Legal Information
I really like the idea of Thailand so is it possible to get married legally in Thailand?
1/ Australian citizens wishing to marry in Thailand must first make an affirmation (or statutory declaration) of freedom to marry in person at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok. Here, they will be required to give particulars of their respective marital status, permanent address in Australia, occupation, income, references, etc. on a prescribed form. The couple is required to make their own way to the Australian embassy. This process is very simple and can easily be done by them.
2/ In case either of the couple are divorced or widowed, an original Divorce Certificate or Death Certificate, as the case may be, is required as a supporting document at the Embassy. Females can not marry in Thailand if the wedding is to take place within 12 months of the divorce.
3/ After making the affirmation (Statutory Declaration), the couples will need to have it translated into Thai for purposes of presentation to the Thai authorities concerned. This can be done by our offices in Bangkok.
4/ Both the English version and the Thai version of the affirmation (statutory declaration) will then have to be presented to the appropriate authorities of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs for authentication and certification. We will also arrange this.
5/ The couples can now make registration of their marriage at any District Office in any province of Thailand by producing as supporting documents all of the above documentation as certified by the authorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On granting the application for marriage, the District Officer will issue to the couple a Thai Marriage Certificate along with particulars of the registration (Marriage Register).
6/ Wedding Destinations offices will then arrange the translation into English theThai Marriage Certificate and Marriage Register.
7/ The English version of the Thai Marriage Certificate and Marriage Register will again have to be presented to the appropriate authorities of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs for certification, so that couples may use it for legal purposes in Australia.
Wow – sounds complicated! Don’t worry this process is actually very easy as our offices will take care of all of this for them in Bangkok.
The process can take between 4-5 days. However, the couples need to be present only at the embassy on the day of making the statutory declaration and at the district office where they want to register their marriage (or they can come to the resort). They do not have to be present at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, either before or after the marriage. Therefore, since registration of marriage can be made anywhere in the country, be it Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, etc., the couples may just spend only a day in Bangkok for the purpose of making the statutory declaration at the Embassy. We can arrange for the rest of the proceedings to take place without them there. The documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be mailed to them at any designated place or hotel of their stay in any part of Thailand and they can use the documents to register their marriage at any District Office in any part of Thailand they like.
The Marriage Ceremony can take place either before or after registration of the marriage but the marriage is officially legal on the day of the signing at the district office.
The charge for this service is Thai Baht 10,000 ($360.00 approximately). Full payment is expected on the day that the couple bring the relevant statutory declaration to our offices for further processing.
The above information is for Australian citizens, please contact Wedding Destinations for further information on other nationalities marrying in Thailand. Please note that this information can change at anytime it is to be used as a guide only. You will be advised of any changes to this information at time of booking.