Divorce in Thailand with a Foreign Marriage Certificate

Reviewed by Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556, for ThaiLawOnline, a Thai law firm acting for foreigners since 2006.

Edited by Sebastien H. Brousseau, LL.B., B.Sc. Last updated 4 November 2026.
Update log
  • 4 November 2026: Added the statute box with Thai, English and French text and checked the page against the official text

Divorcing in Thailand is possible even if your marriage was registered abroad. Whether you are a foreign couple married outside Thailand or a Thai-foreigner couple with a foreign marriage certificate, Thai courts provide a legal process to dissolve the marriage. The steps will depend on whether the divorce is uncontested or contested, and whether you meet certain jurisdictional requirements. Our full guide: divorce in Thailand.

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Can foreigners divorce in Thailand if the marriage was registered abroad?

The answer is yes. Even if your marriage certificate was issued outside of Thailand, the Family Court can still accept the case. This is true if there is a clear connection to Thailand. This connection usually happens when one spouse lives in Thailand. It can also occur if the couple has a child here or owns property like a condo or house.

There is one threshold that applies to every couple where either spouse is a foreigner. Under section 27 of the Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481 (1938), a Thai court will not grant a divorce unless the national law of each spouse permits divorce. If it does, the grounds are those of Thai law, as the law of the place where the case is filed. For a divorce by consent, section 26 likewise requires that the national law of both spouses allows it. For most nationalities this is a formality, but check it first if either of you holds a nationality whose law restricts divorce.

If your marriage was not registered in Thailand, the local district office (Amphur) cannot process the divorce. An administrative divorce is available only for marriages that appear in the Thai civil registry. That means a court judgment is required. For couples who agree on all terms, the process is straightforward and often quick. For those who do not, it becomes a contested divorce that takes longer and requires evidence.

For a marriage that is in the Thai civil registry, spouses who live in different countries and agree to divorce can use a split procedure: one spouse signs at a Thai embassy or consulate and the other signs at a Thai district office. The embassy and the district office exchange papers through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The second registrar issues the divorce certificate. We did few divorces like that with a spouse abroad and we must warn you: That is very long, difficult, some countries don’t do it. And once, documents got lost in the mail. So do a divorce using that method only if there is no other way as it is not recommended.

The law behind this page

English

Section 27 Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481

Full text

A Thai court shall not grant a divorce unless the law of the nationality of both husband and wife permits divorce. The grounds for divorce are governed by the law of the place where the divorce action is filed.

ThaiLawOnline translation

Section 26 Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481

Full text

A divorce by consent is valid if the law of the nationality of both husband and wife permits it.

ThaiLawOnline translation

Section 1516Amended on 23 January 2025

Section 1516 sets out twelve grounds for a divorce action; most turn on the other spouse's conduct, but some, such as separation, disappearance, unsoundness of mind, disease and physical incapacity, do not: (1) keeping or honouring another person as a spouse, adultery, or habitual sexual acts with another; (2) misconduct, whether or not a criminal offence, that causes the other spouse serious shame, contempt or hatred, or excessive injury or trouble; (3) serious physical or mental harm, torture, or grave insult to the spouse or the spouse's ascendants; (4) wilful desertion for more than one year; (4/1) final imprisonment served for more than one year for an offence in which the other spouse had no part, where continuing the marriage would cause the other spouse excessive injury or trouble; (4/2) voluntary separation for more than three years, or separation by court order for more than three years; (5) being declared a missing person, or absence for more than three years with no news; (6) failure to give proper support and maintenance, or acting seriously adversely to the marriage, to the point that the other spouse suffers excessive trouble; (7) insanity continuing more than three years and unlikely to be cured; (8) breach of a written bond as to conduct; (9) a serious, chronic and incurable communicable disease dangerous to the other spouse; (10) a physical condition making sexual intercourse permanently impossible. Spouses of any gender rely on the same grounds under the Marriage Equality Act B.E. 2567.

