Thailand Marriage Registration

British Citizens

Preparation of the Affirmation of Freedom to Marry

Retype the affirmation including your details on one page in the same format as the attached sample.

There is a charge of 2,400 Baht per affirmation. This service is only available for British nationals.

Bring with you your passport, as proof of identity, and any evidence that any previous marriages have been dissolved/terminated. Copies will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Translation of the Affirmation of Freedom to Marry

Once the affirmation has been signed, it will need to be translated into Thai. Please note that Consular Section does not undertake the preparation or translation of documents.

Authentication and Translation of the Affirmation

All Thai Registrars will require authentication of the British Consular Official's signature and certification of the Thai translation.

Submission of the Documents to the Registrar

After the translation and legalization, the documents are then ready for submission to the registrar, who, if satisfied, will register the marriage and issue a Thai marriage certificate.

Important Reminders when Getting Married in Thailand

The British Embassy in Bangkok is not authorised to perform marriages.

Marriage in Thailand should be performed according to Thai law and any detailed questions on the procedure should be addressed to the appropriate Thai authorities.

A religious ceremony on its own is not sufficient.

The documentation to be produced is at the discretion of each individual Registrar. Most Registrars will be satisfied with an affirmation of freedom to marry.

The marriage will only be recognised under UK law if it is valid under Thai law. For it to be valid in Thai law, the marriage must be registered with the Registrar at an Amphur Office (District Office). A list of some Amphur offices in Bangkok and upcountry is attached

The Thai marriage certificate will be in Thai only. You may wish to commission a "sworn translation" of the marriage certificate from a translation bureau, so that you may use the document for legal purposes in the U.K.

Consular Section can arrange for your marriage to be recorded in the U.K.; please ask us for further details if you wish us to do so. This is not a legal obligation, it is for statistical purposes and if you lose a copy of your certificate only.

Please note that a foreign national does not automatically acquire British nationality through marriage to a British national.

If you are marrying a Thai national, he or she will require a visa to visit or settle in the UK.

Applications for a visa to settle in the United Kingdom should be submitted at least three months in advance of the proposed date of travel. Please ask the Visa Section for further information.

NB: THE FEES MAY ALTER WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE

THAILAND FAMILY LAW

Marriage Registration