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Getting Married in Thailand – The DIY Guide!

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.

getting-married-thailand

Contents

  1. Hiring an Agent
  2. Getting Married in Thailand
  3. Step 1: Freedom to Marry & Passport Authentication
  4. Step 2: Official Document Translation
  5. Step 3: Consular Affairs Legalization
  6. Marriage Registrar Required Documents
  7. Where to Get Married (District Offices in Bangkok)
  8. Marriage Certificate Translation
  9. 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.

  1. Obtain a freedom to marry document (affirmation), and get your passport verified, both from your home country's embassy in Thailand.
  2. Get these documents translated by an official translation company.
  3. 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:

  1. Your passport – 2 copies
  2. Your visa – copy this too
  3. Your fiancee's ID card (for Thai nationals only) – 2 copies
  4. The Letter of Affirmation of Freedom to Marry (the original & the certified translation, plus copies of both)
  5. The MFA stamped translation of your passport
  6. Your fiancee's Tabien Baan (house log) (Thai nationals only) – 2  copies
  7. 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.

Don't chance it.

Check out Safetywing for solid insurance that covers a broad range of eventualities.

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More Tips for Married Life

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Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Baz M says

    Hi guys,
    Really good article there.....however still a little unclear on a few things due to conflicting comments haha
    1. I'm British and my girlfriend of 2 years is Thai. I'm planning on visiting Thailand in June for 3 weeks. Is this long enough to go through all the paperwork and the ceremony whilst in Thailand?
    2. Am I right in thinking the Amphur is the equivalent of us getting married in a registration office back here in the UK?
    3. Her parents have agreed that I don't need to pay a dowry for the wedding, but I don't want to get married in an office and want it to at least be romantic with her immediate family there, at a relatively small budget. I've spent a small fortune on flights and visas for her to visit me in Europe and the UK hence why her parents have waivered the dowry. Any recent venues, locations experiences would be greatly appreciated?

    Thanks in advance
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      1. Yes. 2. Yes. It's a district office. There is one in every borough. 3. Usually a wedding takes place in the bride's hometown. Depending on where that is, venues are relatively inexpensive. Some people save on money and have a party at home or in a local school or other venue, while others prefer a hotel. It can cost anything from 50k Baht to 500k Baht+; it all depends on what you want and the number of guests.All the best.
      Reply

    • john says

      Book an appointment online at the UK embassy,
      They will send you an email confirmation of your appointment.
      They will also send an email one week before your appointment so you can pay your embassy fees online.
      I booked into the hotel nantra for five days..round the corner from the UK embassy.
      Inside they have two computers and the affirmation template are set up incase yours is incorrect. (No USB ports available)
      So off to MFA .
      Picked up after 3 days.
      (Now this is where you might have a problem)
      Some amphor in Thailand send all your documents back to Bangkok MFA for verification.
      The reason being...Indian gang's have been forging the MFA papers.
      My advice is to speak with one of the Thai people outside the embassy selling the wedding package ,you can haggle the price,they can get you married within a week.
      Reply

      • Baz says

        Thanks John,
        Really good advice there.
        Do you think it's worth getting in touch with my girlfriends local Amphor office to find out if they send them back. I'm under the impression if we get married at her local office it is far easier to get her name changed for her new ID at her local district office. I want to do the application process with her new name. However if they are going to send the documents back I'd rather do it all in Bangkok, new ID card and passport, saves unnecessary travel back and forth and wasted time.
        Reply

        • Seb says

          In a word, yes. I did the same at my local amphur and my wife then changed her ID card at the same time as she has taken my surname.
          We never had to jump through this new hoop as we got married in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province where my wife and her family are well known.
          Might make a difference if going to your girlfriend's Office where they should know her family.
          Reply

