Marrying a foreign national in Thailand: statement of marital status, translation and legalisation
In short
Where one party is a foreign national, the registrar normally asks for a statement of marital status issued by that person's embassy or consulate in Thailand, translated into Thai and legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs, before the marriage can be registered. Document names, appointment processes and supporting evidence differ by country, so check the relevant embassy's own published requirements first.
Who this applies to
- • Thai nationals marrying a foreign national inside Thailand.
- • Foreign nationals resident in or visiting Thailand who intend to register a marriage here.
- • Couples who will later lodge the Thai marriage records with an authority abroad.
Documents to prepare
- • Passport of the foreign party, plus a translation of the bio page where the registrar asks for one
- • Statement of marital status (affirmation / certificate of no impediment) from that person's embassy in Thailand
- • Thai translation of the embassy statement, legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs
- • Thai national ID card and house registration of the Thai party
- • Evidence that any earlier marriage has ended, for either party
Step by step
1. Read the embassy's published requirements
Each embassy sets its own name for the document, its own appointment process and its own supporting evidence. Start there, because this step usually takes the longest.
2. Obtain the statement of marital status
The foreign party attends the embassy or consulate in Thailand and obtains the statement confirming they are free to marry under their national law.
3. Translate the statement into Thai in full
Every element is rendered, including seal text and endorsements. Partial translations are commonly rejected at the legalisation counter.
4. Have the translation legalised
Submit the translation to the Legalisation Division of the Department of Consular Affairs through the channels published on its website.
5. Register at the district or khet office
Both parties attend with the legalised set. Where the foreign party cannot communicate in Thai, the registrar may require an interpreter.
6. Translate the resulting records for use abroad
Kor Ror 2 and Kor Ror 3 are translated to the standard of the authority that will receive them — NAATI-certified where the translation is produced in Australia.
Points to watch
- • Embassy statements often carry a short validity period; obtaining one too early can mean repeating the step.
- • Transliterating the Thai party's name differently across documents — keep one consistent spelling matching the passport.
- • Submitting a translation that omits seals or marginal notes.
- • Arranging legalisation the receiving authority never asked for, or skipping one it did ask for.
Frequently asked questions
Does the foreign party need to be resident in Thailand?
Residence is not generally the deciding factor; the registrar's concern is that the identity documents and the statement of marital status are in order. Confirm the specific requirements with the district office and the embassy involved.
Is an interpreter required at the district office?
Where a party cannot communicate in Thai, the registrar may require an interpreter so that the parties understand what they are signing. Practice varies by office, so ask in advance.
Can the embassy statement be translated by anyone?
The translation must be acceptable to the Legalisation Division of the Department of Consular Affairs and rendered in full. Follow that division's published requirements rather than assuming an informal translation will pass.
Do we need a NAATI translation at this stage?
Not for the Thai registration itself, which needs Thai translations legalised in Thailand. NAATI-certified translation becomes relevant when the resulting Thai records are lodged with Australian authorities.
How much does the whole process cost?
Government and embassy fees are those published by each authority at the time of lodgement. For the translation portion, send scans by LINE, phone or email and our staff will quote before any work starts.
Related pages
Official source
Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
Content last reviewed: August 2026