want the transcript issued directly by the school; a translation made from a self-made photocopy is often not accepted
Which documents need translation and legalisation for a Germany work visa?
Applying to work or practise a profession in the destination country. The documents usually requested are Degree certificate, Academic transcript, Police clearance certificate, Birth certificate, Thai national ID card. Caution: Professional bodies usually ask for the qualification and the transcript with subject detail, so sending the degree alone is often not enough
Which documents need translation and legalisation for a Germany job-seeker visa?
Applying to enter the destination country to look for work on the strength of a recognised qualification. The documents usually requested are Degree certificate, Academic transcript, Police clearance certificate, Bank statement or bank letter, Thai national ID card. Caution: The destination body normally has to place the Thai qualification on its own framework, so the translation must keep the full programme name and credit detail rather than summarising it
How should a birth certificate be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by District registrar (amphoe) or Bangkok district office. The condition people miss most often: A registrar-certified copy is required, not an ordinary photocopy. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
How should a marriage certificate be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by District registrar (amphoe) or Bangkok district office. The condition people miss most often: Obtain both the marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3) and the marriage register extract (Kor Ror 2); many destinations ask for both. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
How should a divorce certificate be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by District registrar, or the court where the divorce was by judgment. The condition people miss most often: Where the divorce was by judgment, the judgment plus a certificate of finality is needed. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
How should a house registration be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by Local registration office. The condition people miss most often: A current registrar-certified extract is required rather than the household booklet you keep at home. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
How should a thai national id card be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by Department of Provincial Administration. The condition people miss most often: Used as supporting evidence alongside a certified civil-registration document. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
How should a change of name certificate be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by District registrar or Bangkok district office. The condition people miss most often: File it together with any document still bearing the former name so the destination can link the identity. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
How should a police clearance certificate be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by Royal Thai Police, Police Clearance Service Centre. The condition people miss most often: State the destination country and purpose when applying, because the certificate is issued for the stated purpose. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
How should a academic transcript be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by The issuing educational institution. The condition people miss most often: Must be an institution-issued and signed copy, not a student-made photocopy. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
How should a degree certificate be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by The issuing educational institution. The condition people miss most often: Many destinations require the transcript to accompany the degree certificate. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
How should a company affidavit be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by Department of Business Development. The condition people miss most often: Use a freshly issued extract; destinations usually impose a recency limit. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
How should a power of attorney be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by Drafted by the grantor and witnessed by a Notarial Services Attorney. The condition people miss most often: The grantor must sign in the presence of the notarial attorney and present the original passport or ID card. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
How should a bank statement or bank letter be prepared for Germany?
It is issued by The issuing bank. The condition people miss most often: Must be signed and stamped by the bank; an app-printed statement without the bank stamp is commonly refused. It then enters the normal certified-translation and legalisation chain.
Related services for using documents in Germany
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Send a photo of the document to LINE @Thainotary or call 094-895-8999 and we will tell you whether the copy you have can be used as is.
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