Reviewed by Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556, for ThaiLawOnline, a Thai law firm acting for foreigners since 2006.
Update log
- 6 November 2026: French title, description and breadcrumb now carry the French keyword "mariage à bangkok"
- 31 October 2026: Added the statute box with Thai, English and French text and checked the page against the official text
If you are still deciding what registering a marriage will mean legally, read our overview of Thai family law first.
To register a marriage in Bangkok a foreigner obtains an affirmation of freedom to marry from their embassy, has it translated and legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then registers at a district office (Amphur or Khet) with a Thai or foreign partner, in front of two witnesses. The registration itself is one appointment; the paperwork before it takes from about two weeks with fast-track legalization to one or two months at the normal pace. Our marriage registration service in Bangkok starts at 14,900 THB and covers the booking, interpreter and witnesses. The law behind it is explained in our guide to marriage in Thailand; this page is the Bangkok service.
Last reviewed: 31 August 2026. Sections 1448, 1457, 1458, 1465, 1466 and 1467 of the Civil and Commercial Code were read against the Thai text in our own annotated Code. The registration steps, the forms and what each spouse is handed were read against the Ministry of Interior Regulation on Family Registration B.E. 2541, which sets out the marriage register (Kor Ror 2), the marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3) given to each spouse, and the separate family status register (Kor Ror 22) used for a marriage contracted abroad. The surname rules were read from sections 12 and 13 of the Name of Person Act B.E. 2505. The marriage extension figures were aligned on 3 October 2026 with clause 2.18 of the criteria annexed to Immigration Bureau Order No. 12/2568, as read in Thai for our foreign-spouse visa guide; the visa itself, issued abroad, follows the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ own checklist, which was not re-read here. Re-checked on 6 October 2026: sections 1458 and 1466 re-read in Thai; every statement on registration and the prenuptial routes matches; nothing changed; the package prices and the fast-track legalisation figure are the firm’s own and practice.
Early 2025, Thailand recognized marriage equality. This means same-sex couples can legally register their marriage. However, the process have changed a little recently. First, it can be longer now to “
legalize your documents”. Read our article on that. Second, most local authorities in Bangkok now need an appointment. So it can take weeks to get married, or months. Prenuptial sometimes need to be pre-approved by the amphur. It may not be the same everywhere. We are finding ways to help clients when they only have a short period to get married in Thailand.
Table of Contents
Marriage registration in Bangkok, step by step
| Step | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Affirmation of freedom to marry | Each foreign partner obtains it from their own embassy or consulate in Bangkok. Most embassies need an appointment and some ask for proof of divorce or a death certificate from a previous marriage. | Same day to about one week (Filipino nationals about 8 days) |
| 2. Translation and legalization | The affirmation is translated into Thai and both documents are legalized at the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chaeng Watthana). We arrange the certified translator. | Normal service several weeks to one or two months; fast track about 10 working days |
| 3. District office appointment | We book the Amphur or Khet in Bangkok, prepare the file (passports, affirmation, legalized translation, the Thai partner’s ID card and house registration) and any prenuptial agreement, which must be lodged at the same time. | Appointments are now required at most Bangkok offices; typically one to three weeks ahead |
| 4. Registration and certificate | Both partners attend with our interpreter and two witnesses and sign the marriage register (Kor Ror 2), which the registrar signs and keeps. Each spouse is handed one original marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3) the same day. | About one hour |
After the registration we can legalize and translate the Thai certificate for use in your home country, and advise on the Thai marriage visa cost and requirements if you plan to live in Thailand.
Why Marriage Registration Matters
A beautiful ceremony is memorable. However, your marriage is legally recognized only when you register it at a local office. This office is called an Amphur or Khet. This legal registration ensures your marriage is acknowledged internationally. A Buddhist or religious marriage is not a “legal marriage” in Thailand.
The law behind this page
English
Section 1457
A marriage under this Code takes effect only once it has been registered. Religious or customary ceremonies alone do not create a legal marriage in Thailand.
