{"id":1813,"date":"2026-04-18T17:01:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T10:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/glossary\/legalization-of-documents\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T19:33:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T12:33:23","slug":"legalization-of-documents","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/glossary\/legalization-of-documents\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e19\u0e34\u0e15\u0e34\u0e01\u0e23\u0e13\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e2d\u0e01\u0e2a\u0e32\u0e23 (\u0e01\u0e23\u0e30\u0e17\u0e23\u0e27\u0e07\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e15\u0e48\u0e32\u0e07\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e40\u0e17\u0e28\u0e41\u0e25\u0e30\u0e2a\u0e16\u0e32\u0e19\u0e17\u0e39\u0e15) \u0e43\u0e19\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e40\u0e17\u0e28\u0e44\u0e17\u0e22"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p><strong>Legalisation of documents<\/strong> (\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e40\u0e2d\u0e01\u0e2a\u0e32\u0e23, <em>kan raprong ekkasan<\/em>, also spelled <em>\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e17\u0e33\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e49\u0e16\u0e39\u0e01\u0e01\u0e0e\u0e2b\u0e21\u0e32\u0e22<\/em> or called <em>authentication<\/em>) is the chain of official certifications that lets a document issued in one country be accepted by authorities in another. In Thailand the chain runs through the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), which certifies signatures and seals but not the contents of a document. Foreigners need it for marriage registration, visa extensions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/glossary\/work-permit\/\">\u0e43\u0e1a\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e38\u0e0d\u0e32\u0e15\u0e17\u0e33\u0e07\u0e32\u0e19<\/a>, property transfers by power of attorney and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/glossary\/probate\/\">\u0e20\u0e32\u0e04\u0e17\u0e31\u0e13\u0e11\u0e4c<\/a>, and Thai nationals need it for documents going abroad.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>\u0e2a\u0e32\u0e23\u0e1a\u0e31\u0e0d<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#the-two-legalisation-chains-explained\">\u0e04\u0e33\u0e2d\u0e18\u0e34\u0e1a\u0e32\u0e22\u0e01\u0e23\u0e30\u0e1a\u0e27\u0e19\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e40\u0e2d\u0e01\u0e2a\u0e32\u0e23\u0e17\u0e31\u0e49\u0e07\u0e2a\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e23\u0e39\u0e1b\u0e41\u0e1a\u0e1a<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#offices-fees-and-timing-at-the-mfa\">\u0e2a\u0e33\u0e19\u0e31\u0e01\u0e07\u0e32\u0e19 \u0e04\u0e48\u0e32\u0e18\u0e23\u0e23\u0e21\u0e40\u0e19\u0e35\u0e22\u0e21 \u0e41\u0e25\u0e30\u0e40\u0e27\u0e25\u0e32\u0e17\u0e33\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e17\u0e35\u0e48\u0e01\u0e23\u0e30\u0e17\u0e23\u0e27\u0e07\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e15\u0e48\u0e32\u0e07\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e40\u0e17\u0e28<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#legalisation-versus-apostille-the-2027-change\">\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e19\u0e34\u0e15\u0e34\u0e01\u0e23\u0e13\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e17\u0e35\u0e22\u0e1a\u0e01\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e19\u0e34\u0e15\u0e34\u0e01\u0e23\u0e23\u0e21\u0e14\u0e49\u0e27\u0e22\u0e15\u0e23\u0e32\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e17\u0e31\u0e1a (Apostille): \u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e25\u0e35\u0e48\u0e22\u0e19\u0e41\u0e1b\u0e25\u0e07\u0e43\u0e19\u0e1b\u0e35 2027<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#frequently-asked-questions\">\u0e04\u0e33\u0e16\u0e32\u0e21\u0e17\u0e35\u0e48\u0e1e\u0e1a\u0e1a\u0e48\u0e2d\u0e22<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-two-legalisation-chains-explained\">\u0e04\u0e33\u0e2d\u0e18\u0e34\u0e1a\u0e32\u0e22\u0e01\u0e23\u0e30\u0e1a\u0e27\u0e19\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e40\u0e2d\u0e01\u0e2a\u0e32\u0e23\u0e17\u0e31\u0e49\u0e07\u0e2a\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e23\u0e39\u0e1b\u0e41\u0e1a\u0e1a<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p><strong>Inbound (foreign document for use in Thailand).