What is a Notary Public in Thailand and Why Do You Need One?
If you are a foreigner, expat, or business owner in Thailand, you will almost certainly encounter a situation where you need a document "notarized" for use in your home country or a third country. But what does that mean?
In Thailand, a Notary Public (or "Notarial Services Attorney") is a licensed lawyer who is given special authority by the Lawyers Council of Thailand to act as an impartial, official witness for legal documents. Their primary role is to prevent fraud and ensure the documents are authentic and signed willingly.
When our Notary Public at NYC Plus stamps and signs your document, they are certifying one of several things to the world:
- That the person who signed the document is truly who they claim to be (by checking their original passport).
- That the person signed the document willingly and understood what they were signing.
- That a copy of a document is a true and identical copy of the original.
- That a person has taken a formal oath or sworn to the truth of a statement (an Affidavit).
Crucially, a document notarized in Thailand is often just the first step. For it to be legally accepted in the USA, UK, Australia, Europe, or most other countries, it must then be "Legalized" by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). We specialize in this complete, end-to-end process. This page details all the services we offer to make your documents legally valid for international use.
Service 1: Attestation of Signature (Signature Notarization)
This is the most common notarial act. It is the official verification that you are who you say you are and that you have willingly signed a document.
Common Use Cases:
- Signing a Power of Attorney (POA) to be used overseas.
- Executing business contracts or agreements.
- Signing real estate documents (e.g., sale deeds, lease agreements) for property in your home country.
- Signing a Last Will and Testament.
- Signing Parental Consent Letters for a minor to travel internationally.
- Bank forms for opening or managing overseas accounts.
The Process for Signature Attestation:
- CRITICAL: Do NOT sign your document beforehand. You must sign it in the physical presence of our Notary.
- You bring the unsigned document and your Original Passport to our office.
- The Notary will ask you to confirm your identity and that you understand the document you are signing.
- You will sign the document in front of the Notary.
- The Notary will then complete the notarial certificate, sign it, and affix their official seal.
Service 2: Certified True Copies
This service is used when you need to provide a copy of an important document, but the receiving party needs assurance that the copy is authentic and identical to the original. We verify that the copy is a true, complete, and unaltered duplicate.
Keywords: "Certify passport copy Thailand". This is one of our most requested services for expats and foreigners.
Common Use Cases:
- Passport: Certifying a copy of your passport's bio-data page for visa applications, bank account openings, or identity verification abroad.
- Educational Documents: Certifying copies of your Diploma, Degree Certificate, or Academic Transcripts for university applications or professional licensing.
- Corporate Documents: Certifying copies of your Company Registration, Certificate of Incorporation, or business licenses.
- Personal Documents: Certifying copies of your Driver's License, Birth Certificate, or Marriage Certificate.
CRITICAL: Original Document Required
You MUST bring the ORIGINAL document to our office. We cannot legally certify a true copy by looking at another photocopy, a scan, or a photo on your phone. Our Notary must physically inspect the original document and compare it directly to the copy we are certifying.
Service 3: Affidavits & Sworn Statements
An Affidavit is a written statement of facts that you personally swear or affirm to be true under penalty of perjury. This is a formal legal document, and our Notary's role is to administer the oath (or affirmation) and notarize your signature, confirming you have sworn to the statement's truthfulness.
We can both draft the affidavit for you OR notarize one you have already prepared.
Common Use Cases for Foreigners in Thailand:
- Affidavit for Marriage in Thailand: The famous "Single Status Affidavit" or "Affidavit of Freedom to Marry". We draft this document for you to swear that you are legally free to marry. This is required by most Thai District Offices (Amphur).
- Affidavit of Support: A document where you swear that you have sufficient funds to financially support yourself or someone else (e.g., for a visa application).
- Affidavit of Name Change: A statement explaining any discrepancies in your name across different documents.
- Affidavit of Residence: Swearing to your current residential address in Thailand.
- Any other sworn declaration required for a court, government agency, or financial institution.
Service 4: Notarize Power of Attorney (POA) in Bangkok
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a powerful legal document that gives another person (your "Agent" or "Attorney-in-Fact") the authority to act on your behalf in specific matters. When you are in Thailand but need to get things done in your home country, a notarized POA is almost always required.
We provide the crucial Attestation of Signature service for your POA, verifying to the foreign authorities that you did, in fact, sign the document.
Common Use Cases:
- (Topic 8) Real Estate Documents: Authorizing someone to buy, sell, or manage property in your home country while you are in Thailand.
- Banking Transactions: Giving a family member permission to open, close, or manage your bank accounts.
- Business Transactions: Appointing a representative to sign contracts or manage your company's affairs abroad.
- Legal Matters: Authorizing a lawyer in your home country to represent you in court.
Note: We typically notarize POAs that you or your lawyer have already drafted. If you need a POA drafted, please consult with a lawyer qualified in the jurisdiction where the POA will be used.
Service 5 & 6: Corporate, Business & Real Estate Documents
We provide comprehensive notary services for all types of corporate and real estate transactions, supporting both foreign companies operating in Thailand and individuals managing international assets.