  2. Dave says

    Hi, I am American and my girlfriend is Japanese. We met here and want to marry here then return to Japan when her contract ends. Does anyone have the experience of marrying a non Thai here as well as a citizen not from your country? I am guessing after we get the documents to have a wedding from our perspective consulates and have the wedding we would need to make it an official document then deal with making it legal in the eyes of our own countries when we arrive there...... Any advice or similar experience would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Exactly as you presumed. Depending on state law in your hometown the marriage certificate might need to be filed there. The embassy states:Most states recognize the validity of legal marriages registered in Thailand. If you would like to register your marriage in the United States, you must contact the Attorney General in your state of residence to inquire about their specific documentary requirements.
      Reply

    • Seb says

      TheThailandLife is not sure of this requirement and I never had any problems in Dec. Mind you I did use my local Amphur in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. I would advise people to check what their Amphur of choice is requiring before booking a marriage ceremony. Have a look around as this may only be pertinent to some offices for some reason, especially in Bangkok.
      Reply

    • Seb says

      Backing up the comments from TheThailandLife but it is a more complicated process. It is easier to get an extension based on retirement especially if you can easily meet the financial requirements. The best is to keep THB 800k in your account as you know.
      The extension of stay based on marriage does have a lower financial requirement but involves 2 visits to Immigration as there is a month of consideration. Many photos of you and your wife inside different rooms in the house and outside. First time of applying will probably need a witness to confirm all your details, mother-in-law, as well as marriage certificates, Kor 2 and Kor 3. And everything has to be duplicated again. Many hoops to jump through.
      Most Immigration Officers would prefer the retirement route as it is easier for them and personally, if you can afford it, stay with it. I am.
      Reply

  5. Leonard Levine says

    Bad news. Last year, when you both bring the required douments and witnesses to the Banglamung 'Amphur, your can get your marriage certified the same day. This year, beginning in January, the game has changed. We came to the Amphur on February 18th, all documents were correct and sufficient, but they were then sent to Bangkok. We were advised they could return in a week, a few weeks, a mnth - who knows? So we are waiting and this is affecting my GF's visa to the u.s., since we cannot apply for a CR-1(married ) visa until we show we're married. Another layer of bureaucracy - just what we needed. If anyone has a way to shorten this wait, please let me know. We don't even know which department,office,ministry our documents went to....
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Leonard, to clarify: why did you go there last year and not get married? Or are you saying you tried to use the same documents you obtained last year and they have sent them away to be verified. This is certainly not standard practice so I'm wondering if there is something you've done differently here. I haven't received any other comments or messages regarding this. Have you tried a different district office?
      Reply

      • john says

        Just been told by Amphur in Trad.
        I have all the documents from Bangkok ....but can not make an appointment to marry...because they have to sent them all to Bangkok to verify..same here...not know days, weeks or months for paper work to come back. Please could someone check and update the process above .
        Reply

          • Nate says

            There is a new layer of bureaucracy. After documents are certified by the MFA, the Amphur will then send those same documents back to the place they were certified to verify them. This takes anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months.
            Reply

                • TheThailandLife says

                  It seems this may be some sort of new requirement for foreign nationals marrying Thai nationals, though I have not seen a press release or statement on this and only two confirmed reports thus far. For now I'd try a different district office. Please report back and let me know what you encounter.
                  Reply

              • Dean says

                I have just booked my appointment at UK embassy today to get letter of affirmation...there is/was only one slot/date available for at least 6 months on the gov.uk website - very strange. Anyway, I'm (hoping to be) marrying my Thai fiance, was wondering if we get our marriage certified in Bangkok after we get the doc's back, do you think we can circumvent the above mentioned new layer of bureaucracy???
                Reply

                • TheThailandLife says

                  Slots are released weekly (usually Monday/Tuesday) and once gone the site will show that no appointments are available for a long time; everyone is always alarmed by this. I'm still waiting for official confirmed reports on whether this is a new requirement for foreigners marrying Thai nationals or if it's region/district office-specifc
                  Reply

