Thailand has no common-law notary public. The equivalent is a Notarial Services Attorney (NSA) registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand, empowered to certify signatures, true copies, affidavits and facts witnessed in person.
Notary Public — Essential (document review + first step)
For people whose documents are ready and who want a professional check before submission, plus the first stage of the Notary Public process handled for them.
Completeness check and passport-exact name spelling verification
Review: Original passport or Thai ID of the signatory
Review: The document to be certified (original plus copy)
Review: Any destination-specified form, e.g. affidavit or POA template
Action: Confirm the certification wording required abroad
A written list of everything to fix before submission
Best for: Applicants preparing documents themselves who want certainty before filing
Notary Public — Complete chain (end-to-end handling)
Our team runs the whole Notary Public chain — sourcing originals, translation, certification, through to the final step — so you never queue in person.
Handled for you: Confirm the certification wording required abroad
Handled for you: Prepare and review the draft
Handled for you: Sign in the presence of the NSA
Handled for you: Issue the certificate and attach exhibits
Handled for you: Proceed to MFA legalisation if required
Handled for you: Send the document to its destination
Liaison with the issuing and certifying authorities on your behalf
Progress updates and return delivery to the address you nominate
Best for: Clients abroad or upcountry with no time to attend in person
Our advisers, with over 15 years of casework, map your specific situation: document order, realistic timing against your filing deadline, and the rejection risks to avoid.
Case-specific analysis against the destination authority's requirements
A step order matched to your deadline (typical timeframe: Standard certifications complete the same day by appointment · sets continuing to MFA legalisation take 3–5 business days · full chains including an embassy take 5–10)
Risk flagged: An attorney certifies only what occurs in their presence, not the truth of the document's contents.
Risk flagged: The signatory must attend in person; a pre-signed document cannot be notarised retrospectively.
A written action plan you can execute yourself or hand back to us
Best for: Complex cases, previously rejected documents, or tight filing deadlines
Any destination-specified form, e.g. affidavit or POA template
Company affidavit and director's ID for corporate matters
Draft power of attorney including the attorney-in-fact's details
English translation where the document is in Thai
The receiving authority may request more depending on the purpose. Tell us the destination country and office and we will confirm the exact list.
Cautions from real casework
• An attorney certifies only what occurs in their presence, not the truth of the document's contents.
• The signatory must attend in person; a pre-signed document cannot be notarised retrospectively.
• Verify the attorney's NSA registration is current — the MFA cross-checks the specimen signature on file.
• Every document must spell your name exactly as in your passport. If the spelling differs, attach the name-change certificate or a transliteration note.
• Torn, corrected or copy-of-a-copy originals are commonly rejected at the legalisation stage — request a freshly issued copy from the issuing authority first.
• Some documents carry a validity window (often 3–6 months from issue) set by the receiving authority. Check it before starting the chain.
Consultant tips
• Scan every original to a 300 dpi colour PDF before sending it out, in case you must refile or the destination asks for a soft copy.
• Always prepare two sets — one to submit, one to keep. Many authorities retain the submitted originals.
• If the documents will be used in more than one country, say so up front: the number of sets and the attestation format differ by destination.
• Leave at least two weeks' buffer before your real deadline: Thai public holidays and embassy holidays do not coincide.
• Keep every receipt and acknowledgement slip — they are what lets you trace the file or request a replacement if it is lost.
The full working process
Standard certifications complete the same day by appointment · sets continuing to MFA legalisation take 3–5 business days · full chains including an embassy take 5–10
1. Confirm the certification wording required abroad
The destination may prescribe specific wording — certify true copy, witness signature or administer oath — and each uses a different certificate.
2. Prepare and review the draft
Check names, addresses, passport numbers, the scope of authority and effective dates before the signing appointment.
3. Sign in the presence of the NSA
The attorney inspects the original ID, records the act in the notarial register and signs and seals the same day.
4. Issue the certificate and attach exhibits
The certificate is bound to the main document with a seal across the join and must not be detached afterwards.
5. Proceed to MFA legalisation if required
The MFA authenticates the NSA's signature as the next link before any embassy step.
6. Send the document to its destination
Ship with an international tracking number and give the recipient the tracking reference in advance.
Authorities involved: Lawyers Council of Thailand under Royal Patronage (notarial services regulation)
Frequently asked questions
What is Notary Public and what is it used for?
A Notarial Services Attorney certifies signatures, true copies, affidavits and powers of attorney for use abroad. The signatory must sign in the attorney's presence with an original ID or passport. Most jobs finish the same day; if MFA legalisation or embassy attestation follows, allow another three to seven business days.
How many steps does Notary Public involve?
The standard chain has 6 steps, beginning with "Confirm the certification wording required abroad" and ending with "Send the document to its destination".
What is the first step of Notary Public?
Confirm the certification wording required abroad — The destination may prescribe specific wording — certify true copy, witness signature or administer oath — and each uses a different certificate.
How long does Notary Public take?
Standard certifications complete the same day by appointment · sets continuing to MFA legalisation take 3–5 business days · full chains including an embassy take 5–10
Which documents do I need for Notary Public?
The baseline set is: Original passport or Thai ID of the signatory · The document to be certified (original plus copy) · Any destination-specified form, e.g. affidavit or POA template · Company affidavit and director's ID for corporate matters · Draft power of attorney including the attorney-in-fact's details and others depending on the case. The receiving authority may ask for more depending on the purpose.
Which authority certifies Notary Public?
Lawyers Council of Thailand under Royal Patronage (notarial services regulation)
Who typically needs Notary Public?
Anyone executing a power of attorney for use overseas · Students certifying copies of qualifications and passports · Individuals opening foreign bank or securities accounts · Companies certifying corporate records for subsidiaries or cross-border contracts
What most often causes Notary Public to be rejected?
An attorney certifies only what occurs in their presence, not the truth of the document's contents.
Do you need originals or are copies enough?
Scans are enough for the initial review, but many certification steps require originals or freshly issued certified copies. We tell you which at the first assessment.
Do documents expire?
Civil registration documents and certificates are often accepted only within 3–6 months of issue. Check the destination's rule before starting so the chain does not have to be repeated.
Can I use the service from another province or from overseas?
Yes. Send documents by post or courier and we return them to any address, with status updates at each stage. No in-person visit is required.
What if the destination requires a specific format?
Tell us the authority and purpose up front. We shape the translation layout and the order of certifications to that requirement instead of producing a generic set and reworking it later.
Which Notary Public package should I choose?
Essential if your documents are ready and you only want a pre-submission check · Complete if you want the whole chain handled · Advisory if the case is complex or has been refused before.
Why use an advisor rather than doing it myself?
Our team has advised on cross-border documents for more than 15 years. We do not just file paperwork: we first check that your document route actually matches what the destination will accept. If you would rather not learn by trial and error, send the documents to us for a review first.
Any tip that makes the case move faster?
Scan every original to a 300 dpi colour PDF before sending it out, in case you must refile or the destination asks for a soft copy.
How do I get an initial assessment?
Send images of the documents plus the destination country and authority by LINE or email. You get back the real sequence of steps and a realistic timeframe.
More than a filing agency
With 15+ years of casework, we explain why each step exists, where your documents will be used and what the destination authority checks — so you decide with full information, not just pay and wait.
