Home / Service Playbooks / Notary Public in Thailand — Complete Guide
Notary Public in Thailand — Complete Guide
Short answer first
Thailand has no notary public in the common-law sense. Certification is performed by a Notarial Services Attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand, who can certify signatures, true copies, affidavits and powers of attorney. For overseas use the notarised document usually continues to Department of Consular Affairs legalization and then the destination embassy.
Overall timeline: Same day for notarisation; 1–3 weeks when full legalization follows
Documents to prepare
| Item | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Passport or Thai ID of every signer | Signers must appear in person; the attorney witnesses the signature. | Required |
| The document to be certified | Unsigned if a signature will be witnessed; signing beforehand invalidates witnessing. | Required |
| Company documents for corporate signing | Affidavit, list of directors and authorised signatory evidence, issued recently. | If available |
| Destination instructions | Any wording or form required by the receiving country, so the certificate matches it. | If available |
Step-by-step process
- Step 1: Send a draft for review
We check the wording and confirm whether notarisation alone is enough for your destination.
Timing: Same day
- Step 2: Book an appointment
Bangkok office or branch, or a mobile appointment where needed.
Timing: 1–2 days
- Step 3: Sign before the attorney
Identity verified, signature or true copy certified, seal and register entry recorded.
Timing: Same day
- Step 4: Onward legalization if required
Department of Consular Affairs then the destination embassy, in the correct order.
Timing: 3–10 business days
- Step 5: Delivery
Scanned copy immediately, originals by registered mail or pickup.
Timing: 1–2 days
Pitfalls and how to avoid them
Advice from real cases
- Prepare bilingual wording where the destination allows it — it avoids a second translation step.
- Bring one extra copy of everything; some embassies keep a set.
- Ask for the certificate reference so the document can be verified later.
Prefer us to handle it?
- Registered Notarial Services Attorneys, not general certification.
- We map out the full chain before you start so nothing is done twice.
- Phone, LINE and email support throughout the process.
Send scans for a free assessment — call 083-2494999 · LINE @NYC168 · contact@nyclegal.co.th
Read next
- Thai version of this guide
- Notary knowledge hub (EN)
- English knowledge hub
- English FAQ
- Playbook: Certified Document Translation
- Playbook: NAATI Translation for Australia
- Playbook: MFA Legalization / Apostille
- Playbook: Visa Applications Abroad
- Playbook: Police Clearance Certificate
- Playbook: Thailand Work Permit / Non-B Visa
- Playbook: Company Registration in Thailand
- Playbook: Marriage and Family Documents
- Playbook: Interpreter Services
- Playbook: Study Abroad Documents
- Playbook: Government Document Retrieval by Proxy
- Playbook: Expat Paperwork in Thailand
- Playbook: Corporate Accounting and Tax
We advise first, then do the work
We review the draft before the appointment so the signature block, capacity and certificate wording match what the receiving party requires.
- Free case assessment before you commit — send photos of your documents and we tell you what is actually needed.
- A team of licensed attorneys, notarial services attorneys and registered translators, with over 15 years of combined practice.
- We flag risks and alternatives in writing — including when the cheaper or faster route is the correct one.
- We stay with the case after delivery: if the receiving authority asks for more, we advise at no extra consulting fee.
Talk to an adviser: 083-2494999 · LINE @NYC168 · contact@nyclegal.co.th