Change of name certificate for use in Laos
Quick answer
The change of name certificate is issued by District registrar or Bangkok district office. File it together with any document still bearing the former name so the destination can link the identity. It is then translated to the standard Laos accepts, legalised at Consular Affairs and attested at the destination mission where the receiving body requires it.
Step by step
- Obtain a certified change of name certificate
Request it from District registrar or Bangkok district office. File it together with any document still bearing the former name so the destination can link the identity.
- Translate to the accepted standard
A certified Lao or English translation
- Consular legalisation
File the original with its translation at the Department of Consular Affairs, MFA.
- Destination mission attestation
Attest at the Laos mission in Thailand where the receiving authority requires it.
Cautions
- Lao authorities commonly require a further certification at the Lao foreign ministry after the document arrives
- File it together with any document still bearing the former name so the destination can link the identity
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
What are the steps to use a Thai change of name certificate in Laos?
Obtain the change of name certificate from District registrar or Bangkok district office, translate it to the accepted standard, have it legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs, then attested at the Laos mission in Thailand where the receiving body requires it.
Which version of the change of name certificate is needed?
File it together with any document still bearing the former name so the destination can link the identity
Does the change of name certificate need an Apostille before going to Laos?
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.
What must the change of name certificate translation contain for Laos?
A certified Lao or English translation, and every part of the document must be translated, including stamps, signatures and marginal notes.
Who receives the legalised change of name certificate in Laos?
The Lao Embassy in Thailand and the receiving authority in Lao PDR
Which Laos-specific caution affects the change of name certificate?
Lao authorities commonly require a further certification at the Lao foreign ministry after the document arrives
Is the change of name certificate a public or a private document?
It is a public record issued by a state authority, so it can enter consular legalisation directly once an accurate translation is attached.
What if the name on the change of name certificate does not match the passport?
Connect the names as a chain using change-of-name records or a spelling confirmation, then translate and legalise them together as one bundle.