Reviewed August 2026. Requirements change — confirm with the receiving authority before lodging.
Does Thailand issue an apostille?
Thailand acceded to the Apostille Convention, and once it is in force for Thailand the Department of Consular Affairs becomes the competent authority for apostilles. Until then, and for any document processed before the entry-into-force date, the legalisation route with consular authentication still applies. Check the current status on the HCCH status table before planning your timeline.
Source: HCCH — Apostille Section
Does Australia accept apostilled documents?
Australia is a contracting party to the Apostille Convention, so an apostille issued by another contracting party removes the need for further consular legalisation for use in Australia. An apostille certifies the origin of the signature and seal only — it says nothing about the translation, so a NAATI certified English translation is normally still required.
Source: DFAT — notarial services
Should the document be translated before or after the apostille?
It depends on what the receiving body asks for. Some authorities want the apostille placed on the original and the whole set (original plus apostille) translated afterwards; others accept a translation of the original alone. Confirm the sequence with the receiving body first, because reversing it usually means paying for the step twice.
Is an apostille the same as notarisation?
No. Notarisation is a certification act performed by a notary public or, in Thailand, a Notarial Services Attorney. An apostille is a certificate issued by a designated state authority that verifies the signature and seal on a public document for cross-border use. Many document chains need both, in that order.
How long does the process take?
Processing time varies by authority, document type, workload and whether the document must first be certified by another agency. We give a working-day estimate in writing with each quote rather than a fixed promise, and we tell you which step is outside our control.
What is an apostille and when is it enough on its own?
An apostille is a single certificate that authenticates a public document for use in another country that is party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Where both countries are parties, it replaces the longer chain of consular legalisation.
Source: HCCH — Apostille Section
Does an apostille cover the translation as well as the original?
Not automatically. Depending on the destination, the apostille may be issued on the original, on the translation, or on both. Ask the receiving body which arrangement it accepts, because reordering afterwards means repeating the whole step.
Source: HCCH — Apostille Section
What should I check on an apostille before I lodge it?
That your name matches your passport exactly, that the document referenced is the one you are lodging, that the issuing authority and date are legible, and that any attached translation is bound in the way the destination requires. Errors are far cheaper to fix before lodgement.