Full text
Marriage under this Code shall be effected only on registration being made.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1458Amended on 23 January 2025
A marriage can be made only if the two persons consent to be spouses of each other, and that consent must be declared openly before the registrar, who records it. Consent is therefore part of the form of the marriage, not merely an inward intention. A marriage made without it is void under Section 1495, but by Section 1496 that voidness takes effect only on a court judgment, which the spouses, their parents or descendants, or, if there are none of them, the public prosecutor at an interested person's request, may apply for.
Full text
A marriage may be made only when two persons consent to be spouses of each other, and that consent must be declared openly before the registrar, who shall record it.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 19 Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481
Full text
The conditions of marriage are governed by the law of the nationality of each party.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 6 Family Registration Act B.E. 2478
Full text
Subject to section 14, an application for registration must be made in writing in the form prescribed by ministerial regulation. When the Registrar accepts the registration, the applicant must sign the register in the presence of the Registrar and of two witnesses, who must also sign the register at that time. If the applicant is unable to sign by any means, the Registrar shall make a note in the register. Specifically for marriage registration, in addition to complying with the preceding paragraph, in any locality where the provincial governor sees fit to announce it with the approval of the Minister of Interior, an application to register a marriage may be filed with the kamnan of the locality where the man or the woman, or both, reside. Such an application must bear the signatures of the applicants and two witnesses, made in the presence of the kamnan, and one of the witnesses must be an administrative official holding a position of village headman or above, a police officer of the rank of sub-lieutenant or above, the chief of a police station, a member of the House of Representatives, a municipal executive councillor, a member of a municipal council, a member of a provincial council, or a lawyer. On receiving a correct application, the kamnan shall forward it promptly to the Registrar for consideration of registration. In this registration, the Registrar shall enter the names of the applicants and witnesses in the register in place of their signatures, and the marriage is deemed complete from the date on which the kamnan received the application.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 8 Family Registration Act B.E. 2478
Full text
On registering a marriage or a divorce by consent, the Registrar must issue a certificate of that registration and give one copy to each party free of charge.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1448Amended on 23 January 2025
Marriage requires both parties to be 18 or older. Below that age, a court order is required. The 2024 Marriage Equality Act both raised the minimum age (from 17 to 18) and replaced gendered terms with neutral 'persons', allowing same-sex marriage.
Full text
A marriage may be made only when both parties have completed their eighteenth year of age, but where there is appropriate cause the court may permit them to marry before that age.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1452Amended on 23 January 2025