Corporate & Business
For international trade, incorporation, and compliance:
- Notarizing signatures of Directors on Company Resolutions or Meeting Minutes.
- Certifying true copies of company registration documents (Certificate of Incorporation, etc.).
- Attesting signatures on international trade contracts or distributor agreements.
- Drafting and notarizing Affidavits of Company Director.
Real Estate
For cross-border property transactions:
- Notarizing your signature on a Power of Attorney (POA) to buy or sell property overseas.
- Attesting signatures on Sale & Purchase Agreements.
- Certifying true copies of Title Deeds or other ownership documents (if original is presented).
- Notarizing lease or rental agreements for use abroad.
Service 7: Certification of Translations
This is a common point of confusion. A Notary Public in Thailand does not typically act as a translator. Instead, the notary certifies the translator's identity and their sworn declaration of accuracy.
The process is as follows:
- A qualified translator (either from our own company, NYC Translation, or an independent one) performs the translation.
- The translator then drafts a "Translator's Declaration" (or Affidavit), stating that they are fluent in both languages and that the translation is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge.
- The translator brings this declaration, the original document, and the translation to our Notary.
- The translator signs their declaration in front of the Notary.
- The Notary then notarizes the translator's signature on the declaration.
This process provides an official, notarized certificate that attests to the accuracy of the translation, which is required by many foreign institutions. As NYC Plus is part of NYC Translation and Notary Service Co., Ltd., we can handle this entire process (translation + notarization) for you seamlessly.
The Most Important Step: Our One-Stop Legalization Service
WARNING: A document notarized in Thailand is NOT automatically valid in another country. It is only Step 1 of a two-step process.
The 2-Step Process for International Validity:
- Step 1: Notarization (We do this)
Our licensed Notary Public verifies your identity and signature, then stamps and seals your document. - Step 2: Legalization (We ALSO do this for you)
You must then take this notarized document to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Bangkok. The MFA will check our Notary's signature against their records. If it matches, they will add their own official stamp and signature.
Only after Step 2 (MFA Legalization) is your document legally valid for use in most foreign countries.
This second step can be a time-consuming and difficult process for expats, involving travel, waiting in queues, and specific forms. NYC Plus offers a complete, hassle-free service to handle this entire process for you. We will notarize your document and then take it to the MFA for legalization on your behalf, saving you time and ensuring it's done correctly.
(Note: Some countries are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Thailand is not. Therefore, documents from Thailand must go through "Legalization," not "Apostille".)
Request Full Notary + MFA ServiceWho Needs These Services? (Common Client Scenarios)
Our services are designed to solve real-world problems for foreigners in Thailand. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?
Scenario 1: Applying to University Abroad
You are an expat student or teacher in Bangkok applying for a Master's degree in Canada or the UK. The university requires "notarized copies" of your passport and your Bachelor's degree from a Thai university.
Service Needed: Certified True Copies of your original passport and original diploma. You will also likely need the MFA Legalization service.
Scenario 2: Getting Married in Thailand
You are an American, Australian, or European citizen planning to marry your Thai partner at a local District Office (Amphur). The Amphur requires an official document from you proving you are legally single and free to marry.
Service Needed: An Affidavit of Single Status (or Freedom to Marry). We will draft this document for you, and you will sign it under oath in front of our Notary.
Scenario 3: Selling Property Back Home
You live in Phuket or Bangkok but need to sell an apartment you own in your home country (e.g., USA, Germany, Philippines). Your lawyer back home has sent you a Power of Attorney (POA) to sign, giving them authority to handle the sale.
Service Needed: Attestation of Signature on the POA. You must sign the POA in front of our Notary, who will then notarize your signature.
Preparation & Pricing
Document Checklist (Topic 12)
To ensure a fast and smooth process, please prepare the following:
- Your Original, Valid Passport. This is non-negotiable for identity verification. We cannot accept photocopies or driver's licenses.
- The Unsigned Document. If you are signing a document (like a POA or Affidavit), DO NOT SIGN IT at home. You must sign it in person at our office.
- The Original Document. If you need a "Certified True Copy" (like a passport or diploma), you MUST bring the original for us to compare.
- Any Supporting Documents. (e.g., company documents if you are signing on behalf of a business).
- An Appointment. (Recommended) Please call or LINE us to book a time.
Pricing Overview (Topic 13)
Our fees are competitive, transparent, and based on the specific service required. We offer clear pricing with no hidden charges.
- Base Notarization: Starts from a standard fee per document/seal.
- Drafting Services: Affidavits and other documents drafted by our lawyers have an additional fee.
- Express Services: 1-Day services are available.
- Legalization: Our one-stop MFA service includes our service fee + the government's stamping fees.
For a FREE & Accurate Quote:
Please send a photo or scan of your document to our LINE or Email. We will reply quickly with a confirmed price.
Inquire About a Specific Service
Have a question about your specific document? Our English-speaking team is ready to help. Send us your document for a free, no-obligation consultation and price quote.
