Reviewed August 2026. Requirements change — confirm with the receiving authority before lodging.
What does a Notarial Services Attorney in Thailand actually certify?
A lawyer licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand can witness signatures, certify that a copy matches the original sighted, and administer affirmations. The certification speaks to the act witnessed, not to the truth of the document's content.
Source: Lawyers Council of Thailand
Is notarisation a substitute for NAATI certification?
No. A notary does not attest translation accuracy or hold a translation credential. Where an Australian body asks for NAATI, notarisation does not replace it, although some bodies ask for both.
Do I have to attend in person?
For signature witnessing, yes — the signatory signs in front of the lawyer with photo identification. Certified copies can often be handled by presenting the original without the holder signing anything.
Can company documents be notarised?
Yes: board resolutions, powers of attorney, affidavits and corporate registry extracts are common. Bring evidence of the signatory's authority, such as the affidavit of company registration, because the lawyer must confirm the person can bind the company.
In what order do notarisation, legalisation and translation go?
Usually the document is notarised, then legalised if required, then translated, so every stamp added along the way appears in the translation. Confirm the order with the receiving body first, since a few require the reverse.
Is a Thai Notarial Services Attorney the same as a notary public overseas?
Not identical. Thailand has no separate notary profession; the equivalent function is performed by a lawyer registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand as a Notarial Services Attorney. Most receiving bodies accept that signature and seal, but confirm the wording your destination expects before signing.
Do I have to appear in person for notarisation?
For any act that certifies your signature or your identity, yes — the attorney must witness the act. Certified true copies of documents you already hold can often be arranged with less presence, but the acceptable procedure is decided by the receiving body, not by us.
Does notarisation alone make a document valid overseas?
Not always. Many destinations need a further step after notarisation — legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs and then by the destination's embassy, or an apostille. Check the full chain in advance so you do not pay for a notarisation that the destination will not accept on its own.
Source: Department of Consular Affairs, MFA Thailand
