Q1156. What attestation paths apply to foreign medical device import licenses?

Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation legalization desk

The attestation route depends on the document’s issuer and the purpose of the Thai medical device submission. First, confirm with the Thai FDA whether it actually requires a foreign import license, rather than a manufacturing license, free-sale certificate, or another regulatory document. For a government-issued license, ask the relevant Thai embassy which issuing-country authentication must precede embassy legalization. A privately issued statement may require notarization first. Also confirm whether further Department of Consular Affairs legalization and a Thai translation are required. Authentication does not convert a foreign license into Thai authorization to import medical devices. A common pitfall is authenticating the wrong document because its title sounds equivalent. Verify the required document and attestation route with the Thai FDA before filing.