www.jumbothai.co.th

Overview

A couple wishing to be married in Thailand must provide documents that prove you are both single and free to marry. lf you have previously been legally married in your home country, you must be able to present the original certificate of divorce from your former spouse. You must also submit an affidavit or statutory statement of non-attachment, notarized by your embassy in Bangkok. Embassies such as the UK and USA will supply an affidavit or statutory form. Once complete, the embassy will notarize for a fee. The form is usually ready for collection the next day. Next, the declarations of single status document must be translated into Thai, and must then be attested by the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This process can all be completed in Bangkok.

Required Documentation
All documentation must be original.

• A valid passport
• Affidavit of Freedom to Marry under Thai Law. This is an affidavit notarized by your embassy or consulate stating that you are both free to marry. You will be required to visit your embassy or consulate in Bangkok to obtain this document and you will each require an individual affidavit.
• If you are divorced, a Decree Absolute is required
• If you are a widower, a death certificate and previous marriage certificate is required
• Proof of income may be required. This is stated on the affidavits if any income is declared

Once all your documentation is in place, you need to register your marriage at the local amphur, or Civil Registry Office. This usually takes place the day before or the day after the wedding. At the registration office you will be required to have a translator present who speaks both English and Thai, and the registration office will arrange the witnesses. Your marriage certificate can be issued within a matter of hours, if all the documents are in order and translated into Thai. A traditional wedding ceremony is not recognized as a legal marriage in Thailand. It is the registration that is legally binding. A marriage certificate issued in Thailand is recognized by all countries as legal.