Notarial Services by a Thai Notarial Services Attorney
In Thailand, notarisation is performed by a lawyer licensed by the Lawyers Council as a Notarial Services Attorney. The lawyer certifies a signature or a true copy — not the truth of the contents. Straightforward files are usually completed within one business day when the signer attends in person with an original ID or passport. Documents heading overseas normally need further legalisation at the Department of Consular Affairs and often the destination embassy.
Who needs this
- Students and visa applicants who must have passport copies, transcripts or bank letters certified
- Companies certifying powers of attorney, board resolutions or contracts for use abroad
- Anyone whose receiving authority abroad explicitly requires notarisation before submission
Documents to prepare
- Original ID card or passport of every signerMust be unexpired, and the spelling must match the document being certified
- The original document to be certifiedFor a certified true copy the original must be shown for comparison
- English translation, if the destination requires oneNames must be spelled exactly as in the passport used for the application
- Company affidavit issued within the last 6 months (corporate files)Plus ID copies of the authorised directors and the company seal where used
- Any form supplied by the receiving authorityAffidavits, statutory declarations or university certification forms must be signed on their own template
Step-by-step process
- 1. Confirm how far the chain must goTell us the destination country and the receiving authority so we know whether notarisation alone is enough or the file continues to the Department of Consular Affairs and the embassy.Handled by: Applicant + our team · Typical time: Same day
- 2. Prepare originals and translationRe-issue any certificate that is older than the destination's validity window, then translate with spelling matched to the passport.Handled by: Applicant / translator · Typical time: 1–3 business days
- 3. Sign in front of the notarial services attorneyThe signer attends in person (or by approved video attestation where the destination accepts it) and the lawyer records the certification in the notarial register.Handled by: Notarial services attorney · Typical time: Same day
- 4. Continue the legalisation chain if requiredThe notarised file is submitted to the Department of Consular Affairs and then, where required, to the destination embassy in Bangkok.Handled by: Our team · Typical time: 2–5 business days per stage
- 5. DeliveryYou approve a PDF proof, then the originals are couriered with tracking or collected at one of our offices.Handled by: Our team · Typical time: 1–2 business days
Overall timing
Notarisation alone: usually within one business day. Notarisation plus Department of Consular Affairs legalisation: roughly 3–6 business days. Adding an embassy step depends entirely on that embassy's own queue, which can range from a few days to several weeks.
Advice from our team
- Ask the receiving authority in writing which certification layers they need — it prevents paying for a step that is never used
- Keep one spelling of your name across passport, translation and certificate; mismatches are the single most common rejection reason
- Scan every page before submission so you can re-file quickly if an original is retained
Things to watch out for
- A Thai notarial services attorney is not a civil-law notary; some countries ask for extra legalisation because of this
- Certification confirms the signature or copy, never the accuracy of the contents
- Certain embassies accept files only from the document holder or an authorised agent with a signed power of attorney
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to attend in person?
For signature certification, yes — the signer must sign in front of the attorney. For certified true copies, an authorised representative can usually attend with the originals and a power of attorney.
How long is a notarised document valid?
There is no fixed expiry in Thailand, but most receiving authorities accept certifications issued within the previous 3–6 months. Confirm the window before you file.
Can you notarise a document written in Thai only?
Yes, though most overseas authorities also require a certified English translation attached to the same file.
Is notarisation the same as an Apostille?
No. Notarisation is the lawyer's certification. An Apostille is a separate authentication issued by a designated authority under the Hague Convention.
Let our team handle the whole process
Prefer not to run the paperwork yourself? Our team can handle the whole chain — document review, translation, notarisation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation, embassy steps and courier delivery of the originals. Tell us the destination country and the authority that will receive the file, and we will map out the exact steps and realistic timing for your case before any work starts.
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Related service: Police clearance certificateKey facts at a glance — Notary Public certification
- Indicative price
- Contact us for a quote set
- Turnaround
- Typically 1–2 business days (same-day rush available)
- What you receive
- Signed and sealed by a Thai Lawyers Council–registered Notarial Services Attorney
- Service coverage
- Nationwide Thailand — courier and fully online intake, no in-person visit required.
Figures above are indicative ranges; the final quote depends on page count, language pair and receiving authority.
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