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
An uncontested divorce (การหย่าโดยความยินยอม, kan ya doi khwam yin yom, also called an administrative divorce, amphur divorce or divorce by mutual consent) is a divorce that the spouses agree to and register at the district office without going to court. It rests on Sections 1514 and 1515 of the Thai Civil and Commercial Code: the consent must be in writing, certified by two witnesses, and the divorce takes effect only when registered. It is the fastest and cheapest divorce Thailand offers.
Table of Contents
What Sections 1514 and 1515 require
Section 1514 provides that a divorce may be effected by mutual consent or by judgment, and that a divorce by consent must be in writing and certified by at least two witnesses. Section 1515 adds that a divorce by consent is valid only when registered, as the marriage was. Both spouses appear personally before the registrar at an amphur (or a Bangkok khet), sign the divorce register (Kor Ror 6), and each receives a divorce certificate (Kor Ror 7). Under Section 1531 the divorce is effective from that registration.
No ground is needed and no reason is asked. The registrar checks identity, the marriage record and the written consent, and records what the spouses have agreed on custody under Section 1520, child maintenance under Section 1522 and property. Where the agreement is silent, the default rules apply: marital property is divided equally, and open questions of custody or support can be taken to the Juvenile and Family Court later.
What to bring and what can go wrong
Each spouse brings identification (Thai ID card or passport), the original marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3), the signed divorce agreement if there is one, and two witnesses with their identification. A foreigner who does not read Thai brings an interpreter. The visit takes about an hour, the district office fee is nominal, and the agreement can usually be prepared in three to five days. Costs for both routes are in the guide on how much a divorce costs in Thailand.
The limits are strict. The amphur can only divorce a marriage that appears in the Thai civil registry; a marriage registered abroad is dissolved by the Family Court even when both spouses agree. Both must attend in person, so a spouse who has left the country cannot be divorced this way by power of attorney. And the amphur does not check fairness: an agreement signed under pressure, or one that gives away a foreigner’s condominium, is recorded as written.
Uncontested divorce compared with a court divorce
The court route under Section 1516 needs a proven ground, takes six to twelve months and produces a judgment. The amphur route needs consent, takes a morning and produces a registration. For property the difference matters: at the amphur the written agreement governs, and the equal split in Section 1533 is applied by nobody unless the spouses leave the property undivided. Section 1532 fixes the pool at the registration date for a consent divorce and at the filing date for a court divorce.
Recognition abroad is the other divergence. Several countries treat an administrative divorce with suspicion or refuse it, whereas a court judgment is accepted almost everywhere, as explained in the guide on whether a Thai divorce is valid abroad. Once registered, an uncontested divorce cannot be undone; the agreement can only be challenged in court on the ordinary grounds for setting aside a contract.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner get an uncontested divorce at the amphur in Thailand?
Yes, if the marriage was registered in Thailand. Both spouses attend the district office in person with their passports or ID cards, the marriage certificate, two witnesses and any written agreement. A foreigner who does not read Thai should bring an interpreter. A marriage registered abroad must be dissolved through the Family Court.
How long does an uncontested divorce take in Thailand?
The registration is completed in a single visit, usually within an hour, and the divorce takes effect the same day. Preparing a divorce agreement covering property, custody and maintenance typically takes three to five days beforehand.
Is an uncontested divorce from Thailand recognised abroad?
Often, but not everywhere. Some countries do not accept a divorce registered administratively rather than by a court, and most require a certified translation and legalisation of the Kor Ror 7 certificate. Anyone planning to remarry abroad should check the rules of that country before choosing the amphur route.
See also: divorce agreement, contested divorce, sin somros, amphur (district office), and the guides to divorce in Thailand and the Thai divorce certificate.
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