MFA legalization is processed at the Department of Legalisation (Chaeng Watthana). Standard turnaround is 3 working days; an express track is available.
重要ポイント
タイの公文書は原本、または発行機関が証明した写しが必要です
翻訳は原本と完全に一致していなければ受理されない場合があります
多くの国では、タイ側認証の後に提出先大使館の認証も求められます
手数料と日数は外務省領事局の告示に従います
手続の流れ(概要)
ステップ
実施主体
必要書類
所要目安
1. Obtain the original or certified copy of the Thai document
Issuing agency (district office, DOPA, etc.)
ID/passport + request form
approx. 1–5 working days
2. Translate the document exactly
Translator accepted by the Department of Consular Affairs
Original + passport copy (matching name spelling)
approx. 1–3 working days
3. File for legalization of the document and translation
Department of Consular Affairs, MFA
Original + translation + application form
approx. 2–5 working days (standard service)
4. Destination-embassy legalization where required
Real customer questions, answered by our attorneys
Selected from our knowledge base of 3,300+ real questions we have answered.
How many buffer days should be planned so MFA legalisation at Chaeng Watthana finishes before the receiving authority's appointment?
Consular / Apostille
Practitioner's view to "How many buffer days should be planned so MFA legalisation at Chaeng Watthana finishes before the receiving authority's appointment?" — Thai consular legalisation is performed by the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at Government Complex Chaeng Watthana (Building B), plus MRT Khlong Toei and regional counters. Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, with entry into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so documents destined for member states now need a single Apostille from MFA — no destination-embassy step, except for states that objected to Thailand's accession. Send a photo of the document to LINE @Thainotary and we will quote the chain, cost and timeline within 15 minutes.
Process in brief: (1) confirm whether the receiving body wants an Apostille or embassy legalisation; (2) obtain the certified original from the issuing authority; (3) translate through an accepted translator; (4) certify translation and signature; (5) keep high-resolution colour scans of every page before the file leaves Thailand.
What to prepare: the original or a certified extract from the issuing authority, a copy of the holder's ID or passport, a power of attorney if someone files on your behalf, and the exact English spelling of every name as it appears in the passport.
Common pitfall: the single largest cause of rejection is an English spelling that does not match the passport. Always take the passport spelling as authoritative and confirm it before translation starts.
Practitioner's tip: if the same document is needed by several authorities, produce all copies in one round — it saves time and keeps the certification format consistent across the sets.
Does an overseas Notary Public certification provide immediate legal validity within Thailand?
Consular / Apostille
Per the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs (MFA Thailand) to "Does an overseas Notary Public certification provide immediate legal validity within Thailand?" — Thai consular legalisation is performed by the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at Government Complex Chaeng Watthana (Building B), plus MRT Khlong Toei and regional counters. Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, with entry into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so documents destined for member states now need a single Apostille from MFA — no destination-embassy step, except for states that objected to Thailand's accession. Send a photo of the document to LINE @Thainotary and we will quote the chain, cost and timeline within 15 minutes.
Process in brief: (1) confirm the original was issued by the competent authority and is still within the accepted validity window; (2) have it translated by a translator the destination accepts; (3) obtain certification of the signature/translation; (4) add destination-embassy legalisation only where Apostille is not accepted; (5) proof names, dates and reference numbers before dispatch.
What to prepare: the original, the translation kept unbound from the source until certification, passport copies of every person named in the document, and any relationship evidence such as a house registration or marriage certificate if the destination asks for it.
Common pitfall: states that objected to Thailand's accession to the Apostille Convention still require destination-embassy legalisation, so confirm the destination's position before starting.
Practitioner's tip: give us your travel or filing deadline up front. We plan backwards and pick the service tier that lands on time without paying for unnecessary express handling.
Is the MFA express service available for a marriage certificate or single-status letter used to marry abroad, by what time must it be filed, and is same-day collection realistic?
Consular / Apostille
Practitioner's view to "Is the MFA express service available for a marriage certificate or single-status letter used to marry abroad, by what time must it be filed, and is same-day collection realistic?" — Thai consular legalisation is performed by the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at Government Complex Chaeng Watthana (Building B), plus MRT Khlong Toei and regional counters. Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, with entry into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so documents destined for member states now need a single Apostille from MFA — no destination-embassy step, except for states that objected to Thailand's accession. Door-to-door pickup in Bangkok and DHL dispatch worldwide — call 094-895-8999.
Process in brief: (1) decide whether the destination requires an original or a certified true copy; (2) prepare a power of attorney if you cannot attend; (3) translate in the required format; (4) file and monitor the queue; (5) verify whether supporting documents are also required at destination.
