Irish And British Citizens Wanting To Get Married In Thailand

[bella1987]

I have a query regarding the required time an Irish Citizen is supposed to stay in Thailand until they can recieve an affidavit allowing them to marry legally?

My fiance is an Irish Citizen and I am a British Citizen, we are wanting to marry in Thailand around December 2011. We both reside in the United Kingdom and have lived together for a number of years.

The travel company have advised that I would need to stay in Bangkok for 4 days in order to recieve the required paperwork but will not advise as to my fiances requirements due to his nationality? I have read that he would need to be in Thailand for 28 days to recieve his, is this correct?

If this is the case is there anyway he speed up the process?

Also is there anyway I can guarantee this, as I dont want to get over there for us not to be able to marry?

Any advice as to proceures etc wuld be appreciated? I have tried to contact the Irish Embassy in Thailand but have not managed to get through yet!

Thanks

[7by7]

There is no Irish embassy in Thailand; the nearest is in Kuala Lumpur.

However, there is an Honorary Consul, and he can do the necessary for you.

As far as I am aware there is no minimum time a foreigner needs to be in Thailand before they can marry; However, there are certain procedures which Thai law says must be followed for the marriage to be legal under Thai law and so recognised by other countries..

You will have to sign an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry and have it witnessed by a consular official from your home country. You will have to do this at the British embassy, your fiance at the Irish consulate.

You then have the AFM translated into Thai and then take it to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to have it certified as a true translation.

You can then take it to the ampur (sort of town hall/registry office) where you will be registering your marriage and Robert's your father's brother.

Although the AFM is the same, different embassies/consulates have slightly different procedures and charge different fees. See GUIDANCE FOR IRISH NATIONALS WISHING TO MARRY IN THAILAND and Guidance for British nationals wishing to marry in Thailand.

Read the guidance carefully as you may need to ensure that you have all the necessary documents, e.g. the Irish consulate want the long form birth certificate, they also want you to make an appointment; no appointment is necessary at the British embassy and you do not need your birth certificate, just your passport.

Both will need evidence that any previous marriage has ended; original documents only.

Getting the AFM's witnessed, translated and stamped at the MFA should take 3 to 4 days; however, the Irish consulate does recommend that you fax or email it to them 4 weeks in advance for their approval.

[jombom]

The simple solution is to get married in your own country. If you want to do the romantic bit, bring your marriage licence and ask any monk.

And, good luck to you both.

[Basil B]

The simple solution is to get married in your own country. If you want to do the romantic bit, bring your marriage licence and ask any monk.

And, good luck to you both.

Agreed, could marry at your local registry office and have a good time/religious ceremony without the hassle of running around Bangkok getting affirmations and translations.