My understanding is that my marriage (registered at the Amphur) is recognised in the UK.

However, practically speaking, producing a Thai marriage certificate is likely to be not acceptable for most purposes in the UK

I also understand that it is not possible to register a Thai marriage in the UK - it is only possible to deposit the Thai marriage certificate with the registrar in the UK. To register the marriage in the UK we would need to get married in the UK.

I have read that a certified copy of the Thai marriage certificate is acceptable where proof of marriage is required (for example, for Inland Revenue, or for applying for a visa for another country).

I am assuming that a translation certified by the translation company alone would not be acceptable for some purposes - so presumably the best solution is to have it certified by the British Embassy consular section. Is this correct ?

Thanks

SD

From the UK Embassy, Bangkok:

The Thai marriage certificate will be in Thai only. You may wish to commission a “sworn translation” of the marriage certificate from a translation bureau, so that you can use the document for legal purposes in the U.K.

Consular Section can arrange for your marriage certificate to be deposited with the General Register Office (GRO) in the United Kingdom. This not a legal obligation and has no bearing on the validity or otherwise of the marriage. It simply means that you are able to obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate directly from the GRO, should you need to do so in the future. Please ask us for further details if you wish do this.

I would go one step further if only making a translation and have it registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as that will make it an official legal document worldwide. The cost is not that much.

Thanks for your reply.

From the UK Embassy, Bangkok:

The Thai marriage certificate will be in Thai only. You may wish to commission a "sworn translation" of the marriage certificate from a translation bureau, so that you can use the document for legal purposes in the U.K.

I find it hard to believe that a translation from a bureau would be acceptable for legal purposes in the UK, without some form of certification. Am I wrong ? This must be a very common issue.

Consular Section can arrange for your marriage certificate to be deposited with the General Register Office (GRO) in the United Kingdom. This not a legal obligation and has no bearing on the validity or otherwise of the marriage. It simply means that you are able to obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate directly from the GRO, should you need to do so in the future. Please ask us for further details if you wish do this.

Yes I mentioned about that in my post. It seems to say that it doesn't have any bearing on the validity and therefore doesn't make it any more "official" for legal purposes in the UK.

I would go one step further if only making a translation and have it registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as that will make it an official legal document worldwide. The cost is not that much.

What's the procedure for this ? Just take the Thai marriage cert and the translation to MFA ? Is it an actual registration procedure, or more like a certification/legalisation ? What is it exactly that they are registering/certifying ? That the translation is a correct translation of the Marriage Certificate ? I thought they wouldn't do that ? Or do I have to get the translation certified by the british consulate first and then they certify that it is the true signature of the consul (just like they do for the affirmation of feedom to marry). Or is it a registration of the marriage itself ?

Thanks !

SD

Location :

Legalization Division , 3rd floor

Department of Consular Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

123 Chaeng Watthana Road

Bangkok 10210

Tel : 0-2575-1056-59 Fax : 0-2575-1054

Service hours : 08.30 - 14.30 hrs. (Closed on Saturday - Sunday and Public Holidays)

Email : [email protected]

It is the same procedure used as when you legalize your affidavit to marry and same office. Each country has such an office, in the US it is part of the Department of State. They will confirm document is real for world wide legal use and keep a copy under the registration number assigned.

I have seen other posters from UK say just a translation seal has been enough for some use but I would take this extra step myself as years later it might come in handy.

Excuse me if I'm being obtuse, but do you mean that I need to get the translation certified first by the british consulate, and then get the certified translation legalised by the MFA ? Or does the MFA legalise the uncertified translation. Or do they provide a legalised document given only the thai marriage cert ?

Thanks again

SD

There's no reason why you shouldn't follow Lopburi3's advice, but, in day-to-day terms, authorities in the UK will accept a sworn translation.

Scouse.

The translation of our marriage certificate is certified as a true translation by the agency that did the translation. We have not deposited a copy at the GRO, neither have we had the translation certified by the MFA.

Over the last 7 years this translation has been acceptable every time we have needed it in the UK. This includes not only the Bangkok embassy and the IND, but also the DVLA, the Inland Revenue (now HMRC), the DSS (now DWP) and the Department of Health.

Up to individuals if they want the extra cost of having the MFA certify it, but IMHO it isn't necessary.

Does anyone know if a sworn translation would be acceptable for the Immigration Department in Hong Kong to proove that we are married ? I am a permanent resident of Hong Kong and we will soon apply for a dependent's visa for her.

The certified translation that has been registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be accepted by every country as a legal document so I would suspect Hong Kong would accept it. But probably the best answer would come from the Royal Thai Consulate in Hong Kong as suspect they would be involved with this on a routine basis.

Thanks lopburi, I think I will register with the MFA, just to be safe - but can I just repet my question about registering with the MFA: "Excuse me if I'm being obtuse, but do you mean that I need to get the translation certified first by the british consulate, and then get the certified translation legalised by the MFA ? Or does the MFA legalise the uncertified translation. Or do they provide a legalised document given only the thai marriage cert ?" I don't live in bangkok, so if I go there with the wrong docs, it could be a major pain in the neck.