Legalizing A Marriage In Uk In Thailand (Chiang Mai)

[DanRW]

Hi there,

My wife and I got married last year in the UK and need to get our marriage legalized / recognized here in Thailand. Could anyone give me an idea of the steps I need to go through and possibly the length of time it might take?

I currently have an education visa but the language course I was on has just collapsed and now my visa (previously valid until January 2011) might be cancelled when I give my 90 day report in about a week's time. We also have a son who was born in Chiang Mai in August - probably irrelevant.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Dan Walker

[garyh]

Your marriage is already legal in Thailand however I am pretty sure you would need to take your marriage certificate to your Embassy in Thailand and ask them to verify it. There is normally a few forms and small fee to do this. Just contact your embassy, they will sort it out for you.

[singa-traz]

Here is what I had to do in Bangkok:

1: Translate the certificate in Thai

2: Get it certified by my embassy

3: Get it certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affair

4: Go to Amphur and register the marriage

5: Get the document Khor Ror 22 (Since you married outside Thailand)

In Bangkok, it took us about a week to do all that.

Do not know how long it will take you in Chiang Mai.

At least, you should be able to apply for a 60 Days extension to visit your Wife.

Your son paper (Thai Birth Certificate) would be part of your Non-O Extension based on Marriage, as additional documentation.

[lopburi3]

Post 3 is the procedure to allow extensions of stay based on marriage which we suspect is what you want.

[DanRW]

Here is what I had to do in Bangkok:

1: Translate the certificate in Thai

2: Get it certified by my embassy

3: ...

etc.

Thank you singa-traz - I'll print this off. Seems straight forward.

:jap:

[DanRW]

Post 3 is the procedure to allow extensions of stay based on marriage which we suspect is what you want.

Thanks for the confirmation - and I suppose that's what I want, yes. Although we have a business, a school, and I'm really after a more long term visa that permits me to earn / work. What is this visa called? And can I transfer over to it from my ed visa? I'm wondering whether I need to leave the country / get the current visa cancelled before the immigration office do ti for me on October 10th..... !

Dan

[DanRW]

Your marriage is already legal in Thailand however I am pretty sure you would need to take your marriage certificate to your Embassy in Thailand and ask them to verify it. There is normally a few forms and small fee to do this. Just contact your embassy, they will sort it out for you.

Thanks very much, will call them now.

[lopburi3]

Extension of stay for marriage allows a work permit to be issued so if qualified it is the best option and would not end with end of employment (unless you expect marriage to be very short-term).

Do not believe immigration will convert ED visa to anything. You can easily obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa from close Consulate with marriage paper and wife ID card copy. For that UK paper would likely be accepted. Once 400k in bank 2 months or proof of 40k income and the KR22 obtained you would go with wife to immigration with paperwork to extend for one year. You will have to do this every year.

[InterestedObserver]

Here is what I had to do in Bangkok:

1: Translate the certificate in Thai

2: Get it certified by my embassy

3: Get it certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affair

4: Go to Amphur and register the marriage

5: Get the document Khor Ror 22 (Since you married outside Thailand)

Steps 2 and 3 seem reversed. Normally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stamp (actually sticker) will be obtained by the Thai translation service, for a fee, and then your embassy affixes their stamp or seal. Then it's off to local Amphur to register the marriage.

[singa-traz]

Here is what I had to do in Bangkok:

1: Translate the certificate in Thai

2: Get it certified by my embassy

3: Get it certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affair

4: Go to Amphur and register the marriage

5: Get the document Khor Ror 22 (Since you married outside Thailand)

Steps 2 and 3 seem reversed. Normally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stamp (actually sticker) will be obtained by the Thai translation service, for a fee, and then your embassy affixes their stamp or seal. Then it's off to local Amphur to register the marriage.

Not to my recent experience and other posts on TV.

Remember, he is not getting married in Thailand, merely registering his marriage in the Thai "System".

[DanRW]

From what I managed to find out yesterday at the translation service

1. I get the certificate verified at the consulate

2. The translation service then translates the document and sends it to Bangkok (approx 1800thb)

3. ...

In fact I'm confused at this point (I need to make my own enquiries) but from what you have clearly told me once the document comes back I will also need to take it to

a. Ministry of foriegn affairs, and

b. Local Amphur authorities

... before applying for a more long term visa.

I note the post about showing earnings - sort of difficult to do when a business is in start-up, but I have heard this too.

Is the income threshold a cine-qua-non of the visa I'm looking for or might I get special dispensation for being married and having a child ... not sure if this is simply repeating a question which has already been answered. Sorry if it has.

