Q1047. Do MFA-legalized documents carry an expiration date or validity limit imposed by the Thai government?

Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation legalization desk

MFA legalization generally authenticates a signature or seal at the time of endorsement rather than assigning the underlying document a universal validity period. Acceptance can nevertheless depend on the document’s own expiry date or the receiving authority’s recency requirements. Identify the document type and ask the destination agency whether it requires a recently issued original, a recent translation, or a fresh authentication. If an updated document is necessary, confirm whether the entire legalization chain must be repeated. A common pitfall is assuming an older legalized police clearance or civil-status certificate remains acceptable indefinitely because its MFA endorsement shows no expiry date. Verify document-age requirements with the receiving official authority before filing.