Q1080. Will the Thai MFA reject foreign documents showing physical wear, alterations, or faint stamps?

Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation legalization desk

Physical wear does not necessarily cause rejection, but damage, unclear seals, or unexplained alterations can prevent reliable authentication. First, inspect the document for missing pages, obscured signatures, erasures, overwritten details, and stamps that cannot be read. If any essential information is affected, ask the issuing authority for a replacement or an officially corrected copy rather than repairing or marking the document yourself. For minor wear, ask the Department of Consular Affairs whether the document remains suitable for submission and whether supporting certification is needed. Ensure the translation reflects the document accurately without guessing illegible content. A common pitfall is tracing a faint stamp or correcting a typo by hand, creating apparent tampering. Verify document-condition requirements with the Department of Consular Affairs before filing.