Thanks for the replies.

Dan

And

[garyh]

From what I managed to find out yesterday at the translation service

1. I get the certificate verified at the consulate

2. The translation service then translates the document and sends it to Bangkok (approx 1800thb)

3. ...

In fact I'm confused at this point (I need to make my own enquiries) but from what you have clearly told me once the document comes back I will also need to take it to

a. Ministry of foriegn affairs, and

b. Local Amphur authorities

... before applying for a more long term visa.

I note the post about showing earnings - sort of difficult to do when a business is in start-up, but I have heard this too.

Is the income threshold a cine-qua-non of the visa I'm looking for or might I get special dispensation for being married and having a child ... not sure if this is simply repeating a question which has already been answered. Sorry if it has.

Thanks for the replies.

Dan

And

You need to go to Ministry of foriegn affairs and the Local Amphur office to register a new marriage, I am not sure but this may not be what you would need to do for your existing marriage.

[Mario2008]

That is correct. Your embassy certifies that the document is not a fake, an agency will translate the document and the Thai Foreign Ministry confirms that the document is indeed from your embassy and properly translated. Now you can have your foreign marriage recorded into the Thai wedding register.

The translation agency can take care of the legalization at the Thai MFA for you.

Immigration will want to see a copy of the entry into the Thai wedding register, the khor ror 22 form, so ask that from the amphur. You can go to any amphur. If in Bangkok Bangrak will be fine as they have experience with dealing with foreign marriages.

You can get an extension of stay based on your marriage, if you have either an income of 40,000 a month (income from within Thailand must be shown with tax documents, income from abroad with a letter from your embassy) OR you show 400,000 in a bank account in your name in Thailand. The money must be there for at least 2 months.

This is set in stone, if you don't meet the requirements you wont get an extension.

If you don't have enough time to season the money, you can get a 60 day extension.

[lopburi3]

If the translation service is sending to Bangkok that would be to the MFA for registration and when returned you take to the District Office and enter it there and receive the KR22. When you meet the 400k in bank or 40k income qualifications for extension of stay, and have less than 30 days remaining on a non immigrant visa entry, you can apply at Immigration with the wife for "Thai Wife" extension of stay.

[Mario2008]

You need to go to Ministry of foriegn affairs and the Local Amphur office to register a new marriage, I am not sure but this may not be what you would need to do for your existing marriage.

It is not a new marriage, he is already married and that marriage is recognized by Thailand. It is just a notification of the Thai government that they are married. It needs to be recorded into the Thai wedding register as well for immigration to issue an extension of stay based on that marriage.

[sarahsbloke]

Just to point out, the 'approved' translators in ChiangMai will arrange for the stamping by the Ministy of Foreign Affairs.

You agree a price with the translator for the whole job, and only pay a small deposit.

The rest is paid when you get the documents in your hand with the Ministry stamps on the back of each page.

Cost should be in the region of 5,000bht (some people will try it on and want 30,000bht) inclusive.

Yes I know, much cheaper in BKK, but we aren't there.

Can I also say that Walen Language school (opposite Gat Suen Gow shopping plaza) seem to be having no trouble providing Ed Visas and charge about 24kbht for their language course.

[garyh]

You need to go to Ministry of foriegn affairs and the Local Amphur office to register a new marriage, I am not sure but this may not be what you would need to do for your existing marriage.

It is not a new marriage, he is already married and that marriage is recognized by Thailand. It is just a notification of the Thai government that they are married. It needs to be recorded into the Thai wedding register as well for immigration to issue an extension of stay based on that marriage.

Yes I know it is not a new marriage i was trying to set it straight from another post.

[trigger571]

Hi Guys,

I have a same same but different situation. My wife and I have been married for three years now. We originally got married in the UK, but then moved to my home country of Malta and registered our marriage here. No my wife has gone back to Thailand to prepare for us moving back there, and she needs to register our wedding there.

Following the steps given above - i.e.

1: Translate the certificate in Thai

2: Get it certified by my embassy

3: Get it certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affair

4: Go to Amphur and register the marriage

5: Get the document Khor Ror 22 (Since you married outside Thailand)

is a bit daunting seeing as Malta has no Consulate and the country is represented by the Austrian embassy, which has no idea on how to proceed. So my question is - Can I get the certificate translated in Thai from Malta by a translator which is officially appointed by the Maltese Ministry for Foreign Affairs? Of course, then I should be able to skip part 2 - the non existant Maltese Embassy.

Cheers

Marcel

[lopburi3]

If you were married in the UK that should be your marriage paper unless you got divorced. And there is a UK Embassy here that knows the rules.

