Hello,

I need to get my Thai Marriage cert. "apostilled" as part of applying for my wife's residency card in Ireland.

I am a UK citizen, by the way, and we married in Bangkok.

I first sent the cert. to my wife's friend in Bangkok, and she took it to the Foreign Affairs building who said

she must take it to the Irish Embassy who said they could not help. This took 3 months as this friend was

very busy.

Then I contacted the Irish authorities to explain the situation and delay. They said the Thai Consul in Dublin

can do that. I contacted them, and they said they stopped doing the apostille service and I would need to contact the

London Thai Embassy.

The London Thai Embassy said they would do it but I would first need to have the document legalised and

to contact the FCO, (Foreign & Commonwealth Office). The FCO said they can legalise it but it first needs to be 'notarised' by a UK lawyer or

Notary Public.

I contacted several UK Notaries and they all, except one, require me to travel to the UK, and the fees are quite high

which I can't really afford as I'm out of work.

I then thought I'd just get it done through an Irish Notary. Found one in my town and he charged me 60 Euros

to stamp it and said take it to the DFA in Dublin. I later 'phoned the DFA and they said NO they don't apostille

foreign documents, only Irish ones and I should contact the relevant Thai authorities. So I'm down 60 Euros.

So back to square one.

As a fall back, there is ONE notary in the UK who will get the apostille without the need for me to attend,

but the charge is over 200 Euros.

Is this normal? Is there no other way?

I'm happy to pay for it to be done in London, but if there's a cheaper way, then I'd prefer to know.

Thanks for any help,

:-)

Feeble attempt at humour deleted; serious replies only, please.

Sorry, Mountainman, I can't help you myself.