Marriage Registration in Thailand for Foreigners: Complete 2026 Guide

Getting married in Thailand as a foreigner is very possible, and a marriage registered in Thailand is recognised in most countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and the rest of Europe. But the paperwork has to be done in the right order: embassy, translation, legalisation, district office, and then registration back home. This guide explains every step for 2026, with specific details for American, British, Australian and European citizens.

1. Marriage requirements in Thailand: who can marry?

Under Thai law (as amended by the Marriage Equality Act, in force since 23 January 2025), two people can register their marriage if:

• both are at least 18 years old (between 18 and 20, parental consent is required);
• both are single: never married, divorced, or widowed, and able to prove it;
• they are not closely related by blood;
• they both appear in person at the district office.

The marriage is open to couples of any gender. Whether a same-sex marriage registered in Thailand is recognised in your home country depends on that country’s law (it is recognised in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and most of Western Europe).

2. Thailand marriage paperwork: documents you need

Foreign partner

• Passport (original, with your Thai entry stamp or visa).
• Certificate of freedom to marry (also called affirmation of freedom to marry, certificate of no impediment, or certificat de non-empêchement à mariage), issued by your embassy in Bangkok.
• Thai translation of that certificate, legalised by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department of Consular Affairs, Chaengwattana Road, Bangkok).
• If you were married before: divorce certificate or death certificate of your former spouse, translated and legalised.

Thai partner

• Thai ID card.
• House registration book (Tabien Baan).
• If previously married: divorce certificate (Kor Ror 7) or proof of the former spouse’s death.
• If they changed their name: name change certificate.

On the day

• Two witnesses (adults with ID).
• An interpreter if the foreign partner does not speak Thai. Some district offices require one.

Documents checklist for a legal wedding in Thailand

Requirements can vary slightly between district offices, so always check with the office where you plan to marry.

3. Marriage registration in Thailand, step by step

1. Contact the district office where you want to marry, check its specific requirements and, if needed, book an appointment.
2. Get your certificate of freedom to marry from your embassy in Bangkok. Most embassies require an online appointment.
3. Translate it into Thai with a certified translator.
4. Legalise the certificate and its translation at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Legalisation Division, 3rd floor, Department of Consular Affairs, Bangkok).
5. Register the marriage at the district office together, with your documents, two witnesses and an interpreter. You receive the marriage registration (Kor Ror 2) and the marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3) the same day.
6. Register the marriage in your home country (see section 5).

4. Your embassy document, by nationality

Each embassy issues its own version of the “freedom to marry” document. Here is what the main embassies in Bangkok require (checked October 2026). Fees and procedures change, so always confirm on the official page before your appointment.

United States

• Document: a notarised marriage/divorce affidavit, completed at your appointment with the American Citizens Services unit (Embassy Bangkok or Consulate General Chiang Mai). No walk-ins.
• Fee: US$50 for the affidavit, plus US$50 for a certified copy of your passport if your district office requires one.
• Bring: appointment confirmation, passport, a copy of the passport bio page (for the certified copy), and proof that any previous marriage ended (divorce decree or death certificate), as the district office may ask for it.
• The affidavit is a sworn statement, not a certificate of single status.

Source: U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand, Getting Married in Thailand

United Kingdom

• Document: a marital status affirmation, applied for online, then signed at an appointment at the British Embassy Bangkok.
• Timing: book the appointment at least 7 days after applying. Do not apply more than 3 months before the wedding. You can only marry in the month and province stated on the affirmation.
• Fee: £50 for the affirmation and £25 for a certified copy of your passport.
• Referees: two people who are not Thai nationals and live outside Thailand.

Source: GOV.UK, Confirm you’re free to get married in Thailand

Australia

• Document: a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI), issued by appointment at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok or the Consulate-General in Phuket. A certified copy of your passport is included.
• Fee: AUD 181 (THB 4,090) from 1 April 2026, payable in baht.
• Bring: your Australian passport, your partner’s passport or photo ID, and original divorce or death certificates if either of you was married before. The application form must be signed in front of a consular officer.
• Thai authorities do not accept a “single status certificate” from an Australian state registry instead of the CNI.