<\/strong> The document is first authenticated in its country of origin (notary, then the foreign ministry or equivalent), then legalised at the Thai embassy or consulate in that country, then translated into Thai by a competent translator, and finally the document and translation are legalised at the MFA Department of Consular Affairs. An affidavit sworn at a foreign embassy in Bangkok, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/glossary\/affirmation-of-freedom-to-marry\/\">affirmation of freedom to marry<\/a>, skips the first two steps.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p><strong>Outbound (Thai document for use abroad).<\/strong> A Thai government document, or a private document whose signature has been certified by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/glossary\/notary\/\">\u0e17\u0e19\u0e32\u0e22\u0e04\u0e27\u0e32\u0e21\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e34\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e40\u0e2d\u0e01\u0e2a\u0e32\u0e23<\/a>, is legalised at the MFA and then authenticated by the destination country&#8217;s embassy in Thailand. Legalisation certifies only the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signatory and the identity of the seal. An error in the document itself passes straight through.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"offices-fees-and-timing-at-the-mfa\">\u0e2a\u0e33\u0e19\u0e31\u0e01\u0e07\u0e32\u0e19 \u0e04\u0e48\u0e32\u0e18\u0e23\u0e23\u0e21\u0e40\u0e19\u0e35\u0e22\u0e21 \u0e41\u0e25\u0e30\u0e40\u0e27\u0e25\u0e32\u0e17\u0e33\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e17\u0e35\u0e48\u0e01\u0e23\u0e30\u0e17\u0e23\u0e27\u0e07\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e15\u0e48\u0e32\u0e07\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e40\u0e17\u0e28<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p><strong>Where to go.<\/strong> The main Legalization Division is on the 3rd floor of the Department of Consular Affairs, 123 Chaeng Watthana Road, Bangkok, with branch counters at MBK Center (opened March 2023), Central World (opened November 2024) and Central Phuket Festival. Appointments are booked online through the MFA&#8217;s qlegal system; counters open in the morning and again after lunch.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e34\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23<\/th><th>\u0e04\u0e48\u0e32\u0e18\u0e23\u0e23\u0e21\u0e40\u0e19\u0e35\u0e22\u0e21<\/th><th>Time<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Regular legalisation<\/td><td>200 baht per document<\/td><td>\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e21\u0e32\u0e13 2 \u0e16\u0e36\u0e07 3 \u0e2a\u0e31\u0e1b\u0e14\u0e32\u0e2b\u0e4c\u0e20\u0e32\u0e22\u0e43\u0e15\u0e49\u0e23\u0e30\u0e1a\u0e1a\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e19\u0e31\u0e14\u0e2b\u0e21\u0e32\u0e22<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e34\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e20\u0e32\u0e22\u0e43\u0e19\u0e27\u0e31\u0e19\u0e40\u0e14\u0e35\u0e22\u0e27\u0e01\u0e31\u0e19<\/td><td>400 baht per document<\/td><td>\u0e27\u0e31\u0e19\u0e40\u0e14\u0e35\u0e22\u0e27\u0e01\u0e31\u0e19<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e15\u0e23\u0e27\u0e08\u0e2a\u0e2d\u0e1a\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e41\u0e1b\u0e25<\/td><td>200 baht per document<\/td><td>With the legalisation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Postal return (EMS)<\/td><td>60 \u0e1a\u0e32\u0e17<\/td><td>Added to the above<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p><strong>What to bring.<\/strong> The original document, the Thai translation, a copy of the applicant&#8217;s passport or ID, and a power of attorney if someone else files. The translation is the usual point of failure: names must match the passport letter for letter, and the MFA rejects translations with errors, so a translator used to consular work saves a second trip.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"legalisation-versus-apostille-the-2027-change\">\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e19\u0e34\u0e15\u0e34\u0e01\u0e23\u0e13\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e17\u0e35\u0e22\u0e1a\u0e01\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e19\u0e34\u0e15\u0e34\u0e01\u0e23\u0e23\u0e21\u0e14\u0e49\u0e27\u0e22\u0e15\u0e23\u0e32\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e17\u0e31\u0e1a (Apostille): \u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e25\u0e35\u0e48\u0e22\u0e19\u0e41\u0e1b\u0e25\u0e07\u0e43\u0e19\u0e1b\u0e35 2027<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p>\u0e41\u0e2d\u0e19 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/glossary\/apostille\/\">apostille<\/a> is a single certificate under the 1961 Hague Convention that replaces the embassy stage between member states. Thailand deposited its instrument of accession on 30 June 2026 and the Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, after the six-month objection window closing on 30 December 2026. From that date the Department of Consular Affairs is the competent authority issuing Thai apostilles, and an apostilled foreign document from a non-objecting state will no longer need Thai embassy legalisation, though a Thai translation may still be required by the receiving office.