Q1027. What are the guidelines for translating academic degrees and transcripts for study or employment in Thailand?

Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation certified translation team

Academic degrees and transcripts for Thai use split into two purposes with different rules. For employment (work permit, teacher licensing, professional registration): the degree and transcript are legalised in the country of issue, translated into Thai or English, and certified at the MFA (200/quoted on request per stamp); the Teachers' Council of Thailand and some professional bodies additionally require an equivalency evaluation, which is a separate process from translation. For further study at a Thai institution: universities set their own document rules — many accept certified English translations without the full legalisation chain for admission, but require legalised originals at enrolment. Practical points: transcripts must be translated in full, including the grading scale explanation on the back — omitting the grading scale is a common reason for evaluation delays; the institution name must be rendered in its official English form (check the university's own English usage, not a literal translation); and where the degree was issued under a previous institutional name, include a note or supporting document linking the names. For degrees from countries with diploma-supplement systems (EU Bologna states), the diploma supplement in English can substitute for part of the translation. Confirm the receiving institution's exact requirements before commissioning translation.