90 answers about Ministry-of-Justice-certified translation
The Bangkok team's real answers — the same questions we handle daily for law firms, embassies and cross-border litigants.
1. What is an MoJ-registered translator?
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.
2. How is that different from a Notary Public?
MoJ certifies the accuracy of the translation; Notary Public certifies the signature on a document. Different acts, different authority.
3. Is it different from NAATI?
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.
4. How do I verify an MoJ translator?
The MoJ website www.moj.go.th lets you look up the registration number stamped on the translation.
5. How long for a court judgment translation?
Standard 3–7 business days per 20 pages; Express 24 hours (+50%).
6. Can I translate a pleading myself?
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.
7. What stamps must a court translation carry?
1) MoJ translator stamp + registration number; 2) Statement of Accuracy; 3) MFA (for overseas use); 4) embassy stamp or Apostille.
8. How much is a contract translation?
English ↔ Thai: THB 500 per page; Chinese / Japanese / Korean: THB 800; Legal Complex: THB 1,500.
9. How is a civil complaint priced?
Per A4 source page plus a complexity uplift for legal content — not per word.
10. Does MoJ certification expire?
The translation itself does not, but destination authorities usually want documents translated within 3–6 months.
11. Does a will need Notary too?
Yes — a multi-jurisdiction will requires MoJ + Notary + Apostille or destination embassy.
12. How long for a POA?
1–3 days for translation + 1 day Notary + 1 day Apostille = 3–5 business days end-to-end.
13. Is NDA translation different from a normal contract?
Yes — specialised terms (Confidential Information, Permitted Use, Injunctive Relief) require a Legal-specialist translator.
14. Do financials need a specialist translator?
They should — NYC uses Big-4-trained finance translators fluent in IFRS/TFRS.
15. Are foreign judgments enforceable in Thailand?
Under reciprocity and public-policy rules — the court petition must include an MoJ translation + Apostille.
16. SIAC award enforcement in Thailand?
Yes — Thailand is a party to the 1958 NY Convention. File with the Central Civil Court together with the MoJ translation.
17. What is your minimum MoJ price?
From THB 500 per page (English ↔ Thai general). NYC quotes the full fee up-front — no hidden charges.
18. Do I need to send originals, or is a scan enough?
A 300-dpi scan is enough for translation. Originals only when a Notary or embassy stamp is required.
19. Can you handle 24-hour rush?
Yes — Express +50% (volume-dependent). Same-day (before 10:00) +100%.
20. Which languages do you cover?
English, Chinese (Simp/Trad), Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Lao, Burmese, Khmer.
21. Do you accept upcountry work?
Yes — scans by email + originals returned by EMS / DHL within 24 hours.
22. Court translation vs embassy translation — what differs?
Foreign courts require Apostille (Hague) or consular legalisation (non-Hague); embassies typically only need MFA + a single embassy stamp.
23. White-label for law firms?
Yes — NYC serves 40+ law firms with a white-label rate card.
24. Cost for a 10-page divorce judgment?
English THB 5,000–8,000; Chinese THB 8,000–12,000; plus MFA THB 800–1,500.
25. Board resolution for a work-permit filing?
Yes — together with the company certificate and articles, all MoJ Certified.
26. SPA translation format for foreign real-estate?
Bilingual (two-column) to minimise interpretive disputes.
27. How many languages for a multi-jurisdiction will?
Depends on where the assets sit — usually 2–3 languages plus probate in every relevant country.
28. Payment methods?
Bank transfer, PromptPay, credit card, and USD wire for overseas clients.
29. How do you guarantee quality?
Two-Translator Review; if a court or embassy rejects a file for translation reasons, NYC re-does it free — lifetime.
30. Can I speak to you before I order?
Yes — free 30-minute call on LINE @NYCLI or by phone 083-249-4999.
31. How many tiers of MoJ translator registration exist?
Three: (1) Registered translator; (2) Legal Certified translator; (3) Court interpreter. NYC covers all three across 13 languages.
32. What information must an MoJ stamp contain?
Full name, registration number, authorised language pairs, Statement of Accuracy and a wet-ink signature (no scanned signatures allowed).
