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
Sin sod (สินสอด, also written sinsod or sin sot, loosely translated as dowry or bride price) is property given by one betrothed party to the parents, adoptive parents or guardian of the other in return for that person agreeing to marry, as defined in Section 1437 of the Thai Civil and Commercial Code. The law regulates the custom rather than requiring it. For a foreigner marrying a Thai partner, the questions are how much, who keeps it, and whether it can come back.
Table of Contents
What the Civil and Commercial Code actually regulates
Section 1437 sits in the chapter on betrothal. It recognises sin sod as property given to the parents or guardian of the betrothed person for consenting to the marriage, and sets out when it can be reclaimed. The law does not oblige anyone to give sin sod, fixes no minimum, and keeps no register. A marriage registered at the amphur is fully valid without a baht changing hands, and an unregistered ceremony with a lavish sin sod creates no marriage at all.
Sin sod is not khongman. The same section deals with khongman, the engagement gift handed to the betrothed person, which becomes that person’s own property (sin suan tua) once the engagement is complete. Sin sod goes to the parents and is theirs. Since the Civil and Commercial Code Amendment Act (No. 24) B.E. 2567 took effect on 23 January 2025, the betrothal provisions are gender-neutral, so the same rules apply to any couple.
Amounts, gold and the ceremony in practice
Sin sod is negotiated between the families and depends on the bride’s education, family standing and the groom’s means. Figures commonly discussed for a middle-class, university-educated Thai bride run from about 100,000 to 300,000 baht, and from 500,000 to 1,000,000 baht or more for higher-status families, often with gold of 5 to 20 baht weight on top. The money and gold are displayed on a tray at the ceremony and counted before the guests.
In many families the sin sod, or a large part of it, is handed back to the couple afterwards as a start in married life. That is custom, not law, and cannot be assumed. Foreigners are sometimes asked to show a larger sum for face and receive most of it back the same day; if so, it should be agreed with the family beforehand. Whatever is given plays no part in the registration described in the guide to getting legally married in Thailand.
Can sin sod be reclaimed if the marriage fails
Return is possible only in the narrow case Section 1437 describes: there is no marriage, and the reason lies on the side of the party who received the sin sod, or circumstances attributable to that side make the marriage improper or impossible. A groom who changes his mind cannot claim it back. Once the marriage is registered, sin sod stays with the parents even if the couple divorces a month later; it was given for the consent to marry, and that consent was given.
Where a couple holds a ceremony but never registers, whether there has been “no marriage” in the legal sense is fact-dependent and argued case by case. A restitution claim follows the rules on undue enrichment: one year from the day the claimant knew of the right, and in any event ten years from when it arose. Transfer records and photographs of the tray decide these disputes.
Frequently asked questions
Is sin sod required by law in Thailand?
No. Section 1437 of the Civil and Commercial Code recognises sin sod as property given to the parents of the betrothed person, but no law requires it or sets a minimum. A marriage registered at the district office is valid whether or not any sin sod was given.
How much sin sod is normal for a foreigner marrying a Thai woman?
There is no legal figure. Commonly discussed amounts are 100,000 to 300,000 baht for a middle-class, university-educated bride and 500,000 to 1,000,000 baht or more for families of higher standing, often with gold added. Some families return all or part of it to the couple after the ceremony.
Can I get sin sod back after a divorce in Thailand?
Not after a registered marriage. Sin sod is given in exchange for consent to marry, so once the marriage is registered the parents keep it. It can be reclaimed only where no marriage takes place and the cause lies on the receiving party’s side.
See also: engagement and khongman, marriage certificate, sin suan tua, prenuptial agreement, and the full guide to sin sod in Thailand.
Thai Law Updates, free by email
Plain-English updates on Thai law changes that affect foreigners: property, visas, marriage, business and wills. One short email a month from a firm practicing since 2006. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.