Documents For Marrying In Thailand

[geoffphuket]

I have lived in Thailand for the past 8 years with my (now divorced) Thai wife. I am now in the processs of re-marrying.

The documents required, as I understand, include my permanent address in the Uk and proof of employment and income in my home country - Neither of which I have anymore.

I live in Thailand on inclome from an off-shore investment and have no pension (yet) or employment.

What do I do?

[Dragonman]

I have lived in Thailand for the past 8 years with my (now divorced) Thai wife. I am now in the processs of re-marrying.

The documents required, as I understand, include my permanent address in the Uk and proof of employment and income in my home country - Neither of which I have anymore.

I live in Thailand on inclome from an off-shore investment and have no pension (yet) or employment.

What do I do?

Just put "no fixed address". Affadavit does not ask for income in UK, just income and job in general. You can put "investor" and your annual income. Also 2 relatives or friends names.

[seonai]

I needed a lot of papers and I had to be guaranteed by a local official.

[lopburi3]

The requirement by Thai authorities is a form letter from your Embassy that you are able to marry (not married) and perhaps of good character (Thai sometimes refer to it as "good person") so the Embassy is where you have to fulfill paperwork requirements. For some that is your word and perhaps divorce paperwork but for others it may require detailed paperwork. Most Embassies list the details on there web site. Once the paper is obtain it is translated into Thai and registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That document is what you present at the District Office with your passport to register a marriage. It can be done in one workday or may take a week depending on your Embassy and if you use a service to do the leg work or not. Most seem to be able to self do everything in two or three days.

[Prakanong2005]

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/F...d=1068717516870

Guidance for British Nationals Wishing to Marry in Thailand

This information is provided for general guidance only and has no legal authority.

1. Make an affirmation of freedom to marry in person at the British Embassy in Bangkok

* Please retype the affirmation including your details on one page in the same format as the attached sample and bring it to the Embassy to sign before a British Consular official.

We accept affirmations between normal working hours, excluding public holidays. It is not possible to make an appointment for this service. The service is provided on a first- come – first served basis. The completed affirmation will then be ready for collection from the Embassy between from 09.00 hrs on the following working day.

* We charge Baht 2,450 per affirmation and we can provide this service to British nationals only.

* Please bring with you to the Embassy your passport, as proof of identity, and evidence that any previous marriages have been dissolved/terminated (death certificate or divorce certificate(s) as appropriate). ORIGINALS ARE REQUIRED AND WILL BE RETURNED ALONG WITH THE AFFIRMATION THE FOLLOWING DAY; copies will not be accepted under any circumstances.

2. Have the affirmation translated into Thai

* Once the affirmation has been signed, you will need to have it translated into Thai. Please note that Consular Section does not undertake the preparation or translation of documents. Many reputable translation companies advertise on the internet as well as in the Thai local press. The Embassy is unable to recommend any particular firms.

3. Have the affirmation authenticated and translation certified

* All Thai Registrars will require authentication of the British Consular Official’s signature and certification of the Thai translation. This must be obtained from:

The Legalisation and Naturalisation Division,

Department of Consular Affairs,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (www.mfa.go.th)

123 Chaeng Wattana Road, Laksi District, Bangkok 11120

Tel. 0– 2575 1056–59, 0–2981 7171

(08.30 – 11.30 and 13.00 – 15.30)

* There are two fees available: -

1. Baht 400 per document, and it takes up to two full days or

2. Baht 800 per document for the same day service.

4. Submit the document to the Registrar

The affirmation and translation are then ready for submission to the registrar, who, if satisfied, will register the marriage and issue a Thai marriage certificate.

* The British Embassy in Bangkok is not authorised to perform marriages.

* Marriage in Thailand should be performed according to Thai law and any detailed questions on the procedure should be addressed to the appropriate Thai authorities.

* A religious ceremony on its own is not sufficient.

* The documentation to be produced is at the discretion of each individual Registrar. Most Registrars will be satisfied with an affirmation of freedom to marry.

* The marriage will only be recognised under UK law if it is valid under Thai law. For it to be valid in Thai law, the marriage must be registered with the Registrar at an Amphur Office (District Office). A list of some Amphur offices in Bangkok and upcountry is attached.

* The Thai marriage certificate will be in Thai only. You may wish to commission a “sworn translation” of the marriage certificate from a translation bureau, so that you may use the document for legal purposes in the U.K.

* Consular Section can arrange for your marriage to be recorded in the U.K.; please ask us for further details if you wish us to do so. This is not a legal obligation, it is for statistical purposes and if you lose a copy of your certificate only.

* Please note that a foreign national does not automatically acquire British nationality through marriage to a British national.

* If you are marrying a Thai national, he or she will require a visa to visit or settle in the UK.

* Applications for a visa to settle in the United Kingdom should be submitted at least three months in advance of the proposed date of travel. Please ask the Visa Section for further information.

* NB: THE FEES MAY ALTER WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE

Consular Section

British Embassy

14 Wireless Road

Bangkok 10330

Tel: (66) 2 305-8333 ext 2229

Fax: (66) 2 255-6051

E-mail: [email protected]

[Stocky]

It's pretty painless, just download the example from the British Embassy website and fill in the details; as already said they only need the form, your passport and the fee, they don't need proof of employment or income. Take it to the embassy for signing, you can pick it up next day.

Just down from the embassy at the junction of Wireless and Pleonchit there are several shops that offer translation services, for an additional fee they will also take the affirmation and translation to the ministry for validation. You can get the paperwork done within 4 days. The affirmation is valid for three months, you can go to any Amphur to register your marriage.

[geoffphuket]

Cheers for that. I guess I worry too much, but having lived here for so long, I know how the Thai authorities love to put obsticles in the way of seemingly easy tasks.

[Dragonman]

Cheers for that. I guess I worry too much, but having lived here for so long, I know how the Thai authorities love to put obsticles in the way of seemingly easy tasks.

In this case it's the British Embassy that requires all the meaningless information for the affadavit. This information is not required under Thai Law. Although actually you should tell the Amphur about any debts you have, this is rarely done.