Notarize Diploma Thailand | Certify Transcript Bangkok | NYC Plus

Notarizing Diplomas, Transcripts & School Records

A complete guide for students and families on notarizing Thai educational documents for international university applications, professional licensing, and visa requirements.

Get Your Documents Ready for the World

Why Foreign Schools & Universities Require Notarized Documents

Congratulations on graduating from a school or university in Thailand! As you prepare for your next step—whether it's a Master's degree in the USA, a new job in Singapore, or a professional certification in Canada (like WES)—you've likely hit a roadblock: you're being asked for **"notarized"** or **"certified"** copies of your educational documents.

This requirement often confuses students and families. Why isn't a simple photocopy or a printout of the school's digital file enough?

The answer is **trust and verification**. A university admissions office in another country has no simple way to confirm that:

The Thai school or university that issued your diploma is a legitimate, accredited institution.
The document itself (your diploma or transcript) is real and has not been altered or forged.
The copy they receive is a true and accurate representation of the original document.

A **notarization** by a licensed Thai Notarial Services Attorney (a lawyer-notary) is the first crucial link in an international "chain of trust." The notary acts as a verified third party who attests to the authenticity of your document, which then allows the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and your destination country's embassy to add their own stamps, creating a fully legalized document that will be accepted globally.

The Process: How We "Notarize" Your Diploma (Certified True Copy)

For educational documents, the most common service you need is a **"Certified True Copy."** It's important to understand what the notary is (and isn't) doing.

The notary is **NOT** grading your transcript, confirming your degree's subject matter, or verifying that you attended every class.

The notary is performing a specific legal function: **attesting that a photocopy of your document is a true, accurate, and unaltered copy of the original, physical document.**

You Present the Original

You bring your **ORIGINAL** diploma or transcript (the one with the official university seal and signatures) to our office.

We Inspect and Copy

Our Notarial Services Attorney will personally inspect the original document for any signs of alteration. We will then make a high-quality photocopy.

The Notarial Act (Stamp & Signature)

The attorney will affix a statement to the *photocopy* (e.g., "I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of the original document presented to me"), and then apply their official signature and seal. This photocopy is now a **notarized document**.

⛔CRITICAL: You MUST Bring the Original Document

This is the most important rule. We **cannot** notarize a copy *of a copy*. We **cannot** notarize a printout of a scan you received via email. We **cannot** notarize a digital e-diploma. You must present the physical, original document issued by your school for us to compare against.

If you have lost your original diploma, you must contact your university's registrar and request a new original be issued *before* you can proceed.

Common Educational Documents We Notarize

We provide notarization and legalization services for all academic and school-related documents, including:

□1. University Diplomas and Degrees

This is the official certificate confirming you have graduated and been awarded your degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science). Foreign universities, employers, or professional licensing bodies (like medical or engineering boards) require a notarized and legalized copy to verify your credentials.

Case Study: A student with a B.S. from a Thai university applying for a Master's program in the United States. The US university requires a "certified copy" of the diploma, which must be notarized and then legalized by the Thai MFA.

□2. Academic Transcripts

Your official academic record listing all courses taken and grades received. This is required by virtually all graduate schools and credential evaluation services (like WES in Canada).

Note on "Official Transcripts": If your university provides you with a transcript in a permanently sealed, stamped envelope, you should **NOT** open it. Often, universities will mail this directly. However, if you have an "open" original transcript, it must be notarized as a Certified True Copy to be accepted.

□‍✈️3. Letters of Consent for Minors to Study Abroad

This is a critical document for expat families. If a child (under 18) is traveling or applying for a student visa to study abroad (e.g., a UK boarding school, a US summer program) with only one parent, or with a guardian, most countries require a **notarized Letter of Consent** from the parent(s) not traveling.

This is a **signature notarization**, where the parent(s) must sign the letter in front of our notary, proving they give their legal permission.

□4. School Enrollment Letters

A letter from your current school in Thailand confirming you are an enrolled student. This is often required for visa applications or for transferring to a new school abroad. We would notarize the signature of the school registrar or principal who signed the letter.

□5. Letters of Recommendation

Similar to an enrollment letter, some programs may require a notarized Letter of Recommendation. This involves the person who *wrote* the letter (e.g., your professor) signing it in front of our notary. This is less common, but we can accommodate it.

