Getting Married in Thailand

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Getting Married in Thailand

A marriage is legally recognised under Thai law only if it has been registered at the District Office. (In Bangkok the name for the District Office is Khet, but in the rest of Thailand it is known as Amphur or Amphoe.) Religious wedding ceremonies are not legal marriages and have no legal significance. 

A religious ceremony (blessing) is optional and a great many religions are represented in Thailand: Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and more. 

A legal marriage in Thailand is recognised as valid in most other countries. Foreign citizens do not acquire Thai nationality when marrying a Thai citizen.

Thailand has specific laws concerning marriage, including:

• The minimum age for getting married is 17. Under the age of 20, written parental consent is required, which must be translated into Thai
• Neither party should be married to anyone else
• There is a minimum waiting time of 310 days for widows and divorcees unless there are special circumstances
• Same-sex couples may not get married in Thailand
• For more details on the regulations for marriage under Thai Law from the Department of Provincial Administration: Click here

There are no residency requirements for people wishing to marry in Thailand but there are formalities to be completed before a marriage can take place.

Preliminaries to Marriage

Documents required by foreign nationals marrying another foreign national or a Thai citizen are:

• Passport and two copies, including copies of entry visa
• The authenticated affirmation of freedom to marry and the certified translation, both originals and one copy of each
• Original death or divorce certificates translated into Thai if either party has been married before

Documents required by Thai nationals at the local District Office are:

• Identification Card and one copy
• House Registration Document (Tabien Baan) and one copy

Affirmation of freedom to marry

Any foreign national wishing to marry in Thailand should first obtain an affirmation of freedom to marry or affidavit, which involves the following steps:

• Contact the relevant home Embassy in Thailand to prepare and submit the application at the Embassy in person
• A passport is always required for proof of identity
• Evidence that any previous marriages have been dissolved/terminated (death or divorce documents, as appropriate) must be produced. These must be original documents
• The affirmation must be translated into Thai by a certified translator
• The affirmation must then be authenticated and the translation certified at the address below. This will be completed within two full working days although it can be ready in less time for a fee, depending on individual cases
• Legalisation and Naturalisation Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  At: 123 Chaeng Wattana Rd, Laksi District, Bangkok 10210
  Tel: 02 575 1056 or 02 981 7171
  Open: 08:30-15:00
  e-mail
  Website

Those living outside of Thailand should contact the Thai Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence to apply for the necessary visa. Then contact their national Embassy in Thailand to ensure that the correct documents are all in order to complete the affirmation of freedom to marry or affidavit on arrival in Thailand.

After arrival in Thailand, get the affirmation of freedom to marry and have it certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Take these documents to a District Office (Khet or Amphur) in order for a marriage certificate to be issued. There is no minimum period for length of stay in Thailand before a marriage can take place, although the steps described will take a few days.

There are companies that can help with the process of getting married in Thailand. 

Marriage to a Thai woman and the custom of dowry

It is an accepted part of Thai culture that the groom pays a dowry (sin sod) to the bride's family. This has long been part of marriage although it is is becoming less prevalent with the younger generation. The payment may be in cash, or take the form of property, gold or any other assets, and traditionally serves to prove that the groom is in a position to take care of his new family and is generous in nature (an important trait in Thai culture). Sometimes the dowry is returned to the bride and groom on the wedding day by the bride's parents. 

It is acceptable to discuss the terms of a dowry. Even though paying a dowry is commonplace, the system may be abused. 

Registering the Marriage

Marriage registration can be completed at any District Office nationwide. A marriage certificate is issued after the paperwork has been completed. There is no ceremony. The paperwork and marriage certificate are in Thai and it's unlikely that anyone will speak English but a translator is allowed to help. District Offices are open Monday to Friday from 08:30-16:00 except on public holidays. It is not possible to book a time to complete the procedure and there can be a queue. A witness is required but this can be someone else in the queue or another official.

It is possible to register a marriage at any location under the supervision of the local District Office, if both parties are unable to attend at that office. The parties filing for marriage are required to provide transport for the Registrar and there will be a fee.

On completion of the marriage registration a copy of the Marriage Registration Certificate is given to both partners. Thai law only recognises the validity of a civil ceremony. A couple may choose to follow the civil service with a religious ceremony if they wish but it will have no legal significance.

Recording a Marriage Outside of Thailand

There is no legal obligation to have a marriage recorded outside of Thailand. The Embassies can arrange for the Thai marriage certificate to be deposited at the relevant registration offices in the home country.

Replacement of Lost Marriage Certificate

To get a new, original marriage certificate, visit the Amphur or Khet (district office) where the original certificate was issued. Proof of identity (passport or ID card) are required.

If it is not possible to visit the original district office, any Amphur or Khet can issue a temporary copy (passport or ID card are required), which can be used until a visit can be made to the original government office.

Related Information

• Information from the British Embassy for British nationals
• Visa application form for British citizens: Click here and select Getting Married in Thailand (PDF)
• Information from the United States Embassy for US Nationals
• Information from the Canadian Embassy for Canadian Nationals
• Information from the Australian Embassy for Australian Nationals

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