Notarising Thai corporate documents for overseas use
Short answer
Thai corporate documents are notarised by presenting recently issued originals from the Department of Business Development together with the authorised director's identification. The attorney certifies the director's signature and that the copies match the originals presented. Certification usually takes 1–2 business days, with translation and legalisation added when the destination requires them.
Cross-border transactions require proof that the person signing for a Thai company is authorised to do so. Foreign registries, banks, and counterparties therefore ask for notarised corporate records: the company affidavit issued by the Department of Business Development, the shareholder list, the memorandum of association, and board resolutions.
When this is needed
- • Opening a corporate bank account or a securities account overseas
- • Registering a branch, subsidiary, or representative office in another country
- • Signing cross-border contracts, distribution agreements, or share transfers
- • Registering a trademark or patent through a foreign agent
- • Participating in a foreign tender that requires certified company records
What to prepare
- • Company affidavit and shareholder list issued recently by the Department of Business Development — many destinations require issuance within the last three to six months
- • Memorandum of association and, where relevant, the latest financial statement
- • Board resolution authorising the transaction and naming the signatory
- • Original identification of the authorised director attending to sign
- • Company seal, if the company's registered particulars require the seal alongside the signature
Step-by-step process
1. Obtain freshly issued corporate records
Order the affidavit and shareholder list from the Department of Business Development shortly before the appointment, because foreign registries usually impose an age limit on these documents.
2. Prepare the board resolution
The resolution should state the transaction, the authorised signatory, and the scope of authority in wording that matches the receiving authority's expectations.
3. Director signs in front of the attorney
The authorised director attends with identification and signs. The attorney verifies signing authority against the affidavit and certifies the signature and capacity.
4. Translate and legalise for the destination
The document set is translated by a translator the destination recognises, then legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs and, if required, apostilled or legalised at the destination embassy.
Common reasons documents are rejected
- • Corporate records older than the destination's acceptable age limit
- • The signing director not matching the authorised signatory named in the affidavit
- • A resolution that omits the specific transaction or names an incorrect scope of authority
- • Missing the company seal when the registered particulars require it
- • Translating only part of the document set, so the registry cannot follow the chain of authority
Frequently asked questions
How recent must the company affidavit be?
Most foreign registries and banks want an affidavit issued within the last three to six months. Confirm the exact limit with the receiving institution, since it varies.
Can a non-Thai director sign?
Yes, provided they are an authorised signatory in the affidavit. They attend with their passport, and the attorney certifies the signature in the same way.
Can an authorised representative sign instead of the director?
Only with a power of attorney from the company, which itself is normally notarised. The receiving authority may still require the director's own signature on key documents.
Do all pages need certification?
Whole documents are certified as a set. Do not detach pages after certification, because the certificate refers to the complete document.
Is a translation of corporate documents always needed?
Only if the receiving authority does not work in the language of the documents. Thai-issued affidavits are in Thai, so a translation is normally required.
Can several documents be certified in one appointment?
Yes. Bring all originals together; each document receives its own certificate so they can be submitted separately if needed.
Related documents
- Power of attorneyHow a power of attorney signed in Thailand is notarised by a Notarial Services Attorney for use overseas: documents to prepare, the certification chain, common rejection reasons, and FAQs.
- Certified true copyHow a Notarial Services Attorney certifies that a copy matches the original Thai document, which originals must be presented, and how the copy fits into the overseas legalisation chain.
- Contracts and agreementsHow signatures on contracts and agreements signed in Thailand are certified by a Notarial Services Attorney for overseas counterparties, registries, and courts.
Related services
Reviewed August 2026. General procedural information only, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the Lawyers Council of Thailand and the Department of Consular Affairs.