🇹🇭🇰🇷 Thai–Korean Divorce
Civil law · Korean Civil Act §834–§843
Quick Answer
Thai-Korean divorce: 협의이혼 (mutual consent) has mandatory 1-3 month cooling-off (숙려기간) at Family Court. Thai spouse F-6 visa terminates if divorced <2 yrs — F-6-3 available if raising Korean child. 재산분할 has 3-yr limit.
- Uncontested: 2–4 months
- Contested: 12–24 months
- Fees: THB 85,000–430,000
- Waiting period: 1–3 (cooling-off consideration period · Family Court verification)
- Hague Abduction 1980: ✓ Member
- Fault-based: No (no-fault)
Jurisdiction & Recognition
Competent court: Thai court OR Korean Family Court — where Korean spouse's family register is held.
Recognition of Thai judgment in Thai–Korean: §217 CPA — Korean court recognizes Thai judgment if reciprocity + jurisdiction + due process. Register at Family Registration Office (가족관계등록관서).
Matrimonial Regime
System: Separation of property default; equitable distribution on divorce (재산분할 §839-2)
Conflict with Thai law: 재산분할청구권 (property division claim) can reach post-marriage acquisitions in both names; 3-yr statute of limitations from divorce.
Spousal support: 위자료 (consolation money) for fault; monthly support rare
Child support: 양육비 산정기준표 (child support calculation table by age/income)
Child Custody
Standard: Joint parental authority default; primary custody often to mother; 양육권 vs 친권 distinguished
Hague Abduction 1980: Member — return order within 6 weeks
Insider Playbook
- 협의이혼 — file at Family Court in Korean spouse's family register district; 1-month cooling-off (no children) or 3 months (with children)
- 재산분할 — file within 2 yrs of divorce; 3-yr statute from divorce date
- F-6-1 (spouse) → F-6-3 (childcare) post-divorce; prove Korean child care
- 위자료 — at-fault Korean spouse (adultery, abuse) pays KRW 20-100M consolation
- 국민연금 split — 이혼분할연금 available age 60 if marriage >5 yrs
- Hague 1980 — Korea signatory; Central Authority at Ministry of Justice
- Family Register auto-updates post-court confirmation; Thai amphoe separate filing
⚠️ Common Pitfalls
- Missing 3-yr 재산분할 window = permanent asset forfeiture
- F-6 expiry without F-6-3 application = must leave Korea
- Consulate 협의이혼 without cooling-off = rejected (Family Court mandatory)
FAQ
- Can we skip 숙려기간?
- Only with domestic violence + Family Court certificate — usually mandatory
- F-6 options after divorce?
- F-6-3 (Korean child), F-6-2 (widowed), or switch to E-9/D-10 work visa
- Will Korea recognize Thai amphoe divorce?
- Recognition petition at Family Court + Family Register registration with Apostille
- 위자료 calculation?
- Marriage duration + fault + assets + impact; adultery typically KRW 30-50M
Related scenarios
Call 083-2494999 · LINE @NYC168 · contact@nyclegal.co.th
Updated 2026-07-21
Knowledge bases behind every service
7 knowledge bases, 4,882 keywords and 3,057 answered questions written by our lawyers and translators. Free to read, no sign-up.
- Master Service Hub — every service we file
The cross-service index: certified translation, interpreting, visa/work permit/BOI, tax-legal-estate, cross-border M&A, aviation & maritime, and holding-company structuring.
Scoped quote after a free consultation by phone, LINE or email
1,000 keywords · 649 questions · 10 clusters
- Certified translation — every language
Certified translation across civil, academic, corporate, contractual, financial, medical, technical and IP documents — with the Notary → MFA → embassy legalization chain handled end to end.
Thai–English THB 500–1,200/page · other languages THB 800–2,500/page
1,000 keywords · 500 questions · 16 clusters
- Thai MFA consular legalization
Thai MFA legalization workflow: fees, turnaround, inbound foreign documents, and how the chain connects to destination-country apostille requirements.
THB 200/stamp (3 working days) · express THB 400/stamp
882 keywords · 500 questions · 16 clusters
Official sources — marriage & family registration
The information on this page follows the official sources below. Always check the latest version before you file.
- กรมการปกครอง — ทะเบียนราษฎร ทะเบียนครอบครัว— Department of Provincial Administration
- กรมการกงสุล — บริการรับรองเอกสาร (นิติกรณ์)— กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
- สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา — ฐานข้อมูลกฎหมายไทย— Office of the Council of State
- สำนักงานศาลยุติธรรม— Office of the Judiciary
- HCCH — Apostille Convention (5 October 1961) full text & status table— Hague Conference on Private International Law
Related services
Most document work runs across several steps — jump straight to the next one you need.
- Marriage registration
- Certified translation
- Consular legalization
- Notary Public
- Thailand visa
- Knowledge index
For an exact quote and turnaround, call, LINE or email our team on any business day.
Expert reviewed: This page is written and checked by practitioners with 15+ years of hands-on filing experience, sourced from the responsible authorities and signed off by a second reviewer before publication — meet the team · editorial policy
Not sure which service you need? Read the guides
Each guide answers first, then explains: decision criteria, comparison tables, the real process and the mistakes we see most often.
- Choosing a certified translation provider
How to pick a translator accepted by consular, embassy and receiving bodies
- Services for expats living in Thailand
Signature certification, residence, marriage and everyday paperwork
- Notary Public and consular legalization
The correct order of steps before sending documents abroad
- Choosing the right visa and work permit
Compare visa categories and the documents each one needs translated
- Translation by language
English, Chinese, Japanese, European, Arabic, Russian and embassy rules
- Specialized translation
Contracts, financial statements, MSDS, ISO and BOI filings
Talk to us first: 083-2494999 · LINE @NYC168 · contact@nyclegal.co.th
Frequently asked questions
- How does a foreigner register a marriage in Thailand?
- The foreign partner first obtains an affidavit of freedom to marry from their embassy in Thailand, has it translated into Thai and legalized by the Department of Consular Affairs, and then both parties register the marriage at any district office (amphoe) with passports and two witnesses. Since the Marriage Equality Act took effect on 23 January 2025, same-sex couples register on exactly the same basis.
- Do we need an interpreter at the district office?
- Yes in practice — most district offices require that a foreign party who does not read Thai be assisted by an interpreter, and many request that the interpreter present identification and sign the register. Some offices also expect a prenuptial agreement, if any, to be presented before registration, because a prenuptial agreement in Thailand is only valid when registered together with the marriage.
- Is a Thai marriage recognized in my home country?
- A marriage registered at a Thai district office is generally valid worldwide, but recognition procedures differ: many countries want the Thai marriage certificate and the Kor Ror 2 extract translated, legalized by the MFA and certified by their embassy before it is entered in their civil register. Some countries additionally require registration with their consulate within a set period.
- How is a prenuptial agreement made enforceable in Thailand?
- Under the Civil and Commercial Code a prenuptial agreement must be in writing, signed by both spouses and two witnesses, and registered with the marriage at the district office on the day of registration — an agreement signed afterwards is void as to property arrangements. It also cannot contradict public order or the rules on parental duties, so the drafting must be Thailand-specific rather than a translated foreign template.