Rhiannon Hendricks
Getting married in Thailand requires a lot of planning and organisation, but it is possible for British citizens to have their marriage recognised in the UK. To do so, there are several steps to follow. First, obtain an 'Affirmation of Freedom to Marry' from your respective embassy or consulate in Bangkok, which needs to be translated into Thai. Then, register the marriage at a local district office ('amphur') to make it legally binding and receive your Thai marriage certificate. This certificate should also be translated into English and legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand or the Royal Thai Embassy in London. As long as the correct procedure is followed, a Thai marriage will be recognised in the UK, but it cannot be registered in the UK.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recognition of Thai marriage in the UK | Thai marriages are recognised in the UK as long as the marriage is valid under Thai law. |
| Registration of Thai marriage in the UK | There is no requirement or facility to register a Thai marriage in the UK. |
| Translation of Thai marriage certificate | It is recommended to translate the Thai marriage certificate into English, especially if it is to be used outside of Thailand. |
| Legalisation of Thai marriage certificate | The English translation of the Thai marriage certificate can be legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand or the Royal Thai Embassy in London. |
| Recognition of religious ceremonies | Religious ceremonies are not valid on their own. A registrar must conduct the ceremony or be present for it to be recognised. |
| Requirements for British citizens | British citizens need to obtain an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry or an Affirmation of Marital Status, translated into Thai and legalised. They also need to provide a certified copy of their passport. |
| Divorce outside the UK | Evidence of residency or nationality in the country where the divorce took place is required. Documents may need to be translated into Thai or legalised. |
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What You'll Learn
Getting a Thai marriage recognised in the UK
Marriages conducted in Thailand will be recognised in the UK as long as they are valid under Thai law. This means that the marriage must be officially registered, and not just performed by a village elder or monks.
To be legally married in Thailand, a British citizen must obtain an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry certificate from the British Consular. This document confirms that the citizen is not already married, is of legal age in their home country, and has no impediments to matrimony. To obtain this document, the citizen must bring their passport and proof that any previous marriages have been dissolved—copies will not be accepted. This document must then be translated into Thai and certified as genuine by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand.
Once the marriage has been conducted by a registrar, the couple will receive two identical marriage certificates in Thai. It is recommended that these are translated into English and legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand or the Royal Thai Embassy in London, especially if they wish to use them outside of Thailand.
If one partner is a Thai national, they will require a British visa to visit or settle in the UK. Applications for a British Spouse Visa should be submitted at least three months in advance of the proposed date of travel.
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Translating and legalising Thai marriage certificates
To translate and legalise a Thai marriage certificate, you must first obtain a copy of your Thai marriage certificate. The registrar will conduct the marriage ceremony and give you two identical marriage certificates in Thai. You may wish to translate your Thai marriage certificate into English, especially if you want to use it outside of Thailand.
Next, you will need to find a qualified translator. The translation must be signed by the translator with the statement 'Certified Correct Translation'. The translator must also certify that the translation is an accurate representation of the original document. You may be able to find translation services at the Legalisation Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand. Alternatively, you can contact the Royal Thai Embassy in London to legalise your marriage certificate. Their contact email is [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).
To legalise your marriage certificate, you will need to submit the following documents to the Royal Thai Embassy:
- A copy of a valid passport
- Original or a photocopy of the document in Thai
- Original translated document, signed by the translator with the statement 'Certified Correct Translation'
- Legalisation form
- Marriage certificate, legalised by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of Ireland
Please note that there may be additional requirements or changes to the process, so it is recommended to check with the relevant authorities for the most up-to-date information.
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Obtaining Affirmation of Freedom to Marry
To obtain an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry, British citizens must contact the British Embassy in Bangkok. The embassy is closed on British and Thai national holidays. The process can be initiated by visiting the embassy in person or by applying online. The online application requires the month and province in which the marriage is intended to take place. Any documents that are not in English or Thai must be uploaded with a translation into either language. The original documents and translations must then be brought to the embassy appointment. The application times out after 20 minutes of inactivity. It takes about 35 minutes to apply and pay for the affirmation online.