Full text

The grounds for a divorce action are as follows: (1) one spouse has maintained or honoured another person as a spouse, has committed adultery or has a lover, has habitually had sexual intercourse with another person, or has habitually done an act with another person, or accepted an act of another person, to gratify the sexual desire of that spouse or of another person; the other spouse may bring a divorce action; (2) one spouse is guilty of misconduct, whether or not that misconduct is a criminal offence, if it causes the other spouse: (a) to suffer serious shame and humiliation; (b) to be held in contempt and hatred on account of remaining the spouse of the spouse guilty of the misconduct; or (c) to suffer excessive injury or trouble, regard being had to their condition, status and life together as spouses; that other spouse may bring a divorce action; (3) one spouse has physically or mentally harmed or tortured, or has defamed or insulted, the other spouse or an ascendant of the other spouse; provided that it is serious, that other spouse may bring a divorce action; (4) one spouse has wilfully deserted the other spouse for more than one year; that other spouse may bring a divorce action; (4/1) one spouse has been sentenced by a final judgment to imprisonment and has been imprisoned for more than one year for an offence which the other spouse did not contribute to causing, did not consent to and was not privy to, and continuing to be spouses would cause that other spouse excessive injury or trouble; that other spouse may bring a divorce action; (4/2) the spouses have voluntarily lived apart, because they could not live together as spouses in normal happiness, continuously for more than three years, or have lived apart by order of the court for more than three years; either spouse may bring a divorce action; (5) one spouse has been declared by the court to be a disappeared person, or has left that spouse's domicile or residence for more than three years with no one knowing for certain whether that spouse is alive or dead; the other spouse may bring a divorce action; (6) one spouse has failed to give the other proper assistance and maintenance, or has acted in serious hostility to the state of being spouses, to such an extent that the other spouse suffers excessive trouble, regard being had to their condition, status and life together as spouses; that other spouse may bring a divorce action; (7) one spouse has been of unsound mind continuously for more than three years, the unsoundness of mind being unlikely to be cured and so severe that living together as spouses can no longer be endured; the other spouse may bring a divorce action; (8) one spouse has broken a bond of good behaviour given in writing; the other spouse may bring a divorce action; (9) one spouse is suffering from a serious communicable disease which may be dangerous to the other spouse and which is chronic and incurable; that other spouse may bring a divorce action; (10) one spouse has a physical condition making that spouse permanently unable to have sexual intercourse, or permanently unable to do or to accept an act to gratify the sexual desire of the other spouse; the other spouse may bring a divorce action.

ThaiLawOnline translation

Section 1514

Divorce is possible only by mutual consent or by court judgment. A divorce by mutual consent must be in writing and signed by at least two witnesses; where the marriage was registered, it takes effect only once the divorce is registered (Section 1515).

Full text

A divorce may be effected only by the consent of both parties or by a judgment of the court. A divorce by consent must be made in writing and signed by at least two witnesses.

ThaiLawOnline translation

Section 1515Amended on 23 January 2025

Full text

Where a marriage has been registered under this Code, a divorce by mutual consent is complete only when the spouses have registered the divorce.

ThaiLawOnline translation

Section 1531

For a marriage registered under the law, a divorce by mutual consent takes effect from the time the divorce is registered, not from the date the parties signed their agreement. A divorce by judgment takes effect when the judgment becomes final. But a judgment of divorce cannot be set up against third persons who acted in good faith unless the divorce has been registered, so registration remains important even after a court decision.

Full text

In the case of a marriage registered according to law, a divorce by mutual consent of both spouses takes effect from the time the divorce is registered. A divorce by judgment takes effect from the time the judgment becomes final, but it may not be relied on to impair the rights of a third person acting in good faith unless the divorce has been registered.

ThaiLawOnline translation

Section 8 Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481

Full text

Where a foreign law is to be applied, if that law is not proved to the satisfaction of the court, the internal law of Thailand shall apply.

ThaiLawOnline translation

Section 4 ter

When neither the defendant nor the cause of action is in Thailand, a Thai national or Thailand-based plaintiff may still sue in the Civil Court or the court of the plaintiff's own domicile. If the defendant has attachable property in Thailand, the plaintiff may instead sue where that property is located.

