Foreign Document Translation & Legalization for Use in Thailand

Service Overview

For a foreign birth certificate, marriage record, court order or company document intended for Thailand, start by asking the Thai receiving authority what authentication is required in the issuing country, whether Thai embassy attestation is needed, and what form of Thai translation it accepts. Before 28 February 2027, do not assume an Apostille issued abroad automatically replaces the steps required by that authority. Our team can review the document and coordinate the applicable steps case by case.

Apostille vs Full Legalization — Which Applies?

The Apostille Convention applies to covered public documents when it is in force between the issuing and receiving countries; appearing on a list of contracting states alone is not enough. If the Convention does not apply, ask the receiving authority which authentication chain is required, including any source-country or embassy steps. Thailand's entry into force is scheduled for 28 February 2027. Until then, do not present a Thai-issued Apostille as a replacement for embassy attestation. Check the HCCH status table and the receiving authority's document rules for each case.

Document Categories

The categories below are examples of documents that may need translation or authentication, not a promise that every item can follow the same route. Send the document details, language and receiving authority so we can check the scope first.

• Civil Registry — Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate, Adoption Certificate, Name/Surname Change, House Registration, Single Status Certificate
• Education — Academic Transcript, Diploma, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree, Professional Certificate, Language Test Result
• Corporate — Company Affidavit, DBD Extract, VAT Certificate, Board Resolution, Corporate Power of Attorney, Shareholder List, MOA / Articles of Association
• Court / Police — Police Clearance Certificate, Court Order / Judgment, Notarized Affidavit, Criminal Record
• Medical — Medical Certificate, Vaccination Record, HIV Test Result, TB Test Certificate
• Property — Land Title Deed (Chanote), Condominium Title, Lease Agreement, Property Valuation Report
• Financial — Bank Statement, Bank Guarantee Letter, Tax Return, Income Certificate
• Intellectual Property — Trademark Certificate, Patent Certificate, Copyright Certificate
• Immigration — Visa Application Documents, Sponsorship Letter, Invitation Letter, Affidavit of Support
• Contracts — Commercial Contract, Employment Contract, Memorandum of Understanding, Distributorship Agreement
• Personal ID — Passport Copy, National ID Copy, Driving License
• Religious / Cultural — Islamic Marriage Certificate, Religious Conversion Certificate
• Technical / Engineering — Engineering Drawing, Product Certificate / CoO, ISO Certificate
• Government — Royal Decree, Ministry Certificate, BOI Promotion Certificate
• Special / Other — Apostille, Destination MOFA Attestation, Translator Certification

How It Works (7 Steps)

1. 1. Assessment & Planning — Share the destination, document type and receiving authority so our team can check the applicable requirements before proposing a route.
2. 2. Source Document Handling — Check whether an original or an officially issued copy is needed. Replacement documents and applications by representatives depend on the issuing authority's rules.
3. 3. Certified Translation — Check the receiving authority's language and certification requirements before arranging translation.
4. 4. Notary Public (if required) — Certify signatures, true copies, or affidavits when required by the destination authority.
5. 5. MFA Legalization (if required) — Confirm whether Thai MFA legalization is needed and check current submission requirements. Thailand does not yet issue Apostilles.
6. 6. Destination Embassy Attestation — Check whether the receiving authority requires embassy attestation; do not skip it simply because the destination is a Hague contracting state.
7. 7. Delivery & Tracking — Return by post or courier with a tracking number, or collect at an appointment point.

Fees & Timing

Fees: ask our team for a quote. The work depends on the document, issuing and receiving countries, and the receiving authority's requirements. We review the applicable steps before quoting and assess timing for your documents.

Common Use Cases

• Marriage registration abroad — ask the receiving registrar which civil-status documents are required and how each must be authenticated
• Spouse visa — confirm the document and translation rules with the destination's immigration authority; for Australia, check whether a NAATI translator is required
• Company formation abroad — check which corporate record, board resolution or power of attorney the recipient needs, and its authentication route
• Study abroad — check the university or admissions authority's translation and authentication requirements before submitting academic records
• Filing tax/divorce/probate abroad — Tax Return, Divorce Decree, Probate, Will

Why ILC

ILC (Thai Law & Accounting Services Co., Ltd.) provides certified translation and consular legalization with a Notary Public team that checks the receiving authority's requirements first and coordinates MFA and embassy steps. Case updates through our staff, hotline 092-0170000, and LINE @THAIL.