Signing and notarising documents at a law office desk

Notary Public services in Thailand

Signature certification, certified true copies and affidavits handled by a Notarial Services Attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand, for Thai and foreign clients who need Thai documents accepted overseas.

Short answer

Thailand has no common-law Notary Public office. The equivalent work is performed by a Notarial Services Attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand. The attorney certifies signatures, the identity of signatories, and that copies match originals — not that the contents of a document are true — and this is separate from translation certification issued by the Department of Consular Affairs. Certification usually takes 1–2 business days.

Documents we certify

What the attorney can certify

• Witness and certify a signature executed in front of the attorney
• Certify that a photocopy is a true copy of the original document presented
• Administer and certify an affidavit or statutory declaration signed in the attorney's presence
• Certify the capacity and authority of a person signing on behalf of a company, based on the corporate records presented
• Certify facts the attorney has personally observed, such as the identity of the signatory

What it does not cover

• It does not certify that the statements inside the document are true — only the signature or the match with the original
• It is not the translation certification issued by the Department of Consular Affairs; if the receiving authority asks for a certified translation, that step is separate
• It is not a civil-law notary who drafts public instruments, and the attorney is not a government office
• It cannot issue an Apostille — an Apostille is issued only by the competent authority of the country of origin
• It cannot guarantee acceptance; the receiving authority always retains discretion

The document chain: from certification to the receiving authority

Step	Who performs it	What is certified	Typical timeframe
1. Signature / true-copy certification	Notarial Services Attorney in Thailand	The signature, the signatory's identity, or the match with the original	1–2 business days
2. Translation into the target language	A translator accepted by the destination (NAATI, sworn, or MoJ-listed)	Accuracy of the translation	2–5 business days
3. Translation certification / legalisation	Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand	The official's signature and the translation	Varies with the authority's queue
4. Apostille or destination embassy	Competent authority / the destination embassy in Thailand	Authenticity of the seals and signatures from the previous step	Varies with the authority's queue

Frequently asked questions

Does Thailand have a Notary Public?

Thailand is a civil-law country and does not have a Notary Public office in the common-law sense. The equivalent function is performed by a Notarial Services Attorney — a licensed Thai lawyer who has completed the notarial services course and is registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Overseas authorities generally accept this certification as the Thai equivalent of notarisation.

How long does notarisation take in Thailand?

The certification itself is usually completed in 1–2 business days once every signatory has attended in person with valid identification. Later steps such as translation, consular legalisation, or an Apostille add their own processing time, which depends on the queue at each authority.

Do I need to attend in person?

Yes for anything involving a signature. The attorney must witness the signature being made, so the signatory attends with an original passport or ID card. True-copy certification does not require the document holder to sign, but the original document must be physically presented.

What identification is required?

A valid passport for non-Thai signatories, or a Thai national ID card for Thai citizens. The name on the identification must match the name printed in the document exactly. If the document uses a former name, bring the change-of-name certificate as well.

Is notarisation enough for use overseas?

It depends on the receiving authority. Some accept the attorney's certification alone. Many require the document to be translated and then legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs, and some require an Apostille or embassy legalisation afterwards. Always confirm the exact chain with the receiving authority before starting.

Can the notarised document be used in Australia?

Australian authorities normally focus on the translation being produced by a NAATI-certified translator. Notarisation is requested when the document is a declaration, power of attorney, or copy that must be verified. The two services are separate and are often required together.

Does Thailand issue an Apostille?

Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the HCCH Apostille Convention, and its entry into force and operational details are published by the HCCH and by the Department of Consular Affairs. Because implementation dates and the designated competent authority may change, confirm the current position on the official HCCH and consular websites before planning your document chain.

Can documents be certified in a language other than Thai or English?

The attorney certifies the signature or the copy, not the language content. Documents in other languages can be certified, but the receiving authority will usually still require a translation into its own official language, prepared by a translator that authority recognises.

Reviewed August 2026. This page is general procedural information, not legal advice for an individual matter. Confirm current requirements with the Lawyers Council of Thailand and the Department of Consular Affairs.

How this usually plays out

Illustrative scenarios used to explain how the process works. They are not individual customer cases and are not a guarantee of any authority's decision.

Power of attorney signed for use overseas

Client: Thai national · Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Services involved: Notarial certification by a Notarial Services Attorney · NAATI certified translation
Documents: Power of attorney · Identity documents
What we handled: • Confirmed the document had to be signed in the presence of the certifying attorney
• Checked the wording covered the transaction the receiving party required
Where it usually goes wrong: Signing in advance and then asking for the signature to be certified
Process outcome: The certification followed the form the receiving party specified

Company documents for an overseas bank account

Client: Thai company · Location: Samut Prakan, Thailand

Services involved: Notarial certification · NAATI certified translation
Documents: Company affidavit · Board minutes · Shareholder list
What we handled: • Confirmed the signatories matched the most recent company extract
• Sequenced certification before the next step required by the receiving party
Where it usually goes wrong: Using a company extract older than the receiving party accepts
Process outcome: Current company documents certified in the required order

Certified true copy for an overseas institution

Client: Applicant abroad · Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Services involved: Notarial certification of a copy · Translation where required
Documents: Passport bio page · Degree certificate
What we handled: • Confirmed whether the destination wants a notarial certification, a consular legalisation, or both
• Presented the original for sighting before the copy was certified
Where it usually goes wrong: Requesting certification from a scan when the original must be sighted
Process outcome: A copy certified in the form the destination named

Signature witnessing on a power of attorney

Client: Individual granting authority · Location: Thailand

Services involved: Signature witnessing · Identity verification
Documents: Power of attorney · Identity document
What we handled: • Checked the destination's required wording before the document was signed
• Ensured the signatory signed in person, with photo identity presented
Where it usually goes wrong: Signing in advance, which prevents witnessing of the signature
Process outcome: A document signed and witnessed in the correct order

Reviewed August 2026. Requirements change — confirm with the receiving authority before lodging.