Source: Australian Embassy Thailand, Getting Married in Thailand

European countries

Most European embassies in Bangkok issue a certificate of no impediment (the name varies by country), usually by appointment and often with both partners present. For example, Belgian citizens need a certificat de non-empêchement à mariage (CNEM) from the Belgian Embassy, booked online, with both future spouses attending (€25 for the CNEM plus €25 for the passport copy certified by the embassy, paid in baht, about 1,000 THB each; usually ready in 2–4 working days; see the Belgian Embassy page). Check your own embassy’s website for its exact requirements. We can help you prepare the file.

Whatever your nationality, the embassy document must then be translated into Thai and legalised by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you go to the district office.

5. After the wedding: getting your marriage recognised at home

Your Thai marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3) and registration (Kor Ror 2) are in Thai. To use them at home, they usually need an official translation and legalisation by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and sometimes by your embassy too.

• United States: marriages cannot be registered through the embassy; this is handled by each state. Most states recognise a legal Thai marriage. Some ask for a “certified” certificate: translate it into English, have it legalised by the Thai MFA, then have the MFA signature authenticated at the U.S. Embassy by appointment.
• United Kingdom: a Thai marriage is recognised in the UK if it was legal under Thai law and would be allowed under UK law. Keep a translated copy of your marriage certificate.
• Australia: see the embassy’s “Getting Married in Thailand” instructions for the steps to make sure your marriage is recognised in both countries.
• Europe: most countries ask you to legalise and translate the certificate, then register the marriage with your commune, municipality or civil registry. For Belgians, this means legalisation at the Thai MFA, translation into Dutch, French or German, legalisation at the Belgian Embassy (€25 per document, paid in baht (1,000 THB)), then registration with your commune and, ideally, in the BAEC. To then live together in Belgium, see our family reunification guide.

6. How long does it take?

• Embassy document: from one appointment (US, Australia) to a few weeks (UK applications, some European embassies), depending on your nationality and appointment availability.
• Translation and legalisation: usually a few working days.
• District office registration: one day.
• Recognition at home: from a few days to several weeks, depending on your country.

Plan ahead, especially if one partner only has a short stay in Thailand.

Doing it yourself vs. with Spoyzy

7. Common mistakes to avoid

• Arriving at the embassy with an incomplete file. It will be refused and you will need a new appointment.
• Forgetting to legalise the Thai translation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Names spelled differently in the passport, translation and Thai ID. Every document must match.
• Thinking a ceremony equals a legal marriage. Only district office registration counts.
• Not registering the marriage at home afterwards, which causes problems later for visas, residence permits or inheritance.

8. How Spoyzy can help

We help couples from Europe, the United States and Australia through this whole process, in Thai, English, French and Dutch. Depending on what you need, we can:

• prepare your embassy file and book your appointment;
• translate your documents into Thai and get them legalised at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
• accompany you to the district office with an interpreter and witnesses, and complete everything in one day;
• translate and legalise your marriage certificate so you can register it at home.

See our marriage in Thailand service, or contact us on WhatsApp, Messenger or by email for a personalised quote.

Frequently asked questions

Is a marriage registered in Thailand valid in my home country?

In most cases, yes. A marriage legally registered at a Thai district office is recognised in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and European countries. You will usually need a translated and legalised copy of the certificate to register it or use it at home.

Do we both need to be in Thailand?

Yes. Both partners must appear in person at the district office. Some embassies (Belgium, for example) also require both partners at the embassy appointment.

Can we get married in one day?

The registration at the district office takes one day. The documents (embassy certificate, translation and legalisation) must be ready beforehand, which usually takes a few working days.

Can foreigners of the same sex marry in Thailand?

Yes. Since 23 January 2025, Thai law allows marriage between two people regardless of gender, including foreigners, with the same documents and procedure.

Is a temple or beach wedding a legal marriage in Thailand?

No. A ceremony at a temple, hotel or beach has no legal effect on its own. Only registration at a district office (Amphur or Khet) makes the marriage legal. Many couples register first and hold the ceremony on another day.

Which district office can we use?

You can marry at any district office in Thailand. In Bangkok, Bang Rak district office is a popular choice for couples. Contact the office beforehand, as requirements can differ.

Do I need an interpreter?

If the foreign partner does not speak Thai, the district office will usually ask for an interpreter. Spoyzy can provide one, along with the two witnesses.

Written by Poy, founder of Spoyzy

Poy has handled 200+ visa cases, 150+ marriages and 800+ document legalisations for Thai–foreign couples and families. Poy speaks Thai, French and English (and a little Dutch), and explains every document to both partners in their own language.

Ask Poy on WhatsApp

Last updated: October 2026