What to prepare: the original, a signed certified-true copy, a completed application form, a contact number reachable during office hours, and the name of the destination authority so the correct certification format is applied.
Common pitfall: many destinations accept documents only within 3–6 months of issue or certification. Missing that window means re-issuing and re-certifying the entire set, so plan backwards from the real filing date.
Practitioner's tip: keep colour scans of every certified page. If a courier loses the set, digital copies make re-issue and verification dramatically faster.
Can a certified copy replace the original for a commercial contract or foreign government tender document, and how many months of validity will the receiving authority accept?
Consular / Apostille
Per the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs (MFA Thailand) to "Can a certified copy replace the original for a commercial contract or foreign government tender document, and how many months of validity will the receiving authority accept?" — Typical documents: house registration, birth/marriage/divorce certificates, name-change records, death certificates, single-status letters, police clearance, degrees and transcripts, company affidavits, VAT Por.Por.20, financial statements, powers of attorney and cross-border contracts. Government fee is THB 200 per stamp for the normal service (2–3 business days) and THB 400 per stamp for same-day express (file before 11:30). Our end-to-end agency fee starts at THB 1,500–4,500 per set depending on volume and urgency. Door-to-door pickup in Bangkok and DHL dispatch worldwide — call 094-895-8999.
Process in brief: (1) confirm whether the receiving body wants an Apostille or embassy legalisation; (2) obtain the certified original from the issuing authority; (3) translate through an accepted translator; (4) certify translation and signature; (5) keep high-resolution colour scans of every page before the file leaves Thailand.
What to prepare: an intact original that is not torn or laminated, evidence of any name change where the document does not match your current name, a passport copy, and a power of attorney with ID copies of both grantor and agent.
Common pitfall: never unstaple or re-bind a certified set. Removing the staple is treated as breaking the seal and the destination may reject the whole file; photocopy without dismantling it.
Practitioner's tip: keep colour scans of every certified page. If a courier loses the set, digital copies make re-issue and verification dramatically faster.
How does certification of an authorised signatory's signature differ from certification of a translation at the Department of Consular Affairs?
Consular / Apostille
Per the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs (MFA Thailand) to "How does certification of an authorised signatory's signature differ from certification of a translation at the Department of Consular Affairs?" — You never need to attend Chaeng Watthana yourself — we file under a power of attorney, track the queue, and courier the sealed originals back by EMS or DHL worldwide. Standard outbound chain: original from the issuing Thai authority → certified English translation → MFA certification of the translation/signature → destination-embassy legalisation in Bangkok (only for non-Apostille countries). Door-to-door pickup in Bangkok and DHL dispatch worldwide — call 094-895-8999.
Process in brief: (1) tell us the destination country and purpose so the correct chain is set from day one; (2) re-issue the original if it is older than the destination's limit; (3) translate and proofread twice against the source; (4) certify in the correct order; (5) return the sealed set with a digital copy for your records.
What to prepare: the full original set, colour scans of every page for translation proofing, an English spelling list for all people and place names, and any extra items listed on the destination authority's own checklist.
Common pitfall: the single largest cause of rejection is an English spelling that does not match the passport. Always take the passport spelling as authoritative and confirm it before translation starts.
Practitioner's tip: give us your travel or filing deadline up front. We plan backwards and pick the service tier that lands on time without paying for unnecessary express handling.
If the original is very old, damaged or only exists as a microfilm print, can legal and cross-border contract translation still be completed?
Certified translation
Per the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs (MFA Thailand) to "If the original is very old, damaged or only exists as a microfilm print, can legal and cross-border contract translation still be completed?" — Multi-language certified translation for use in Thailand runs in three layers: translation by a native/MFA-recognised translator, a certificate of accuracy sealed by the translation company or a Notary Public lawyer, then MFA legalisation of that translation. Government fees are THB 200 per stamp for the normal service (2–3 business days) and THB 400 per stamp for same-day express (filed before 11:30); translation itself is priced per page/word and by language rarity. Send a photo of the document to LINE @Thainotary and we quote the language pair, chain, cost and timeline within 15 minutes.
Process in brief: (1) confirm whether the receiving body wants an Apostille or embassy legalisation; (2) obtain the certified original from the issuing authority; (3) translate through an accepted translator; (4) certify translation and signature; (5) keep high-resolution colour scans of every page before the file leaves Thailand.
