Notarial Services Attorney vs Embassy Certification in Thailand
Thailand has no notary public in the common-law sense. The Lawyers Council of Thailand licenses Notarial Services Attorneys, and knowing the limits of that licence prevents a rejected file abroad.
In short
A Notarial Services Attorney can certify signatures, true copies, affidavits and declarations for use abroad, usually same day. An embassy certifies documents for its own country's system, and some authorities accept nothing else. Many files need the attorney first, then MFA, then the embassy.
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | Notarial Services Attorney (Thailand) | Embassy or consulate certification |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Lawyers Council of Thailand notarial licence | The receiving country's consular regulations |
| Turnaround | Same day in most cases | By appointment, days to weeks |
| Signature witnessing | Yes | Yes, for its own nationals or documents |
| True copy certification | Yes | Usually only for documents it issued |
| Accepted worldwide | Widely, often after MFA legalisation | Always within that country's system |
| Language | Thai and English | That country's official language |
| Cost pattern | Per document, quoted before signing | Consular tariff plus appointment time |
| Common combination | Attorney then MFA then embassy | Embassy alone when it issued the document |
Choose Notarial Services Attorney (Thailand) when
- Certifying a passport copy, power of attorney or affidavit for use abroad
- Signing a company resolution that a foreign registry must accept
- Witnessing a declaration of single status before an embassy appointment
Choose Embassy or consulate certification when
- The document must carry your own embassy's seal, for example a US affidavit
- You are renewing or replacing a document that embassy issued
- The receiving office names the embassy explicitly in its checklist
Frequently asked questions
- Is a Notarial Services Attorney the same as a notary public?
- Functionally similar for cross-border paperwork, but the licence comes from the Lawyers Council of Thailand rather than a notarial statute, and the certificate wording reflects that.
- Do I need MFA legalisation after notarisation?
- Usually yes when the document leaves Thailand, because the receiving authority wants confirmation of the attorney's signature.
- Can it be done outside Bangkok?
- Yes. We arrange attorney appointments in provincial locations and courier the file back for legalisation.
- What should I bring?
- The original document, your passport, and the receiving office's instructions. Send them ahead by LINE @NAATI so the certificate wording matches.
Not sure which route your document needs?
Send scans and the receiving authority's checklist on LINE @NYC168 or by email, and our team will confirm the correct route and a written quote before any work starts.