Full text

A plaint other than those provided in Section 4 bis, where the defendant has no domicile in the Kingdom and the cause of action did not arise in the Kingdom, shall, if the plaintiff is of Thai nationality or has domicile in the Kingdom, be submitted to the Civil Court or to the court within whose territorial jurisdiction the plaintiff has domicile. For a plaint under paragraph one, if the defendant has property that may be subject to execution located in the Kingdom, whether temporarily or permanently, the plaintiff may submit the plaint to the court within whose territorial jurisdiction that property is located.

ThaiLawOnline translation

ไทย

มาตรา 27 พระราชบัญญัติว่าด้วยการขัดกันแห่งกฎหมาย พุทธศักราช 2481

ข้อความเต็ม

ศาลไทยจะไม่พิพากษาให้หย่ากัน เว้นแต่กฎหมายสัญชาติแห่งสามีและภริยาทั้งสองฝ่ายยอมให้หย่าได้ เหตุหย่า ให้เป็นไปตามกฎหมายแห่งถิ่นที่ยื่นฟ้องหย่า

ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)

มาตรา 26 พระราชบัญญัติว่าด้วยการขัดกันแห่งกฎหมาย พุทธศักราช 2481

ข้อความเต็ม

การหย่าโดยความยินยอมย่อมสมบูรณ์ ถ้ากฎหมายสัญชาติแห่งสามีและภริยาทั้งสองฝ่ายยอมให้กระทำได้

ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)

มาตรา 1516แก้ไขเมื่อ 23 มกราคม 2568

ข้อความเต็ม

เหตุฟ้องหย่ามีดังต่อไปนี้ (๑) คู่สมรสฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งอุปการะเลี้ยงดูหรือยกย่องผู้อื่นฉันคู่สมรส เป็นชู้หรือมีชู้ ร่วมประเวณีกับผู้อื่นเป็นอาจิณ หรือกระทำกับผู้อื่นหรือยอมรับการกระทำของผู้อื่นเพื่อสนองความใคร่ของตนหรือผู้อื่นเป็นอาจิณ อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งฟ้องหย่าได้ (๒) คู่สมรสฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งประพฤติชั่ว ไม่ว่าความประพฤติชั่วนั้นจะเป็นความผิดอาญาหรือไม่ ถ้าเป็นเหตุให้อีกฝ่ายหนึ่ง (ก) ได้รับความอับอายขายหน้าอย่างร้ายแรง (ข) ได้รับความดูถูกเกลียดชังเพราะเหตุที่คงเป็นคู่สมรสของฝ่ายที่ประพฤติชั่วอยู่ต่อไป หรือ (ค) ได้รับความเสียหายหรือเดือดร้อนเกินควร ในเมื่อเอาสภาพ ฐานะ และความเป็นอยู่ร่วมกันฉันคู่สมรสมาคำนึงประกอบ อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งนั้นฟ้องหย่าได้ (๓) คู่สมรสฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งทำร้าย หรือทรมานร่างกายหรือจิตใจ หรือหมิ่นประมาทหรือเหยียดหยามอีกฝ่ายหนึ่งหรือบุพการีของอีกฝ่ายหนึ่ง ทั้งนี้ ถ้าเป็นการร้ายแรง อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งนั้นฟ้องหย่าได้ (๔) คู่สมรสฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งจงใจละทิ้งร้างอีกฝ่ายหนึ่งไปเกินหนึ่งปี อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งนั้นฟ้องหย่าได้ (๔/๑) คู่สมรสฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งต้องคำพิพากษาถึงที่สุดให้จำคุก และได้ถูกจำคุกเกินหนึ่งปีในความผิดที่อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งมิได้มีส่วนก่อให้เกิดการกระทำความผิดหรือยินยอมหรือรู้เห็นเป็นใจในการกระทำความผิดนั้นด้วย และการเป็นคู่สมรสกันต่อไปจะเป็นเหตุให้อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งได้รับความเสียหายหรือเดือดร้อนเกินควร อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งนั้นฟ้องหย่าได้ (๔/๒) คู่สมรสสมัครใจแยกกันอยู่เพราะเหตุที่ไม่อาจอยู่ร่วมกันฉันคู่สมรสได้โดยปกติสุขตลอดมาเกินสามปีหรือแยกกันอยู่ตามคำสั่งของศาลเป็นเวลาเกินสามปี ฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งฟ้องหย่าได้ (๕) คู่สมรสฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งถูกศาลสั่งให้เป็นคนสาบสูญ หรือไปจากภูมิลำเนาหรือถิ่นที่อยู่เป็นเวลาเกินสามปีโดยไม่มีใครทราบแน่ว่าเป็นตายร้ายดีอย่างไร อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งฟ้องหย่าได้ (๖) คู่สมรสฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งไม่ให้ความช่วยเหลืออุปการะเลี้ยงดูอีกฝ่ายหนึ่งตามสมควร หรือทำการเป็นปฏิปักษ์ต่อการที่เป็นคู่สมรสอย่างร้ายแรง ทั้งนี้ ถ้าการกระทำนั้นถึงขนาดที่อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งเดือดร้อนเกินควรในเมื่อเอาสภาพ ฐานะ และความเป็นอยู่ร่วมกันฉันคู่สมรสมาคำนึงประกอบ อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งนั้นฟ้องหย่าได้ (๗) คู่สมรสฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งวิกลจริตตลอดมาเกินสามปี และความวิกลจริตนั้นมีลักษณะยากจะหายได้ กับทั้งความวิกลจริตถึงขนาดที่จะทนอยู่ร่วมกันฉันคู่สมรสต่อไปไม่ได้ อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งฟ้องหย่าได้ (๘) คู่สมรสฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งผิดทัณฑ์บนที่ทำให้ไว้เป็นหนังสือในเรื่องความประพฤติ อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งฟ้องหย่าได้ (๙) คู่สมรสฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งเป็นโรคติดต่ออย่างร้ายแรงอันอาจเป็นภัยแก่อีกฝ่ายหนึ่ง และโรคมีลักษณะเรื้อรังไม่มีทางที่จะหายได้ อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งนั้นฟ้องหย่าได้ (๑๐) คู่สมรสฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งมีสภาพแห่งกายทำให้ไม่อาจร่วมประเวณีหรือไม่อาจกระทำการหรือยอมรับการกระทำเพื่อสนองความใคร่ของอีกฝ่ายได้ตลอดกาล อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งฟ้องหย่าได้

ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)

มาตรา 1514

ข้อความเต็ม

การหย่านั้นจะทำได้แต่โดยความยินยอมของทั้งสองฝ่ายหรือโดยคำพิพากษาของศาล การหย่าโดยความยินยอมต้องทำเป็นหนังสือและมีพยานลงลายมือชื่ออย่างน้อยสองคน

ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)

มาตรา 1515แก้ไขเมื่อ 23 มกราคม 2568

ข้อความเต็ม

เมื่อได้จดทะเบียนสมรสตามประมวลกฎหมายนี้ การหย่าโดยความยินยอมจะสมบูรณ์ต่อเมื่อคู่สมรสได้จดทะเบียนการหย่านั้นแล้ว

ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)

มาตรา 1531

ข้อความเต็ม

การสมรสที่จดทะเบียนตามกฎหมายนั้น การหย่าโดยความยินยอมของคู่สมรสทั้งสองฝ่ายมีผลนับแต่เวลาจดทะเบียนการหย่าเป็นต้นไป การหย่าโดยคำพิพากษามีผลแต่เวลาที่คำพิพากษาถึงที่สุด แต่จะอ้างเป็นเหตุเสื่อมสิทธิของบุคคลภายนอกผู้ทำการโดยสุจริตไม่ได้ เว้นแต่จะได้จดทะเบียนการหย่านั้นแล้ว

ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)

มาตรา 8 พระราชบัญญัติว่าด้วยการขัดกันแห่งกฎหมาย พุทธศักราช 2481

ข้อความเต็ม

ในกรณีที่จะต้องใช้กฎหมายต่างประเทศบังคับ ถ้ามิได้พิสูจน์กฎหมายนั้นให้เป็นที่พอใจแก่ศาล ให้ใช้กฎหมายภายในแห่งประเทศไทย

ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)

