Why Thai documents still need embassy stamps — and when Apostille starts
Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026; the Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027 (source: HCCH / Thai MFA). Until that date, Thai public documents still follow traditional chain legalization: issuing authority → Department of Consular Affairs (MFA) → the destination country's embassy in Bangkok — three independent verification layers before overseas use.
The challenge: each embassy has its own quirks — some require advance booking, some accept submissions only on specific weekdays, some require interpreters or specific language pairs. DIY submissions without knowing the rules typically end in rejection — wasting leave days and travel costs.