✈️6. Supporting Documents for Visas

When applying for a student visa, you may need certified true copies of your (or your parents') bank statements, your passport ID page, or sponsorship letters. We can notarize all these supporting documents as true copies.

The Full 3-Step Process: Notarization, Translation & Legalization

Getting your academic documents notarized is only **Step 1**. For your documents to be accepted by a foreign university or government, you must complete the full legal chain. NYC Plus manages this entire process for you.

Step 1: Notarization (Certified True Copy)

You bring your **original diploma** or transcript to our office. Our licensed Notarial Services Attorney verifies its authenticity and stamps a photocopy, creating a **notarized Certified True Copy**.

Step 2: Certified Translation (If Needed)

If your diploma or transcript is in Thai, it is useless to an English-speaking university. We will have our professional translators create a **Certified Translation** of the document into English (or another language as required). This translation is attached to the notarized copy.

Step 3: MFA Legalization

This is the final, essential step. We take your notarized copy and the certified translation to the **Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)**. The MFA verifies our notary's signature and stamp, and then applies their own official government seal. Your document is now **legalized** and ready for international use.

Learn more about our full MFA Legalization Service here.

Student Checklist for Document Certification

To make your process seamless, follow this checklist before you visit:

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Confirm Requirements: Check the *exact* requirements of your destination university/institution. Do they need just the diploma? Or the transcript too? Do they require MFA legalization? Do they require the final step of your country's embassy attestation?

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Locate ALL Originals: Find your **original** physical diploma, transcript, and any other required documents. Remember: no originals, no notarization.

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Check for Prior Stamps (for Thai university docs): Some Thai *public* university documents must first be stamped by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) *before* the MFA will legalize them. Check this with your university registrar.

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Bring Your Valid Passport: This is required for identity verification for all notarial acts.

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Contact Us: Call or email us with a list of your documents and the destination country. We will provide a clear, all-in-one quote and confirm the exact process for you.

Services for International Schools & University Registrars

NYC Plus offers specialized services for educational institutions in Bangkok. We understand the administrative burden of preparing documents for your graduating international students.

□Bulk Certification for Graduating Classes

We can arrange for our notary to visit your campus on a designated day to notarize the diplomas and transcripts for your entire graduating class at a discounted corporate rate. This provides immense value to your students and parents.

□Registrar Signature Notarization

We can work with your school's registrar to notarize their signatures on official Enrollment Letters or Letters of Recommendation, validating them for international use.

Fees for Certifying Educational Documents

We offer clear, per-document pricing. Our "Full-Service Package" is the most popular, stress-free option for students.

Service	Starting Fee (THB)	Description
Notarization (Certified True Copy)	1,500 THB	Per document stamp (e.g., 1 stamp for diploma, 1 stamp for transcript).
Certified Translation (Thai-English)	Starts at 500 THB	Per page. Required if your document is in Thai.
Full-Service (Notary + Translation + MFA)	Contact for Quote	A bundled package to handle the entire process for you.

FAQ for Students and Parents

1. What does it mean to 'notarize a diploma' in Thailand?

In Thailand, 'notarizing a diploma' almost always means getting a **Certified True Copy**. A licensed Notarial Services Attorney (a lawyer-notary) will compare your *original* diploma to a photocopy. They will then stamp and sign the photocopy, legally attesting that it is a true, accurate, and unaltered copy of the original document you presented.

2. I lost my original diploma! Can you notarize a high-quality scan or a copy?

**No. This is the most important rule.** A notary **cannot** certify a true copy without seeing the *original* physical document. You cannot certify a copy of a copy, or a printout of a scan. If your original diploma is lost, you **must** contact your university or school to have a new original issued first.

3. Does WES Canada or other credential services accept Thai notarized documents?

Yes, but they require the full process. WES (World Education Services) and similar credential evaluators require your notarized copies to be **legalized by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)**. A simple notary stamp is not enough. Our full-service package includes notarization, certified translation (if needed), and the crucial MFA legalization step.

4. My diploma is from an International School in Bangkok (in English). Does it still need notarization?

Yes, most likely. Even if the document is from a reputable international school and is in English, a foreign university or government doesn't have a way to verify that. The Notary stamp + MFA Legalization + Embassy Attestation creates the 'chain of trust' that authenticates the document internationally. The process is the same.

5. What is a 'Letter of Consent for a minor to study abroad'?

This is a legal document signed by one or both parents, granting permission for their child (under 18) to travel and study in another country, often under the care of a guardian or the school. It is **essential** for visa applications and border control to prevent parental kidnapping. The parents' signatures **must** be notarized.

