Please note that the express service is not currently available at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), so the quickest you will be able to get your paperwork legalized is 48 hours.
This means that technically it is no longer possible to do this entire process in one day, because you won't be able to go to your embassy, get the translations done, and receive your documents back the same day.
Please also bear in mind that some district offices (amphur) now have a marriage limit of 8 couples per day, and may require you to make an appointment in advance. Some offices are quoting up to a month's wait.
However, for those marrying a Thai national, it is a good idea to speak with the district office in your partner's home town, as readers have reported quicker appointment booking and a smoother process outside of big cities and tourist areas.
Please also note that foreign national marriages may be subject to a paperwork check by the district office in which they want to get married. This involves sending the paperwork back to the MFA for verification. This can take up to 40 days!
In this case, using an agent or wedding company is the best option for an expedited process. Or, if your Thai partner has a contact at her/his hometown district office, they may be able to avoid the MFA verification, if you catch my drift.
I strongly suggest reading through the latest comments at the end of this article where readers share their most recent experiences.
Okay, let's begin.
Contents
- Hiring an Agent
- Getting Married in Thailand
- Step 1: Freedom to Marry & Passport Authentication
- Step 2: Official Document Translation
- Step 3: Consular Affairs Legalization
- Marriage Registrar Required Documents
- Where to Get Married (District Offices in Bangkok)
- Marriage Certificate Translation
- One Last Thing
Hiring an Agent
This post focusses on completing the process yourself without an agent, but I thought I'd start here to make you aware that you have this option. Moreover, given the current climate, an agent may be able to expedite the process for you.
Personally, I prefer to handle things myself, having complete control over efficiency and organization.
Also consider that having an agent doesn't eliminate the first step of the process (the trip to the embassy), and costs considerably more.
Quotes range from 15,000-50,000 Baht for the agent's fee. Do shop around for quotes. Anything under 25,000 is okay, I guess.
A good tip is to get your Thai partner to Google for an agent in Thai, as this will likely yield cheaper quotes.
Make sure you ask if the quote includes the embassy affirmation fee and the translations.
Getting Married in Thailand
Whether you're a foreign national marrying a Thai national, or a foreign couple coming to Thailand to get married, you'll need to jump through three hoops before you can officially tie the knot.
- Obtain a freedom to marry document (affirmation), and get your passport verified, both from your home country's embassy in Thailand.
- Get these documents translated by an official translation company.
- Get the documents legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After these three steps, you can register your marriage at a district office (known locally as an amphur).
The marriage will only be recognized under the law of your home country if it is valid under Thai law. In other words, simply having a Buddhist marriage ceremony in Thailand doesn't mean you are legally married, though it is a good way to get married without actually getting married (easier to escape, haha!)
It is still very possible to complete the process of getting the correct documentation together in one day, although without the express service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you will have to wait to get your finalized documents back.
Realistically, you will need one day for your embassy appointment, translations and MFA submission.
Then you will get a slip that tells you when you can pick your documents up (from the MFA), which is usually within 2 days. You'll then need another day for the marriage registration (depending on the terms of the district office you choose).
Remember, if you are both foreign nationals, you will need to consider this process for two persons.
Step 1: Freedom to Marry Affirmation & Passport Authentication
Affirmation of Freedom to Marry
You must first go to your embassy to obtain an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry in Thailand.
Your embassy will most likely require you to make an appointment to get your affirmation done. Some do, dome don't.
British nationals DO need to make an appointment to get an affirmation. The consular accepts appointments 08:00 – 11:00 on Monday – Friday.
The cost depends on the embassy, but will be around the 3,500 Baht mark. It costs 2,860 Thai Baht at the British embassy.
Yes, it's an expensive stamp.
Get the earliest appointment you can, closest to the opening time of the embassy, which should be 8am.
If your embassy has the affirmation form online, print it out from embassy website before you go, and fill in the relevant sections. For the British embassy, you will need to print the form.
You will need your passport, and if you've been married before, make sure you have documentation to prove that any previous marriages have been dissolved/terminated (an appropriate death certificate or divorce certificate).
This certificate, if not in English, must be accompanied by an English translation. Only the original or an official certified copy will be accepted – photocopies will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Passport Authentication
Due to a new requirement, you also need your passport certified by the embassy and then translated into Thai.
That means the photo page and the page above or below it, (depending on which country you are from).
This can be done at the same appointment you will attend for your freedom to marry affirmation. For British nationals, you can choose to do both at your appointment when booking using the online system.
