Getting Married in Thailand: Notarize Single Status Affidavit

Getting Married in Thailand: Notarizing Your Single Status Affidavit

A complete guide for foreigners on the "Affidavit of Freedom to Marry" – the essential first step to registering your marriage with a Thai national at the Khet or Amphur.

Make Your Marriage Process Smooth

The First Step for Foreigners: Understanding the "Affidavit of Freedom to Marry"

Congratulations on your decision to get married in Thailand! It's an exciting time, but the legal paperwork, especially for a foreigner, can seem confusing. The single most important document you will need is an **Affidavit of Freedom to Marry**, also known as a **Single Status Affidavit**.

This is a formal, sworn statement, made by you, declaring that you are legally free to marry. It confirms to the Thai government that you are:

Legally single (i.e., not currently married to anyone else)
Of legal age to marry
Not under any other legal impediment that would prevent your marriage

This document is non-negotiable. You cannot legally register your marriage at any Thai District Office (known as an *Amphur* or *Khet*) without it.

Why Does the Thai Government Require This Document?

The Thai authorities have no access to your personal records in your home country. They cannot check if you are already married in Germany, the USA, Australia, or anywhere else.

To prevent illegal bigamy and ensure all marriages registered in the Kingdom are legally valid, they place the responsibility on your home country's government (via your embassy) and the Thai legal system (via notarization and legalization) to verify your single status. The Affidavit is your personal, legal declaration—made under penalty of perjury—that you are free to marry. This document protects you, your future spouse, and the legality of your marriage.

The Marriage Document Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Foreigners

Navigating the paperwork for getting married in Thailand involves several key steps. The process begins at your embassy and ends at the District Office, with crucial legal steps in between. Here is the complete flow:

Visit Your Embassy in Thailand

This is your **mandatory first step**. You must visit your country's embassy or consulate in Thailand. They will either:

Issue you an official **Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)**.
Provide a blank **Affidavit of Freedom to Marry** form for you to fill out.
Have you swear the Affidavit in front of one of their consular officers (who acts as a notary).

You MUST bring your **original passport** and often your **original divorce decree** (if applicable). Check your embassy's website for their specific requirements *before* you go.

Notarization (If Required)

If your embassy (like the US, UK, or Australia) provides you with an affidavit form but does *not* notarize it themselves, or if they simply instruct you to "get an affidavit notarized," this is where we come in. You must bring the **unsigned form** and your **original passport** to a licensed **Notarial Services Attorney** (like NYC Plus). You will sign the affidavit *in front of our attorney*, who will then officially notarize your signature.

Notarizing a signature on an affidavit in Bangkok

Certified Translation into Thai

The Thai District Office (Amphur) will not accept your English document. Your **entire** document package (the notarized affidavit/certificate, and any supporting documents like your passport data page or divorce decree) must be **professionally translated into Thai**. NYC Plus provides this certified translation service, ensuring all legal terms are correct.

Legalization at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)

This is the most time-consuming step. You (or we, on your behalf) must submit both the **original English affidavit** and the **certified Thai translation** to the Legalization Division at the Thai MFA in Bangkok. The MFA will verify the notary's (or embassy's) signature and stamp the documents, making them official for use within the Thai government.

(Learn more in our Foreigner's Guide to MFA Legalization)

Register Your Marriage

With your complete set of MFA-legalized documents (Affidavit + Translation), you and your Thai fiancé(e) can go to **any District Office (Amphur or Khet) in Thailand** to officially register your marriage. Congratulations!

Make Your Marriage Process Smooth and Stress-Free

The document process for marriage can be a bureaucratic nightmare, involving multiple visits to different locations: your embassy, a notary office, a translation office, and one or two trips to the MFA in Chaengwattana (with long queues).

Let us handle the bureaucracy so you can focus on your wedding. Our **Full-Service Marriage Package** is designed to handle every step after your embassy visit.

✅1. Notarization Service

Bring your unsigned affidavit from your embassy. Our licensed Notarial Services Attorney will consult with you, witness your signature, and provide the official notarization required for the MFA. Fast, professional, and fully registered.

✅2. Certified Thai Translation

Our in-house translators will provide a fast, 100% accurate translation of your notarized affidavit (and passport/divorce decree) into Thai, certified for use at the MFA and all Amphur offices.

✅3. MFA Legalization Service

This is the ultimate time-saver. Instead of you spending 1-2 days queuing, our dedicated legal messengers will handle the entire submission, fee payment, and collection process at the MFA for you, using standard or express service.

Get a Quote for Our Full Package

What Information is Required for the Affidavit?

When you visit your embassy or our office, you will need to provide precise information for the affidavit. Any errors can void the document. Please prepare the following details:

✓

Full Legal Name: Exactly as it appears on your passport (including all middle names).

