Notary public in Thailand: certifying signatures, documents and translations for use abroad
Thailand has no US- or UK-style notary public. What it has is a Notarial Services Attorney: a lawyer certified by the Lawyers Council of Thailand to certify signatures and documents. The lawyer in our group does that work so your documents can be filed with embassies, universities, banks and overseas counterparties.
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Short answer
What is a notary public in Thailand, and how many steps does your document need before it works abroad?
In Thailand, notarial work is done by a lawyer holding the Lawyers Council's Notarial Services Attorney certification. The signer must appear in person, sign in front of the lawyer, and show an original ID card or passport. Most documents intended for use abroad pass through three stages: the attorney's certification, legalisation at the Department of Consular Affairs, and then the destination country's embassy. Countries using the Apostille system follow a different route, so ask the receiving institution how far up the chain it needs the document certified.
- Performed by an attorney certified by the Lawyers Council; the certification number can be checked before you engage
- The signer must appear in person and sign in front of the attorney, with original identification
- We tell you up front whether your document still needs consular or embassy legalisation
- Thai and English work, with translation and translation certification handled in the same set
The facts of this service
- The correct Thai term
- Notarial Services Attorney — not a state-appointed notary public as in other countries
- Who may certify
- A lawyer who has completed the Lawyers Council training, holds the certification and keeps it current
- Do you need to attend?
- Signature certification and affirmations require attendance in person, at our Bangkok or Khon Kaen office
- Most common documents
- Powers of attorney, study applications, overseas bank account paperwork, company documents for foreign counterparties, and status declarations
- What comes after the attorney
- Legalisation at the Department of Consular Affairs, then the destination embassy; their steps and fees are their own
- Timing
- The attorney's certification is usually done at the appointment; consular and embassy timing depends on their queue, which we never promise
Send the documents or the situation first. We tell you what is realistically possible, what it involves and what it will not solve, before any engagement.
61 Soi Lat Phrao 95 (Prangthip), Khlong Chao Khun Sing, Wang Thonglang, Bangkok 10310
680/45 Na Mueang Road, Nai Mueang, Mueang Khon Kaen, Khon Kaen 40000
Situations this page is written for
- You must send a power of attorney for a relative or agent to act abroad
- You are applying to study or for a visa and the institution asks for certified documents
- You are opening a bank account or company abroad and must certify passport and address copies
- A foreign counterparty asks for certified company documents: affidavit, shareholder list, board minutes
- You must confirm single status, employment or residence to an overseas authority
- Thai documents need an English translation with the translation certified for filing abroad
What Notarial services attorney (Thai notary public) covers
Signature and identity certification
The signer signs in front of the attorney, who checks original identification and records the certification in the register.
- General and special powers of attorney
- Contracts where the overseas party asks for signature certification
- Overseas bank and university forms
Certified copies
Certifying that a copy is true to the original inspected on the day, so bring the originals to the appointment.
- Passport, ID card, house registration
- Degrees, transcripts, employment certificates
- Company affidavit, shareholder list, financial statements
Translation and certified translations
Thai–English translation by our translator, certified in the same set so the document only travels once.
- Birth certificates, marriage registration, name-change records
- Court and government documents
- Company documents and bilingual contracts
Affirmations and declarations
Drafting and certifying a written affirmation or declaration in the form the receiving authority requires.
- Single-status or marital-status declarations
- Address and source-of-funds declarations
- Declarations confirming the information in an overseas form
Company documents for use abroad
Assembling the company set a foreign bank, investor or authority asks for, with translations and certifications.
- Affidavit, objectives and shareholder list
- Board minutes and director powers of attorney
- Good-standing style statements for counterparties and investors
Mapping the legalisation route
Telling you exactly where the document goes next, what it needs, and where files usually get sent back.
- Legalisation at the Department of Consular Affairs
- Certification at the destination country's embassy or consulate
- Apostille countries, and cases where only originals are accepted
From first message to finished work
- 1
Send the document for review first
Send a file or photo and tell us the destination country and institution; we then say which certification is needed and how far it must go.
- 2
Confirm the form and wording
If the receiving institution prescribes a form or wording, it must be followed; we check it before the appointment so nothing is certified twice.
- 3
Book the appointment
At our Bangkok or Khon Kaen office. Every signer attends with original identification.
- 4
Sign and certify in person
The attorney verifies identity, checks the document, witnesses the signature, then issues and registers the certification per Lawyers Council rules.
- 5
Continue the legalisation chain if needed
We prepare the set and explain the consular and embassy steps; their fees follow their own published rates.
- 6
Hand over and keep a copy
Collect in person or by courier; we keep a copy and the certification record for later reference.
Bring these and the first meeting is enough
- The original document to certify, or the original of the copy to be certified
- Original ID card or passport for every signer
- Any form or wording prescribed by the receiving institution
- The destination country and institution, so the right certification chain is used
- For company documents: a recently issued affidavit and the authorised director's documents
What this service does not do
- We do not certify a signature when the signer does not appear before the attorney
- We do not certify statements known to be untrue, or documents showing signs of alteration
- We are not a foreign state-appointed notary, and not a government agency
- We cannot promise the receiving institution will accept a document; its conditions are its own
- We do not promise the consular department's or an embassy's completion date
- We do not publish fees; they are quoted in writing per matter before we start
Answered without the sales pitch
Does Thailand have a notary public?
Not a state-appointed notary as in the US or UK. Thailand has Notarial Services Attorneys certified by the Lawyers Council, and their certification is what embassies and foreign institutions accept.
Is the certified document immediately usable abroad?
It depends on the receiving institution. Some accept the attorney's certification alone; others require consular legalisation and then embassy certification. Ask the receiving institution first so the document does not travel twice.
I am not in Thailand — can someone do it for me?
Signature certification requires signing in front of the attorney. From abroad, the alternatives are a Thai embassy or a notary in your own country. For some certified copies, whoever holds the originals can present them instead.
Can foreigners use this, and what is required?
Yes. Bring your original passport, plus immigration or Thai address papers if you have them. The documents and the whole explanation can be handled in English.
What is the difference between translating and certifying a translation?
Translating produces the target-language text; certifying the translation is the attorney confirming it corresponds to the document inspected. Most overseas institutions want both in one set.
Does Apostille apply to Thai documents?
If the destination country uses Apostille, confirm the route with the receiving institution and the Department of Consular Affairs, since practice changes by announcement. We do not decide it on their behalf.
How much does it cost?
Quoted per matter: it depends on the number of documents and signers, translation, and whether we continue the legalisation chain. Consular and embassy fees are their own rates and separate from ours.
How long does it take?
The attorney's part is usually finished at the appointment when documents are complete. Consular and embassy timing depends on their queue, including whatever express option they offer.
Can you certify land transfers or marriage registration?
Registering land rights and marriages is the Land Department's and the registrar's authority. The attorney can only certify signatures, copies or translations of the related documents.
Do you travel to us?
Where it is genuinely necessary — for example a signer who cannot travel — we consider it case by case within reachable areas, with the conditions agreed in advance.
Content reviewed 2026-09-15. Procedures and government requirements change; we verify the current rules with the responsible agency for every matter.