House registration, Thai ID and name-change translation for overseas use
Thai civil-registry documents underpin most visa, banking and marriage applications abroad. We translate the house registration (tabien baan), national ID card and name-change certificates with name spellings matched to each passport, then arrange certification and legalisation where the destination requires it.
Fees: ask our staff for a quotation based on your documents.
What these documents are and who issues them
The house registration is the official record of who resides at an address, issued and amended by the district office (amphoe or khet) under the Department of Provincial Administration. The national ID card is the personal identity document, and name-change certificates are issued by the same registration system. Foreign authorities rely on these records to confirm identity, family relationships and address history.
Because the receiving officer cannot read Thai, the translation is the only version they can verify. Every field — entry numbers, registration dates, registrar signatures, amendment notes — must be rendered, not summarised.
Name spelling must match the passport
The single most common problem is a name spelled differently across the passport, the house registration translation and supporting certificates. Before we translate, we ask for the passport spelling of every person named, plus any name-change certificates that link a former name to the current one. The translation reflects the original; it never corrects the source.
Thai documents use the Buddhist Era calendar. We convert years correctly and note the conversion convention in the translation so the receiving officer can follow the dates.
Certified copy, translation, certification — three different steps
- A certified true copy is issued or stamped by the district office or a notary, confirming the copy matches the original.
- The translation renders the document into the target language with the translator's certification of accuracy.
- Certification by the MFA Department of Consular Affairs verifies the signature or seal, and embassy attestation may follow for countries that require it.
Which steps you need is set by the receiving authority, not by us. Send the checklist and we will scope only what is required.
Apostille changes the chain from 28 February 2027
Thailand's accession to the Apostille Convention takes effect on 28 February 2027 according to the HCCH status table. From that date, documents for member countries may use an Apostille instead of embassy attestation. Non-member countries keep the consular-plus-embassy chain. Until the effective date, no Thai Apostille exists — plan around the receiving authority's current instructions.
What to send before asking for a quotation
Send a photo or scan of each document (all pages, including amendment pages), the passport spelling of each person named, the destination country and authority, and the filing deadline if any. Staff will confirm which pages need translation, whether certified copies are needed, and the certification chain, then issue a quotation. We do not publish fixed company fees or fixed turnaround dates.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to translate the whole house registration book?
Follow the receiving authority's checklist. Some want only the pages covering the applicant and family members; others want every page including amendments. We translate exactly what the checklist requires.
How are Thai names spelled in the translation?
We match the spelling in the passport of each person named. If a former name or surname appears, the linking name-change certificate should be included so the records stay traceable.
Is translation enough, or is legalisation also required?
It depends on the destination. Some authorities accept a certified translation; others require certification by the MFA Department of Consular Affairs and, for non-Apostille countries, the embassy. Thailand's Apostille participation takes effect on 28 February 2027.
Official sources
Related services
This page is preparation guidance, not a certification of any document or of the receiving authority's decision. Requirements are checked case by case.