✓

Passport Number: Your current, valid passport number.

✓

Date and Place of Birth: As listed on your passport.

✓

Full Residential Address: This is typically your permanent address in your home country.

✓

Parents' Full Names: Many affidavit forms require the full legal names of your mother and father.

✓

Sworn Statement of Status: You will affirm that you are "single and have never been married," "divorced," or "widowed."

✓

(If Divorced/Widowed): You MUST provide the details of your previous marriage (former spouse's name, date of divorce/death). You must also present the original Divorce Decree or Death Certificate.

✓

Your Thai Fiancé(e)'s Full Name: The full legal name of your partner, exactly as it appears on their Thai ID card.

⛔Critical Document: Divorce Decree

If you have been divorced, **you cannot get married in Thailand without your original final Divorce Decree**. This document *also* needs to be translated and legalized by the MFA. This is a common point of failure. We can manage the translation and legalization of your divorce decree as part of our package.

Timeline & Fees for Marriage Document Preparation

We believe in transparent pricing and clear timelines so you can plan your special day without stress.

How long does the entire document process take?

This timeline begins *after* you have visited your embassy and have your affidavit ready for notarization.

Step	Managed By	Timeline
1. Notarization of Affidavit	NYC Plus	30-60 Minutes (At our office)
2. Certified Thai Translation	NYC Plus	1 Business Day (Can be done same-day for express)
3. MFA Legalization (Standard)	NYC Plus (Service)	2-3 Business Days
3. MFA Legalization (Express)	NYC Plus (Service)	1 Business Day (If submitted in the morning)
Total Estimated Time (Standard)	NYC Plus	Approx. 3-4 Business Days
Total Estimated Time (Express)	NYC Plus	Approx. 1-2 Business Days

Service Fees

Our fees are separated into professional services and third-party government fees (which we can pay on your behalf).

Service	Starting Fee (THB)	Description
Notarization of Affidavit	1,500 THB	Per document. For witnessing your signature on the affidavit.
Certified Translation (Eng to Thai)	500 THB	Per page (e.g., Affidavit or Passport Page).
Translation (Other Languages)	Contact for Quote	E.g., German/French/Russian Divorce Decree to Thai/English.
MFA Legalization Service (Agent Fee)	Contact for Quote	Our fee for handling the submission, queues, and collection. (MFA fees are separate).
Full-Service Marriage Package	Contact for Quote	A bundled, discounted price for Notarization + Translation + MFA Service.

Our Professional Team

Your important marriage documents are handled by licensed lawyers and expert coordinators with over 15 years of experience.

Attorney Jiraphan - Notary Public Thailand

Attorney Jiraphan
NPT License

Attorney Jirasak - Notary Public Thailand

Attorney Jirasak
NPT License

Attorney Warawut - Notary Public Thailand

Attorney Warawut
NPT License

Attorney Wiwat
NPT License

Attorney Anutree - Notary Public Thailand

Attorney Anutree
NPT License

Our dedicated coordination team ensures your process is smooth.

FAQ for Foreigners Getting Married in Thailand

1. What is an 'Affidavit of Freedom to Marry' or 'Single Status Affidavit'?

It is a sworn legal statement, made by you, declaring that you are legally free to marry. This means you are not currently married (you are single, divorced, or widowed) and there are no legal impediments to your intended marriage in Thailand. It is the primary document required by the Thai government from a foreigner.

2. Do I absolutely need this Affidavit to get married in Thailand?

Yes, absolutely. No Thai District Office (Khet or Amphur) will register your marriage without this document. It must be issued or notarized by your embassy, translated into Thai, and legalized by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). It is the most critical piece of paperwork in the process for the foreign partner.

3. My embassy (e.g., USA, UK, Australia) says they can notarize it. Why should I use your service?

Embassies often have long wait times for appointments and limited hours. NYC Plus offers a fast, flexible, and comprehensive 'Full-Service Package'. You visit your embassy to make the sworn statement, and we handle *everything* else: the notarization of the signature (if required post-embassy visit), the certified Thai translation, and the entire time-consuming legalization process at the MFA, including all queues and paperwork.

4. What is the difference between an 'Affidavit' and a 'Certificate of No Impediment'?

An **Affidavit** is a statement *you* make and swear is true (e.g., 'I swear I am single'). Many embassies, like the US, UK, and Australian, will have you do this. A **Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)** is a document the *government* or embassy issues *to* you, stating they have checked their records and found no record of a current marriage (e.g., some European or Asian countries). Both documents serve the same purpose for the Thai authorities: to prove you are free to marry.