[Mario2008]

The procedure is:have it certified by your embassy, have it translated, have it certified by the Thai Foreign Ministry and register it at the amphur.

A certified translation wil not do, as the Thai Foreign Ministry won't have the signatues of the Foreign Ministry of Malta on file, so they can't check if it is real or not.

In case your country is represented by Austria, they have to cerertify it is true. Contact them on how to do that. Alternatively, look up where the Thai embassy for Malta is, you might be able to register the marriage there. They will have the signatures of the Foreign Ministry of Malta and can certify it as well.

Edit:

As Lopburi points out, your marriage was in the UK. The marriage certificate must therefor be certified by the UK embassy, if you still have the original.

[DanRW]

That is correct. Your embassy certifies that the document is not a fake, an agency will translate the document and the Thai Foreign Ministry confirms that the document is indeed from your embassy and properly translated. Now you can have your foreign marriage recorded into the Thai wedding register.

The translation agency can take care of the legalization at the Thai MFA for you.

Immigration will want to see a copy of the entry into the Thai wedding register, the khor ror 22 form, so ask that from the amphur. You can go to any amphur. If in Bangkok Bangrak will be fine as they have experience with dealing with foreign marriages.

You can get an extension of stay based on your marriage, if you have either an income of 40,000 a month (income from within Thailand must be shown with tax documents, income from abroad with a letter from your embassy) OR you show 400,000 in a bank account in your name in Thailand. The money must be there for at least 2 months.

This is set in stone, if you don't meet the requirements you wont get an extension.

If you don't have enough time to season the money, you can get a 60 day extension.

That's crystal clear - Thank you Mario.

[DanRW]

Can I also say that Walen Language school (opposite Gat Suen Gow shopping plaza) seem to be having no trouble providing Ed Visas and charge about 24kbht for their language course.

This is good to know. I'll look into it.

BTW. I ended up getting my final extension approved through to January although I'm not sure it's legal as the course is no longer running. I'm sure it says in the conditions of the ed visa that it only remains valid while the course is still running.

[InterestedObserver]

Just a reminder for US citizens:

U.S. Consular officers are not empowered to authenticate public documents issued in the United States. Such documents include vital records (birth, marriage, death, and divorce), as well as academic, commercial, or other credentials. Consular officers do not have access to the records of the issuing office or the seal of the custodian of these records.

[techno]

You need to go to Ministry of foriegn affairs and the Local Amphur office to register a new marriage, I am not sure but this may not be what you would need to do for your existing marriage.

It is not a new marriage, he is already married and that marriage is recognized by Thailand. It is just a notification of the Thai government that they are married. It needs to be recorded into the Thai wedding register as well for immigration to issue an extension of stay based on that marriage.

Thats exactly what l did when l married a Thai in the UK and had it registered with the appropriate Ministry in BKK so it is registered with the Thai authorities

[peterpop]

Here is what I had to do in Bangkok:

1: Translate the certificate in Thai

2: Get it certified by my embassy

3: Get it certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affair

4: Go to Amphur and register the marriage

5: Get the document Khor Ror 22 (Since you married outside Thailand)

In Bangkok, it took us about a week to do all that.

Do not know how long it will take you in Chiang Mai.

At least, you should be able to apply for a 60 Days extension to visit your Wife.

Your son paper (Thai Birth Certificate) would be part of your Non-O Extension based on Marriage, as additional documentation.

I live in Chiang Mai and registered my Thai marriage here. The local British consulate are very helpful.

Translation service and registering in Bangkok at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, can be arranged here for about 2000 bht. [about 1 week to complete ]

The local Amphur in town centre also very helpful.

One area of difficulty is the registration of children. This MUST be done in Bangkok if Thai born but is of questionable validity outside Thailand.

Doing all the work in Chiang Mai should be possible and will surely be more convenient than trying the same in BKK.

REGISTERING MY MARRIAGE HERE TOOK ALL DAY ALBEIT WITH A 4 HOUR BREAK, during which we posed for photos in Lanna style wedding.

Good luck

[Mario2008]

Here is what I had to do in Bangkok:

1: Translate the certificate in Thai

2: Get it certified by my embassy

3: Get it certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affair

4: Go to Amphur and register the marriage

5: Get the document Khor Ror 22 (Since you married outside Thailand)

In Bangkok, it took us about a week to do all that.

Do not know how long it will take you in Chiang Mai.

At least, you should be able to apply for a 60 Days extension to visit your Wife.

Your son paper (Thai Birth Certificate) would be part of your Non-O Extension based on Marriage, as additional documentation.