มาตรา 4 ตรี

ข้อความเต็ม

คำฟ้องอื่นนอกจากที่บัญญัติไว้ในมาตรา ๔ ทวิ ซึ่งจำเลยมิได้มีภูมิลำเนาอยู่ในราชอาณาจักรและมูลคดีมิได้เกิดขึ้นในราชอาณาจักร ถ้าโจทก์เป็นผู้มีสัญชาติไทยหรือมีภูมิลำเนาอยู่ในราชอาณาจักร ให้เสนอต่อศาลแพ่งหรือต่อศาลที่โจทก์มีภูมิลำเนาอยู่ในเขตศาลคำฟ้องตามวรรคหนึ่ง ถ้าจำเลยมีทรัพย์สินที่อาจถูกบังคับคดีได้อยู่ในราชอาณาจักร ไม่ว่าจะเป็นการชั่วคราวหรือถาวร โจทก์จะเสนอคำฟ้องต่อศาลที่ทรัพย์สินนั้นอยู่ในเขตศาลก็ได้

ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)

Français

Article 27 Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481

Le tribunal thaïlandais ne prononce le divorce que si la loi nationale des deux époux l'admet. Les causes de divorce relèvent de la loi du lieu où l'action est introduite.

résumé non officiel

Article 26 Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481

Le divorce par consentement est valable si la loi nationale des deux époux le permet.

résumé non officiel

Article 1516Modifié le 23 janvier 2025

Les causes de l'action en divorce sont les suivantes : (1) l'un des époux a entretenu ou honoré une autre personne comme son conjoint, a commis l'adultère ou a un amant, a eu habituellement des relations sexuelles avec une autre personne, ou a habituellement accompli avec une autre personne, ou accepté d'une autre personne, un acte destiné à satisfaire son désir sexuel ou celui d'autrui ; l'autre époux peut demander le divorce ; (2) l'un des époux s'est mal conduit, que cette inconduite constitue ou non une infraction pénale, si elle a pour effet que l'autre époux : (a) subit une honte et une humiliation graves ; (b) est l'objet de mépris et de haine du fait qu'il demeure le conjoint de l'époux fautif ; ou (c) subit un préjudice ou des difficultés excessifs, compte tenu de la condition, de la situation et de la vie commune des époux ; cet autre époux peut demander le divorce ; (3) l'un des époux a porté atteinte au corps ou à l'esprit de l'autre époux ou d'un ascendant de celui ci, l'a torturé, diffamé ou injurié ; si ces faits sont graves, l'autre époux peut demander le divorce ; (4) l'un des époux a volontairement abandonné l'autre pendant plus d'un an ; l'autre époux peut demander le divorce ; (4/1) l'un des époux a été condamné par un jugement définitif à une peine d'emprisonnement et a été emprisonné pendant plus d'un an pour une infraction à la commission de laquelle l'autre époux n'a pas contribué, à laquelle il n'a pas consenti et dont il n'a pas été complice par connivence, et le maintien du mariage causerait à l'autre époux un préjudice ou des difficultés excessifs ; l'autre époux peut demander le divorce ; (4/2) les époux ont volontairement vécu séparés, faute de pouvoir vivre ensemble normalement et heureusement comme époux, de manière continue pendant plus de trois ans, ou ont vécu séparés en vertu d'une décision de justice pendant plus de trois ans ; chacun des époux peut demander le divorce ; (5) l'un des époux a été déclaré absent par le tribunal, ou a quitté son domicile ou sa résidence depuis plus de trois ans sans que personne ne sache avec certitude s'il est vivant ou mort ; l'autre époux peut demander le divorce ; (6) l'un des époux n'a pas fourni à l'autre l'assistance et l'entretien convenables, ou a agi de manière gravement hostile à l'état d'époux, au point que l'autre époux en subit des difficultés excessives, compte tenu de la condition, de la situation et de la vie commune des époux ; l'autre époux peut demander le divorce ; (7) l'un des époux est atteint d'aliénation mentale de manière continue depuis plus de trois ans, cette aliénation étant difficilement curable et d'une gravité telle que la vie commune ne peut plus être supportée ; l'autre époux peut demander le divorce ; (8) l'un des époux a manqué à un engagement de bonne conduite souscrit par écrit ; l'autre époux peut demander le divorce ; (9) l'un des époux est atteint d'une maladie contagieuse grave pouvant mettre l'autre époux en danger, cette maladie étant chronique et incurable ; l'autre époux peut demander le divorce ; (10) l'un des époux présente un état physique le rendant définitivement incapable d'avoir des relations sexuelles, ou d'accomplir ou d'accepter un acte destiné à satisfaire le désir sexuel de l'autre ; l'autre époux peut demander le divorce.