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p>Until then, an apostille on its own is not enough in Thailand and the full chain applies. The Convention works only between Thailand and states that raise no objection, so for documents from any objecting state, and for all countries outside the Convention, the embassy route continues after 2027.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"frequently-asked-questions\">\u0e04\u0e33\u0e16\u0e32\u0e21\u0e17\u0e35\u0e48\u0e1e\u0e1a\u0e1a\u0e48\u0e2d\u0e22<\/h2>\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">How long does legalization of documents take in Thailand?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Regular service at the MFA Department of Consular Affairs takes about 2 to 3 weeks under the appointment system, and same-day service is available for 400 baht per document. The foreign steps, notarisation and Thai embassy legalisation abroad, add their own time, so a full inbound chain often takes a month.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-2\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Does Thailand accept an apostille instead of legalization?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Not yet. Thailand acceded to the Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, but it enters into force for Thailand only on 28 February 2027, and then only with states that do not object. Until that date a foreign document must be legalised at the Thai embassy abroad and again at the MFA in Bangkok.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-3\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What is the difference between notarisation and legalisation?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Notarisation is the certification of a signature or copy by a notary (in Thailand, a notarial services attorney). Legalisation is the further certification by the MFA, and where needed an embassy, that the notary or official who signed was genuine and authorised. A notarised document usually still needs legalisation before a foreign authority will accept it.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p>\u0e14\u0e39\u0e40\u0e1e\u0e34\u0e48\u0e21\u0e40\u0e15\u0e34\u0e21: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/glossary\/apostille\/\">apostille<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/glossary\/notary\/\">notary (notarial services attorney)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/glossary\/affidavit\/\">\u0e04\u0e33\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e49\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19\u0e25\u0e32\u0e22\u0e25\u0e31\u0e01\u0e29\u0e13\u0e4c\u0e2d\u0e31\u0e01\u0e29\u0e23<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/glossary\/power-of-attorney\/\">\u0e2b\u0e19\u0e31\u0e07\u0e2a\u0e37\u0e2d\u0e21\u0e2d\u0e1a\u0e2d\u0e33\u0e19\u0e32\u0e08<\/a>, and our full guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/legalization-of-documents-in-thailand\/\">legalisation of documents in Thailand and the 2027 change<\/a>.<\/p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Legalisation of documents (\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e40\u0e2d\u0e01\u0e2a\u0e32\u0e23, kan raprong ekkasan, also spelled legalization or called authentication) is the chain of official certifications that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":214,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":"","rank_math_focus_keyword":"legalization of documents thailand","rank_math_title":"Legalization of Documents Thailand (MFA) | ThaiLawOnline","rank_math_description":"Legalization of documents in Thailand: the MFA Department of Consular Affairs chain for foreign and Thai papers, fees, offices and the 2027 apostille change.","rank_math_breadcrumb_title":""},"class_list":["post-1813","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1813"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6853,"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1813\/revisions\/6853"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1813"}],"curies":[{"name":"\u0e14\u0e31\u0e1a\u0e40\u0e1a\u0e34\u0e25\u0e22\u0e39\u0e1e\u0e35","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}