70 answers about Ministry-of-Justice-certified translation

A translator entered on the register of the Ministry of Justice Foreign-Language Translator Registrar. Their stamp lets the translation be filed in a Thai court without further authentication.

MoJ certifies the accuracy of the translation; Notary Public certifies the signature on a document. Different acts, different authority.

NAATI is Australia's system, accepted only for Australian government filings. MoJ is Thailand's system, accepted by Thai courts, MFA and foreign embassies in Thailand.

The MoJ website www.moj.go.th lets you look up the registration number stamped on the translation.

Standard 3–7 business days per 20 pages; Express 24 hours (+50%).

The Civil and Commercial Code allows it, but courts and embassies almost always reject self-translations. Use an MoJ translator or a Notarial Services Attorney.

1) MoJ translator stamp + registration number; 2) Statement of Accuracy; 3) MFA (for overseas use); 4) embassy stamp or Apostille.

English ↔ Thai: THB 500 per page; Chinese / Japanese / Korean: THB 800; Legal Complex: THB 1,500.

Per A4 source page plus a complexity uplift for legal content — not per word.

The translation itself does not, but destination authorities usually want documents translated within 3–6 months.

Yes — a multi-jurisdiction will requires MoJ + Notary + Apostille or destination embassy.

1–3 days for translation + 1 day Notary + 1 day Apostille = 3–5 business days end-to-end.

Yes — specialised terms (Confidential Information, Permitted Use, Injunctive Relief) require a Legal-specialist translator.

They should — NYC uses Big-4-trained finance translators fluent in IFRS/TFRS.

Under reciprocity and public-policy rules — the court petition must include an MoJ translation + Apostille.

Yes — Thailand is a party to the 1958 NY Convention. File with the Central Civil Court together with the MoJ translation.

From THB 500 per page (English ↔ Thai general). NYC quotes the full fee up-front — no hidden charges.

A 300-dpi scan is enough for translation. Originals only when a Notary or embassy stamp is required.

Yes — Express +50% (volume-dependent). Same-day (before 10:00) +100%.

English, Chinese (Simp/Trad), Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Lao, Burmese, Khmer.

Yes — scans by email + originals returned by EMS / DHL within 24 hours.

Foreign courts require Apostille (Hague) or consular legalisation (non-Hague); embassies typically only need MFA + a single embassy stamp.

Yes — NYC serves 40+ law firms with a white-label rate card.

English THB 5,000–8,000; Chinese THB 8,000–12,000; plus MFA THB 800–1,500.

Yes — together with the company certificate and articles, all MoJ Certified.

Bilingual (two-column) to minimise interpretive disputes.

Depends on where the assets sit — usually 2–3 languages plus probate in every relevant country.

Bank transfer, PromptPay, credit card, and USD wire for overseas clients.

Two-Translator Review; if a court or embassy rejects a file for translation reasons, NYC re-does it free — lifetime.

Yes — free 30-minute call on LINE @NYCLI or by phone 083-249-4999.

No. Thailand has no central sworn-translator roll. Two practical routes exist: (1) translator/interpreter lists kept by individual courts and agencies under their own rules, and (2) a signed translator's accuracy statement plus agency stamp, then legalisation by the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th) — the stamp foreign authorities actually check.

Typically: translator's full name, a Statement of Accuracy, the translator's signature, agency contact details or stamp, and the date. Exact requirements vary by receiving authority, so confirm them in writing before filing.

There is no single nationwide renewal rule for translators in Thailand. Requirements depend on the court or agency maintaining the list. If a destination authority insists on an approved translator, ask them for the criteria in writing.

An interpreter renders speech orally during hearings; a translator produces written translations. Courts assess them as separate roles with separate qualifications, even if one provider offers both.

No central CPD requirement applies to document translators in Thailand. Serious legal-translation practices set internal standards instead, such as two-stage review and maintained legal glossaries.

Ask for identification, evidence of the qualification or listing being claimed, and contact the issuing court or agency directly. Treat any 'registry lookup' site that is not an official .go.th domain as unverified.

It should not. The accuracy statement belongs to the individual who signs it; the agency stamp is supporting information. Mismatched signer and translator is a common rejection reason.

Most often: not every page and seal was translated, no accuracy statement, name spelling inconsistent with the passport, or a copy submitted where the authority requires the original.

Some authorities request a copy of the translator's ID or an agency certification letter. Requirements differ by case type and destination country, so check with the receiving office first.

The Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs certifies translations and signatures for overseas use. For litigation use, follow the requirements of the court or agency handling the matter.

A certified copy attests that a copy matches the original document. A certified translation is the translator's signed statement that the translation matches the source text. They are separate steps and a destination authority may require both in the same bundle.

