Q1019. How are multi-language translation rates calculated (per page or per word) in Thailand?

Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation certified translation team

Translation pricing in Thailand uses three models depending on document type. Per-page pricing applies to standard civil documents with predictable density (birth certificates, marriage certificates, house registrations, ID cards) — these are quoted per document or per page because the content is formulaic. Per-word pricing applies to running text (contracts, reports, manuals, court filings), typically quoted per source word with the rate varying by language pair — English–Thai sits at the lower end, while pairs like Japanese–Thai, German–Thai, or Arabic–Thai command higher rates due to translator scarcity. Minimum charges apply to short documents. Certified translation carries a certification fee on top of the translation rate, and the government fees are separate: MFA stamps at quoted on request (standard) or quoted on request (express) per stamp, notarial fees set by the individual notary, and embassy legalisation fees per each embassy's schedule. When comparing quotes, check what the 'per page' means (a dense contract page versus a sparse certificate), whether proofreading by a second translator is included, and whether revision after certification is charged. A quote that bundles everything into one number without itemisation makes it impossible to see what you are paying for — ask for the breakdown.