A person who is already validly married cannot enter into another marriage. A second marriage during the first is void.
Full text
A person cannot marry while that person already has a spouse.
ThaiLawOnline translation
Section 1466
Full text
An ante-nuptial agreement is void unless its terms are entered in the Marriage Register at the time of the registration of the marriage, or unless it is made in writing, signed by both spouses and by at least two witnesses, annexed to the Marriage Register, and a statement that the agreement is annexed is entered in the Marriage Register at the time of the registration of the marriage.
ThaiLawOnline translation
ไทย
มาตรา 1457
ข้อความเต็ม
การสมรสตามประมวลกฎหมายนี้จะมีได้เฉพาะเมื่อได้จดทะเบียนแล้วเท่านั้น
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1458แก้ไขเมื่อ 23 มกราคม 2568
ข้อความเต็ม
การสมรสจะทำได้ต่อเมื่อบุคคลสองคนยินยอมเป็นคู่สมรสกัน และต้องแสดงการยินยอมนั้นให้ปรากฏโดยเปิดเผยต่อหน้านายทะเบียนและให้นายทะเบียนบันทึกความยินยอมนั้นไว้ด้วย
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 19 พระราชบัญญัติว่าด้วยการขัดกันแห่งกฎหมาย พุทธศักราช 2481
ข้อความเต็ม
เงื่อนไขแห่งการสมรสให้เป็นไปตามกฎหมายสัญชาติของคู่กรณีแต่ละฝ่าย
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 6 พระราชบัญญัติจดทะเบียนครอบครัว พุทธศักราช 2478
ข้อความเต็ม
ภายใต้บังคับแห่งบทบัญญัติมาตรา ๑๔ คำร้องขอจดทะเบียนต้องทำเป็นหนังสือตามแบบที่กำหนดไว้ในกฎกระทรวง เมื่อนายทะเบียนรับจดทะเบียน ผู้ร้องต้องลงลายมือชื่อไว้เป็นสำคัญในทะเบียนต่อหน้านายทะเบียนและต่อหน้าพยานสองคนซึ่งต้องลงลายมือชื่อไว้ในทะเบียนในขณะนั้นด้วย แต่ถ้าผู้ร้องไม่สามารถลงลายมือชื่อได้โดยวิธีหนึ่งวิธีใด ให้นายทะเบียนหมายเหตุไว้ในทะเบียน โดยเฉพาะการจดทะเบียนสมรส นอกจากจะปฏิบัติตามความในวรรคก่อน ถ้าท้องที่ใด ข้าหลวงประจำจังหวัดเห็นสมควรจะประกาศโดยอนุมัติของรัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงมหาดไทย ยอมให้ยื่นคำร้องขอจดทะเบียนสมรสต่อกำนันท้องที่ที่ชายหรือหญิงฝ่ายใดหรือทั้งสองฝ่ายที่มีถิ่นที่อยู่ก็ได้ คำร้องเช่นว่านี้ต้องมีลายมือชื่อของผู้ร้องและพยานสองคนลงต่อหน้ากำนัน แต่พยานคนหนึ่งนั้นต้องเป็นเจ้าพนักงานฝ่ายปกครอง ซึ่งมีตำแหน่งตั้งแต่ชั้นผู้ใหญ่บ้านขึ้นไป หรือนายตำรวจซึ่งมียศตั้งแต่ชั้นนายร้อยตำรวจตรีขึ้นไป หรือหัวหน้าสถานีตำรวจ หรือผู้แทนราษฎร เทศมนตรี สมาชิกสภาเทศบาล สมาชิกสภาจังหวัด หรือทนายความ เมื่อได้รับคำร้องโดยถูกต้องแล้ว ให้กำนันส่งคำร้องนั้นต่อไปยังนายทะเบียนโดยเร็ว เพื่อพิจารณารับจดทะเบียน ในการจดทะเบียนนี้ ให้นายทะเบียนลงชื่อผู้ร้องและพยานในทะเบียนถือเป็นแทนการลงลายมือชื่อ และให้ถือว่าการสมรสได้สมบูรณ์แต่วันที่กำนันรับคำร้องนั้น
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 8 พระราชบัญญัติจดทะเบียนครอบครัว พุทธศักราช 2478
ข้อความเต็ม
เมื่อได้รับจดทะเบียนสมรสหรือหย่าโดยความยินยอม นายทะเบียนต้องออกใบสำคัญแสดงการจดทะเบียนนั้นมอบให้ฝ่ายละฉบับโดยไม่เรียกค่าธรรมเนียม
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1448แก้ไขเมื่อ 23 มกราคม 2568
ข้อความเต็ม
การสมรสจะกระทำได้ต่อเมื่อบุคคลทั้งสองฝ่ายมีอายุสิบแปดปีบริบูรณ์แล้ว แต่ในกรณีมีเหตุอันสมควร ศาลอาจอนุญาตให้ทำการสมรสก่อนนั้นได้
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1452แก้ไขเมื่อ 23 มกราคม 2568
ข้อความเต็ม
บุคคลจะทำการสมรสในขณะที่ตนมีคู่สมรสอยู่ไม่ได้
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
มาตรา 1466
ข้อความเต็ม
สัญญาก่อนสมรสเป็นโมฆะ ถ้ามิได้จดแจ้งข้อตกลงกันเป็นสัญญาก่อนสมรสนั้นไว้ในทะเบียนสมรสพร้อมกับการจดทะเบียนสมรส หรือมิได้ทำเป็นหนังสือลงลายมือชื่อคู่สมรสและพยานอย่างน้อยสองคนแนบไว้ท้ายทะเบียนสมรส และได้จดไว้ในทะเบียนสมรสพร้อมกับการจดทะเบียนสมรสว่าได้มีสัญญานั้นแนบไว้
ตรงตามข้อความในราชกิจจานุเบกษา / สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา (Verbatim from the Royal Gazette / Office of the Council of State)
Français
Article 1457
Le mariage selon le présent Code n'existe que s'il a été enregistré.