résumé non officiel

Article 1514

Le divorce ne peut avoir lieu que par le consentement des deux parties ou par un jugement du tribunal. Le divorce par consentement doit être fait par écrit et signé par au moins deux témoins.

résumé non officiel

Article 1515Modifié le 23 janvier 2025

Lorsque le mariage a été enregistré conformément au présent Code, le divorce par consentement mutuel n'est parfait qu'une fois que les époux ont fait enregistrer ce divorce.

résumé non officiel

Article 1531

Pour un mariage enregistré, le divorce par consentement mutuel prend effet dès son enregistrement. Le divorce judiciaire prend effet dès que le jugement est définitif, mais n'est opposable aux tiers de bonne foi qu'une fois enregistré.

résumé non officiel

Article 8 Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481

Lorsqu'une loi étrangère doit être appliquée et que cette loi n'est pas prouvée à la satisfaction du tribunal, c'est le droit interne de la Thaïlande qui s'applique.

résumé non officiel

Article 4 ter

Pour les demandes autres que celles de l'article 4 bis, lorsque le défendeur n'est pas domicilié dans le Royaume et que la cause de l'action n'y est pas née, le demandeur de nationalité thaïlandaise ou domicilié dans le Royaume saisit le Tribunal civil ou le tribunal du ressort de son domicile. Si le défendeur possède dans le Royaume, à titre temporaire ou permanent, des biens susceptibles d'exécution, le demandeur peut aussi saisir le tribunal du ressort où se trouvent ces biens.

résumé non officiel

Supreme Court decisions

  • 1869/2566 (2023): No Thai Divorce From a Foreign Spouse Unless Their National Law Is Proved to Allow Divorce
  • 8151/2560 (2017): At-Fault Spouse Cannot Claim Alimony but May Get Maintenance Until the Divorce Is Final

Sources

Uncontested divorce with a foreign marriage certificate

When both spouses agree to end the marriage, they can divide assets and decide on child custody. The divorce goes to court but does not require long legal battles. The spouses, or their lawyers, file a petition and present a signed divorce agreement to the judge. If everything is in order, the judge can approve the settlement and issue a divorce judgment in a matter of weeks.

If one spouse cannot travel to Thailand, they can choose a lawyer to represent them. This is done with a notarized and embassy-approved Power of Attorney. Our firm has handled many such cases for expatriates abroad, allowing them to divorce in Thailand without flying here. After the judgment, a Thai spouse must register the divorce at their Amphur to obtain a divorce certificate. Foreign spouses should have the court judgment translated, legalized, and submitted to their embassy or home country authorities.

Contested divorce when there is no agreement

If one spouse does not want a divorce, it is called a contested divorce. This also applies if there are disagreements about custody, support, or property. Under Section 1516 of the Thai Civil and Commercial Code, you must show a legal reason. This can be adultery, desertion for more than one year, misconduct, or voluntary separation for more than three years.

A contested divorce involves petition filing, summons, mediation, trial, and judgment. The process is longer, often six months to one year , and requires solid evidence and legal representation. Even during litigation, if both parties reach a compromise, the case can still be settled by agreement before judgment.

Thai courts accept jurisdiction when there is a clear Thai connection. Examples include one spouse residing in Thailand, a minor child domiciled here, or property located here. Venue usually follows the defendant’s residence or the place where the cause of action arose.

After the Thai court issues the judgment, you translate the decree and legalise it. MFA legalisation in Bangkok confirms Thai signatures. Your embassy or home authority then records the divorce. That record is what you will need for a new passport, a pension claim or a change of name.