The affirmation costs £50, and a certified copy of the passport costs £25, for a total of £75. The appointment at the embassy should be booked for at least seven days after the application, to allow consular staff to check the documents. Up to 52 appointments are available each week, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and can be booked up to 45 days in advance. During peak periods, there may be a wait of up to three weeks for an available appointment.
At the appointment, the affirmation can be checked and any corrections can be made. The affirmation must then be signed. A marriage status affirmation and a certified copy of the passport are generally required to get married in Thailand. If the applicant has never been married, only their passport is required. If they have been married before, they will need to take their divorce decree or death certificate. These documents must be the original copies.
Once the affirmation has been obtained, it must be translated into Thai and legalised (certified as genuine) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand. This generally takes three to five working days. The affirmation recipient should allow enough time for this process before their marriage ceremony.
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Registering your marriage at a Thai district office
Marriages in Thailand are recognised in the UK as long as they are valid under Thai law. To be legally recognised in Thailand, marriages must be registered at a local district office, also known as an Amphur or Khet office.
Firstly, you will need to obtain an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry from your home country's embassy in Thailand. This document proves that there are no legal obstacles to the marriage and must be translated and legalised before being used to register your marriage. If your divorce, civil partnership dissolution, or annulment took place outside the UK, you will need evidence that you or your ex-partner lived in or were a national of that country at the time. You may need to get these documents translated into Thai or legalised before they will be recognised by Thai authorities. Translation services are available at the Legalisation Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket, or Ubon Ratchathani.
Next, you will need to visit the district office where you are getting married with your affirmation and a certified copy of your passport on the agreed date. You will also need to bring two witnesses, one from each party, to the district office. It is recommended that you contact the district office in advance to confirm the specific requirements, as some may also require payment receipts from the British Embassy and Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Once your documents have been reviewed and approved by a government officer, you will receive your Thai marriage certificate. It is recommended that you keep a copy of your marriage certificate, and you may wish to get it translated into English if you intend to use it outside of Thailand. This can be done by obtaining a certified translation from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Royal Thai Embassy in London.
It is important to note that religious ceremonies are not valid on their own in Thailand. A registrar must conduct the ceremony, and they can also be paid to marry you at your chosen venue.
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Requirements for British citizens to marry in Thailand
Marrying in Thailand as a British citizen involves a unique set of steps. Here are the requirements for British citizens planning to marry in Thailand:
Affirmation of Freedom to Marry
First, you must obtain an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry from the British Embassy. This document confirms that you are legally free to marry and is recognised by both Thai and UK authorities. It is not a mere formality but a legal necessity. The document must be signed and translated into Thai. The British government charges a fee for this affirmation, and you must bring your passport and proof that any previous marriages have been dissolved.
Translation and Legalisation
Once you have the affirmation, you must translate and legalise your documents. This includes translating the affirmation into Thai and getting it 'legalised' (certified as genuine) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand. You may also need to get other documents translated into Thai and legalised before they are recognised by Thai authorities.
Marriage Registration
With all your documents prepared and legalised, the final step is to register your marriage at a district office (Amphur) in Thailand. Each district office may have its own rules, so choose one experienced in handling international marriages. The registration process involves submitting documents, filling out forms, and paying a fee. The British Consular Official's signature and all Thai translations must be authenticated by the Thai government, and a certified translator can perform this task.
Marriage Ceremony
The registrar will conduct the marriage ceremony and provide two identical marriage certificates in Thai. You can pay a fee for the registrar to marry you at your chosen venue. Religious ceremonies are not valid on their own and must be accompanied by the registrar's ceremony.
Recognition in the UK
As long as you follow Thai law, your marriage will be recognised in the UK. You may want to translate your Thai marriage certificate into English and get it legalised, especially if you wish to use it outside of Thailand. The Consular Section can arrange for your marriage to be recorded in the UK, which is a helpful way to register your marriage back home.
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Frequently asked questions
Thai weddings are recognised in the UK as long as they are valid under Thai law.
You need to obtain an 'Affirmation of Freedom to Marry' from your respective embassy or consulate in Bangkok. You will also need to provide your passport and proof that any previous marriages have been dissolved.
You will need to get your Thai marriage certificate translated into English and legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand or the Royal Thai Embassy in London.
No, there is no requirement or facility to register your marriage in the UK. You will need to keep a copy of your Thai marriage certificate as evidence of your marriage.