What to prepare: the full original set, colour scans of every page for translation proofing, an English spelling list for all people and place names, and any extra items listed on the destination authority's own checklist.
Common pitfall: the single largest cause of rejection is an English spelling that does not match the passport. Always take the passport spelling as authoritative and confirm it before translation starts.
Practitioner's tip: if the same document is needed by several authorities, produce all copies in one round — it saves time and keeps the certification format consistent across the sets.
How many working days does legalisation of a divorce certificate take under normal service, and can express service return it the same day?
Consular / Apostille
Per the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs (MFA Thailand) to "How many working days does legalisation of a divorce certificate take under normal service, and can express service return it the same day?" — Thai consular legalisation is performed by the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at Government Complex Chaeng Watthana (Building B), plus MRT Khlong Toei and regional counters. Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, with entry into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so documents destined for member states now need a single Apostille from MFA — no destination-embassy step, except for states that objected to Thailand's accession. Free consultation on LINE @Thainotary or call 094-895-8999 (Mon–Sun 08:00–20:00 ICT).
Process in brief: (1) check whether a parent authority must endorse the document first — a school, hospital or line department; (2) translate into the required language; (3) certify the translation; (4) complete the next certification layer; (5) submit within the validity window the destination accepts.
What to prepare: the original or a certified extract from the issuing authority, a copy of the holder's ID or passport, a power of attorney if someone files on your behalf, and the exact English spelling of every name as it appears in the passport.
Common pitfall: never unstaple or re-bind a certified set. Removing the staple is treated as breaking the seal and the destination may reject the whole file; photocopy without dismantling it.
Practitioner's tip: send us photographs of the documents before work begins. We will confirm the correct chain, an honest timeline, and anything still missing so you do not lose a filing slot.
For several documents at once, how should legal and cross-border contract translation be batched to avoid gaps and reduce cost?
Certified translation
Per the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs (MFA Thailand) to "For several documents at once, how should legal and cross-border contract translation be batched to avoid gaps and reduce cost?" — Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, with entry into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, so outbound documents to member states need one Apostille from MFA instead of a destination-embassy step, except for states that objected to the accession. We cover English, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hindi, Vietnamese, Myanmar, Lao, Khmer, Indonesian, Malay, Tagalog, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Finnish and Eastern European languages. Free consultation on LINE @Thainotary or call 094-895-8999 (Mon–Sun 08:00–20:00 ICT).
Process in brief: (1) confirm whether the receiving body wants an Apostille or embassy legalisation; (2) obtain the certified original from the issuing authority; (3) translate through an accepted translator; (4) certify translation and signature; (5) keep high-resolution colour scans of every page before the file leaves Thailand.
What to prepare: the full original set, colour scans of every page for translation proofing, an English spelling list for all people and place names, and any extra items listed on the destination authority's own checklist.
Common pitfall: self-made or machine translations are usually refused — reviewers check the letterhead, the translator's certification wording, and whether every stamp on the original has been rendered.
Practitioner's tip: send us photographs of the documents before work begins. We will confirm the correct chain, an honest timeline, and anything still missing so you do not lose a filing slot.
Practitioner guidance — MFA Department of Consular Affairs legalisation
Competent authority: Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, MFA
Practitioner guidance
✓If embassy legalisation follows, check that embassy's conditions in advance to sequence correctly.
✓Obtain freshly issued civil-registry extracts before translating and filing.
✓The Department certifies either the signature and seal of the issuing official or the accuracy of a translation — request the type the destination needs.
✓Foreign documents must first be certified in the issuing country (Apostille or the relevant authority) before Thai translation and filing here.
✓Bring the document owner's passport or ID copy, plus a power of attorney if someone files on their behalf.
Pitfalls — why documents get rejected
!Planning a visa or registration date without allowing for the queue.
!Filing photocopies instead of registry-issued extracts.
!Translated names not matching the passport or other documents in the set.
!Foreign documents not certified in the issuing country first.
!No power of attorney when a representative files.