                  • Dean says

                    I have found another forum that advised of the appointment times only becoming available for two weeks in advance, however, I managed to book a slot on May 10th (nearly two months away) so I suggest people keep logging on daily to see what pops up if they are in a hurry...luckily I'm not...hopefully this 'new requirement' is just a one (two) off as it just seems absurd and I'd rather get my doc's sent to Chiang Mai to get our marriage certified there, rather than stay in BKK for a few days to get it done there.
                    PS. Thanks for the reply - good info on this page!
                    Reply

                    • Colin Sare-Soar says

                      Here's an update on the appointment situation:
                      I looked on Sunday (14th April) as I wanted to book an appointment for early May. The site showed no appointments available until the 16th and only on that day. The next appointment was in June!
                      Due to the holidays, I had to wait until today to be able to ring the embassy to check.
                      A very helpful lady told me the process and said the earliest appointment was the 7th May which is perfect for me.
                      One thing to be aware of is that the appointment is for 1 document only. Therefore, if you need 2 documents, i.e. the affirmation and passport copy, you need to make 2 appointments.
                      I was fortunate in that I got appointments that follow on.
                      There are plenty of dates available but ONLY on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
                      I hope this helps.

  6. Reena says

    HI Good morning and Good Day.

    I'm a Hindu and my girlfriend is a Indian muslim. we are both Malaysian and im working in phuket now, we would like to get married in Thailand and settle down in Thailand. How do we legalize our marriage in Thailand without convert?
    can we get an agent to guide and help on this process?

    kindly I need a info/advice regarding this marriage process ASAP.


    Thank You.
    Reply

  7. Sarah says

    My partner and I have got all our documents ourselves, but are finding it difficult to find a district office which deals with foreigners. We're Australian/British living in Wattana. I've heard Bang Rak is a bit of a scam and pain to use now.
    Anyone had recent luck elsewhere? Does anywhere still provide witnesses or a translator?
    Reply

  8. Majo says

    Hi Guys! Im a Filipino citizen legally divorce in UK from my ex husband in the Philippines. Im not sure if i can get Affirmation of Freedom to get married in Thailand from our Embassy there as by law divorce is illegal in the Phils. Im planning to have a civil wedding there with my British Fiancé. Is it possible? Thanks!
    Reply

    • Seb says

      Just been having a look on the Internet to see what can be done to help your situation and found this: Where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly celebrated and a divorce is thereafter validly obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating him or her to remarry, the Filipino spouse shall have capacity to remarry under Philippine law.
      Based on this the Filipino Citizen may now apply to have the foreign divorce validated by the courts of the Philippines and may marry again. To do this, the petitioner must show that the divorce was obtained in conformity of the foreign laws of the country of the foreign citizen.

      So it does look like you would be able to do this to get the necessary paperwork completed but it would, by looks of it, need you to go to the Philippines to do it. Or maybe a visit to your Embassy in Bangkok will help by seeing what they say.
      Reply

  10. EDWARD D CREIGHTON says

    I will next be in Chiang Mai Thursday March 28 and leave Sunday April 7.
    My girlfriend will visit the Chinese Consulate on Friday March 29 to apply for a tourist visa to visit me in Shanghai. She can collect the visa on Monday April 1 after 3 pm.

    Do I have enough time to go through the procedures in Bangkok between Tuesday April 2 and Friday April 5?

    So Tuesday April 2 I can do Step 1. I also need to get a certificate from the UK Embassy which will allow me to open a Thai Bank Account.

    Wednesday April 3 Step 2? Is there enough time to begin Step 3 and have the documents guaranteed to be given back on the Friday?

    Or should I wait until the end of July? I can spend Monday July 29 – Friday August 2 in Bangkok.

    Many thanks.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      If you got an appointment on Tuesday morning at the UK embassy and then got your translations immediately afterwards you could go to the MFA on the same day and collect the documents on Thursday or Friday. I'm not sure you'll have time to do the marriage though, unless the docs come back Thursday and you get an appointment at a district office on the Friday. Or you get the documents back Friday morning and get an appointment for the afternoon.
      Reply

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