Has anyone done the affirmation of marital status recently?

I have a booking made for the British Embassy, and I think I understand that part.

After this part, you must get the documents translated, and legalised?

Can someone explain to me, exactly where I need to go, to get this done, as I have seen several places mentioned online.

Best way to get there from British Embassy would also be helpful.

Do I need to make an appointment beforehand for there?

I have been told, it is best to use an on-site Agent for this part, which I have no problem paying for, if it helps.

Can this all be done on the same day, or is it return at a later date, or?

This part has me a bit stressed out, so ANY advice and help, on this part, is most welcome.

This is how it works. 

You get the affirmation of freedom to marry from your Embassy. 

You find a translation service, they translate that document and the data page of your passport into thai 

You get those translations certified as accurate by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Thailand. 

Then you and your thai bride to be find an Amphur (city hall) and go register your marriage.

 

Just to give you an idea in Bangkok alone there are 50 Amphurs, so call around and find one that doesn't have a long queue or wait list. 

There are indeed translation services that will do the translation, get the MFA certification and some even lug you to the Amphur to register the marriage for a fee.. 😉

There's a bunch of translation shops in the Trendy Building on Sukumvit Soi 13 on the ground floor that offer services.

40 minutes ago, Tod Daniels said:

This is how it works. 

You get the affirmation of freedom to marry from your Embassy. 

You find a translation service, they translate that document and the data page of your passport into thai 

You get those translations certified as accurate by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Thailand. 

 

So, its the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , and not the "Department of Consular Affairs"?

 

Or is this the same place?

 

Chaeng Wattana Road?

 

 

 

Its also possible to legally pay a translation company to do a lot of the running around for you. Back just when COVID was starting, that is what I did.

 

I actually asked for help on this forum, and Ubon Joe told me how to go about it. 

 

So I stayed in Phuket, and payed a translation service in Bangkok to do all the running around for me (where we couriered documents back and forth, at my expense).

 

The service I used was VM.translation Service:  

https://www.facebook.com/SutthiratYimyong/?locale=th_TH

 

They handled for me all the aspects that Tod Daniels noted.  I had to grant them 'limited' (to the marriage registration) power of attorney.

 

With that power of attourney (and the marriage registration documents, passport stuff) they went to Canadian embassy (as my Thai wife and i were married in Canada) to have marriage documents certified, they did all the translations , and had such notarized at the Thai Ministery of Foreign affairs, and couried all appropriate documents back to Phuket.  My Thai wife and I then took the documents to the local Phuket City Hall for the registration.

 

I can't recall how much it cost, but I do recall it did not cost more than Bangkok Hotels plus trips to/from Bangkok. So if such a service is still available you could give it some thought.

 

Likely there are a number of companys and not just VM.translation, that will offer such.

.

 

5 hours ago, Scottie37 said:

 

So, its the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , and not the "Department of Consular Affairs"?

 

Or is this the same place?

 

Chaeng Wattana Road?

 

 

 

It's the Consular Affairs department of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Step 1.

First and foremost, you should check the requirements at your local Amphoe office where you intend to register your marriage. Most Amphoes will at minimum require;

 

1. Your Passport.

2. Intended spouses Tabien Baan and ID card.

3. Embassy certified 'affidavit'' of no impediment to marry, translated to Thai, then legalised by the Legalisation division of the Consular department of Thailand’s MFA.

4. Embassy certified copy of Passport data page, translated to Thai, then legalised by the Legalisation division of the Consular department of Thailand’s MFA.

5. The marital status of your intended spouse can be checked on Amphoe online database for any previous record of marriage, or divorce. If your intended was previously 'widowed', or divorced, I recommend she takes her ex husbands Death or Divorce certificates as confirmed proof of her marital status.

 

Step 2.

Completing your affidavit of ‘no impediment to marry’ and make an appointment at your Embassy to also make a certified copy of your passport.

Most Embassies now offer a service to complete and submit the affidavit online.
Check the services and procedures available at your local Embassy for marriage in Thailand.

Usually you are required to allow a 7 day period from completing and submitting the affidavit to making the appointment.

Book an appointment to collect your affidavit of ‘no impediment to marry’ and for a certified copy of your passport data page.

At the appointment, you should take the following documents;

1. Your letter/confirmation of appointment.

2. Your passport.

3. Your intended spouses Thai national ID card.

4. If previously married, a final divorce decree, or Death certificate of your ex spouse.

 

Step 3.

The ‘affidavit’ and certified passport copy must then be translated into Thai by a reputable translator. Avoid ‘touts’ waiting outside the Embassy offering their services.