Book an early appointment to ensure you leave yourself plenty of time. If your embassy offers a walk-in service, get there at opening time.
NOTE: Carry a photocopy of your passport with you. You will need this for Step 3.
Step 2: Affirmation & Passport Translation
You now need the affirmation and your passport authentication translated into Thai.
This will cost between 300-600 Baht, per document, depending on where you go.
The officer at Chaeng Wattana (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) will stamp your affirmation and passport translation. You will then show this at the Amphur (district office) at your appointment to marry.
For the translation, you have two choices.
Because the majority of embassies are in and around Wireless Road, for most it will be easy to get a translation done in this area.
If you walk to the top of Wireless Road (back toward Pleon Chit BTS station) and up over the bridge onto the other side of the road, you'll be standing outside a language school called Language Express.
Go past the school and turn right. Along this side road you'll find a number of reputable translation services.
* Please note that the UK embassy is now located at the AIA Sathorn Tower, Floor 12 A 11/1 S Sathorn Rd, 10120.
Don't dilly dally: choose a translation centre quickly and make it clear you are on a deadline, otherwise you won't get to the MFA before lunchtime.
They should be able to do the translations within 1 hour. If they say they can't do it so quickly, let them know you can pay a little extra.
Alternatively, get in a taxi and go straight to Chaeng Wattana to the Department of Consular Affairs.
This might be preferable because the traffic will be dying down just after rush hour. This journey will cost around 150 Baht.
Do take the tollway (60 Baht) if the driver suggests it. This route is much quicker.
You can get your translations done at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, although it may cost more because the touts will be aware you have no choice but to pay to have your documents authenticated there. However, if option 1 doesn't work out, this option is a sure thing.
Immigration Office Address:
Tell the taxi you want to go to the “Chang Wattana pass-a-bort (or immigration) off-ice!”
Show him/her the address in Thai: สำนักงานหนังสือเดินทาง ถนนแจ้งวัฒนะ เขตหลักสี่
If you have a smartphone with a decent size screen, show him on this Google Map.
The Legalisation Division
Department of Consular Affairs
123 Chaeng Wattana Road,
Laksi District, Bangkok 10210
Tel : +66 (0) 2 575 1056–59, 0 2981 7171
Fax : +66 (0) 2 575 1054
(08:30 – 15:30 hrs)
Note that you can also get this process done at the new office at Klong Toey MRT station. The new office is in the Metro Mall area of the station:
Klong Toey MRT Station
ถนน พระรามที่ 4 คลองเตย
Bangkok, 10110
(08:30 – 15:30 hrs)
Here's a link to a Google Map.
Step 3: Thai Consular Affairs Authentication (MFA)
If possible, I recommend doing your embassy visit – to get your freedom to marry affirmation and your passport verified (and your translations too) – and trip to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in one day.
If you can get an early appointment at your embassy, you should be able to make it to the MFA before lunchtime. Remember: the express 1-day service is only available if you get your documents in before 9.30am, but isn't currently available as of this article update.
When you arrive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if you still need your documents translating, you can choose one of the services downstairs.
You will be approached as soon as you enter by touts for the translation services, so do a bit of bartering (starting at 400 Baht). Don't stress too much over 100 Baht or so, just get it done with the company offering the fastest service and move on.
Note: staff take lunch at 12pm. You'll have to wait an hour until they come back on duty.
Try to get a ticket and get in the queue before they go to lunch. If you make it through processing before lunch, then great. If not, no worries.
Once you have the translation, go to the 3rd floor: up the escalator, turn right and up the stairs.
Go to the desk straight ahead of you and give in your affirmation and its translation, passport translation and photocopy of your passport to the lady at the desk.
Now proceed through the white door over on the other side of the room; the lady will direct you.
Here you will get your documents checked by someone who looks very official. Once you get the okay, you will be asked to take a seat and wait to be called. Keep your eye on the queuing system, you don't want to miss your number.
Once called, you will be given a day to collect your authenticated documents and the option to have them posted to you. The standard pick-up/delivery time is 2 days.
When you get your documents back, you have completed the process.
Keep everything safely together in an envelope. You will need all these documents to present to the Amphur office (government office) of your choice when you go to register your marriage after the ceremony.
Of course, you can register your marriage before the ceremony, it's up to you.
If you've finished early, you could go to a local district office and book an appointment to get married. You might be able to get an appointment for the next day, depending on the location.