33. How often is registration renewed?
Every two years, with a written exam and interview at the Ministry of Justice.
34. Court interpreter vs court translator — what's the difference?
Interpreter = oral rendering in the courtroom; translator = written translation of documents. Separate registers, separate certifications.
35. Is annual CPD required for MoJ translators?
Yes — 20 CPD hours per year covering legal terminology, ethics and Thai court-procedure updates.
36. Where can I verify an MoJ translator online?
portal.moj.go.th/translator-register — search by name, registration number, or language pair.
37. Can a freelancer use a corporate MoJ stamp?
No. The MoJ stamp is tied to the individual registrant. Shared use is punishable by fine and de-registration.
38. Why do courts sometimes reject a certified translation?
Three common reasons: expired registration, missing Statement of Accuracy, or incomplete stamping of every page and original seal.
39. Must a copy of the translator's MoJ ID accompany the translation?
Since 2024, yes — a certified copy of the MoJ registration card and translator's national ID must be attached.
40. Who issues MoJ translator credentials?
The Foreign-Language Translator Registrar of the Ministry of Justice, Kingdom of Thailand.
41. Certified copy vs certified translation — what's the difference?
Certified copy attests the copy matches the original (by a notary/authority). Certified translation attests the translation matches the source (by an MoJ translator).
42. Is a European Sworn Translator equivalent to Thai MoJ?
Close but not identical. Sworn translators swear an oath before a court; MoJ translators register with the Ministry. Mutual recognition is achieved via Apostille.
43. Difference from NAATI Certified Translator?
NAATI is accepted only in Australia. MoJ is accepted in Thailand and any jurisdiction reachable through Apostille or consular legalisation.
44. Can an ATA Certified Translator's work be filed in Thailand?
It can be filed at the US Embassy but Thai courts still require an overlaid MoJ certification.
45. Difference from a Notary Public certifying a translation?
A notary certifies the translator's signature only. MoJ certifies the translation content itself.
46. Does the Department of Consular Affairs still certify translations?
No. Since 2021 it only certifies signatures of MoJ translators on documents destined for overseas use.
47. Do I need a Sworn Translator in Singapore?
No. Singapore accepts Thai MoJ + Notary + Apostille (Thailand joined the Hague Convention in 2025).
48. What does USCIS require in the United States?
USCIS accepts a Certified Translation plus a Certificate of Translation Accuracy. Thai MoJ + Apostille satisfies this.
49. Does Germany require a beeidigter Übersetzer?
German courts accept either beeidigter Übersetzer or Thai MoJ + Apostille + Notary. Both paths are valid.
50. Is MoJ accepted in China?
Yes — since Thailand joined Hague Apostille, consular legalisation is no longer required for use in mainland China.
51. How much for a birth-certificate translation?
From THB 500 (Thai↔English), THB 800 for Chinese/Japanese/Korean. Turnaround 1–2 business days.
52. Must the reverse of a marriage certificate be translated?
Yes — both the data side and the marital-agreement reverse must be translated, otherwise embassies will reject.
53. Can a Thai divorce decree be used to remarry abroad?
Yes, with MoJ + MFA + Apostille (Hague) or destination embassy legalisation (non-Hague).
54. How many pages is a university transcript?
Typically 2–4 pages including grades and grading legend; THB 1,000–2,000 per set.
55. Is an MoJ-translated diploma enough for an embassy?
Only for Hague states after Apostille. Non-Hague destinations still require MFA + embassy legalisation.
56. Can an MoJ-translated Thai driver's licence swap into a foreign licence?
Yes in reciprocal countries (Japan, Korea, most of Europe) with IDP or MoJ + Apostille.
57. Why translate a passport?
China, Taiwan and Vietnam require translated name, surname and address for business registration.
58. How many months of bank statements should be translated?
Student/marriage visas: 6 months back. Investment visas: 12 months back.
59. What qualifications are needed for medical certificate translation?
A medical translator trained in ICD-10 and WHO terminology. NYC fields four across three languages.
60. How much for a company-certificate translation set?
One set (Company Certificate + BOJ.5 + Articles) averages THB 3,500–6,000, turnaround 2–3 days.