Many European states appoint translators who take an oath before a court and hold a verifiable registration number. Thailand has no equivalent central system, so Thai documents use a translator's accuracy statement plus legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs, followed by destination-embassy legalisation where required. Always ask the destination whether it accepts this route or requires re-translation locally.

NAATI is Australia's national credentialing body for translators and interpreters and is the standard Australian authorities expect. Thai-issued translations that pass consular legalisation serve authorities that accept the legalisation route. The two systems do not substitute for each other automatically.

ATA certification is a US professional-association credential, not a government certification. Thai agencies and courts apply their own rules on translations, so confirm the receiving office's requirements before ordering the work.

An attorney certifies the translator's signature and identity; that is not a state verification of every word of the translation. Where the destination wants government certification, the file still passes through the Department of Consular Affairs and/or the destination embassy.

The Legalization Division certifies the accuracy of a translation and/or the signature of the authorised official on the document, following the rules and forms published on consular.mfa.go.th. Check the current notice before each submission, as booking channels and requirements are updated periodically.

Thailand has joined the Apostille Convention, which enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027 according to the HCCH status table. Until that date, Thai documents continue to use consular legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs plus the destination embassy.

The Convention has been in force for mainland China since 7 November 2023. However, Thailand cannot issue apostilles until the Convention is in force for Thailand, so Thai documents bound for China still follow the consular route via the Department of Consular Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok.

Singapore has no state sworn-translator system. Authorities generally accept a translation with a translator's accuracy statement that has passed legalisation, but specific bodies such as the courts or ICA may impose their own conditions — get them in writing first.

USCIS requires any foreign-language document to be accompanied by a full English translation together with the translator's certification that the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)). An apostille on the translation is generally not required.

Everything on the document: headers, reference numbers, seals, stamps and the issuing officer's signature block. Omitting a seal or reverse-side text is one of the most common rejection reasons.

Translate the whole document including the reverse. The reverse of the Thai marriage register (Kor Ror 2) can carry spousal agreements or amendment entries that the receiving authority relies on.

Kor Ror 3 is the marriage certificate handed to the couple; Kor Ror 2 is the marriage register held at the district office, from which certified copies are issued. Some foreign authorities specifically ask for a registrar-certified copy of Kor Ror 2, not only Kor Ror 3.

Usually the divorce registration or a final court judgment must be filed with a translation and the legalisation the destination requires. Some countries additionally ask for a certificate of single status or family-status record, so confirm the checklist with the destination registrar first.

Translate every page, including the grading-scale notes on the reverse, and keep the institution's own official English name rather than transliterating it yourself.

It depends on each country's rules. Some accept a certified translation, others require an International Driving Permit issued by Thailand's Department of Land Transport. Check with the licensing authority at the destination.

To lock the spelling of names across the whole bundle, especially for Thai names that can be romanised several ways. Fixing the passport spelling at the start prevents mismatch rejections.

There is no universal rule; the period is set by the receiving authority such as an embassy or a university. Follow their published requirement and translate exactly that range.

Use a translator familiar with clinical terminology and disease coding so the clinical meaning survives. Keep drug names and codes as in the source with a translated gloss rather than interpreting them.

Typically the company affidavit, shareholder list (Bor Or Jor 5), memorandum and articles of association, and financial statements if the destination asks. Each document is translated in full and legalised separately.

It must be certified in the country of origin under that country's rules, then legalised through the Thai embassy/consulate or another channel the court accepts, and filed with a Thai translation. Admissibility remains at the court's discretion.

It depends on the arbitration agreement and the chosen institution's rules — normally the language of the proceedings plus translations of any exhibits in other languages.

No. Thailand has no general regime for direct enforcement of foreign judgments; typically a fresh action is filed in a Thai court where the foreign judgment serves as evidence. Take cross-border litigation advice before planning the document chain.

Where a party or witness does not understand Thai, the court arranges an interpreter under the procedural codes. Electronic hearing procedures follow the directions issued by the court in each case.

Agree a glossary with the legal team before starting, use translation memory to keep prior wording, and keep translation and review as separate steps. Turnaround depends on volume and repetition.

Sign confidentiality agreements with every translator, restrict access to those working the matter, and define transfer and deletion procedures. Personal data must be handled under Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019).

Liability follows the engagement contract and civil law. Set out the scope, the review process and the remedy in the quotation or contract from the start so both sides have verifiable terms.

Correcting typos or aligning terminology with the receiving authority's wording is possible under the agreed terms, but once a document has been legalised, changes normally require a fresh version and fresh legalisation.

The generally workable order is: obtain originals or issuer-certified copies → translate → certify the translation at the Department of Consular Affairs → legalise at the destination embassy if required. Skipping the first step is the most frequent cause of rejection.

It depends on the number of documents, languages and agency queues, and commonly runs from several working days to a few weeks. Always allow time for consular and embassy appointment slots. Sources: Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th); HCCH (hcch.net).