Current status: apostille change is not in force yet

As of 25 July 2026, Thailand has acceded to the Apostille Convention, but it does not take effect for Thailand until 28 February 2027. The dates come from the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) and Thailand's Department of Consular Affairs. Until the change takes effect and Thailand publishes operational instructions, an apostille alone is not a safe substitute for the current consular-legalisation chain.

A marriage validly registered outside Thailand is not celebrated again in Thailand. A district office can instead record the foreign marriage in the civil registry and issue a Kor Ror 22 record of family status. The receiving district office decides its final checklist and may request additional documents.

The published chain before 28 February 2027

Step 1: Authenticate the official marriage record in the issuing country

Use the official civil record, not a ceremonial copy. The authority and sequence differ by country. The Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate responsible for the country where the record was issued publishes the controlling local instructions.

Step 2: Legalise through the responsible Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate

The Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul's current Kor Ror 22 instructions, updated 6 March 2026, illustrate the present chain: home-country authentication followed by Thai-embassy legalisation. That mission explicitly says apostilles are not accepted for its process. Other missions can publish different document and recency requirements, so do not transfer Seoul's checklist to another country.

Step 3: Translate into Thai and legalise the translation

Translate the legalised record into Thai, then submit the translation and underlying record to Thailand's Department of Consular Affairs. From 10 February 2026, Thai-English and English-Thai legalisation requests must include a copy of the translator's valid government-issued identification, according to the official Consular Affairs notice.

As of 25 July 2026, the Department's postal instructions state a standard legalisation fee of 200 THB per document. That figure applies only to the service described on the official postal legalisation page. Embassy fees abroad, translations and any express service are separate; no universal total is published.

Step 4: Apply at a Thai district office

Present the legalised record and Thai translation to the district office that will record the family status. Identity, name-change, prior-marriage, witness and copy requirements are decided by that office. The public national sources do not publish one universal Kor Ror 22 checklist for every issuing country and every district.

Country variation is not optional

Apostille membership in the issuing country does not, by itself, determine the route into Thailand before 28 February 2027. The Thai mission may require an original civil extract, home-ministry authentication, a particular translation language, a paper rather than digital seal, or documents issued within a stated period. The relevant Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate must therefore be checked by name. This guide does not publish country processing times or fees as universal figures.

After 28 February 2027, applicants will still need to check whether the document is covered, whether an objection affects the Convention relationship between Thailand and the issuing state, and what Thai translation or district-registration steps remain. The HCCH status table is the official record for Convention relationships.

The Pattaya playbook

Official legalisation service in Pattaya

The Department of Consular Affairs lists a legalisation service point at the temporary passport office in Central Pattaya, level 4. As of 25 July 2026, the official service-location page also lists Chaeng Watthana and other offices. It directs applicants to the official appointment portal. Accepted services and appointment availability can vary by location.

What you'll have at the end

Kor Ror 22 is commonly requested when a foreign marriage supports an immigration application, but Jomtien Immigration decides the evidence for the application in front of it. It does not replace the separate financial, residence, passport and relationship evidence for a marriage-based Non-O or extension.

What changed

FAQ

Is an apostille enough in Thailand today?

No, not as a universal rule. As of 25 July 2026, Thailand's accession has been deposited but will not take effect until 28 February 2027. Follow the current instructions of the Thai mission responsible for the issuing country.

Does every foreign marriage need Kor Ror 22?

No single official source says it is required for every purpose. Kor Ror 22 records foreign marital status in Thailand. The immigration office, district office, bank, court or other receiving authority decides what it needs for the transaction concerned.

Does the district office accept any translator?

The Department of Consular Affairs legalises the translation; the receiving district office decides whether the resulting package is sufficient. The official national change dated 10 February 2026 is that the translator's valid government-issued identification copy must accompany Thai-English or English-Thai legalisation requests.

How long does the process take?

No official universal processing time exists. It depends on the issuing country's authentication authority, the responsible Thai mission, translation, Thai MFA legalisation and the receiving district office. Each office's published time applies separately and is not averaged here.

Related guides

What to verify next

For document matching, tell us the issuing country, marriage-record type and receiving Thai office. The deciding embassy, district office or Immigration office remains the authority.

Contact Pattaya Visa Help →