Whether you marry a Thai citizen or another foreigner, your marriage must be registered in Thailand to be recognized under local law. Marriage registration in Thailand is a simple process that can be completed in Bangkok or any amphur (district office) nationwide.
The first step is to obtain an affirmation of freedom to marry, which can be obtained from your embassy in Bangkok. The affirmation will then need to be translated and certified at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok.
Legal Requirements
For a couple to be entitled to marry in Thailand they need to prove that they are free to do so. The easiest way to do this is by obtaining an affirmation of freedom to marry from your embassy in Bangkok. The affirmation must be typed and signed in the presence of a consular official from your embassy and authenticated by them. This takes a few days and will cost you a small fee.
Once the documents have been verified the marriage can be registered at a local District Office known as an “amphur” or “Khet”. The marriage certificate will then be issued to both parties and is legal in accordance with Thai law and recognized throughout the world. The only exception is that some countries require additional documents not available from your embassy in Bangkok.
Affirmation of Freedom to Marry
If you want to marry a Thai citizen, then you will need a formal certification that you are free to marry under Thai law. This certificate must be obtained from your own country’s embassy in Bangkok. Each embassy has their own requirements.
Once you have your letter of affirmation from the embassy it must be translated into Thai by a qualified translator. Then the document needs to be taken to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for authentication.
The document is authenticated when the signatures of the consular official are compared with their records. This normally takes two days. Once the documents are authenticated they can then be presented to a district office (Amphoe) to register your marriage. This is the only way that a religious ceremony will be recognised as a valid marriage under Thai law.
Translations
Many couples choose to marry in Thailand due to the country’s beautiful beaches and vibrant culture. However, navigating the legal requirements and paperwork can be a challenge, especially when it comes to translating essential documents.
To get married in Thailand, a foreigner must have an official document that certifies that they are free to marry from their home country’s embassy or consulate. This is typically known as a Single Status Affidavit or Certificate of No Impediment.
This document should be translated into Thai by an approved translation office and submitted for legalization at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok. Upon completion, the couple can register their marriage in any district office (Amphoe). The marriage will be recognized as legally binding in both Thailand and the couple’s home country.
Consular Affairs
All couples who are planning to marry in Thailand will need to visit their Embassy or Consulate in Bangkok for an ‘Affirmation of Freedom to Marry’. This needs to be translated by a reputable company and legalised at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
If either the bride or groom are presently married they will need to bring original divorce in Thailand decrees or death certificates along with their affirmation papers. All of these documents need to be taken together with the translated affirmation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for authentication. This can take two days.
Once all these documents are obtained the couple can file their application for marriage registration at the local district office (Amphoe) where the bride was born or where she currently lives. This will be a short registration ceremony and the marriage will then be legally recognised in all of Thailand.
District Office
Once all these requirements are met you can file your documents at the local district office – also known as an ’amphur’ or a ‘khet’. The registrar will register the marriage and issue you with a Thai Marriage Certificate. The document is legally valid all over the world.
Note that if the female spouse is a foreign national she has to provide an authenticated affirmation of freedom to marry and copies of her passport and house registration before the marriage can be registered. She should also present a medical certificate stating that she is not pregnant.
There are other requirements depending on your country of origin. Consult with your embassy in Bangkok for details. If your wife is a Thai citizen, she needs only to present her identification card and copy of her house registration.