Q1002. What are the criteria for selecting an MFA-accredited translation center in Bangkok?

Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation certified translation team

There is no government licence called an 'MFA-accredited translation centre' — the Department of Consular Affairs certifies individual translations, not agencies. When evaluating a provider, check five concrete things instead. 1) Whether the translation will be certified at the MFA on the translator's own signature or the agency's — the MFA keeps a record of signatories it recognises, and a translation signed by an unrecognised person is refused at the counter. 2) Whether the agency shows you the MFA fee as a separate line (200/quoted on request per stamp) rather than folding it into an opaque package. 3) Whether they offer two-stage proofreading (translator plus a second reviewer) before certification — errors found after the MFA stamp require a new stamp at full cost. 4) Whether they handle the embassy legalisation layer for third languages, or only the Thai–English route. 5) Turnaround in writing, with the distinction between translation time and MFA processing time stated separately. Always confirm current MFA requirements on the Department of Consular Affairs website before submitting.