How do I arrange Apostille for Thai documents for a birth certificate for use in South Korea, and how long does it take?
Many destination forms say "Apostille", but documents issued in Thailand currently receive the MFA legalisation stamp instead
Referring to the HCCH Apostille Convention and Thai legalisation rules, Many destination forms say "Apostille", but documents issued in Thailand currently receive the MFA legalisation stamp instead. Receiving authorities treat it as equivalent once the destination embassy has counter-legalised it. We verify the destination country's current requirement before filing so your civil-registry documents are not rejected. Bundle with NAATI certified translation, Notary Public certification and Police Clearance in a single file to save weeks.
Quick facts
- Current status: Thailand still uses consular legalisation today; the Hague Apostille Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027.
- Turnaround: Standard legalisation 3–5 business days · Express 1–2 business days · Full chain (translation + MFA + destination embassy) 5–7 business days
- Office: Legalisation Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Chaeng Watthana Road, Bangkok · Mon–Fri 08:30–15:30 · nationwide document pickup by post or messenger
Related questions
- → What is an Apostille and how does it differ from consular legalisation?
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- → When does the Apostille Convention enter into force for Thailand?
- → How are Thai documents legalised before the Apostille route starts?
- → Does an Apostille certify the contents of a document?