Official sources you can verify

The information on this page is based on the official sources below. Reviewed August 2026. Requirements change — always confirm with the receiving authority before lodging.

Lawyers Council of ThailandRegister of lawyers and the regulations governing Notarial Services Attorneys.
Department of Consular Affairs, MFA ThailandRules and procedures for legalisation of documents in Thailand.
DFAT (Australia) — notarial services, authentications and apostillesAustralian government document certification services.

Notarial service questions

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

Matching the certification type to what was actually asked for

"Certification" covers several different acts. We ask what wording the recipient used, then select the form that matches it.

What we check before starting

Whether the recipient wants a certified true copy, signing in person, or a signature attestation
What identification the signatory must present and whether witnesses are required
Whether ministry or embassy legalisation follows afterwards

Where we tell you not to spend

In some cases a copy certified by the issuer is enough and no notarial act is needed
Bundling several documents into one appointment reduces travel cost

What we do not promise

• The receiving authority decides the outcome; we do not promise results
• Government fees and processing times vary with the period and the workload of each office
• We do not give legal, financial or medical advice beyond the scope of translation and certification

Reviewed August 2025. Confirm current requirements with the receiving authority before lodging.

Ask about your document path on LINE @NAATI

Notarial certification steps and what to prepare

A Notarial Services Attorney certifies a signature or a true copy. This does not certify that the content of the document is true. Turnaround is usually 1–3 business days.

Step 1: Send scans and name the destination
Send clear scans and tell us which authority or country will receive the document, so the right form of certification is used.
Step 2: Document review and certification format
We check the documents are complete and confirm whether a signature certification, true-copy certification, or translation certificate is required.
Step 3: Sign before the attorney
The signatory shows an ID card or passport and signs before the attorney. For true copies, the original must be presented.
Step 4: Certification issued and delivered
The attorney signs and seals the document and it is handed over or couriered. This usually takes 1–3 business days depending on volume and appointment slots.

What to prepare

The original document, or a freshly certified copy from the issuing office
A valid ID card or passport for the person signing
A power of attorney and company records if signing for a company
Any certification wording or form required by the destination authority

Why sets get sent back

The signature must be made in front of the attorney; a pre-signed document cannot be accepted
Notarial certification is not a translation certification; if the destination asks for a certified translation, that is a separate layer
Do not unstaple or rebind documents after certification — it breaks stamps that cross pages

If you would rather not track each step yourself, send scans on LINE. Our team, which has handled this type of work for over 15 years, will map your document route first — where it should end, how many copies you need, and which steps would be wasted — and you decide afterwards whether to do it yourself or hand it to us.

Ask our team on LINE @NAATI

Notarisation vs NAATI, MFA legalisation and Apostille

Many clients are told to “get it notarised” when the destination actually needs a different step. Use this table to check you are on the right one.

Option	What it certifies	Issued or signed by	When to use	Limits
NAATI-certified translation	A translation signed by a NAATI-certified translator with a stamp or digital certification showing the practitioner number	NAATI-certified translator (Australia)	Submissions to Australian authorities: Department of Home Affairs, skills assessing authorities, universities, state agencies	Certifies the translation only — not that the source document is genuine, and it is not Thai consular legalisation
Certified translation by a Thai translator	A translation with the translator's or agency's certificate of accuracy	Translator or translation company in Thailand	Domestic use, or as the base document before MFA legalisation in Thailand	Many Australian authorities will not accept it unless the translator is NAATI-certified
Notarial certification (Thai Notarial Services Attorney)	Certification of a signature, or that a copy is a true copy of the original	Notarial Services Attorney admitted in Thailand	Powers of attorney, affidavits, child travel consents, company documents, certified copies for overseas use	Does not certify that the content is true and does not replace a NAATI translation
Legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs	Certification of the signature of the issuing officer or of the certifying translator	Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand	The destination requires Thai documents to pass through the MFA before the embassy step	Certifies signatures, not content, and it is not an Apostille
Embassy or consulate certification	The final link in the legalisation chain, applied by the destination country's mission	Embassy or consulate of the destination country	The destination country still requires a further certification after MFA legalisation	Each mission sets its own document list and queue; always check that mission's current notice
Apostille	Certification under the Apostille Convention that replaces multi-layer legalisation between contracting parties	The competent authority of the country that issued the document	A document from one contracting party used in another contracting party	For Thai documents the Convention enters into force on 28 February 2027 (source: HCCH); until then the MFA + embassy chain still applies

Start from the receiving authority and work backwards to the steps you actually need
For Australian authorities lodging online, a NAATI-certified translation is usually the end of the chain
If the destination asks for “original with seal”, check whether MFA or embassy steps are also required
Do not run ahead to the next step before the destination confirms — some steps must be redone from scratch

If you are unsure where your document chain should stop, send scans and the name of the receiving authority on LINE. Our advisory team, with more than 15 years on this type of work, will map the route first so you do not pay for steps you never needed.

Ask our advisory team on LINE @NAATI

Registered Notarial Services Attorneys handling your document certification

Registration certificates