My wife (a Thai citizen) and I were married earlier this year in California. In trying to find out how to register our marriage in Thailand we have ended up with a lot of different and conflicting information. If anyone who has been through this can describe the process, we would appreciate it!

My wife (a Thai citizen) and I were married earlier this year in California. In trying to find out how to register our marriage in Thailand we have ended up with a lot of different and conflicting information. If anyone who has been through this can describe the process, we would appreciate it!

My Thai wife and I were also married in the States and you don't really have to do anything more. "Registering" a marriage in Thailand is actually a marriage in itself and you are already married.

If you are living here, register with the American Embassy and include your wife. Head to an Embassy certified translation shop and have your US marriage certificate translated into Thai for any proof of marriage you may need here and that is about it. We have recently purchased a home and the bank easily accepted our US marriage certificate as proof of marriage.

It doesn't matter if you wife is Thai or any other nationality or where the official wedding was performed - you are man and wife regardless.

However if you want a nice looking certificate. Just head to to Amphurs office in her Amphoe. I don't know about US certs but the Thai ones look better than the UK ones. We've framed one of ours. (You get one each here)

Thanks for the comments.

Dustoff: How can I find an "Embassy certified translation shop", no luck looking on the Bangkok US Embassy website.

Mosha: What sort of documents did you bring to the Ampur to get a Thai marriage certificate?

Thanks for the comments.

Dustoff: How can I find an "Embassy certified translation shop", no luck looking on the Bangkok US Embassy website.

Mosha: What sort of documents did you bring to the Ampur to get a Thai marriage certificate?

I don't know about BKK as I live in Chiang Mai but someone at the Embassy should be able to direct you to the one(s) they accept and prefer. The Chiang Mai one is right next to the Consulate.

You may wish to be careful about registering at the Amphur and/or getting a Thai marriage certificate. Just my opinion but since you are already married, it could be a bit sticky to have to explain sometime down the road why you married the same person twice on two different dates and in two different countries. I would speak with an attorney or someone at the Embassy before risking a legal and an illegal marriage...

Simpler yet, perhaps have your current cert translated then have your wife approach the Amphur and see what they say.

Thanks for the comments.

Dustoff: How can I find an "Embassy certified translation shop", no luck looking on the Bangkok US Embassy website.

Mosha: What sort of documents did you bring to the Ampur to get a Thai marriage certificate?

I don't know about BKK as I live in Chiang Mai but someone at the Embassy should be able to direct you to the one(s) they accept and prefer. The Chiang Mai one is right next to the Consulate.

You may wish to be careful about registering at the Amphur and/or getting a Thai marriage certificate. Just my opinion but since you are already married, it could be a bit sticky to have to explain sometime down the road why you married the same person twice on two different dates and in two different countries. I would speak with an attorney or someone at the Embassy before risking a legal and an illegal marriage...

Simpler yet, perhaps have your current cert translated then have your wife approach the Amphur and see what they say.

I recall seeing them near the Embassy in Bangkok. Someone on board will be specific I'm sure

My wife (a Thai citizen) and I were married earlier this year in California. In trying to find out how to register our marriage in Thailand we have ended up with a lot of different and conflicting information. If anyone who has been through this can describe the process, we would appreciate it!

Hi Grrr,

My wife just did register our marriage in Thai this year. We were married in Swiss few years ago. To register our marriage is simply meant to change martial status of your wife in Thailand.

Documents needs for changing martial status are as follow;

-Marriage Certificate ( translated and notarised by Royal Thai Embassy or Thai Consulate) + 1 copy.The translator is easy to find by asking at the Embassy or sometime you even find their name cards on Embassy counter. However, it is more easier to get it translated in Thailand. There are many shop has done this and it is a lot cheaper also

-Thai ID card or Thai Passport + 1 copy.

-Original Thai House Registration (Ta-Bien Ban : this must show your wife on) + 1 copy.

