Reviewed by ThaiLawOnline, a licensed Thai law firm practising in Thailand since 2006. Thai lawyer of record: Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556.
Last updated on September 5, 2026
Court fees (ค่าธรรมเนียมศาล, kha thammaniam san, sometimes kha thamniam sarn) are the sums a party pays the court to file and pursue a civil case in Thailand, fixed by the fee table annexed to the Civil Procedure Code. For a money claim the fee is 2% of the amount claimed, capped at 200,000 baht, with 0.1% on any part of the claim above 50 million baht. The fee is paid when the claim is filed, so it is the first cost a foreigner meets in litigation and the one that decides whether a small claim is worth bringing.
Table of Contents
What the fee table says
Monetary claims. The plaintiff pays 2% of the amount in dispute, up to 200,000 baht; above 50 million baht the excess attracts 0.1%. A 1 million baht debt therefore costs 20,000 baht to file, and a 20 million baht claim costs 200,000 baht. A claim that cannot be valued in money, such as an order to vacate land or to register a right, carries a flat fee of 200 baht. Small claims filed under the summary procedure for amounts up to 300,000 baht pay 2% capped at 1,000 baht.
Appeals and enforcement. The same 2% applies again to the amount contested on appeal to the Court of Appeal and once more on a dika appeal. Enforcing the judgment through the Legal Execution Department costs a further percentage of what is actually recovered. Some courts charge nothing: the Labour Court is free to employees, and a consumer suing a business under the consumer case procedure is exempt.
Practical points for a foreigner funding a case
Who pays in the end. The court has discretion to order the losing party to reimburse the winner’s court fees, and usually does, together with a contribution to lawyer’s fees under a tariff that caps the award at a small percentage of the claim, far below what a lawyer actually charged. A party who cannot afford the fee may apply to the court to be excused from it, with evidence of means.
Other costs are separate: the lawyer’s fee, translation of every foreign language exhibit into Thai, a court interpreter for a foreign witness, and service by publication if the defendant cannot be found. The common mistake is to inflate the claim. Adding speculative damages to a solid debt raises the fee, and the inflated part is rarely awarded and rarely reimbursed. Claim what can be proved, and add interest, which since 2021 runs at 5% per year from default. The legal fees page explains that government fees are passed on at cost.
Court fees compared across the courts
| Case | Court fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Debt or damages up to 300,000 baht (small claims) | 2%, maximum 1,000 baht | Summary procedure |
| Money claim, ordinary civil case | 2%, maximum 200,000 baht | 0.1% on the part above 50 million baht |
| Claim not valued in money | 200 baht | Eviction, registration, declaration |
| Divorce, custody, probate | 200 baht unless property is claimed | Juvenile and Family Court |
| Unpaid wages or severance | None | Labour Court |
| Criminal complaint by a victim | None | Civil claim attached to prosecution also free |
A civil claim joined to a criminal prosecution is fee free, which is why a defrauded foreigner often files a criminal complaint before, or instead of, a civil action. The trade off is that the criminal court awards only the loss it can readily quantify.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file a civil case in Thailand?
The court fee is 2% of the amount claimed, capped at 200,000 baht, with 0.1% on any part of the claim above 50 million baht. Claims that cannot be valued in money cost 200 baht. The fee is paid on filing and is separate from lawyer’s fees, translation and interpreter costs.
Does the loser pay the court fees in Thailand?
Usually. The court has discretion to order the losing party to reimburse the winner’s court fees and a modest contribution to lawyer’s fees under a statutory tariff. The contribution is far below actual legal costs, so a winning party still bears most of its own lawyer’s bill.
Are there court fees for a labour case or a divorce in Thailand?
The Labour Court charges no fee to an employee claiming wages or severance. A divorce, custody or probate petition in the Juvenile and Family Court carries the flat 200 baht fee for a non-monetary claim, but if a spouse also claims a share of property or maintenance, the 2% fee applies to that amount.
See also: Courts of first instance, Court of Appeal, Damages, Labour Court, Legal fees in Thailand and Thai legal system explained.
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