can be a wonderful and memorable experience. Many foreigners choose to marry in Thailand because of its abundant variety of romantic places. Enjoy a colourful Buddhist wedding ceremony; Retreat to a luxury spa; Island hop and find your own private beach; Ride an elephant together; Hire a long-tail boat just for both of you; Have a private dinner on your own Sala; Take in a Thai sunset.
Similarly, marriages between residing expatriates and their Thai citizens are quite common. For some foreign individuals who have difficulty marrying in the nation where they reside, Thailand offers a quick and convenient location to marry. Regardless of the situation, the process is generally straightforward, requiring a relatively small amount of legal paperwork that must be simply translated into Thai and legalized pursuant to Thai law.
The process can be completed in as little as 3 - 4 days. Sometimes, if there are complications, such as back-ups in paperwork at an embassy, or different requirements for certain nations' embassies, the process can take longer.
Rules & Regulations to marry in Thailand:
- Marriage in Thailand should be performed according to Thai law and any detailed questions on the procedure should be addressed to the appropriate Thai authorities.
- A religious ceremony on its own is not sufficient
- The documentation to be produced is at the discretion of each individual Registrar. Most Registrars will be satisfied with an affirmation of freedom to marry.
- Therefore, the marriage must be registered with the Registrar at an Amphur (District) Office.
- Your marriage certificate will be in Thai. It is recommended to commission a "sworn translation" of the marriage certificate from a translation bureau.
- Consular Section can arrange for your marriage to be recorded in your country although this is not a legal obligation.
Legal requirements for 'Affirmation of freedom to marry:
- Proof of identity is required.
- Bride and groom must be 18 years of age or over.
- Bride and groom must both be single.
- If either party is widowed or divorced, relevant paperwork must be provided (original only).
- Passports must be valid for at least six months from date of entry to Thailand.
Required Documents:
- A certification document is required from the applicant’s home consulate prior to registration of marriage. This must be translated into Thai and certified as being accurate by the Thai foreign Ministry.
- The applicant's occupation and annual income.
- The marital status (both current and previous) of applicants.
- Names and addresses of two contact persons resident in the same area as the applicant