Table: Divorce in Thailand with a Foreign Marriage Certificate

AspectForeign Marriage CertificateThai Marriage Certificate
Where to fileFamily Court onlyAmphur (administrative) or Family Court
Uncontested optionCourt settlement agreementAmphur divorce if both agree
Contested optionCourt litigation requiredCourt litigation required
Documents neededForeign marriage certificate + Thai translation, passports/Thai ID, children’s birth certificates, evidence of groundsThai marriage certificate, same additional documents
Registration after judgmentRequired with Amphur (for Thai spouse) and embassy/home authorities (for foreign spouses)Already registered in Thai system, update at Amphur

Required documents

The court needs the original marriage certificate with a Thai translation. It also requires ID cards or passports, children’s birth certificates, and any prenuptial agreement. In contested cases, you must also provide evidence such as photos, financial records, or witness testimony. Documents not in Thai must be translated and certified.

What the Supreme Court says about divorcing on a foreign marriage

Two Supreme Court decisions decide whether a Thai court can divorce a mixed-nationality couple at all, and both turn on section 27 of the Conflict of Laws Act B.E. 2481: a Thai court will not grant a divorce unless the national laws of both spouses permit divorce, and once that is shown the grounds are Thai grounds under Section 1516.

In Decision 1869/2566 a Thai wife sued her British husband in Thailand and won at trial, then lost on appeal and in the Supreme Court, because nobody had proved that English law permits divorce. Foreign law is a fact in a Thai court; the judge does not know it, so the plaintiff must prove it, and because the point goes to public order the appeal court was entitled to raise it on its own. In Decision 8151/2560, between an American husband and a Thai wife married in New York in 2536 (1993) and again in Thailand in 2541 (1998), the husband proved that New York law and the Thai Code both allow divorce, so the Thai court had power to decide, applied Section 1516 (6) to the wife’s conduct, split the four plots she had bought with her salary as sin somros, and held that as the spouse at fault she could not claim alimony under Section 1526. Full bilingual summaries of both decisions, with the Thai judgments, are in the Family Law decisions hub of our Supreme Court decisions database.

The practical rule for a foreign spouse: bring proof of your own country’s divorce law (the statute, with a certified Thai translation, or an expert statement) before you file, whether you are the plaintiff or the defendant, because without it the court cannot reach the merits. For the recognition question in the other direction, whether your Thai divorce will be accepted back home, read Is your Thai divorce valid abroad?.

Registering a foreign divorce, and sections 26 and 27

Thailand’s Conflict of Laws Act applies when foreign nationals are involved. Under its section 27, a Thai court decides a divorce filed in Thailand on the Thai grounds for divorce, but it cannot grant the divorce unless the national laws of both spouses permit divorce.

Regarding the reason or grounds for the divorce, things get more nuanced. Whatever the spouses’ nationalities, the grounds for a divorce filed in Thailand are the Thai grounds (Conflict of Laws Act section 27, paragraph 2). Separately, a Thai court cannot grant the divorce unless the national laws of both spouses permit divorce. This law covers the reasons for divorce, as explained in the Civil and Commercial Code Section 1516.

Divorcing in Thailand from a Foreign Marriage

If you got a divorce outside of Thailand, you may need to file a claim for divorce according to local rules. This is very important if you are a Thai citizen. It is also important if you plan to remarry, transfer property, or update your marital status in Thailand. Legal representation is highly recommended, especially when dealing with property division or custody of children.

To register a foreign divorce in Thailand, follow these steps:

  1. Certify your divorce decree with the right authority in the country where it was issued. This is usually the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a similar department.
  2. Translate the certified divorce judgment into Thai by an officially recognized translator.
  3. Legalize the Thai translation at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in the country where the divorce took place.
  4. When you go back to Thailand, take the original divorce papers, the Thai translation, and the legalization documents. Bring these to your local Amphur (District Office) to register the divorce.

💡 Note: If the divorce was registered in another country without a court case, Thai authorities may not recognize it. In some cases, a Thai Family Court may need to review the foreign divorce to confirm its validity under Thai law.

ThaiLawOnline can help you with translations. We can check if your foreign divorce can be registered. We will guide you through the whole process.

