Section 83 quinquies — When foreign service takes effect
Statutory text (Thai original)
การส่งหมายเรียกและคำฟ้องตั้งต้นคดีตามมาตรา ๘๓ ทวิ แก่จำเลยหรือบุคคลภายนอก ณ ภูมิลำเนาหรือสำนักทำการงานของบุคคลดังกล่าวนอกราชอาณาจักร ให้มีผลใช้ได้ต่อเมื่อพ้นกำหนดเวลาหกสิบวันนับแต่วันที่ได้มีการส่ง และในกรณีส่งโดยวิธีอื่นแทนการส่งให้แก่จำเลยหรือบุคคลภายนอก ให้มีผลใช้ได้ต่อเมื่อพ้นกำหนดเวลาเจ็ดสิบห้าวันนับแต่วันที่ได้มีการส่งโดยวิธีอื่น
English translation
The service of the summons and the plaint initiating the action under Section 83 bis on the defendant or a third person at that person's domicile or place of business outside the Kingdom shall take effect only upon the expiration of sixty days from the date on which service was made; and in the case of service by a substituted method in place of service on the defendant or the third person, it shall take effect only upon the expiration of seventy-five days from the date on which service by the substituted method was made.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 83 quinquies fixes the delayed effective dates for foreign service of the initiating documents under Section 83 bis, recognizing that a defendant abroad needs time before deadlines start running against them. Ordinary service takes effect after sixty days; substituted service, being less certain to reach the person, takes effect after seventy-five days. These periods anchor the point from which the defendant's time to respond is calculated, and they operate together with Section 83 sexies, which sets shorter effective periods for service made within the Kingdom.
Why this matters in practice
For litigants, these waiting periods explain why cases against a party abroad move slowly at the start: the clock for the defendant to answer only begins after sixty or seventy-five days. Plan your timeline around these built-in delays rather than expecting a quick default. Knowing the effective date also matters if you are the foreign defendant and need to respond in time. A online consultation with a Thai lawyer can confirm the exact dates that apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
When does service abroad take effect under Section 83/5?
Ordinary service of the summons and plaint abroad takes effect after sixty days from the date of service, and substituted service abroad takes effect after seventy-five days.
Why does foreign service take so long to take effect?
The delay gives a defendant abroad time to receive the documents before deadlines start running, so the response period is calculated from these later effective dates.