61. Can a foreign deposition be used in a Thai court?
Yes — MoJ + Notary + Apostille in the country of origin, then filed with the Thai court.
62. How many languages does ISDS arbitration require?
At least three: the language of the contract, the official language of the tribunal (usually English), and the language a party understands.
63. What share of cross-border litigation cost is translation?
Typically 15–25% of total case cost. NYC offers a retainer model that reduces this by ~20%.
64. What must be translated in cross-border insolvency?
Receivership order, three years of financials, all debt agreements and share register — each with MoJ + Apostille.
65. Is a court interpreter required for remote hearings?
Yes — an MoJ court interpreter holding Zoom-Court Certification (mandatory since 2023).
66. How is a foreign injunction enforced in Thailand?
Filed with the Central Civil Court together with MoJ + Apostille and a public-policy compatibility statement.
67. What are court-interpreter rates by language?
English THB 8,000/day; Chinese/Japanese/Korean THB 12,000; rare languages (Uzbek, Amharic) THB 18,000.
68. Discovery: how many days per 1,000 pages?
A team model (5 translators + 2 reviewers) delivers in 15–20 business days; CAT tooling can cut ~30% for repetitive content.
69. How is chain-of-custody handled for digital evidence?
SHA-256 hash of source and translation with timestamps — NYC maintains a Digital Notary Ledger for litigation clients.
70. Expert Report vs Court Filing translation?
Expert Reports preserve technical fidelity; court filings preserve structural fidelity in official format.
71. How does MoJ translation differ from general translation on the market?
MoJ = 'court-admissible with stamp'. General = 'readable'. Different laws, prices and liability regimes.
72. Do you quote before or after starting?
NYC issues a written quotation before starting — no hidden fees, no mid-project price changes.
73. Is there professional indemnity insurance?
Yes — Professional Indemnity Insurance up to THB 10 million per case.
74. How many revision rounds are included?
Two revisions within 7 days at no charge (typos/style only; not source-text changes).
75. Which CAT tool does NYC use?
Trados 2024 + Phrase TMS with a custom Legal TM of 500K segments for consistent terminology across long matters.
76. How is data confidentiality protected?
ISO 27001, translator NDAs, and zero cloud storage for attorney-client privileged documents.
77. Do you handle urgent overnight work?
24/7 emergency line for litigation and corporate emergencies at +100% same-day rate.
78. Multi-language package discount?
3+ languages: 15% off; 5 languages: 20%; enterprise (10+): 30% with a dedicated PM.
79. How long has NYC handled MoJ work?
15+ years, 40,000+ document sets, zero counter-suits, 99.7% success rate.
80. How to verify certification authenticity?
Scan the translator-stamp QR — MoJ live registry verifies within 5 seconds and confirms the registration number.
81. Is a pre-case consultation free?
First 30 minutes free via LINE/phone/Zoom. Formal case assessment is THB 3,500 (credited if engaged).
82. How long are delivered files retained?
10 years (per Thai statute of limitations), encrypted, client-retrievable at any time.
83. Do you offer a monthly retainer?
Yes — law firms/corporates on THB 50,000+/month get a dedicated team and 24-hour SLA.
84. Can terminology be revised after delivery?
Yes — 30 days free; THB 500 per set thereafter. Statutory-term updates (e.g. new laws) are always free.
85. One-stop for MoJ + Notary + MFA + Apostille?
Yes — MoJ + Notary + MFA + 60+ embassies + Apostille (2025) delivered in 5–7 business days.
86. Do you deliver documents to home or office?
Bangkok: two free trips. Upcountry: EMS free. Overseas: DHL at cost + THB 300.
87. Payment methods?
Bank transfer, PromptPay, credit card (Visa/Master/JCB), USD wire, PayPal, USDT/USDC.
88. Can you issue a VAT tax invoice?
Yes — NYC is a VAT-registered juristic entity, e-Tax Invoice included; 3% withholding is honoured.
89. Corporate account credit terms?
30 days for approved law firms/corporates; 15 days for startups; 7 days for SMEs.
90. What if I'm not satisfied?
100% refund within 3 days pre-stamp; 50% refund + re-do post-stamp — a Money-Back Guarantee stated in the contract.