Signature Authentication by Notarial Services Attorney

Additional frequently asked questions

Does Thailand have a Notary Public in the common-law sense?

Thailand has no common-law notary. The equivalent is a Notarial Services Attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand under Royal Patronage. Foreign authorities, embassies and universities generally accept this attestation where a notarised document is required. Scope and requirements are confirmed case by case by phone, LINE or email.

Do I have to sign in person before the attorney?

For signature attestation, yes — the signer must appear with an original passport or Thai ID card and sign in the attorney's presence. Certified true copies and certain fact attestations can be handled from originals without a fresh signature, depending on what the receiving authority requires.

Can the attestation be used abroad immediately?

It depends on the destination. Many countries additionally require legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and sometimes by their own embassy in Bangkok. Confirm the receiving party's chain before starting so the work is not repeated.

Do Thai-language documents need translation first?

If the recipient is a foreign authority, an English translation (or the official language of that country) is normally required, and the translation itself may need certification. The correct order is translate, certify the translation, then legalise.

What is needed to certify corporate documents?

Typically a company affidavit issued by the Department of Business Development within the recency window the recipient allows, ID or passport of the authorised director, the company seal if one is used, and the document to be attested. Scope and requirements are confirmed case by case by phone, LINE or email.

How long does an attested document stay valid?

The attestation itself has no expiry, but recipients such as embassies, banks and universities commonly require documents issued within the last 3–6 months. Always check the recipient's recency rule first.

In depth: the real requirements and why documents get rejected — Notary Public

Written from the competent authority's published rules, not marketing copy.

A notarial certification issued in Thailand by a Notarial Services Attorney does not attest that the statements inside a document are true. It attests to procedural facts: that the signatory appeared in person, presented valid identification, and signed in the certifier's presence. Receiving authorities abroad read the certificate wording first, and that wording is where most files fail.

Conditions you actually have to clear

• If the signatory cannot read the language of the instrument, an interpreter must be present and that fact recorded in the certificate.
• The signatory must appear in person with an unexpired passport or national ID card; a scan sent in advance cannot substitute for appearance.
• When signing for a company, a recently issued company affidavit and evidence of signing authority consistent with the registered restrictions are required.

Common causes of rejection

• A company affidavit older than the destination's accepted age leaves signing authority unproven as at the certification date.
• Re-binding the file or removing a seal after certification breaks continuity and forces the process to restart.

Once the destination country and the receiving office are known, the required certificate form and the following steps can be fixed immediately. Having our team review the case first substantially reduces repeat work.