What does 'notary' mean in Thailand?
In Thailand, a 'notary' is a Notarial Services Attorney (NSA) — a lawyer licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand to certify signatures, copies, oaths and affidavits. Thailand has no separate notary public office.
Detailed Answer
Unlike the US, UK or Australia, Thailand does not have a standalone notary public. The equivalent role is performed by a Notarial Services Attorney (NSA) — a fully qualified lawyer who has completed the Lawyers Council of Thailand's NSA certification course under the Notarial Services Attorney Regulation B.E. 2546 (2003) and the Lawyers Act B.E. 2528 (1985). NSAs are authorised to: (a) certify the authenticity of signatures; (b) certify true copies of documents; (c) administer oaths and affirmations; (d) witness contracts and statutory declarations; (e) certify the existence of documents and persons. NPT's 6 in-house NSAs handle ~3,000 notarisations per year for clients in 87 countries.