Q1394. How do I legalize foreign official documents for use in Thailand?

Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation team

Foreign official documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, etc.) for use with Thai authorities generally go through: (1) certification by the issuing authority in the origin country (2) legalization by that country's foreign ministry (3) legalization at the Thai embassy in that country (4) translation into Thai with the translation certified at the Department of Consular Affairs in Thailand. Important note: Thailand has acceded to the Apostille Convention, effective 28 February 2027 — after that date, documents from member countries may use an Apostille instead of the consular chain, but until then the full legalisation chain applies. Watch out: getting the sequence wrong means starting over, and some Thai agencies request additional documents. Our team plans the correct legalization sequence from origin to destination. This is general guidance; requirements and fees change — always verify with the embassy, Thai Immigration, the Department of Consular Affairs, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before proceeding.