5. My embassy (e.g., German, French) gave me a 'Certificate of No Impediment'. Does this need notarization?

Usually, no. If the document is already an official certificate *issued by* your embassy, it does not need to be 'notarized' again. However, it **absolutely** still needs the next steps: **Certified Translation** into Thai and **Legalization** at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Our Full-Service Marriage Package can handle this for you.

6. What documents does my Thai fiancé(e) need?

Your Thai partner will typically need their original Thai National ID Card (Bat Prachachon) and their original House Registration Book (Tabien Baan). If they were previously married, they MUST bring the original Divorce Certificate (Kor Ror 6) or Death Certificate of their former spouse.

7. Can we get married at any Amphur (District Office) in Thailand?

Yes. Once your Affidavit (or Certificate) has been notarized, translated, and legalized by the MFA in Bangkok, the complete document package is valid at *any* Amphur or Khet (District Office) anywhere in Thailand, from Chiang Mai to Phuket.

8. How long is the notarized and legalized Affidavit valid for?

The MFA legalization stamp does not have an official expiry date. However, the Thai District Offices (Amphur) will generally only accept an Affidavit of Freedom to Marry that is **less than 6 months old** (and sometimes even 3 months). You should plan to register your marriage within 3-6 months of having your affidavit notarized.

9. What if I am divorced? What extra documents do I need?

This is extremely important. If you are divorced, you **must** bring your **original Divorce Decree** (or a certified copy from the court) with you to Thailand. This document *also* needs to be notarized (as a true copy), translated into Thai, and legalized by the MFA alongside your Single Status Affidavit. Your embassy will ask to see this before they approve your affidavit.

10. Can you translate my Divorce Decree?

Yes, absolutely. Our 'Full-Service Marriage Package' can include the certified translation and subsequent legalization of all your supporting documents, including Divorce Decrees or Death Certificates, to ensure your entire document set is ready for the Amphur.

11. We are married! What is the next step to register my marriage in my home country?

Congratulations! You will receive two copies of the Thai Marriage Certificate (Kor Ror 2 and Kor Ror 3). To make this valid in your home country, you must do the *reverse* process: 1. Get the Marriage Certificate translated into English. 2. Get the translation and original legalized at the Thai MFA. 3. Get the MFA-legalized document attested at your own country's embassy in Bangkok. We also offer this 'Post-Marriage Legalization' service.

12. How much does the Full-Service Marriage Package (Notary + Translation + MFA) cost?

The price depends on the number of documents. A standard package including Notarization of one Affidavit (starting 1,500 THB), Translation of the Affidavit (starting 500 THB), and our service fee for MFA Legalization would be quoted as a bundle. If you also need a Divorce Decree translated and legalized, the price will increase accordingly. Please send us your documents via Line or Email for a precise, all-inclusive quote.

13. Can I just sign the Affidavit and mail it to you? Do I have to come in person?

You **must** come in person to sign the Affidavit of Freedom to Marry in front of the Notarial Services Attorney. The entire legal value of the document rests on the notary witnessing you sign it and verifying your identity via your original passport. There is no legal way to notarize a signature remotely for this purpose in Thailand.

14. Do I need to bring witnesses to the notary appointment?

For the *notarization* of the affidavit itself, Thai law does not typically require witnesses (unlike a POA). The notary's stamp is sufficient. However, it is always best to double-check if your specific embassy's form has signature lines for witnesses. If it does, you must bring them with their original passports.

15. My embassy is not in Bangkok. What do I do?

You must first travel to your embassy (e.g., in Bangkok, or a consulate in Chiang Mai if available) to obtain the initial affidavit or certificate. After that, you can either visit our Bangkok office (or partner office) for notarization, OR you can mail the embassy-issued/notarized document to us. We can then handle the Translation and MFA Legalization services for you remotely and courier the completed documents back to you.

16. How long does the entire document process take with your service?

Once we have your notarized affidavit: **Standard Service:** Translation (1 day) + MFA Legalization (2-3 days) = Total **3-4 business days**. **Express Service:** Translation (1 day, possibly same day) + MFA Express Legalization (1 day) = Total **1-2 business days**. This is significantly faster than navigating the process yourself.

17. Why are your fees (e.g., 1,500 THB) higher than a simple translation?

A notarization fee (starting 1,500 THB) is not for a translation. It is the professional legal fee for a licensed Notarial Services Attorney to take on the legal liability of verifying your identity and witnessing your sworn statement. This act makes the document legally binding and is performed by a qualified lawyer, which is distinct from a translation service (starting 500 THB).

18. Why choose NYC Plus for my marriage documents?

With 15+ years of experience, we specialize in this exact process. We prevent common, costly mistakes. Our licensed lawyers are registered with the MFA, our translations are accepted by all government offices, and our all-in-one service saves you days of queuing and bureaucratic stress, letting you focus on your wedding. We guarantee accuracy and speed.