I live in Chiang Mai and registered my Thai marriage here. The local British consulate are very helpful.

Translation service and registering in Bangkok at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, can be arranged here for about 2000 bht. [about 1 week to complete ]

The local Amphur in town centre also very helpful.

One area of difficulty is the registration of children. This MUST be done in Bangkok if Thai born but is of questionable validity outside Thailand.

Doing all the work in Chiang Mai should be possible and will surely be more convenient than trying the same in BKK.

REGISTERING MY MARRIAGE HERE TOOK ALL DAY ALBEIT WITH A 4 HOUR BREAK, during which we posed for photos in Lanna style wedding.

Good luck

Children must be registered at the amphur where the child is born, if the child is born outside of Thailand the local Thai embassy acts as amphur and the birth must be registered there (next to registering the birth with the country the child is born in).

No difficulty at all. The childs birth certificate shows the mother and fahter and their nationalities, from which the childs Thai nationality can be concluded.

[DanRW]

[quote name='peterpop' timestamp='1286080698' post='3924780'}

I live in Chiang Mai and registered my Thai marriage here. The local British consulate are very helpful.

One area of difficulty is the registration of children. This MUST be done in Bangkok if Thai born but is of questionable validity outside Thailand.

Doing all the work in Chiang Mai should be possible and will surely be more convenient than trying the same in BKK.

REGISTERING MY MARRIAGE HERE TOOK ALL DAY ALBEIT WITH A 4 HOUR BREAK, during which we posed for photos in Lanna style wedding.

Good luck

That's good to know, thanks. And do you mean registering our child 'within the marriage' as such (if that makes any sense)? We got his Thai birth certificate locally - not sure what we need to do in Bangkok though. Care to elaborate a little?

Cheers Peter ...

Dan.

[DanRW]

Here is what I had to do in Bangkok:

1: Translate the certificate in Thai

2: Get it certified by my embassy

3: Get it certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affair

4: Go to Amphur and register the marriage

5: Get the document Khor Ror 22 (Since you married outside Thailand)

In Bangkok, it took us about a week to do all that.

Do not know how long it will take you in Chiang Mai.

At least, you should be able to apply for a 60 Days extension to visit your Wife.

Your son paper (Thai Birth Certificate) would be part of your Non-O Extension based on Marriage, as additional documentation.

I live in Chiang Mai and registered my Thai marriage here. The local British consulate are very helpful.

Translation service and registering in Bangkok at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, can be arranged here for about 2000 bht. [about 1 week to complete ]

The local Amphur in town centre also very helpful.

One area of difficulty is the registration of children. This MUST be done in Bangkok if Thai born but is of questionable validity outside Thailand.

Doing all the work in Chiang Mai should be possible and will surely be more convenient than trying the same in BKK.

REGISTERING MY MARRIAGE HERE TOOK ALL DAY ALBEIT WITH A 4 HOUR BREAK, during which we posed for photos in Lanna style wedding.

Good luck

Children must be registered at the amphur where the child is born, if the child is born outside of Thailand the local Thai embassy acts as amphur and the birth must be registered there (next to registering the birth with the country the child is born in).

No difficulty at all. The childs birth certificate shows the mother and fahter and their nationalities, from which the childs Thai nationality can be concluded.

Ok, but I'm still a little confused as to the relevance of registering our child ... it must be as part of the process of recognising the marriage over here, no? My first child - please excuse me.

Thanks Mario.

[Mario2008]

Ok, but I'm still a little confused as to the relevance of registering our child ... it must be as part of the process of recognizing the marriage over here, no? My first child - please excuse me.

Thanks Mario.

You register the birth with the Thai embassy, so the Thai government knows a Thai citizen was born and you have proof the child is (also) Thai. No Thai birth certificate means that you cannot proof that the child is Thai/that the Thai government will not have a record of your child.

Registering your marriage with the Thai government is a separate thing. It means that the Thai government is aware of the marriage and for people married outside of Thailand to a Thai, it is now required by immigration to get an extension of stay based on marriage that the marriage is also registered with the Thai government.

[OZEMADE]

Apart from what every one else has confirmed. if she still has her Thai name in her passport it also has to be changed into the married name. This is done at the Thai Ministery of Foreign Affairs, where they hand out thai passports.

It will be put in the front of her Passport where it states, endorsements and amendments if an old Passport. If a fairly new Passport it goes under Endorsements on Page 3. She will have to sign her new name there and it will be stamped and signed by the Director of Passport division Bangkok.

If she has a British Passport with her new married name in it, all is well.

However if she has a duel nationality Thai/British Passports the Thai one will have to be changed.