For foreigners, the marriage registration procedure in Thailand begins with a visit to your embassy if you wish to marry a Thai person. There are two forms of marriage registration in the country, like the marriage between a foreigner and a Thai person, or between two foreigners in Thailand. If you have decided to settle and get married here, it is good to know that our lawyers in Thailand can offer assistance in preparing the necessary documents, and information about the Thai marriage and family rules and regulations.
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Civil marriage in Thailand
A marriage in Thailand can take place if both people involved are 17 years old or more, and if they agree to take each other as husband and wife. This kind of arrangement needs to be recorded by the Civil Registrar in Thailand. You will need to confirm the citizenship and the civil status at your Embassy in Thailand, by completing a specific form, in order to properly get married in this country.
If you have been married before, it is good to know that you will need to offer the divorce papers. All the documents need to be translated in Thai, and besides that, if you need advice or assistance related to the documents preparation, it is good to know that you can count on our legal services from our Thai lawyers.
The Thai Foreign Affairs department is in charge of the marriage between a foreigner and a Thai person, and it will also consider and verify all the provided documents. The Amphur in Thailand or the administrative sector in charge with this matter will register your marriage.
Eligibility criteria to register a marriage in Thailand
As mentioned above, there are some eligibility criteria to consider regarding marriage registration in Thailand, for both Thai citizens and foreigners:
- Both individuals must be at least 17 years old or meet the legal marriage age in their home country. A court may allow marriage at a younger age under specific circumstances;
- Neither party can be declared insane or incompetent;
- The couple must not be closely related (direct relatives or siblings, full or half-blood);
- Both individuals must not be children of the same adoptive parents;
- Each party must be single at the time of marriage. For women who are widowed or divorced, they can remarry after 310 days unless they have had a child during this time or they and their ex-spouse want to remarry.
Find support from our specialized lawyers in Thailand if you need assistance during the registration of your marriage.
Necessary documents for marriage in Thailand
As a reminder, here are the needed documents, in order to obtain the marriage certification:
• the passport;
• affidavit or the confirmation that you are not involved in another marriage;
• divorce certificate, if the case implies;
• the filled form provided by the Embassy in Thailand.
If the papers have been accepted, then the next step is to choose a date and a place, in order to get married. On the other hand, we remind that you can receive legal assistance if you need a Thai visa. It is good to know that the Thai fiancée needs to prepare a valid ID, original divorce document if she was married before, the registration certificate of the house she lives in, and the certificate that shows the changed name. As a significant fact, you should know that Thailand does not accept marriages between people of the same sex, or bigamy.
Marriage registration procedures in Thailand
Regarding foreign couples who consider immigration to Thailand and are planning to get married in this country, it is important to have a better understanding of the process of registering a marriage in Thailand. Below you can find the steps to follow:
- Obtain an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry from your embassy in Thailand. Requirements can vary by embassy, so it’s advisable to contact them in advance for specific instructions.
- Translate the declaration documents into Thai through an approved translation service.
- Take the verified documents to the Legalization Division of the Department of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok for legalization.
- On the day of marriage registration, bring all verified documents to the local District Office, known as “Amphur” or “Khet.”
- The couple must publicly declare their consent to become husband and wife before the registrar. After the registration, the District Registrar will issue a legally recognized Marriage Certificate, valid worldwide.
Foreigners must then report their marriage to their home country’s government or consulate in Thailand, even if they possess a residence permit in Thailand. Since the marriage certificate is in Thai, it is important to obtain an English translation and have it legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Besides this, you are also required to submit a detailed list of documents while applying for a residency permit in Thailand. Please keep in mind that the documents differ depending on why you want to apply for permanent residence. Several of the documents you should submit must be legalized by both your embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok before they can be submitted. Throughout the process, immigration officers may request additional documents.
If you are looking to relocate to Thailand and start a family here, our immigration lawyers in Thailand are at your disposal with professional support regarding moving and marriage legal procedures.
Registered marriages data in Thailand
Considering Thailand has become a country of great demand in regard with immigration, more couples are also deciding to register their marriage here, as official data shows:
- In 2023, there were 279,780 new registered marriages in Thailand.
- In 2022, there were even more marriages registered in Thailand, with 305,490 official registrations.
- In 2021, there has been a slight decrease in marriage registration, with 240,980 registered marriages.
We invite you to contact our Thailand law firm if you need additional details and information about the marriage registration in Thailand.