Marriage Registration in Thailand

For foreigners, marriage registration in Thailand has two forms; a foreign national marrying a Thai national, or a foreign couple who prefers to get married in Thailand.

Thai family law does not allow same-sex marriages, only opposite-sex couples are eligible to marry in Thailand.

Marriage registration can be done in any District Office or Minor District Office nationwideon any working day between 8 am and 3 pm.

Marriage shall be affected only on registration being made. After registration is completed, a Marriage Registration Certificate to be obtained as evidence.

Marriage registration in Thailand is free of charge.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Either of them should not be less than 17 years of age or should be in marriageable age in accordance to the law enforced from your home country. The Court may, in case of having appropriate reason, allow them to marry before attaining such age.
• Either of them should not be an insane person or adjudged incompetent.
• Both of them should not be in blood relations in the direct ascendant or descendant line, or brother or sister of full or half blood i.e. should no be with in the prohibited degrees of relationship.
• Both of them should not have the same adoptive parents.
• Either of them should not have a spouse at the time of marriage. If woman whose husband died or whose marriage has become terminated, the marriage can only take place after expiry of 310 days from such death or termination of marriage, but before such period if
  • A child has been born during such period;
  • The divorced couple remarry;
  • There is a certificate showing that the woman is not pregnant;
  • There is an order of the Court allowing the woman to marry.

DOCUMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR MARRIAGE REGISTRATION

FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS MARRYING ANOTHER FOREIGNER OR A MARRYING A THAI NATIONAL:

• Passport, including copies of entry visa with Thai translation
• Authenticated Affirmation of Freedom to Marry (Original and certified translations legalized by the Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok)
• If there was an earlier marriage: Original death certificate or original divorce certificate, together with its certified Thai translations

Requirements from Thai nationals:

• Citizen identification card
• House registration document

• If widow/widower: original and certified Thai translation of the death certificate of the deceased spouse.

• Original and certified Thai translation of the divorce certificate if divorced.

Additionally, the couple needs 2 witnesses, 1 witness from each party.

PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT REGISTRATION

If the couple agrees to enter into a prenuptial agreement, the couple must register it at the same time as the marriage registration. Getting married in Thailand is relatively easy. However, by Thai law, the assets that the spouses acquire after marriage will be a part of the Sin Som Rod or marital assets, which the regulations of the spouse may be different. Prenuptial agreement is inevitably important to marrying couples in terms of asset ownership. This will enable either or both of them to declare their respective rights on the assets, and most importantly, to prevent disputes that may arise in the future.

Tips for Marriage Registration

• If the marriage registration is filed at the District Office located in female’s birthplace (where the name is registered on the House Registration Certificate), the title used with the forename and the last name of the female will be changed by the District Officer.
• If both parties are unable to file for marriage at any District Office or Minor District Office, the couple can submit a request to the Registrar to register their marriage at any location under the supervision of that District Office.
• Both the parties intending to marry must publicly give consent to take each other as husband and wife before the registrar. The District Registrar will register the marriage and shall then issue a Marriage Certificate. This will be legally valid and recognized all over the world.
• Foreigners must report their marriage at the foreigner’s government or at their respective consulate in Thailand. Since the marriage certificate is in Thai language, bring the english translation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for legalization.
• You should allow four working days in Bangkok prior to registering your marriage as you are required to have been a resident in Thailand for at least three days before you marry and you must allow time for the paperwork to be processed in Bangkok.
• Drafting a Last Will and Testament is not neccessary but a wise step.