Using Translation Services Nearby The Embassy

Just a cautionary note for anyone getting documents translated for marriage etc.

I used one of the agencies nearby the British Embassy and didn't check it thoroughly before rushing off to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When I got there I found they had transliterated my name incorrectly, were fifty-three years adrift with the conversion for my DOB into the Thai calendar, and had spelt the Thai for 'May' incorrectly.

Luckily, the girl at Foreign Affairs seemed used to this. She gave my girlfriend a bottle of Tippex and pointed her toward a side room that had an old-fashioned typewriter. My girlfriend managed to make the alterations after several attempts, and we eventually got it stamped. However, the whole thing kept bumping us to the back of the queue, which put us back a couple of hours in all and we made it to the registry office fifteen minutes before closing time.

However much you're rushing, my advice is to sit down in the translation office with your partner and run your finger along the whole thing word for word before leaving. The clerk at the Ministry was well used to this kind of thing, and another farang was waiting behind my girlfriend to fix his, so maybe these mistakes are less the exception than the rule.

Incidentally, for those wanting to marry within two days I recommend following RUTH888's excellent guide as we did.

Good luck!