Marriage Documents Required by the Registrar
When you go to register your marriage at the government office, you will need to take the following documents:
- Your passport – 2 copies
- Your visa – copy this too
- Your fiancee's ID card (for Thai nationals only) – 2 copies
- The Letter of Affirmation of Freedom to Marry (the original & the certified translation, plus copies of both)
- The MFA stamped translation of your passport
- Your fiancee's Tabien Baan (house log) (Thai nationals only) – 2 copies
- You will also need two witnesses. The rules may vary between district offices regarding who can be a witness. We used two Thai friends, but some offices may require one or two family members, and some may even offer a witness service for a fee.
Where to Get Married? District Offices in Bangkok (Amphur)
In the old days you could pretty much roll up and get married on the spot. You'd grab two members of the public as witnesses and do it Vegas style.
Nowadays, some district offices (amphur) require you to make an appointment, while others will only accept two family members as witnesses, and some even go as far as to send your documents back to the MFA for verification.
If you are marrying a Thai national, the easiest place to get married is most likely going to be the district office in your partner's home town.
This is because, chances are, someone at the local amphur knows your partner, or a member of her family, or perhaps a close friend. There is usually some connection that makes for an easier ride. Being a local means others are generally more willing to help.
However, if you're in Bangkok, then you might as well get the job done there.
The best place to check for varying experiences with at district offices is in the comments section below, but here's a few you might try:
- Lak Si: Marries 8 couples a day. Make an appointment in advance.
- Bangrak: Requires two family members as witnesses.
- Huay Kwang: Accepts friends a witnesses.
*Where possible call the district office first and ask what their requirements are.
Marriage Certificate Translation
When your marriage is registered you will be given two original certificates. You should make photocopies for your records.
You should also obtain an official translation of your marriage certificate into your native language. This is useful because you may need the certificate once back in your home country to obtain other legal documents such as a child's passport or a visa for your wife.
A note for British nationals: You no longer need to file your marriage certificate back in the UK. They did away with this requirement a number of years ago.
One Last Thing!
If you're planning on getting married in Thailand, then you'll want everything to go as smoothly as possible.
That means making sure you have travel insurance with adequate coverage, just in case the something doesn't quite go to plan. Maybe you lose your case, miss your flight, break a finger, lose your wallet.
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More Tips for Married Life
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Last Updated on
Annie says
Jul 21, 2018 at 12:07 pm
TheThailandLife says
Jul 23, 2018 at 6:16 pm
Len Channon says
As it has stated that you now need to have at least 10 days on your tourist visa. All amphurs will state this as me and my now wife registered this just literally on time and at the time we did not know of this so please be aware.
But in General. Following this guide was extremely helpful and followed every aspect of what to to.
Go on the gov.uk and look affirmation to confirm your status that your free to marry and you have templates to copy word for word filling your details in the gaps. They have forms for people who have divorced or widowed.
Use microsoft word and type out the template you have word for word and ensure every word is correct filling all your details and also your partner detaisl of who your going to marry. Also where you want to marry. You can replace Bangkok with the province you want to get married at. Yes i did put Bangkok but actually registered in Renu Nakhon in Nakhon Phanom.
Leave a bit of space at the bottom so that the British Embassy official can put the official seal on that document when they have looked at the document.
Book the appointment online but remember if your booking for an appointment 2 months away. They embassy will release booking slots every week normally 4 weeks of the day you want to book an appointment. Set a reminder and keep looking at the booking dates page and the day you wish to select will eventually come and then you can book your date and time for your appointment.
Also now you have to have your passport certified as well. The embassy can also do this along with getting the affirmation certified. The cost is about 3400 baht at the time i did this.
When appointment day has arrived. Get there before your appointment time as you will have to go through security first and drop off your phone etc.
I got to my appointment very early and due to a no show. I managed to get seen early.
Paid for the affirmation confirmation and also a passport colour copy certified and within a few minutes the affirmation and the passport copy are stamped and certified officially.
When you leave the embassy. You will find some people outside the embassy who do the translations of your affirmation and passport copy. The one i had. Their office was not far from the embassy and he did the translations in 30 minutes and was cheap. He did offer to do all the leg work for 3000 baht but decided to follow this guide to the word. But they will put their stamp on the back of your translated thai documents to certify the translation was correct. Always advisable to take your Thai partner to check out spellings as well.
