Authentication & Legalization for Thailand
Thailand is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so U.S. documents must go through state and federal authentication, then legalization by the Royal Thai Embassy or a Thai Consulate. We coordinate all of these steps for you.
Serving clients across California and nationwide. Same-day document preparation available for urgent cases.
Why Thailand uses consular legalization instead of apostilles
Since Thailand is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, Thai authorities do not accept standard apostilles. Instead, U.S. documents must be authenticated and then legalized through a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate before they can be used in Thailand.
- No apostille: Thailand requires a traditional chain of authentication and consular legalization rather than a one-step apostille.
- State authentication: State-issued and notarized documents usually need certification by the Secretary of State where they were issued or notarized.
- Federal authentication: Many documents then need U.S. Department of State authentication in Washington, D.C. before Thailand will legalize them.
- Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate: The final step is legalization by the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. or the Thai Consulate with jurisdiction for your state.
Why people need U.S. documents legalized for Thailand
Many couples registering a marriage at a district office (Amphur) in Thailand need legalized single-status affidavits, divorce decrees, and other personal documents.
Retirement and other long-stay visas can require legalized income and pension letters, FBI background checks, and other supporting documents from the U.S.
Employers and Thai immigration authorities may request legalized diplomas, transcripts, employment letters, and corporate documents for work permits and business visas.
Legalized powers of attorney, court orders, and estate documents are often needed to manage property, inheritance, or legal issues involving Thailand.
Common documents we authenticate and legalize for use in Thailand
Birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates; single-status affidavits; and court orders related to family or name changes.
Income verification letters, pension statements, bank letters, and other financial documents needed for retirement or long-stay visas.
Diplomas, transcripts, and enrollment letters for study, work, or licensing in Thailand.
FBI background checks, state criminal history reports, and certain federal agency letters that require U.S. Department of State authentication and Thai legalization.
Articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, corporate resolutions, and powers of attorney used for Thai business registration and banking.
Powers of attorney, consent letters, and affidavits for use with Thai immigration offices, banks, and government agencies.
How we handle authentication and legalization for Thailand
Step 1 — Document review
You tell us which documents you have, where they were issued, and what they will be used for in Thailand. We confirm whether each document is in the right format and explain any corrections, reissuance, or notarization needed first.
Step 2 — State authentication
We submit your state-issued and notarized documents to the correct Secretary of State office for authentication, following their specific forms, fees, and submission rules.
Step 3 — U.S. Department of State
When required, we send your authenticated documents to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. for federal authentication, which the Royal Thai Embassy or consulates generally require.
Step 4 — Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate
We then submit your packet to the Royal Thai Embassy or the Thai Consulate that covers your state, follow their legalization process, and return your fully legalized documents ready for use in Thailand.
Key details for Thai legalization
- Correct consulate: Each Royal Thai Consulate in the U.S. covers specific states. Sending documents to the wrong one can cause delays.
- Complete chain of authentication: Thai authorities usually expect a full chain: notarization or certification, state authentication, federal authentication, then consular legalization.
- Translations: Many Thai offices require certified Thai translations for English-language documents, especially for marriage, visas, and court matters.
- Appointment and mailing rules: Embassies and consulates can have specific appointment systems, mailing procedures, and fee structures that must be followed precisely.
How long Thailand legalization can take
Often 3–10 business days by mail, depending on the state and whether expedited or walk-in service is available.
Typically 4–8 weeks by mail for federal authentication, depending on volume and current processing conditions.
Often 1–2 weeks after the Thai Embassy or Consulate receives your documents, depending on the office and how you apply.
We give you a realistic timeline for your specific documents, consulate, and deadline before you commit.
Ready to plan your Thailand legalization?
Tell us which Thai office will receive your documents, what they are for, and when you need them ready. We will map out the full authentication and consular legalization path for you.
Same-day preparation available for many cases. Serving clients across California and nationwide.