Thai passport and English marriage certificate

[leeroy221]

Hi all, not sure where to post this so ill start here. After some advice...

We got married in the UK, when we visit Thailand soon my wife will be getting a new Thai passport but in our married name. I know we have to get the marriage certificate translated to Thai whilst we are there but she is now saying that she has been told the marriage certificate needs to be confirmed or authenticated.

Does anyone know how or where this is done? Do we do it in the UK before we go or is this done when translated in Thailand?

I have googled but cant seem to find anything.

Thanks, Lee

[evadgib]

You'll need to sign a statutory declaration at the Embassy confirming it's an original document.

[CharlieH]

Moved to Marriage forum

[ubonjoe]

You do the self certification at the embassy. Then have it and your marriage certificate translated to Thai. Then the translations must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The translation service can get the MFA certification done for you.

Then you will go to an Amphoe to register your marriage. They will issue a Kor Ror 22 foreign marriage registry. They will then changer her name in the house book and issue a new ID card.

[kevc]

Why not get the new passport in the UK, many years ago my wife got hers first with a name change on her original and then a replacement passport a couple of years later with her new married name and we didn't need any translations.

[7by7]

Where did you marry, kevc?

My wife changed the name in her passport when we married and when she renewed her Thai passport at the RTE in Kensington for the first time the new passport was in her married name. (N.B. I think, but am not sure, that it is no longer possible to have a name change stamp placed in a Thai passport since the introduction of biometric passports.).

But we were married in Thailand and the embassy, obviously, accepted our Thai marriage certificate.

The OP and his wife married in the UK, so although it is legally recognised in Thailand they do need to register it in Thailand to change her name and so obtain an ID card and passport in that name. (N.B. I believe that, like the UK, there is no requirement in Thai law for a wife to take her husband's surname on marriage.)

Like my wife did, she could do this at the embassy in Kensington for her passport; not sure if she can change her ID card there as well because my wife did this in Thailand before coming to the UK.

If they are going to Thailand anyway it will be cheaper and quicker to do it all there.

To register a UK marriage at the RTE, see here.

Edited June 14, 2015 by 7by7