The Critical Role of a Notary in Citizenship Applications
When you submit an application for citizenship to a foreign government like the United States (USCIS) or the United Kingdom (Home Office), you are presenting a case. You are attesting that every fact about your life, your identity, and your history is true. These governments have no simple way to verify your Thai documents from thousands of miles away.
This is where the Notary Public becomes essential. A Notary Public (in Thailand, a "Notarial Services Attorney") acts as an official, impartial witness appointed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Their role is not just to "stamp a paper." Their role is to:
- Verify Identity: To check your original passport and legally confirm that you are who you say you are.
- Witness Signatures: To watch you sign a document (like an affidavit) and certify that the signature is legitimate and was made willingly.
- Certify True Copies: To meticulously compare an original document (like your birth certificate or passport) to a photocopy and certify that it is a true, complete, and unaltered copy.
- Administer Oaths: To place you under oath when you sign a sworn statement (Affidavit), making your statement legally binding and subject to penalties of perjury.
When a foreign government sees our Notary's seal, they are not just trusting you; they are trusting the professional and legal verification performed by our licensed attorney. This is why using a reputable, experienced Notary is non-negotiable for citizenship applications.
Documents We Notarize for Citizenship Applications
While specific requirements vary by country, our Notarial Attorneys have extensive experience preparing and notarizing the following documents for citizenship and naturalization applications:
1. Certified True Copies of Your Passport (All Pages)
This is one of the most common and meticulous requirements. Many countries (like Australia) require a certified copy of *every single page* of your current and previous passports to verify your travel history and prove you meet residency requirements. This is not a simple "copy-and-stamp" job.
Our Process: You must bring your original passport(s). Our Notary will inspect each page. A "Certified True Copy" seal and signature will be applied to *every single page* of the copy. A 48-page passport, therefore, requires 48 separate notarial acts. We ensure this is done correctly to meet the exacting standards of immigration authorities.
2. Certified True Copies of Civil Documents (Birth, Marriage, etc.)
You must provide notarized copies of all your key identity documents. This includes:
- Thai Birth Certificate (สูติบัตร)
- Thai Marriage Certificate (ทะเบียนสมรส)
- Thai Divorce Certificate (ทะเบียนการหย่า)
- Thai Name/Surname Change Certificates (เอกสารเปลี่ยนชื่อ-สกุล)
- Thai House Registration (ทะเบียนบ้าน)
- Death Certificate of a spouse (if applicable)
3. Certification of Official Thai-to-English Translations
All the documents listed above are in Thai. They are useless to a foreign government without a perfect translation. This is a common point of failure. Immigration authorities require translations to be "certified."
The Full, Correct Process (which we handle):
- Step 1: Professional Translation: Our team provides a professional, 100% accurate translation of your document (Service starts at 500 THB per page).
- Step 2: Translator's Declaration: The translator signs a declaration stating their fluency and the accuracy of the translation.
- Step 3: Notarization: Our Notary Public (starting at 1,500 THB) then notarizes the translator's signature on the declaration, certifying the translator's identity and statement.
- Step 4: Final Package: The Notary binds the certified translation, the translator's declaration, and the certified true copy of the original Thai document together with their seal. This creates a single, legally-valid package.
4. Affidavit of Good Moral Character
Some applications may require you to provide a sworn statement that you are a person of good moral character, have not committed certain crimes, and have upheld the laws of your resident country. This is a formal legal document, not just a simple letter.
Our Process: Our legal team will consult with you and *draft* this affidavit in the correct legal format. You will then sign this document in the presence of our Notarial Attorney, who will administer an oath and notarize your signature, confirming you have sworn to the truth of its contents.
The High Cost of a Small Mistake: Why Perfection is Essential
Your citizenship application is the final, most critical checkpoint. Unlike a simple visa, this process is often reviewed by high-level immigration officers. A poorly notarized document, a bad translation, or a missing stamp can lead to:
- Request for Evidence (RFE): This can delay your application by 6 months to over a year as you must re-submit the corrected documents.
- Outright Rejection: In the worst-case scenario, a flawed application can be rejected entirely, forcing you to restart the process and pay all application fees again.
- Loss of Time & Money: The cost of a flight back to Thailand, new translation fees, and new notary fees far exceeds the cost of doing it right the first time.
Do not risk your future. Our professional Notary service (starting at 1,500 THB) is an investment in ensuring your application is perfect, complete, and accepted on the first submission.
Country-Specific Requirements (USA, UK & More)
While many requirements are similar, each country has unique standards. Our team has specific experience with the most popular destinations for citizenship applicants from Thailand.
United States (Form N-400)
For your N-400 Application for Naturalization, USCIS requires certified English translations for *any* foreign-language document you submit. This includes:
- Certified translations of birth, marriage, and divorce certificates.
