Most Thai documents must be legalised at the Department of Consular Affairs before they can be used abroad. We check translations, assemble the file and submit on your behalf under a power of attorney to reduce the risk of rejection.
Thai Notary Law & Service Co., Ltd. — Tax/Reg ID 0405565001923. Company registration and attorney certificates are displayed below.
MFA legalisation is the Department of Consular Affairs certifying the Thai official’s seal and signature on a document or translation for use abroad. Thailand cannot issue Apostilles until 28 February 2027, so many destinations still require an embassy step afterwards.
The Legalization Division of the Department of Consular Affairs certifies that the seal and signature of the Thai official on a document (or on its translation) are genuine. It does not vouch for the content; it confirms the origin, so a foreign embassy or authority can rely on the document having been issued by a real Thai authority.
Thailand deposited its accession to the 1961 Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026 and the Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Until then Thai documents cannot be apostilled: the working route is legalisation at the Department of Consular Affairs followed, where required, by legalisation at the destination country’s embassy. After entry into force, for Contracting Parties that have not objected to Thailand’s accession, a single Apostille replaces that chain; non-parties keep the old route.
Three groups are common: (1) Thai civil documents and their foreign-language translations — birth, marriage and divorce certificates, house registration, name-change certificates, police clearance; (2) education documents such as degrees and transcripts, which usually need verification by the issuing institution first; (3) Thai translations of foreign documents to be used with Thai authorities. Private documents such as powers of attorney or company letters typically need a notarial or other signature certification first. Always confirm with the Department and the receiving authority.
Ask the receiving authority which level of certification, which translation language and whether an embassy step is needed.
Confirm it is an original or an authority-certified copy, and that names, dates and numbers match the passport.
Translate every stamp and annotation, spelling names exactly as in the passport.
A second reviewer checks figures, dates and names line by line.
The translator signs the certification in the format the Department accepts.
If we submit for you, the document owner signs a power of attorney with an ID or passport copy.
File through whatever queue or appointment system the Department is using at the time.
Pay the published fee (see the official fee table below) and keep the receipt.
Check that every page carries the stamp and signature before leaving the counter.
Send a scan for your review before forwarding or shipping.
Submit to the destination country’s embassy in Thailand under that embassy’s rules.
Ship domestically or internationally with tracking.
In our team’s experience the recurring problems are: names not matching the passport, mis-converted Buddhist-era years or figures, untranslated stamps or footnotes, copies not certified by the issuing authority, and documents the destination treats as expired (for example single-status certificates). Validity periods are set by the destination, not by the Department, so ask the recipient first.
Before 28 February 2027 many countries still require their embassy in Thailand to legalise the document after the Department — China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others; some accept the MFA stamp alone. China and Saudi Arabia are already Apostille parties, so the Apostille may replace the embassy step for them once the Convention is in force for Thailand, unless they object. Non-parties such as the UAE will still require embassy legalisation.
Notarial Services Attorneys in Thailand must hold a licence from the Lawyers Council of Thailand under the 2003 Notarial Services Regulation.
Read full text →Thailand’s Apostille accession (30 June 2026) only enters into force on 28 February 2027 — documents require dual legalisation by MFA Consular Affairs and the destination embassy.
Read full text →A signature or name that differs from the passport may trigger a request for more evidence. Check the recipient’s rule and bring original identification when signing before an officer or attorney is required.
Translator requirements depend on the receiving authority. Some accept a translator declaration; others specify a sworn or registered translator. Check the current list before translation starts.
Before 28 February 2027, many Thai documents used abroad still need destination-embassy legalisation after the Department of Consular Affairs. The exact order depends on the document and recipient.
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Send your document details for staff to assess the steps and timing before work begins.
Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00 • Sat–Sun 09:00–17:00 (ICT)
Government, embassy and courier fees are charged at the rate each authority publishes on the day of filing. We confirm the full amount in writing before any work starts.
| Item | Published rate | Issuing authority | Verified on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document legalization (standard service) | THB 200 per legalisation stamp | Department of Consular Affairs, MFA | 2026-10-09 |
| Document legalization (express service) | THB 400 per legalisation stamp (same-day) | Department of Consular Affairs, MFA | 2026-10-09 |
This table lists only rates published by the responsible authority. It excludes our service fees and contains no estimated figures.
This list reflects the requirements published by the responsible authority on the verification date. Authorities may change their conditions, so confirm with the source before lodging.
The department verifies the signature and seal of the issuing agency; it does not certify the content of the document itself.
Source: Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs · verified on 2026-07-31
ตรวจทานล่าสุด / Last reviewed: 7 ตุลาคม 2569 / 7 October 2026. ข้อกำหนดของกรมและสถานทูตเปลี่ยนได้ โปรดยืนยันก่อนยื่น