6. I am a single parent. How do I sign the Letter of Consent?

If you have sole legal custody, you will typically sign the Letter of Consent and must also provide a notarized, translated, and legalized copy of the **Court Order** or **Sole Custody Agreement** that proves you have the legal right to make this decision alone. We can help notarize and translate the court order as well.

7. Can you notarize a digital transcript or an e-diploma?

This is difficult. A notary can only certify a *physical* original. A printout of a digital file is not an original. The only workaround is for you (the student) to sign an **Affidavit** swearing that the attached printout is a true and correct representation of your digital record. We would then notarize *your* signature on the Affidavit. However, we **strongly** recommend you check if the receiving university will accept this, as many will not. Requesting a physical, original document from your school is always the safest option.

8. My diploma is in Thai. What is the process?

This requires a 3-step process, which we handle as a package: 1) We make a Certified True Copy of your original Thai diploma. 2) We provide a certified **Translation** of the diploma into English. 3) We submit **both** the notarized copy and the certified translation to the **Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for Legalization**. Foreign universities will require both the certified copy *and* the certified translation.

9. What is the fee for certifying one diploma and one transcript?

Our Notary Public service fee starts at **1,500 THB per document/stamp**. Therefore, certifying a diploma (one stamp) and a transcript (one stamp) would typically be 1,500 + 1,500 = 3,000 THB. This does not include translation or MFA legalization fees.

10. What's the difference between notarization and MFA legalization?

Notarization (Step 1) is when our licensed lawyer-notary verifies your original document and stamps the copy. Legalization (Step 2) is when the **Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)** verifies our notary's signature and adds their own official government stamp. **You cannot use a notarized document abroad without MFA legalization.**

11. Do I need an appointment to notarize my transcript?

We highly recommend making an appointment to ensure one of our Notarial Services Attorneys is available and to minimize your waiting time. However, you can visit our main Bangkok office during business hours (Mon-Fri, 09:00-18:00). Please remember to **bring your original documents**.

12. How long does the 'Full-Service Package' (Notary + Translation + MFA) take?

It's very fast. Notarization (1 hour) + Translation (1 day) + MFA Legalization (2-3 days standard, or 1 day express). Typically, our clients get their fully legalized documents ready to be mailed abroad within **3-4 business days** for standard service, or **1-2 business days** for express service.

13. Can you notarize a Letter of Recommendation?

Yes. This is a **signature notarization**. The person who *wrote* the letter (e.g., your professor or employer) must come to our office with their passport and sign the letter in front of our notary. We cannot notarize a pre-signed recommendation letter.

14. My university is in Chiang Mai. Do I have to come to Bangkok?

Not necessarily. You can **securely courier** your *original* diploma/transcript to our Bangkok head office. We will perform the notarization, translation, and MFA legalization, and then courier the completed, legalized documents back to you in Chiang Mai or directly to your overseas address.

15. What is 'bulk certification for graduating classes'?

We offer a package service for **International Schools in Bangkok**. Instead of students running around, the school's registrar can coordinate with us. We visit the school, notarize all graduating students' documents at once (diplomas, transcripts, letters of consent) at a discounted volume rate, and can manage the entire MFA legalization process for the whole class.

16. Do I need to get my document legalized by my country's embassy too?

This is **Step 3** and depends on the destination country. Many countries (e.g., in the Middle East, some in Europe) **do** require a final stamp from their own embassy in Bangkok *after* the MFA stamp. Other countries (like the US or UK for many university applications) are often satisfied with just the MFA stamp. You **must check the requirements** of your specific university or institution.

17. Can you notarize my foreign (e.g., American) diploma for use in Thailand?

To be used in Thailand, your American diploma must first be **legalized in the USA** (State Apostille, then authenticated by the Thai Embassy in the US). Once you have that, you bring it to Thailand, have it translated into Thai, and then get the translation legalized at the Thai MFA. We cannot 'notarize' a foreign document directly for use in Thailand.

18. Why should I choose NYC Plus for my school documents?

Because we understand the entire, complex chain. With 15+ years of experience, we know *exactly* what foreign universities, WES, and immigration bodies require. We prevent mistakes that cost time and money. Our service is fast, our lawyers are MFA-registered, and our 'All-in-One' package is designed to give students and parents peace of mind, guaranteed.