- Certified copies of any document related to name changes.
- If you are applying based on marriage, you must provide correctly notarized and legalized copies of your marriage and (if applicable) prior divorce certificates.
We ensure your notarized translations meet the strict certification standards required by USCIS.
United Kingdom (Form AN)
For your Application for Naturalisation (Form AN), the UK Home Office is extremely strict about document certification. They often require:
- Certified true copies of your passport (all pages) to prove residency.
- Notarized copies of your Thai birth certificate and marriage certificate.
- Certified translations must be prepared by an accredited professional, which our team provides and our notary certifies.
We prepare your document packet to be "Home Office-ready."
Australia
Australian citizenship applications are meticulous about identity. They often require:
- Notarized certified true copies of your passport (often all pages).
- Certified translations of all non-English identity documents.
- Certified copies of name change documents, which must be perfectly translated and notarized.
Canada
Canadian applications (IRCC) are very specific about who can certify copies. A Notary Public is one of the approved professions. Common needs include:
- Certified true copies of passport pages to prove residency calculation.
- Certified translations of all civil documents (birth, marriage).
- Affidavits related to common-law partnerships or other personal matters.
Checklist for Preparing Your Citizenship Documents in Thailand
Use this list to prepare for your appointment:
- Your Original Passport (Cannot be a copy).
- All Original Documents (Birth cert, diploma, etc.) that you need copies of.
- All Documents to be Signed (e.g., POA, Affidavit). Do NOT sign them yet!
- All documents already translated (if you used another service).
- Clear instructions from your foreign lawyer or immigration agent.
- Your chosen payment method.
Our Citizenship Document Package Fees
Preparing a citizenship application involves multiple services, not just one stamp. We offer transparent, bundled pricing. While the final cost depends on the number of documents, our service fees start from:
A "Full Citizenship Package" (e.g., translating and notarizing 3 documents, plus full MFA legalization service) can be quoted as a single, discounted project. Contact us with your list of documents for a free, fixed-price quote.
Confidentiality & Success: Our Commitment to You
Your Privacy is Our Priority (Topic 11)
A citizenship application contains your entire life's data: your identity, family, finances, and history. As a professional legal service, all your information is protected by strict lawyer-client confidentiality. Our team handles your documents with the utmost discretion and security, ensuring your personal data is safe throughout the process.
FAQ: Notarization for Citizenship
What is an 'Affidavit of Good Moral Character' and can you prepare one?
An Affidavit of Good Moral Character is a sworn statement where you (the applicant) declare that you have upheld the laws and moral standards of your community. Some countries require this as part of the naturalization process. Yes, our Notarial Attorneys can absolutely help. The service includes a consultation to understand your situation, the legal drafting of this affidavit in English, and then administering the oath as you sign it in front of the Notary.
My Thai Birth Certificate is in Thai. What is the full process?
All foreign citizenship applications require official documents to be in English. You must follow a multi-step process which we can handle for you from start to finish:
- Step 1: Professional Translation: We will translate your Thai birth certificate into English with 100% accuracy (Service starts at 500 THB).
- Step 2: Certification: Our company certifies the translation is accurate, and the translator signs a declaration.
- Step 3: Notarization: Our Notary Public (starting at 1,500 THB) will certify a true copy of your original Thai birth certificate AND notarize the translator's signature on the declaration.
- Step 4: MFA Legalization: We then take this entire bundle to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to be legalized.
Only after all 4 steps is your document ready for your application.
How is notarizing a passport copy for citizenship different from a normal copy?
For a simple bank application, you might only need the passport photo page certified. For citizenship applications (especially for Australia, Canada, or the UK), immigration authorities often require a certified true copy of ALL PAGES of your passport (including blank ones). This is to verify your travel history and ensure you meet the physical residency requirements.
This is a meticulous, high-volume process where our Notary inspects your original passport and applies a separate seal and signature (one notarial act, starting at 1,500 THB per page) to *every single page* of the copy. This requires extreme attention to detail.
Will my citizenship application information be kept confidential?
Absolutely. This is our highest priority. Our service is not a simple copy-shop service; it is a professional legal service provided by licensed lawyers. Your file is protected by strict lawyer-client confidentiality. Your passport, birth certificate, and personal history are your most sensitive data. We handle it with the same level of security and discretion as we would a major court case, in full compliance with all ethical and legal standards (including PDPA).
Consult Us on Your Citizenship Document Preparation
We are proud to have been a part of so many clients' successful journeys to becoming new citizens. This is the most important application of your life. Don't risk it with improper documentation.
Contact our expert team today for a free, confidential consultation on your citizenship document requirements.