I can personally recommend;
Express Translation Services
866 Phloen Chit Road

Lumphini
Pathum Wan

Bangkok 10330

Tel: 084 656 2459

https://www.expresstranslationservice.co.th

 

Step 4.

The below documents, now require ‘legalising’ by the Consular section department of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for presentation and registration of marriage at your chosen Amphoe office.

1. The affidavit
2. Certified copy of passport data page

3. Thai translation of affidavit

4. Thai translation of passport data page

At this point you have two options to get your documents ‘legalised’ by the MFA.

 

1. Many agencies provide services to get the documents legalised on your behalf and once completed return them to a given address via EMS post.

This is an option you should discuss with the agency and agree a reasonable fee.

Express Translation Services offer such a service at very reasonable rates.

Allow several days for the documents to be returned.

 

2. Do it yourself.
For legalisation of documents by the MFA, appointments are necessary.

The MFA have now opened several centres to have the above documents legalised.
1. 123 Chaeng Watthana Road, Lak Si District, Bangkok 10210

2. MBK CENTER Shopping Mall, 5th floor, Zone A, Phaya Thai Road, Wang Mai Subdistrict, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok

3. Central Pattaya Shopping Center, 4th Floor, No. 333/102, Village No. 9, Nongprue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province 20260

4. 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary International Convention and Exhibition Center, 1st floor, Rueng Phueng Building 2,
Muang District, Chiang Mai Province

5. Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Hall Building, 1st floor, back west side, Ubon Ratchathani Province

6. Temporary Passport Office, Songkhla, Laem Son On Road, Bo Yang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Songkhla Province 90000

7. Central Phuket Festival Shopping Mall, B Floor, Wichit Subdistrict, Mueang District, Phuket Province

 

Office locations, maps, contact numbers

https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/publicservice/สถานที่ให้บริการรับรองนิติกรณ์เอกสาร

 

You must book an appointment here https://qlegal.consular.go.th/customer/index choosing which office and download the barcode once accepted.

 

Step 5.

Take the original and translated legalised documents to the Amphoe of your choosing to register your marriage. Some Amphoes may require an appointment.

 

I recommend you take good quality (preferable laser jet) photocopies of all your documents for future reference, before visiting your Amphoe.

 

 

@Liquorice

 

Thank you for taking the time, to explain all that to me.

 

So, you are saying, after my appointment at the British Embassy, I could get my MFA legalised in Pattaya?

 

That I did not know, so thanks.

 

And thanks for the tip on Express Translation Services.

1 hour ago, Scottie37 said:

So, you are saying, after my appointment at the British Embassy, I could get my MFA legalised in Pattaya?

By appointment, but then I'd use a local Pattaya translator if that's your choice to get your documents legalised.
 

The requirements may change from one embassy to another.

Liquorice, I think your detailed list, though very useful, make it look more difficult than it actually is.

For example, for me the 'affidavit' is already translated into thai by the embassy and issued in two languages, so no need for translation and certification of it.

The following is also not always required by the amphur: 'Embassy certified copy of Passport data page, translated to Thai, then legalised by the Legalisation division of the Consular department of Thailand’s MFA'. Passport data page is already in two languages (yours + english).

Some countries (as in my case) require you to go to  the embassy in Bangkok togheter with your spouse to get the permission to get married, cannot be done online nor by an agency. Again, different rules per embassies.

 

51 minutes ago, pub2022 said:

The requirements may change from one embassy to another.

Liquorice, I think your detailed list, though very useful, make it look more difficult than it actually is.

For example, for me the 'affidavit' is already translated into thai by the embassy and issued in two languages, so no need for translation and certification of it.

The following is also not always required by the amphur: 'Embassy certified copy of Passport data page, translated to Thai, then legalised by the Legalisation division of the Consular department of Thailand’s MFA'. Passport data page is already in two languages (yours + english).

Some countries (as in my case) require you to go to  the embassy in Bangkok togheter with your spouse to get the permission to get married, cannot be done online nor by an agency. Again, different rules per embassies.

 

OP is British.
While each Embassy may have its own procedure for obtaining an affidavit of freedom to marry (or single status certificate), a certified Embassy copy of the passport data page, translations to Thai then legalised by the MFA is a fairly standard procedure that Amphoes request in order to register a marriage.

On 11/24/2025 at 4:08 PM, Tod Daniels said:

You find a translation service, they translate that document and the data page of your passport into thai 

You get those translations certified as accurate by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Thailand. 

The translation I used got it certified for me not sure now but about 24 to 48 hrs.  

I can make an appointment with the British Embassy  45 days in advance for a freedom to marry document. 

 

How far in advance can I make a Ministry Of Foreign Affairs appointment to have the documents approved?

