US Embassy and Consulate – Getting Married in Thailand
Embassies and Consulates cannot perform or register marriages. The following information is provided:
A legal marriage in Thailand consists of two parties registering their union with a local Amphur (Thai district office, similar to a county office). It is a process that can take several days to complete.
U.S. citizens wishing to marry a Thai citizen or another U.S. citizen should follow the procedure below. A U.S. citizen wishing to marry a third-country national should follow the procedure below and ensure their prospective spouse follows a similar, but separate, procedure with his or her embassy in Thailand.
1. Contact the Amphur (Thai district office) where you intend to be married to find out what is required of you and your fiancé to be married within that respective district.
2. Most Amphurs require you obtain a notarized marriage/divorce affidavit from the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, or Consulate General Chiang Mai.
Note: An affidavit is a self-sworn statement, NOT a guarantee or certification of single status. Ensure you are prepared to provide proof of divorce, death, etc., to an Amphur should they require it.
IMPORTANT: Some Amphurs require a certified copy of your U.S. Passport. Check with your Amphur before coming to the Embassy as there is an additional service fee for a certified copy of a passport.
Obtain the marriage/divorce affidavit (Bangkok (PDF 22KB) / Chiang Mai (PDF 132KB)) and certified copy of your passport (if required) from your respective American Citizens Services unit by appointment. There are NO walk-in services.
3. On the date of your ACS appointment ensure you bring the following:
- Appointment Confirmation Page
- Passport
- Appropriate fee and method of payment: $50 for the affidavit and $50 for the Certified Copy (if required)
- Completed affidavit (All information must be filled completely and correctly and NOT left blank. The information is REQUIRED by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- A clear copy of the first page (bio-data page) of your passport if a certified copy is required by your Amphur
4. Obtain a certified Thai translation of the document(s) from a professional translation service. A partial list of translators located near U.S. Embassy Bangkok is available here (PDF 169KB). Translation services may also be available at/near the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
5. Have the document(s) and Thai translation(s) “legalized” by the Thai MFA for a nominal fee at the following locations:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Consular Affairs, Legalization Division
123 Chaeng Wattana Road, 3rd Floor
Tung Song Hong, Laksi District, Bangkok
Phone: 02-575-1057 or 1058
Fax: 02-575-1054
Email: [email protected]
Service hours: 08:30 AM – 2:30 PM (closed on weekends and public holidays)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Consular Affairs, Legalization Office,
Chiang Mai Provincial Hall,
Chotana Road, Chang Phueak Sub-district,
A. Mueang, Chiang Mai 50000
Tel (053) 112-748-50, Fax (053) 112-764
Email: [email protected]
Service hours: Monday to Friday, 08.30-16.30, except public and official holidays
6. Present the following documents at any Amphur in Thailand to register your marriage and obtain a Thai marriage certificate:
- Original marriage/divorce affidavit, Thai translation, and supporting documents, including proof that any and all prior marriages were ended by death, divorce or annulment; (Note: Some Amphurs may also require U.S. Embassy and Thai MFA payment receipts.)
- Passport (U.S. citizens and third-country nationals) and certified copy and translation (if necessary);
- Thai ID card (Thai citizens);
- Written permission from parents to marry if either party is under age twenty (translated into Thai)
The Ampurs closest to U.S. Embassy Bangkok are located in Pathumwan and Bang Rak. To our knowledge, it is not necessary to make an appointment. If neither person getting married speaks Thai, consider bringing an interpreter.
REGISTERING YOUR MARRIAGE IN THE USA: You cannot register your marriage through an embassy or consulate as marriage is a state-specific responsibility. Most states recognize the validity of legal marriages registered in Thailand. If you would like to register your marriage in the United States, you must contact the Attorney General in your state of residence to inquire about their specific documentary requirements. Some states may require your Thai marriage certificate to be “certified.” To certify a Thai marriage certificate, please have it translated into English and take both documents to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Legalization Division. Then make an appointment and bring the MFA-certified documents to our office; we will authenticate the signature of the MFA officer by appointment for the appropriate fee.
SAME-SEX MARRIAGES: At present the Thai Government does not recognize or issue same-sex marriage certificates. Americans wishing to enter into a same-sex marriage must travel to the United States or another jurisdiction that performs same-sex marriages.
For more information on marriage abroad, please visit the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs website.