Your wife has to go to District Office (Amphur), then she must fill in the form to request of changing martial status. In my wife case, the head of the house ( her brother ) went to Amphur with her.. My wife said, the office asked some question to him...Just to be sure that she is really in this house. Then the officer will check all papers and ask some questions to ensure that all information are correct. Then he'll issue your wife 2 pieces of the Declare of Martial Status Certificate which she can use them as Marriage Certificate in Thailand. All process will take about 1-2 hrs maximum, depend on how busy the Amphur is on that day

Then after that she can made new ID card cause of new surname and the change of martial status (change to use MRS. instead of MISS). After she get new ID card, she can further go to Passport division to change surname on her Thai passport...

Hope it helps

Thanks again to all for your comments.

I see your point Dustoff and don't want to get married again in Thailand. However, registering the marriage in Thailand seems like it could be useful for things such as my visa, property purchases, etc.

Thanks for your detailed description Lakdee, good information!

Thanks again to all for your comments.

I see your point Dustoff and don't want to get married again in Thailand. However, registering the marriage in Thailand seems like it could be useful for things such as my visa, property purchases, etc.

Thanks for your detailed description Lakdee, good information!

My (Thai) wife and I were married in the USA years ago. We have lived in Bangkok since 1994 and have not gotten a Thai marriage certificate. I cannot think of any "advantages" to doing this. Perhaps others culd name some?

I see your point Dustoff and don't want to get married again in Thailand.

The only way to get legally married again in Thailand is to get a divorce first! I think if you got married again to the same partner then it would be considered as bigamy, it makes no difference if it is the same wife.

If you get legally married in Thailand or your native country then you are married. Do people think that if you get married in Thailand (for example) as soon as the plane leaves Thai airspace then your marriage is annulled and you have to get married again when you land?

Thanks for the comments.

Dustoff: How can I find an "Embassy certified translation shop", no luck looking on the Bangkok US Embassy website.

Mosha: What sort of documents did you bring to the Ampur to get a Thai marriage certificate?

A letter form the Registrar in my home town (I don't know what the American equivalent is, where you register hatchings, matchings, and despatchings). Saying you were free to marry, and proof I could support her plus a copy of my birth cerificate.. The 2nd time around it was just a copy of my divorce docs and birth certificate.

Before this thread deteriorates into a "marrying the same person twice" thing, likely because of my above comment about that, I TAKE IT BACK!

There was much about the OP's situation that I did not take into consideration and Lakdee's advice seems the most rational and correct. When my Thai wife and I married in the States, she had been married before so there was no need for her to change from Miss to Mrs, she did not change her last name to mine so there was also no need for her to get a new Thai ID card.

Otherwise, we have found no need for any Thai certificate of recognition of our marriage. We own vehicles and property, have acquired a bank home loan together here, share joint bank accounts both here and in the States, have her son enrolled in private school, etc. and the Thai translation of our US marriage certificate has sufficed in all cases.

The Amphur can answer all questions and they or an attorney who works with farangs (if I may safely use that term) are the ones to approach rather than forum posters IMHO.

There are also apparently legal questions as far as the possible death of your spouse when it comes to you being her legal spouse with rights to your joint property including real estate so however you need to cover yourself, and her in the event of your death, should be accomplished in a timely manner.

Good luck and congratulations on your marriage!

Hi All,

The first main reason that my wife did change her surname to mine cause she needed to register our kid ( Thai-Swiss) in House registration so that she can make Thai passport for her in Thailand.. As we had faced some difficulty to make in Thai embassy in Swiss ( I ever mentioned in my other posts).

The second reason was she wanted to make her surname to be the same in 2 countries ( TH and Swiss). Such as it was more easier for me also cause I bought her ticket to TH, I used to write down her Thai surname along with me... I couldn't remember cause it was very long.... Now her surname changed to mine, I made more quick.

I am not so sure for other advantages of registering marriage in Thai law.. before my wife changed surname, she could buy property... Now she's used mine, she could buy any properties still..

But I think if there is any case that my wife dies before me, all properties in her name will go to me ( as farang not much standing point) , my kid than Thai relatives.

Regards,

Lakdee