Document Legalisation (Apostille and MFA Authentication)

Two Types Of Legalisation

Apostille (Hague Convention Countries)

An apostille is a standardised authentication issued by the competent authority in the document's country of origin. It is accepted by other Hague Convention member states.

Thailand is not yet one of them. Thailand acceded to the Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, but the Convention does not enter into force for Thailand until 28 February 2027 (HCCH status table, checked 14 August 2026). Until that date an apostille on its own is not sufficient for a document to be accepted in Thailand.

So if your document originates from an apostille-eligible country (Australia, UK, USA, most EU countries, and 120+ others), you still need the consular legalisation chain set out below. Before 28 February 2027 the apostille does not replace it.

From 28 February 2027, an apostille issued by the designated authority in your country (DFAT in Australia, the FCDO in the UK, your US state's Secretary of State office) is expected to be accepted by Thai government offices without further consular legalisation. An entry-into-force date and an individual office's day-to-day practice are not always the same thing in the first weeks, so check with us before relying on the change on the day it lands.

Note: some Thai offices still ask for a Thai translation even after an apostille is attached. The apostille certifies authenticity, not language.

Consular Legalisation (Non-Hague Countries)

For documents from countries not party to the Apostille Convention, the traditional consular legalisation chain applies: 1. Document certified by the relevant authority in the originating country. 2. Legalised by that country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 3. Legalised by the Thai consulate or embassy in that country. Only then is the document accepted by Thai government offices.

Mfa Authentication (Documents From Thailand Going Abroad)

For Thai documents being used overseas (Thai marriage certificates, Thai birth certificates, Thai criminal background checks, Thai company documents), the legalisation chain runs the other way: 1. Obtain a certified copy from the issuing Thai authority (Civil Registration, DBD, court, etc.) 2. Submit to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs Department, Si Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok) for the MFA authentication stamp. 3. Forward the MFA-stamped document to the receiving country's embassy or consulate in Bangkok for their legalisation.

Until 28 February 2027 step 3 applies to every destination, including Hague Convention members such as Australia, the UK and the USA. An apostille is issued by the country where a document originates, so a Thai document cannot carry one until the Convention is in force for Thailand. The Thai MFA authentication stamp is not an apostille and does not replace the receiving embassy's legalisation.

From 28 February 2027, the MFA stamp is expected to serve as the apostille for documents going to other Convention members, and step 3 falls away for those destinations. Documents going to non-member countries will still need the embassy step.

MFA processing: walk-in same-day, or by post (3–5 business days). Fee: 200 THB per document.

Common Documents Requiring Legalisation

• Marriage certificates (Thai ↔ Foreign use) • Birth certificates (especially for PR applications and dependant visa applications) • Divorce decrees • Criminal clearance certificates (Police Clearance / Criminal Background Check) • University degree certificates • Power of attorney

How Visa Centre Helps

We identify which legalisation route applies to your document (apostille vs consular chain) based on the originating country and receiving Thai authority, advise on the exact steps in your country, coordinate the Thai MFA authentication for Thai-origin documents, and advise on translation requirements alongside legalisation.

For Australian documents: DFAT apostille applications are submitted online. We advise on the DFAT process as it applies to the specific document type (birth certificate vs degree vs police check — each has a different originating authority before DFAT).

General guidance only. Legalisation requirements vary by document type, originating country, and receiving Thai authority. Independent assistance agency; not affiliated with any government body.