Apostille Requirements

An apostille is a single certificate that confirms a public document is genuine, so it can be used in another country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. It replaces the longer chain of legalisation by the foreign ministry and the embassy.

Thailand deposited its accession to the Convention on 30 June 2026. The Convention is scheduled to take effect for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Until then, documents from Thailand for use abroad still need to be legalised in the usual way.

Most documents for use abroad go through these steps:

• notarization by a notarial services attorney (for private documents such as powers of attorney and affidavits) and, if needed, a certified translation,
• legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and
• legalisation by the embassy or consulate of the destination country, if it requires it.

Our Legalisation team can handle these steps for you.

Thai public documents going to another member country will need a single apostille instead of the full legalisation chain. Documents going to countries that are not members will still need legalisation. Details of how apostilles will be issued in Thailand are expected from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and we will update this page when they are confirmed.

The Convention covers public documents, for example court documents, civil registration certificates (birth, marriage, death), official certificates and notarial acts. Private documents, such as a power of attorney or affidavit, are usually notarized first so they can then be apostilled or legalised.

Many countries require documents in Thai to be translated, and the translation may also need to be certified. Tell us the destination country and we will confirm what is needed.

Email a copy of your document to info@notary-public.in.th with the destination country, the purpose and your deadline. We will confirm the right route, apostille or legalisation, and the fee.

An apostille only works between countries that are parties to the Convention. If the destination country is not a party, or if it has objected to Thailand’s accession, the document still needs to be legalised. Check the official status table before you start.

The Convention covers public documents, such as court documents, documents issued by government authorities, notarial acts, and official certificates placed on private documents (for example, a notarization of your signature). It does not cover documents issued by diplomatic or consular agents, or some administrative documents dealing with commercial or customs operations.

• HCCH: status table of the Apostille Convention (which countries are members)
• HCCH: Apostille Section (how apostilles work, competent authorities)
• Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (current legalisation services)

Rules can change. Tell us the destination country and we will confirm the current requirements before you book.