Documents needed for marriage registration in Thailand

[Southy65]

My Thai wife and I get married in South Africa in the beginning of this year but staying permanent in Thailand, I want to know if my marriage certificate and marriage register ( translated to Thai) plus passport is enough to register my marriage in Thailand or do I need something more like a unabridged marriage certificate? 

[Tanoshi]

No, to register a foreign marriage in Thailand, you need to have the marriage certificate authenticated by the Country in which is was issued, then legalised by the Thai Embassy in South Africa.

On entry to Thailand the marriage certificate must be translated to Thai, then the translation and marriage certificate legalised by the Consular section of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok.

You then submit these documents to your local Amphur in order to register the foreign marriage.

*Note: Some Amphurs may request an Embassy certified copy of your Passport, translated into Thai and again legalised by the MFA. Check with your local Amphur beforehand.

 

Certain Embassies also offer a notarial service where you can swear an affidavit as to the genuine authentication of your marriage certificate as an alternative.

 

Unfortunately the South African Embassy offers no details on how to legalise your South African marriage certificate on their website. I suggest you contact either their Embassy in Bangkok or the Consulate in Chiang Mai for further advice on the procedure.

http://www.dirco.gov.za/bangkok/contact.html

[Southy65]

Thank you very much