On 11/24/2025 at 2:55 PM, Liquorice said:

It's the Consular Affairs department of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Step 1.

First and foremost, you should check the requirements at your local Amphoe office where you intend to register your marriage. Most Amphoes will at minimum require;

 

1. Your Passport.

2. Intended spouses Tabien Baan and ID card.

3. Embassy certified 'affidavit'' of no impediment to marry, translated to Thai, then legalised by the Legalisation division of the Consular department of Thailand’s MFA.

4. Embassy certified copy of Passport data page, translated to Thai, then legalised by the Legalisation division of the Consular department of Thailand’s MFA.

5. The marital status of your intended spouse can be checked on Amphoe online database for any previous record of marriage, or divorce. If your intended was previously 'widowed', or divorced, I recommend she takes her ex husbands Death or Divorce certificates as confirmed proof of her marital status.

 

Step 2.

Completing your affidavit of ‘no impediment to marry’ and make an appointment at your Embassy to also make a certified copy of your passport.

Most Embassies now offer a service to complete and submit the affidavit online.
Check the services and procedures available at your local Embassy for marriage in Thailand.

Usually you are required to allow a 7 day period from completing and submitting the affidavit to making the appointment.

Book an appointment to collect your affidavit of ‘no impediment to marry’ and for a certified copy of your passport data page.

At the appointment, you should take the following documents;

1. Your letter/confirmation of appointment.

2. Your passport.

3. Your intended spouses Thai national ID card.

4. If previously married, a final divorce decree, or Death certificate of your ex spouse.

 

Step 3.

The ‘affidavit’ and certified passport copy must then be translated into Thai by a reputable translator. Avoid ‘touts’ waiting outside the Embassy offering their services.

I can personally recommend;
Express Translation Services
866 Phloen Chit Road

Lumphini
Pathum Wan

Bangkok 10330

Tel: 084 656 2459

https://www.expresstranslationservice.co.th

 

Step 4.

The below documents, now require ‘legalising’ by the Consular section department of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for presentation and registration of marriage at your chosen Amphoe office.

1. The affidavit
2. Certified copy of passport data page

3. Thai translation of affidavit

4. Thai translation of passport data page

At this point you have two options to get your documents ‘legalised’ by the MFA.

 

1. Many agencies provide services to get the documents legalised on your behalf and once completed return them to a given address via EMS post.

This is an option you should discuss with the agency and agree a reasonable fee.

Express Translation Services offer such a service at very reasonable rates.

Allow several days for the documents to be returned.

 

2. Do it yourself.
For legalisation of documents by the MFA, appointments are necessary.

The MFA have now opened several centres to have the above documents legalised.
1. 123 Chaeng Watthana Road, Lak Si District, Bangkok 10210

2. MBK CENTER Shopping Mall, 5th floor, Zone A, Phaya Thai Road, Wang Mai Subdistrict, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok

3. Central Pattaya Shopping Center, 4th Floor, No. 333/102, Village No. 9, Nongprue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province 20260

4. 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary International Convention and Exhibition Center, 1st floor, Rueng Phueng Building 2,
Muang District, Chiang Mai Province

5. Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Hall Building, 1st floor, back west side, Ubon Ratchathani Province

6. Temporary Passport Office, Songkhla, Laem Son On Road, Bo Yang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Songkhla Province 90000

7. Central Phuket Festival Shopping Mall, B Floor, Wichit Subdistrict, Mueang District, Phuket Province

 

Office locations, maps, contact numbers

https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/publicservice/สถานที่ให้บริการรับรองนิติกรณ์เอกสาร

 

You must book an appointment here https://qlegal.consular.go.th/customer/index choosing which office and download the barcode once accepted.

 

Step 5.

Take the original and translated legalised documents to the Amphoe of your choosing to register your marriage. Some Amphoes may require an appointment.

 

I recommend you take good quality (preferable laser jet) photocopies of all your documents for future reference, before visiting your Amphoe.

 

 

Why would you have to take your intended spouse's ID card. She can not enter the Embassy as the appointment is only for the person requiring the affirmation to marry?

 

5 hours ago, mlkik said:

Why would you have to take your intended spouse's ID card. She can not enter the Embassy as the appointment is only for the person requiring the affirmation to marry?

 

The affirmation to marry includes your intended spouses name and ID number.
For affirmation to marry, your intended spouse is also allowed to enter and must present her ID card so they can check her details as entered on the affidavit and photo ID, That was at the British Embassy

On 11/27/2025 at 8:57 AM, mlkik said:

How far in advance can I make a Ministry Of Foreign Affairs appointment to have the documents approved?

From memory 30-45 days.