résumé non officiel
Article 1458Modifié le 23 janvier 2025
Le mariage exige que deux personnes y consentent et l'expriment publiquement devant l'officier d'état civil, qui doit consigner ce consentement.
résumé non officiel
Article 19 Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481
Les conditions du mariage sont régies par la loi nationale de chaque partie.
résumé non officiel
Article 6 Family Registration Act B.E. 2478
La demande se fait par écrit; le demandeur signe le registre devant l'officier et deux témoins, qui signent aussi. Sur annonce provinciale approuvée par le ministre, la demande de mariage peut être déposée devant le kamnan; une fois enregistré, le mariage vaut dès la date de réception.
résumé non officiel
Article 8 Family Registration Act B.E. 2478
À l'enregistrement d'un mariage ou d'un divorce par consentement, l'officier doit remettre gratuitement un certificat à chaque partie.
résumé non officiel
Article 1448Modifié le 23 janvier 2025
Le mariage n'est possible que si les deux personnes ont dix-huit ans révolus; pour un motif valable, le tribunal peut l'autoriser plus tôt.
résumé non officiel
Article 1452Modifié le 23 janvier 2025
Une personne ne peut se marier tant qu'elle a un conjoint.
résumé non officiel
Article 1466
Le contrat de mariage est nul s'il n'est pas inscrit au registre lors de l'enregistrement du mariage, ou fait par écrit signé des époux et d'au moins deux témoins, annexé au registre avec mention de cette annexe lors de l'enregistrement.
résumé non officiel
Supreme Court decisions
- 6711/2537 (1994): Prenuptial Agreement and Immovable Property
Sources
- Civil and Commercial Code, Office of the Council of State, retrieved 31 October 2026
- Act on Conflict of Laws B.E. 2481, retrieved 31 October 2026
- Family Registration Act B.E. 2478, retrieved 31 October 2026
- deka.supremecourt.or.th, Supreme Court of Thailand decisions database (copy held in our library), retrieved 19 February 2026
Essential Document: Affirmation of Freedom to Marry
Foreigners must obtain an “Affirmation of Freedom to Marry” from their respective embassies or consulates in Thailand. This document confirms you are legally free to marry. You are responsible to contact your embassy, follow their directions and get your document. We can not act for you for that step. Do note that Chinese, Indian, Burmese, Cambodians and Pakistani might have more documents, process, and it complicated everything. Filipino can take 8 days to get their documents. Some embassies will need an appointment.
Our Marriage Registration Packages
We make your marriage registration easy. We handle the whole process so you can enjoy this special time without stress.
Standard Package Includes:
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Embassy Guidance | Assistance with obtaining your Affirmation of Freedom to Marry |
| District Office Booking | Appointment scheduling at the Bangkok Amphur or Khet |
| Interpreter & Witnesses | Qualified interpreter and two official witnesses provided |
| Marriage Certificate | Official Thai marriage certificate issued |
Transparent Pricing
| Couple Type | Price (THB) |
| Foreigner & Thai National | From 14,900 (no prenup, no legalization or transl. included). Assistance for witnesses, interpreter, booking, etc. |
| Two Foreigners | From 24,990 (no prenup, no legalization or transl. included) |
Prenuptial Agreements: Protect Your Future
Adding a prenuptial agreement provides financial clarity and protects individual assets. In Thailand, this agreement must be drafted before the marriage and lodged at the Amphur during your
marriage registration. We can seamlessly integrate this service into your marriage registration package.
Important Additional Costs (Outside Our Packages)
| Item | Estimated Cost |
| Embassy Fees | Varies (e.g., U.S. Embassy $50, British Embassy £50) |
| Translation & Legalization | Varies based on language and service provider |
We provide recommendations for certified translation and legalization services in Bangkok. Expect about 2,000 to 4,000 baht per foreigner. This is normal translation and legalization. But that can take weeks or 1-2 months.
2026 update:
Fast track legalization is expensive, about 25,000 baht per person but can be done in 10 working days. (Prices went up in 2026 for unknown reasons) Read our page on
legalization in Thailandto understand what is fast track. Also our page on
Marriage in Thailand.
