Andys Real Guide to Thailand

This page outlines the legal procedure for getting married in Thailand. It focuses on a foreign man marrying a Thai woman and is directed to the man.

This is (currently) a no-frills guide, with simply the basic procedure described.

Please take note;

Below is the legally binding procedure for getting married in Thailand. This procedure is recognised as such by the authorities of Britain, France, Germany, the USA and likely many others. You should not enter into it lightly.
In Britain and most US states bigamy carries a maximum penalty of 7 years. See: BIGAMY at LoveToKnow..

The Buddhist religous ceremony you will likely undertake has no legal status either in Thailand or any other country.

The procedure

1. You need to write a Letter of Affirmation. This is simply a declaration that you are free to marry - never been married, divorced, widowed, etc.. This letter is written in your native language. The letter needs to be taken your embassy in Bangkok to be certified and you should expect a short interview by consular staff to confirm that you are free to marry.
   As of January 2005 the British Embassy charged 2400 Baht for this service.
   Sample Letter, from British Embassy in Bangkok (July 2002). Other nationals should contact their embassy for guidance.
   At an embassy you are on sovereign territory of that country and making a false declaration at this point constitutes a criminal offense in the country represented by that embassy.
   
2. The affirmation letter must then be translated into Thai. It seems that just about anyone can do the translation, but the it does need to be certified by the Thai ministry of Foreign affairs;

123 Chaeng Wattana Road, Laksi District, Bangkok 11120 Tel. 02 575 1056 – 59, 02 981 7171



3. You need to obtain a Certificate of Residency. Don't let the name confuse you, this has nothing to do with your visa status within Thailand, though you do need to have entered the country legally, and your visa must still be valid. Obtaining a residency certificate is simply case of visiting your local immigration office with your fiancee in tow - she needs to produce her own residency log. You will need to supply two current photos, a copy of your passport and 200 Baht. This takes about 30 minutes to complete.
   
   
4. The pair of you then visit your fiancee's Amphur Office. This government office handles all the registration matters of the local population and is generally visited by Thai's when they move home. The British Embassy refers to this office as a 'Registry office', and whilst that name probably describes the nearest thing that exists in Britain the way it operates is completely different; You can turn up at the Amphur office unannounced, produce all the relevant documentation and leave with a marriage certificate within the space of 30 minutes.
   What you need to take;
   • Your passport, plus 2 copies including copies of entry visa.
   • Letter of Affirmation - both originals and 1 copy each of native and Thai versions.
     
   • Residency Certificate - original and 1 copy.
     
   • Your fiancee's house log, plus 2 copies thereof.
     
   • Your fiancee's ID card, plus 1 copy.
     
   • Two witnesses.
     

References;

British Embassy Guide to getting Married in Thailand