Registering a Marriage in Thailand as a Foreigner
An embassy cannot marry you, and a legal marriage is the two of you registering at an amphur, the district office. Most district offices ask the foreign partner for a notarised affirmation of marital status from their embassy, translated into Thai and legalised by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On this page
An embassy cannot marry you. A legal marriage in Thailand is the two of you registering at an amphur, the local district office. Most district offices want an embassy affirmation before they register you.
The order that works
Each step feeds the next, so follow the order below.
- Ask the person conducting your ceremony or the venue whether you need the marital status affirmation, before you apply.
- Get the affirmation from your embassy, since most amphurs require a notarised one.
- Have it translated into Thai by a professional translation service.
- Have the document and its Thai translation legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Register at a district office in the province stated on your affirmation.
- Leave with 2 identical marriage certificates in Thai.
Step 1: the affirmation from your embassy
The affirmation is a sworn statement, not proof that you are single. If you were married before, keep the proof that the earlier marriage ended ready for the amphur, for example a decree absolute or final order.
The two embassies below charge differently, so check your own embassy’s page before you plan the date.
| Embassy | Affirmation | Certified passport copy |
|---|---|---|
| US Embassy Bangkok | USD 50 | USD 50, if required |
| British Embassy Bangkok | GBP 50 | GBP 25 |
At the British embassy, you book the appointment at least 7 days after you apply. During peak periods the wait for an appointment can reach 3 weeks. Your partner does not need to attend. The affirmation asks for two referees who are non-Thai nationals living outside Thailand.
We recommend working backwards from the wedding date. Most district offices accept an affirmation dated up to 3 months before the marriage. It names the month and province in which you can marry. Book the embassy slot so the translation and legalisation steps still fit before that month.
Step 2: translation and legalisation
The embassy’s document is no use at the amphur until it has a Thai translation and the Foreign Ministry’s stamp. A certificate from your embassy in Thailand is translated into Thai and certified by the Department of Consular Affairs. A certificate from your home country also needs your foreign ministry’s certification and the Thai embassy’s before it is translated and certified.
We recommend the embassy route when you are already in Thailand, since it has fewer stamps to collect.
You book legalisation appointments online, and you can visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok or one of its legalisation offices in Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket or Ubon Ratchathani. The Bangkok Legalization Division is on the 3rd floor at 123 Chaeng Wattana Road. It is open 08:30 to 14:30, closed on weekends and public holidays.
Step 3: at the district office
The Thai partner brings a Thai ID card or passport. The foreign partner brings a certificate of single status from their home country, which is your legalised affirmation when you used the embassy route. Each side brings one witness.
Some amphurs also ask for the embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs payment receipts, and some require a certified copy of your passport. If you marry a third-country national, that person follows a similar but separate procedure with their own embassy in Thailand.
The district office must be in the province stated on your affirmation. The US Embassy believes you need no appointment at the Bangkok-area amphurs. The registrar conducts the ceremony, and religious ceremonies are not valid on their own.
Age, parental consent and same-sex couples
Parental consent is required if either party is under 20. The US Embassy adds that the permission must be written and translated into Thai.
The equal marriage law defines marriage as a partnership between two people, rather than a woman and a man. It came into force on 23 January 2025. It allows same-sex couples who are 18 or older to register, and the 50 districts in Bangkok and districts across the country are ready to arrange the registration.
If you plan to stay in Thailand on a spouse-based extension afterwards, read our Thailand marriage visa guide first. For the wider move, see moving to Thailand and the full list of Thailand visa types.
Step by step
- Check what the district office and venue wantAsk the person conducting your ceremony or the venue whether you need the marital status affirmation before you apply. Some amphurs also require a certified copy of your passport.
- Get the affirmation from your embassyMost amphurs require a notarised affirmation from your embassy. You can marry in the month and province stated on it.
- Have it translated into ThaiGet a certified Thai translation from a professional translation service.
- Legalise it at the Ministry of Foreign AffairsThe translated documents are legalised by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a nominal fee. The Bangkok office is open 08:30 to 14:30 on weekdays.
- Register at the district officeRegister at a district office in the province stated on your affirmation. Each side brings one witness.
- Collect your marriage certificatesThe registrar conducts the ceremony and gives you 2 identical marriage certificates in Thai.
Not confirmed: Legalisation fee: the US Embassy calls the Ministry of Foreign Affairs fee nominal, and the amount is not confirmed, so ask at the counter. Minimum age: the Thai government states 18 for same-sex couples; the amended Code text was not read, so confirm the age for your couple with the district office.
Common questions
Can my embassy marry us in Thailand?
Embassies and consulates cannot perform or register marriages. The registration happens at a district office.
How old must we be, and when do parents have to consent?
The Thai government says same-sex couples who are 18 or older can register. Parental consent is required if either party is under 20.
How long is the embassy affirmation good for?
Most district offices accept an affirmation dated up to 3 months before the marriage. It also names the one month and province in which you can marry.
Do we need witnesses?
The Thai government lists two witnesses, one from each side.
Is a beach or temple ceremony enough?
Religious ceremonies are not valid on their own. The registrar conducts the ceremony and gives you 2 identical marriage certificates in Thai.
My partner is neither Thai nor from my country. What changes?
Your partner follows a similar but separate procedure with their own embassy in Thailand.
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General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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