Special Considerations by Nationality
Requirements and timelines can vary significantly based on nationality. Early consultation with your embassy is recommended. Note: We currently do not handle cases from China, India, and Cambodia.
Premier “Seamless Union” Package (or call it “Platinum Help Marriage Registration”)
For a completely stress-free experience, choose our premium package:
| Premium Services | Included? |
| Personal Consultant | ✔️ |
| Prenuptial Agreement (Thai & English) | ✔️ |
| Embassy Appointment Scheduling | ✔️ |
| Document Courier Service | ✔️ |
| Express Legalization (1 person included, 10K for extra person) | ✔️ |
| Post-Marriage Legalization Advice | ✔️ |
| Complimentary Immigration Consultation | ✔️ |
Here’s some testimonials about our marriage registration services in Bangkok
-
You are both such wonderful people, and it was a privilege to have you by our side during this important moment in our lives.
Dear Sebastien and Khun Wichuda, We are writing to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done to help us with our wedding. Your kindness, professionalism, and support made all the difference, we truly couldn’t have done it without you. You are both such wonderful people, and it was a privilege to have you by our side during this important moment in our lives. We will always remember your help with deep gratitude. Thank you for making our special day possible!! With all our appreciation, Lisa and Maddalena P.S. We also left a review to let others know how great our experience with you was!
Ready to Begin Your Life Together?
Let us handle the legal details, so you can focus on the joy of your union. Contact us today to discuss your marriage registration in Bangkok and start planning your happily ever after.
Contact Us Nowto Secure Your Marriage Registration Appointment! Contact us at info@thailawonline.com
Frequently asked questions about marriage registration in Bangkok
What documents do I need to register a marriage in Bangkok?
A foreigner needs a passport, an affirmation of freedom to marry from their embassy in Thailand, its Thai translation legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and proof that any previous marriage ended. A Thai partner needs their ID card and house registration (tabien baan). Two witnesses sign at the district office; we provide them and an interpreter.
How long does marriage registration in Bangkok take?
The appointment itself takes about an hour. The preparation takes from about two weeks with fast-track legalization to one or two months with normal legalization, plus the wait for a district office appointment, which most Bangkok offices now require.
Can same-sex couples register a marriage in Bangkok?
Yes. Thailand’s Marriage Equality Act has been in force since 23 January 2025, and same-sex couples register at the district office with the same documents and the same procedure as any other couple. A foreign partner’s capacity to marry is still governed by their own national law (Conflict of Laws Act section 19), so check first that your embassy will issue the affirmation of freedom to marry.
Can I register a prenuptial agreement at the same time?
Yes, and you must: under section 1466 of the Civil and Commercial Code a prenuptial agreement is void unless it is dealt with at the moment the marriage is registered, by one of two routes. Either its terms are entered in the marriage register itself, or it is made in writing, signed by both spouses and by at least two witnesses, annexed to the register, and noted in the register as being annexed. We use the second route: we draft it in Thai and English (8,900 THB) and lodge it with the marriage file, so the two witnesses are a condition of validity and not a formality. Some district offices ask to see it in advance.
Do I have to change my name after marrying in Thailand?
No, and Thai law gives two choices, not three. Under section 12 of the Name of Person Act B.E. 2505 the spouses may agree to use one spouse’s surname, or each may keep their own. There is no combined or double surname. The agreement can be made at the marriage or later during it and can be changed afterwards, and a foreign spouse’s passport is unaffected. If the Thai spouse changes surname, the ID card and house registration are updated at the district office afterwards. If the marriage later ends in divorce, the spouse who took the other’s surname returns to their own under section 13.
Can I get a marriage visa after registering?
Yes. A foreigner married to a Thai national can apply for the Non-Immigrant O visa and then a yearly extension of stay. For the extension, clause 2.18 of the criteria annexed to Immigration Bureau Order No. 12/2568 asks for average income of at least 40,000 THB a month, or at least 400,000 THB held in a Thai bank throughout the two months before the application, or income and savings that together reach 400,000 THB for the year. In a marriage between a man and a woman the test falls on the foreign husband; where the spouses are of diverse genders, either spouse or both together may meet it. See our guide to the Thai marriage visa cost and requirements.
Links :
Ministry of Interior in ThailandThai 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.