Section 156/1 — Deciding the fee waiver
Statutory text (Thai original)
เมื่อศาลพิจารณาคำร้องขอยกเว้นค่าธรรมเนียมศาลเสร็จแล้วให้ศาลมีคำสั่งโดยเร็ว โดยศาลจะมีคำสั่งอนุญาตทั้งหมดหรือแต่เฉพาะบางส่วน หรือยกคำร้องนั้นเสียก็ได้
ห้ามมิให้ศาลอนุญาตตามคำร้องเช่นว่านั้น เว้นแต่จะเป็นที่เชื่อได้ว่าผู้ร้องไม่มีทรัพย์สินพอที่จะเสียค่าธรรมเนียมศาลหรือหากผู้ร้องไม่ได้รับยกเว้นค่าธรรมเนียมศาลจะได้รับความเดือดร้อนเกินสมควรเมื่อพิจารณาถึงสถานะของผู้ร้อง และในกรณีผู้ร้องเป็นโจทก์หรือผู้อุทธรณ์หรือฎีกา การฟ้องร้องหรืออุทธรณ์หรือฎีกานั้นมีเหตุผลอันสมควรด้วย
เมื่อคู่ความคนใดได้รับยกเว้นค่าธรรมเนียมศาลในการฟ้องหรือต่อสู้คดีในศาลชั้นต้นแล้วยื่นคำร้องเช่นว่านั้นในชั้นอุทธรณ์หรือฎีกา แล้วแต่กรณี อีก ให้ถือว่าคู่ความนั้นยังคงไม่มีทรัพย์สินพอจะเสียค่าธรรมเนียมศาลหรือหากไม่ได้รับยกเว้นค่าธรรมเนียมศาลแล้วจะได้รับความเดือดร้อนเกินสมควรอยู่ เว้นแต่จะปรากฏต่อศาลเป็นอย่างอื่น
ในกรณีที่ศาลมีคำสั่งอนุญาตให้ยกเว้นค่าธรรมเนียมศาลให้แต่เฉพาะบางส่วน หรือมีคำสั่งให้ยกคำร้อง ผู้ขออาจอุทธรณ์คำสั่งนั้นต่อศาลได้ภายในกำหนดเจ็ดวันนับแต่วันมีคำสั่ง คำสั่งของศาลอุทธรณ์เช่นว่านี้ให้เป็นที่สุด
English translation
When the court has finished considering an application for exemption from court fees, it shall make an order without delay, and the court may grant the application in whole or only in part, or may dismiss the application.
The court shall not grant such an application unless it is credible that the applicant has no property sufficient to pay the court fees, or that if the applicant is not exempted from court fees the applicant will suffer undue hardship having regard to the applicant's status, and, where the applicant is the plaintiff or the appellant or the Dika petitioner, that the action, appeal, or Dika petition also has reasonable grounds.
Where a party who has been granted exemption from court fees in bringing or defending an action in the Court of First Instance then files such an application again at the appeal or Dika level, as the case may be, that party shall be deemed still to have no property sufficient to pay the court fees, or still liable to suffer undue hardship if not exempted, unless it appears otherwise to the court.
Where the court makes an order granting exemption from court fees only in part, or an order dismissing the application, the applicant may appeal that order to the court within seven days from the day the order is made. Such an order of the Court of Appeal shall be final.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 156/1 governs the court's decision on a fee-waiver application made under Sections 155 and 156. Paragraph one requires a prompt order, which may be a full grant, a partial grant, or a dismissal. Paragraph two states the substantive test: credible lack of sufficient property or undue hardship given the applicant's status, plus, for a claimant, appellant or Dika petitioner, reasonable grounds for the case itself. Paragraph three creates a continuing presumption of need where a party already exempted at first instance re-applies on appeal or Dika, unless the court sees otherwise. Paragraph four provides a seven-day appeal against a partial grant or a dismissal, with the Court of Appeal's order made final. Courts strictly enforce the seven-day limit and the requirement to challenge an order refusing an appeal through the proper channel.
Why this matters in practice
To win a waiver you must show the court, credibly, that you cannot pay or would be pushed into real hardship, and if you are the one suing or appealing, that your case is not hopeless, so prepare solid proof of your finances and the merits. If the court grants only part of the waiver or refuses it, act fast: you have just seven days to appeal, and missing that window, or using the wrong procedure, can be fatal. If you were already granted a waiver at trial, that helps you on a fresh application at the appeal stage.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 95/2568 (2025)
An appeal against an order on a fee-waiver application must be filed within seven days under Section 156/1; an appeal filed after that period is out of time and will not be accepted.
After the plaintiff failed to lodge the court fees in time, the trial court refused the complaint and struck the case out. The plaintiff's appeal on the fee-waiver issue was refused as filed more than seven days after the order was read under Section 156/1, and the plaintiff had also failed to challenge that refusal to the Court of Appeal under Section 234.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1932/2568 (2025)
Although the trial court is the one to rule on a fee-waiver application under Section 156/1, where the inquiry evidence is already complete the higher court may make the order itself rather than remand, granting the waiver where the applicant would suffer undue hardship and the appeal has reasonable grounds.
The Supreme Court, correcting the lower courts' irregular handling, held that although ruling on a Section 156/1 waiver application is the trial court's task, the inquiry evidence was already complete, so it decided the matter itself. On that evidence it was credible the defendant would suffer undue hardship without the waiver and the appeal had reasonable grounds, so the waiver was granted.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 5232/2563 (2020)
An appeal that lacks reasonable grounds does not qualify for exemption from court fees at the appeal level under Section 156/1 paragraph two, and the waiver may be refused on that basis alone.
The objector produced no evidence to rebut the applicant's proof, so its appeal was one without reasonable grounds and did not qualify for exemption from court fees on appeal under Section 156/1 paragraph two. The Supreme Court agreed in result with the refusal of the waiver and did not need to consider the objector's other points.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
On what grounds will a Thai court grant a court fee waiver?
Under Section 156/1 the court grants a waiver only where it is credible that the applicant lacks sufficient property or would suffer undue hardship, and, for a claimant or appellant, that the case has reasonable grounds.
Can I appeal a refusal of my court fee waiver?
Yes. Section 156/1 paragraph four lets you appeal a partial grant or a dismissal within seven days of the order. The Court of Appeal's order on that appeal is final.
Does a fee waiver granted at trial help on appeal?
Yes. Under Section 156/1 paragraph three, a party already exempted at first instance who re-applies on appeal or Dika is presumed still to lack means or still to face undue hardship, unless the court finds otherwise.