Can we register at any district office?

As a general rule the parties may apply to the registrar at any district or khet office, not only the one covering their registered address. Some offices operate appointment systems or restricted service hours, so confirm with that office before travelling.

Do we have to change surname after marriage?

Thai law allows the couple to agree whether to take one spouse's surname or keep their own. If a name is changed, update the ID card, house registration and passport so every document in a foreign application matches.

Which document should we translate, Kor Ror 2 or Kor Ror 3?

Most applications are filed with the marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3). Where the authority asks for full registration detail, obtain the marriage register record (Kor Ror 2) as well. Follow the wording of the checklist you were given.

Is a marriage certificate alone enough for a partner visa?

Immigration authorities generally assess a broader body of relationship evidence — cohabitation, shared finances and ongoing communication. The marriage certificate is one part of that set.

Can I request a copy years later?

Yes. Copies are obtained from a district or khet office under the family registration rules of the Department of Provincial Administration. Bring your ID card; a representative acting for you needs a power of attorney in the prescribed form.

Marriage registration in Thailand and marriage records used abroad

Short answer

Marriage in Thailand is registered at a district office (amphoe) or Bangkok khet office under Thai law. Registration produces a marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3) and a marriage register record (Kor Ror 2). Where one party is a foreign national, the registrar normally asks for a statement of marital status issued by that person's embassy in Thailand, together with a Thai translation legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs. To use Thai marriage records abroad, the translation must follow whatever the receiving authority requires — for Australian authorities, translations produced in Australia must come from a NAATI-certified translator.

Ask on LINE @NAATI Call +66-80-557-8887 contact@ilc.company

The documents involved

Document	Thai form	Issued by	Used for
Marriage register record	Kor Ror 2	District / khet registrar	Full record of the registration; requested where an authority needs complete details.
Marriage certificate	Kor Ror 3	District / khet registrar	Evidence that the marriage was registered; commonly filed with partner visa applications.
Certificate of marital status (Thai national)	Kor Ror 22	District / khet registrar	Confirms single, divorced or widowed status for marrying abroad.
Statement of marital status (foreign national)	Affirmation / Certificate of No Impediment (name varies by country)	Embassy or consulate of that country in Thailand	Confirms the foreign party is free to marry under their own national law.
Divorce certificate	Kor Ror 7	District / khet registrar, or a court judgment	Shows a previous marriage has ended, where applicable.

Step by step

1. Check eligibility and identity documents
Both parties must meet the requirements of the Thai Civil and Commercial Code. Thai nationals bring the national ID card and house registration; foreign nationals bring a passport. Anyone previously married brings evidence that the earlier marriage has ended.
2. Obtain the statement of marital status from the foreign party's embassy
The foreign party contacts their embassy or consulate in Thailand for a statement that they are free to marry. The document name, appointment process and supporting evidence differ by country — check that embassy's own website.
3. Translate into Thai and have the translation legalised
The embassy statement is translated into Thai in full, then submitted for legalisation to the Legalisation Division of the Department of Consular Affairs through the channels published on its website.
4. Register at the district or khet office
Both parties attend in person with any witnesses the registrar requires. Where one party cannot communicate in Thai, the registrar may require an interpreter. Kor Ror 2 and Kor Ror 3 are issued on completion.
5. Translate the marriage records for use abroad
Request a freshly issued copy from the registrar, then translate it to the standard the receiving authority sets. For Australian authorities, translations produced in Australia must come from a NAATI-certified translator; translations produced outside Australia must carry the translator's full name and contact details.

Situations we handle

Two Thai nationals registering in Thailand

Only Thai identity documents are needed. Translation becomes relevant later, when the certificate is filed with a foreign authority.

Source: https://www.bora.dopa.go.th/

A Thai national and a foreign national registering in Thailand

The additional step is the embassy statement of marital status plus its legalised Thai translation. Some registrars also ask for a translation of the passport bio page.

Source: https://consular.mfa.go.th/

Filing a Thai marriage certificate with Australian authorities

Partner and family visa applications ask for evidence of the relationship, including the marriage certificate with a translation that meets the department's published translation requirements.

Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/

Registering a marriage outside Thailand

The foreign registrar usually asks a Thai national for a Kor Ror 22 certificate of marital status, translated and legalised as that country requires. Confirm the exact chain with the authority that will receive it.

Source: https://www.mfa.go.th/

Common mistakes

• Name spelling on the translation differing from the passport — keep one consistent transliteration across every document in the set.
• Submitting an old photocopy instead of a freshly issued copy from the registrar.
• Translating only part of a document; stamps, seals and marginal notes must all appear in the translation.
• Assuming an embassy statement is valid indefinitely — many are issued with a short validity period.
• Arranging legalisation that the receiving authority never asked for, or skipping a step it did ask for. Always work backwards from the authority's written requirement.

Frequently asked questions

Which document do Australian authorities usually want, Kor Ror 2 or Kor Ror 3?

Most applications are filed with the marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3). Where fuller detail is requested, the marriage register record (Kor Ror 2) is obtained from the registrar as well. Follow the wording of the document checklist you were given.

Does the translation have to be done in Australia?

No. Translations produced in Australia must come from a NAATI-certified translator. Translations produced outside Australia must show the translator's full name and contact details. Many applicants outside Australia still choose a NAATI-certified translation because it removes doubt at the assessment stage.

Can you handle this while I am overseas?

Translation is fully online — send scans and receive a signed PDF by email. Steps requiring the physical original, such as consular legalisation or attendance at the district office, need someone present in Thailand.

How much does it cost?

Fees depend on the document set, language pair and turnaround. Send the scans by LINE, phone or email and our staff will quote before any work starts. Government fees are those published by the relevant authority at the time of lodgement.

Official sources

Content reviewed August 2026. General information on document preparation, not legal or migration advice. Requirements, forms and fees are those published by the relevant authority at the time of lodgement.