タイ外務省領事局リーガライゼーションの主たる所管当局は Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, MFA です。提出先が指定する経路以外で取得した認証は、内容が正しくても受理されないことがあります。 個別のご事情はお電話・LINE・メールでスタッフにご確認ください。 本内容は一般的な案内です。要件・所要期間は変更される場合がありますので、申請前に必ず所管当局の最新情報をご確認ください。
タイ外務省領事局リーガライゼーションの最新要件はどこで確認できますか。
Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, MFA の公告を直接ご確認ください。当ページが根拠としている公式情報源は https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/publicservice/legalization · https://www.dopa.go.th/ です。規定は随時改訂されるため、毎回最新版をご確認ください。 個別のご事情はお電話・LINE・メールでスタッフにご確認ください。 本内容は一般的な案内です。要件・所要期間は変更される場合がありますので、申請前に必ず所管当局の最新情報をご確認ください。
タイ外務省領事局リーガライゼーションにはどのくらいの期間がかかりますか。
所要期間は一定ではなく、Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, MFA の受付状況・書類の種類・提出先機関により変動します。そのため固定の日数は掲載していません。実際の期限より余裕を持って着手し、渡航や提出の予定を組む前に現在の状況をご確認ください。 個別のご事情はお電話・LINE・メールでスタッフにご確認ください。 本内容は一般的な案内です。要件・所要期間は変更される場合がありますので、申請前に必ず所管当局の最新情報をご確認ください。
タイ外務省領事局リーガライゼーションで取得した書類に有効期限はありますか。
有効期限を定めるのはサービス提供者ではなく提出先機関です。発行後一定期間内の書類のみを受理する機関も多いため、先に提出先の基準を確認したうえで Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, MFA での手続きを開始してください。 個別のご事情はお電話・LINE・メールでスタッフにご確認ください。 本内容は一般的な案内です。要件・所要期間は変更される場合がありますので、申請前に必ず所管当局の最新情報をご確認ください。
タイ外務省領事局リーガライゼーションは本人が出向く必要がありますか。委任は可能ですか。
署名や本人確認が必要な段階と、委任状で代理可能な段階があります。Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, MFA の規定と書類の種類により異なるため、来訪前に条件をご確認ください。 個別のご事情はお電話・LINE・メールでスタッフにご確認ください。 本内容は一般的な案内です。要件・所要期間は変更される場合がありますので、申請前に必ず所管当局の最新情報をご確認ください。
Can a Thai notary sign documents that will be used overseas?
Yes. A Notarial Services Attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand can notarize documents intended for use abroad, after which the document is legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and, if required, at the destination country's embassy.
Do I need an appointment to notarize a document in Bangkok?
Walk-ins are accepted, but booking a 30-minute slot in advance guarantees same-day completion and lets us pre-check that you bring the right identification and any supporting documents.
What ID do I need to bring to a notary appointment?
Bring your original passport (or Thai national ID for Thai nationals); for corporate documents bring the affidavit/board resolution and a copy of the company affidavit issued within the last 90 days.
Is a Thai notarization accepted in the United States?
Yes, once the notarized document has been certified by the Department of Consular Affairs (MFA) and then authenticated by the US Embassy in Bangkok, or certified through the Apostille route where the destination authority accepts it.
確認済みの専門資格
• Member, Lawyers Council of Thailand (สภาทนายความ) — 確認する
• Registered certified translator, Ministry of Justice (Thailand) — 確認する
• Recognized agent for MFA Legalization Division, Thailand — 確認する
Composite cases similar to this page — MFA Department of Consular Affairs legalisation
Composite cases assembled from commonly seen matters — not individual clients, no personal data.
medical certificate from Chonburi for onward embassy legalisation
a foreign national living in Thailand from Chonburi — the spelling on older documents did not match the current passport
What we handled: reviewed the source documents and flagged which ones needed re-issuing before work began · arranged the signing or lodgement appointment and listed what to bring · tracked progress between steps and reported status along the way
What clients usually ask in matters like this: if the destination rejects this set, do we start over from scratch?
Indicative timeline: roughly 7–14 working days end to end
medical certificate from the United Arab Emirates for a destination-state benefit claim
an attorney-in-fact acting for the document holder from the United Arab Emirates — the destination prescribed a specific translation and certifier type, so the right track had to be chosen upfront
What we handled: arranged the signing or lodgement appointment and listed what to bring · reviewed the source documents and flagged which ones needed re-issuing before work began · delivered a scanned set plus the originals with lodgement instructions · tracked progress between steps and reported status along the way
What clients usually ask in matters like this: how long does the set stay valid after certification?
Indicative timeline: roughly 10–20 working days end to end
company certificate from Prachuap Khiri Khan–Hua Hin for a foreign registry filing
a Thai national working overseas from Prachuap Khiri Khan–Hua Hin — the destination prescribed a specific translation and certifier type, so the right track had to be chosen upfront
What we handled: arranged the signing or lodgement appointment and listed what to bring · reviewed the source documents and flagged which ones needed re-issuing before work began
What clients usually ask in matters like this: are true originals required, or will certified copies do?
Indicative timeline: roughly 5–10 working days end to end