💍 Thai Marriage Certificate (Kor Ror 2 / 3) Apostille & MFA Legalization
An un-legalized Thai marriage certificate carries no evidentiary weight abroad — Spouse Visa UK, Partner 820 Australia, K-3 USA, German/French Family Reunion and foreign divorce filings all demand a certificate bearing the seal of Thailand's MFA. Our service handles it end-to-end: fresh certified copy of the Kor Ror 2 (short-form) or Kor Ror 3 (full extract) from the district office → certified translation → MFA legalization → Apostille or destination-embassy legalization.
Once Thailand's Hague accession takes effect on 28 Feb 2027, the marriage certificate is expected to need only one Apostille for signatory countries — until then it still requires MFA legalisation plus the destination embassy step.
Step-by-Step Process (5 Stages)
- 01Choose Kor Ror 2 or 3Kor Ror 2 = short marriage certificate (accepted in most cases). Kor Ror 3 = full marriage register extract, required by some German/French casework.
- 02Fresh certified copySigned and sealed by the current district registrar, dated within 6 months.
- 03MFA-registered translationThai → English (or target language) + Translator's Affidavit in MFA-approved format — brings first-pass rejection rate below 1%.
- 04MFA legalization + ApostilleFiled with the Legalization Division. Standard 3 days / express 1 day. Apostille is affixed in the same step for Hague signatories.
- 05Embassy leg (non-Hague)Countries still requiring embassy legalization include China, Taiwan, Canada, USA, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Documents You Must Prepare
- Original Thai marriage certificate (Kor Ror 2 or 3)
- Copies of ID cards / passports of both spouses
- Power of Attorney (if using an agent) + copy of agent's ID
- Destination country + purpose (spouse visa / family reunion / divorce / property)
Timeline & Pricing
Standard 3-5 business days (Apostille) · Non-Hague + embassy 7-14 business days · Fee price on request
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: We married abroad. Do we still need MFA?+
A: Yes — a foreign marriage certificate must first be Apostilled/legalized in the issuing country and then recorded in the Thai household register (Kor Ror 22) before Thai agencies will accept it.
Q: Must both spouses appear?+
A: No — only the certificate owner or one authorized attorney needs to appear.
Q: Our certificate is 10 years old. Still usable?+
A: Get a fresh copy first — most embassies require 'issued within 6 months'.
Q: Can this be used for a K-1 / UK Fiancé Visa?+
A: No — fiancé visas require a Certificate of Freedom to Marry (Kor Ror 22), not a marriage certificate.
Q: We divorced. Do we need to legalize the divorce certificate too?+
A: Yes, if remarrying abroad. Both Kor Ror 6 (divorce record) and Kor Ror 7 (divorce certificate) need MFA + Apostille.
Official Government Sources (E-E-A-T)
- • Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, MFA Thailand (consular.mfa.go.th)
- • Bureau of Registration Administration, Ministry of Interior (bora.dopa.go.th)
- • Hague Apostille Convention 1961 (hcch.net)
Thailand and the Apostille Convention — current status and what changes
Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026; the Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Until that date documents still follow the existing legalization chain (Notary → Department of Consular Affairs → destination embassy).
- Phase 1 — until entry into force
Thai documents for overseas use still follow the existing chain: Notarial Services Attorney → Department of Consular Affairs legalization → destination embassy legalization.
- Phase 2 — from 28 February 2027
For Contracting Parties, a single Apostille certificate replaces destination-embassy legalization. Non-party countries keep the full legalization chain.
- Phase 3 — documents certified earlier
Documents already legalized under the old route remain usable subject to the receiving authority's rules. Always confirm document age with the receiving authority before filing.
During the transition we verify the correct certification route case by case before starting any file.
Verified official information
Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026; the Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Until that date documents still follow the existing legalization chain (Notary → Department of Consular Affairs → destination embassy).
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The Apostille Convention has 130 Contracting Parties (HCCH status table, updated 30 June 2026).
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