Work authorisation linked to a SMART Visa — what should you know about document translation and certification?

The scope of this answer is “Work authorisation linked to a SMART Visa”, so it covers both the requirements attached to this document set and the order the steps must follow. The condition most often overlooked is that name spelling must match across every document in the set. A key variable is the filing channel (in person, agent or online), which sets the copy format to prepare. The terms that frame this page are Work · authorisation · linked · SMART. Public holidays and embassy closures move certification queues more than most people expect. Documents with a short validity window should be produced as close to the filing date as possible. Before starting, ask in advance which category of certified translator the destination accepts, then plan the timeline so certification finishes before the real filing deadline, then keep a digital copy of every page, including seals and signatures. Once the set is complete, check it line by line against the destination's own checklist before filing. If the receiving body confirmed its requirements by email, keep that message with the file. Note who signed each certification and on what date for later reference. Foreign documents used in a work permit or incorporation file — degrees, experience letters, the parent company's certificate of incorporation, powers of attorney and passports — must be translated into Thai or English as the office requires and certified along the correct chain: certification in the country of origin, then embassy or Department of Consular Affairs legalisation as applicable. Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, but the Convention is not yet in force for Thailand, so embassy and Department of Consular Affairs legalisation remains the working route. ILC handles the document side only — certified translation, notarial signature certification and legalisation runs at the Department of Consular Affairs or an embassy. ILC is not the deciding authority and cannot guarantee an approval. Cost and lead time depend on page count, language pair and the certification steps the receiving authority requires, so every file is quoted before work starts. Send the checklist you were given, the applicant's nationality and the office you will file with via LINE @NAATI, call +66 80-557-8887 or email ilc@thainotary.co.th.

ปรึกษาฟรี — LINE @NAATI · โทร 080-5578887 · อีเมล ilc@thainotary.co.th