Legalising UK Marriage Certificate

[Konini]

Haven't been able to find any up to date info on this one.

I've had our marriage certificate certified by both Foreign Office and the Thai Embassy in UK, but need to have it verified by the ministry of foreign affairs to be able to use it here legally in Thailand. Do I have to go in person, or is this something done by mail? Also, if I can do it by mail, what forms would I need and where would I find them (presumably they would indicate the fee)?

Hope someone will be able to help.

EDIT: We're both British citizens if it matters.

[ubonjoe]

Click on the english version to enlarge here to get the procedures for a legalization services by the Department of Consular Affairs.

http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/services/6441/71860-ขั้นตอนการรับรองนิติกรณ์เอกสาร---Legalization-Proc.html

You drop it off and they will send it by EMS or a fee 60 baht.

Or you can do it by mail. Info here: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/services/6441/72113-บริการรับรองเอกสารทางไปรษณีย์---Mailing-Service.html  Application form: Application for legalization.doc

[MUSTYJACK]

We did this a couple of months ago.

 

First, you will need to have your UK passport certified by the British embassy. Call them up and make an appointment. Ask nicely, and you may get one within a day or so. The certification is in the form of a certified photocopy. It costs a ridiculous 1200 baht.

 

Then you will need to go along  to the MFA at Chaeng Wattana.

You will need to get the apostilled marriage certificate and certified passport translated, there are translation offices on the 2nd floor), someone will direct you. Make sure the Thai spelling of English names EXACTLY matches the Thai spellings on any other documentation you will be using for whatever process you are going through. The translation agencies are very helpful. The translation will be done in an hour or so. 

 

Then take your original apostilled marriage certificate along with the translation, and the passport translation up to the next floor, at the top of the stairs is a desk with heaps of forms on it, there will be a Thai helper there, he will tell you which forms to fill out. Dont use an agent. If you dont speak any Thai it might be helpful to take a Thai speaker along with you, but it can certainly all be done by yourself. Once the forms are filled out, join the line, someone will tell you which line, and hand them in at the appropriate window. You may need to take a number and wait to be called.

 

Hand in your documents, you will get a receipt, a number, they will check the translation, and if it is correct they will give you a date and a time to return to collect the certified marriage licence, with us it was 2 days later.

 

If they are not happy with the translation, the translation agencies guarantee to redo it there and then free of charge.

 

2 days later we returned, took another number, waited to be called, first you get called to pay for the service, I cant remember exactly how much it was, B400 I think, and then after another wait you get called to receive the certified translated marriage licence. The certification is in the form of small signed stamp on the back of the certificate. 

 

The process might seem daunting, and the MFA might seem chaotic and disorganised when you first arrive, but actually the staff there are very helpful to foreigners and I found them easier to deal with than the faceless UK government agencies.

 

There is a decent canteen and some coffee shops downstairs to pass away any waiting times.

 

If you are going by taxi, make sure the driver doesnt drop you at the Immigration building. Taxi drivers seem to assume that every foreigner going to Chaeng Wattana is going to Immigration.

 

Good luck!

 

 

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, MUSTYJACK said:

You will need to get the apostilled marriage certificate and certified passport translated, there are translation offices on the ground (or is it the first floor??), someone will direct you. Make sure the Thai spelling of English names EXACTLY matches the Thai spellings on any other documentation you will be using for whatever process you are going through. The translation agencies are very helpful. The translation will be done in an hour or so. 

I don't think they will do all that in their case. The are both from the UK and the marriage certificate is in English. I suspect they needed the legalization be done for a extension application at immigration.

What you described appears to be to register a foreign marriage at an Amphoe.

[MUSTYJACK]

My Thai wife needed to change her maiden name to her English married name (we married in the UK)  in order to get a new Thai passport in her married name to enable her to renew her UK passport. Surnames of dual nationals must now be the same in all passports.

 

I dont know what is required for Konini, his immigration will be able to tell him.

 

Either way, if they choose to go to the MFA in person, its not as daunting as it might seem.

[Konini]

That's correct - my husband's retirement extension and my spouse non-o visa fell out of sync a few years ago for reasons I don't remember but and as we're usually in UK when mine expires every year, I just send it off to London when we arrive. It's been one of those things we never got around to sorting out, because I'm lazy to be fair, but this year we may not be there at the right time.

Thanks for the link to the info and the forms, I'd much rather send them off.

Finally, from reading that link it seems that turnaround time is good - does anyone know what the turnaround times are at the moment? We are going away again in 6 weeks or will need it to be back by then. Sorry if that sounds over the top, Chiang Mai experiences colour my view.

EDIT Sorry, I didn't read the info properly. It seems it's only a couple of days.

Thank you again Joe, you're a legend!

[ubonjoe]

11 minutes ago, Konini said:

Sorry if that sounds over the top, Chiang Mai experiences colour my view.

If you are in Chiang Mai there is an office that can do it that is part of the passport office there.

   Temporary Passport Office, Chiang Mai Office, Chiang Mai  
       Office,  
       Chotana Road, Changpuak  
       , Muang, Chiang Mai 50000 
       Tel. 053 - 891 - 535 to 36 
       Fax. 053 - 891 - 534

Source in Thai here: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/services/6441/87789-สถานที่รับรองเอกสาร.html

 

[Konini]

Even better - that's much preferable to sending the licence off through the mail and risking it going missing.

Thanks again.