The Conflict of Law Act B.E. 2481 outlines the following rules about divorces:

  • Section 26: A mutual consent divorce is valid if both the husband’s and wife’s countries allow it.
  • Section 27: A Siamese (Thai) court cannot grant a divorce unless both the husband’s and wife’s national laws allow it. The same section then settles which grounds apply: the grounds for divorce are governed by the law of the place where the divorce action is filed, so a divorce brought in Thailand is decided on the Thai grounds in section 1516 whatever the spouses’ nationalities.

In Supreme Court Decision 5887/2533 the court decided that a mutual consent divorce is only valid between the two people involved. This ruling was made in a case where one party was Thai and the other was Indian. It cannot affect third parties acting in good faith unless the divorce is officially registered. Under today’s Code, for a marriage registered in Thailand, a divorce by consent takes effect only from its registration, and a divorce by judgment cannot be raised against third parties acting in good faith until it is registered: see section 1531 of the Civil and Commercial Code. Because the husband refused to register the written divorce, the wife sued and the court ordered the divorce so that it could be recorded in the register.

FAQs on foreign marriage divorce in Thailand

Can I divorce in Thailand if I married abroad?

Yes, provided there is a link to Thailand such as residency, property, or children. The case must go through the Family Court because the marriage is not in the Thai civil registry.

Do both spouses need to attend court in Thailand?

Not always. If one spouse is overseas, they can allow a lawyer to represent them. They just need to sign a notarized Power of Attorney at the Thai embassy.

How long does the process take?

An uncontested divorce may be completed in two to six months. A contested case usually takes six to twelve months or more, depending on complexity.

Will my divorce in Thailand be valid abroad?

In most cases, yes. However, you need to have the court judgment translated, legalized, and registered with your embassy or home authorities. Requirements vary by country.

What law governs divorce in Thailand?

Divorce cases follow the Civil and Commercial Code, Sections 1501 to 1535, and Section 1516 lists the legal reasons for divorce. Where a spouse is a foreigner, section 27 of the Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481 also requires that the national law of each spouse permits divorce. Court procedure follows the Thai Civil Procedure Code.

Does the Thai court need proof that my country allows divorce?

Yes. Under section 27 of the Conflict of Laws Act a Thai court grants a divorce between spouses of different nationalities only if both national laws permit divorce. Supreme Court Decision 1869/2566 held that this is a question of fact the plaintiff must prove: a Thai wife lost her case against her British husband because no evidence of English law was before the court. In Decision 8151/2560 the American husband proved New York law and the divorce proceeded under Thai grounds.

Which country’s grounds for divorce apply if we married abroad and divorce in Thailand?

Thai grounds. Section 27 of the Conflict of Laws Act makes the grounds follow the law of the place where the action is filed, so once both national laws are shown to permit divorce the case is decided under Section 1516 of the Civil and Commercial Code, as the Supreme Court did in Decision 8151/2560.

What happens to my marriage visa after a divorce?

If you’re staying in Thailand on a marriage visa and your divorce is finalized, your visa will no longer be valid. Thai Immigration requires you to report any change in your marital status. Once your divorce is registered, you may need to leave the country or apply for a different type of visa. Basically, the divorce will “void” your marriage visa or extension based on marriage. You will need another visa if you want to stay in Thailand.
If you’re unsure what visa might work for you, try our free Thai Visa Finder tool to explore your options.

Last reviewed: 27 September 2026. Read in Thai: Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481, sections 26 and 27; Civil and Commercial Code section 1516. On 6 October 2026 the split embassy and district-office procedure was qualified: it is an administrative divorce, so it needs a marriage in the Thai civil registry. Timeframes, the embassy and power-of-attorney steps and the recognition abroad are practice guidance and vary by country.

Update for 2025 : Same-sex marriage is legal since 23 January 2025. Divorce rules apply equally to same-sex couples registered in Thailand or recognised from abroad.

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About the author

Written and reviewed by Sébastien Brousseau, LL.B., B.Sc., founder of ThaiLawOnline, working in Thai law since 2006 and living in Thailand since 2004. He also writes about life in Thailand at . Connect on LinkedIn or contact the firm.

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