Once translations done. Go to the MFA as per instruction above and they will do all the checks and you and then you sit and wait for your name and or number to be called out. You pay a fee and you can collect your documents in a few days of get them posted off. I opted to get them posted to my wifes home address as was gojng to Pattaya for a week and then Nakhon Phanom and the documents were at her home. General tip. I took my wife to the embassy and the MFA as always good to have someone who can translate in Thai and also read Thai.
All in all due to good luck as someone did not turn up for their 8.40am appointment my 9am appointment became that 8.40 appointment. So in reality excluding the express service, doing all this apart from getting married was done in half a day.
As an average price for everything was give or take is around 8000 baht which we used BTS and Taxi to get to venues. We were based in Sukhumvit soi 11 so was not too far from the british embassy. Also please note. In 2019 the embassy will move to a new venue.
Once the marriage has been registered and you get your certificates. Get them translated and i used the same place i got the other documents and you will have an official translation and again with their stamp to certify translation.
Thank you to this website for all their help.
Jul 20, 2018 at 8:40 am
TheThailandLife says
Jul 20, 2018 at 3:55 pm
Len says
I did go to a shop which is on a side street where on the day we got our marriage certificates translated there was a street market. This belonged to the guy who was waiting outside the Embassy and he charged 500 Baht for the translation of the certificates.
I know I said it was about 8000 Baht but maybe was a bit too generous in total, but looking at it in a bit more detail, around 6500 Baht in total including Taxis and BTS.
But as this was the first and only time me and my wife did this, we did quite well considering rush hour in Bangkok. Plus side the hotel I usually stay at is on Sukhumvit soi 11 so not a long trip on the BTS from Nana. Also it was great that even though we got to the embassy for the 9am appointment being seen at 8.40am was a bonus.
But as I state now the Embassy need to do a certification of your passport on top of your Affirmation. But all in all was pretty seamless and getting virtually everything done in half a day while in rush hour and unpredictable weather as well.
Jul 28, 2018 at 10:24 am
TheThailandLife says
Jul 30, 2018 at 4:01 pm
Len says
Without this I would have been clueless and would have taken much longer.
Also as I have stated, Take your Thai partner with you (if he or she is Thai) as it will help with the language barrier as myself (the farang) cannot read or understand the Thai Language (except some basic phrases). This will save you a lot of headache and looking like a lost soul.
Jan 13, 2019 at 11:15 am
Jennifer says
There is a Thai consulat about 2HRS from where I live that does Tourist visa's only. To get another visa I need to travel about 12 HRS. Also I read that to get a Thai marriage visa you need 400,000 baht in your bank and a steady income of 40,000. To stay in Thailand will I need that?
Thank you so much for your help, I've done a lot of searching to find information about this.
Jul 20, 2018 at 12:52 am
TheThailandLife says
Jul 20, 2018 at 4:19 pm
Thomas says
Jul 13, 2018 at 11:36 am
Len Channon says
Also you do not need to go back to the embasssy to inform them as your marriage certificate will be legal in the uk if the marriage is legal in Thailand.
Jul 20, 2018 at 7:59 am
Steve says
Jul 11, 2018 at 10:40 pm
TheThailandLife says
Jul 12, 2018 at 4:25 am
Charlie says
Jul 01, 2018 at 10:12 pm
TheThailandLife says
Jul 03, 2018 at 3:04 pm
Neil says
the Thailand Ministry of foreign affairs?
Jun 27, 2018 at 8:21 pm
Joe says
He is Burma Refugee who lived in Refugee Camp near Mae Hong Son, resettled Australia. From Burma he has no records. From Thai he has only the UNHCR household Registration. From Australia he has the original resettlement visa as permanent resident and Titre De Voyage, Travel Document. He cannot travel to Burma under the rules of his Australian visa.
She has Burma passport and Thai Visa to be in Thailand.
Can they get legally married in Thailand?
Jun 27, 2018 at 7:37 am
TheThailandLife says
Jun 28, 2018 at 5:08 pm
Joe says
Jun 28, 2018 at 5:41 pm
Neil says
Jun 24, 2018 at 11:42 pm
Zuhra says
Jun 24, 2018 at 6:40 pm
TheThailandLife says
Jun 25, 2018 at 5:35 pm
Lee says
We already have our freedom to marry documents and certified passport. They are being translated at the moment.
Any updates on the witness situation? Can we turn up at Bangrak and find witnesses there?
Thank you for your help!
Jul 09, 2018 at 2:36 pm
TheThailandLife says
Jul 09, 2018 at 5:49 pm