Signature Witnessing by Notarial Attorney · THB 800–1,800 · Includes English-language Notarial Certificate
A Notarial Services Attorney (Lawyers Council of Thailand) witnesses your signature in person or via secure video.
At a glance
What is included
- Booked with a Lawyers-Council-registered Notarial Attorney
- In-person ID/passport verification
- Seal + entry in the Notarial Register
- English-language Notarial Certificate issued
- PDF scan + collectible original at our Sukhumvit office
Not included (transparent)
- MFA legalization for overseas use
- International courier fees
Common use cases
- Overseas university admission forms
- Foreign bank KYC forms
- Overseas registry identity verification
- Credit-card verification affidavits
In-person vs mobile vs video-witnessed options
We support attendance at our Sukhumvit office, mobile on-site visits (hospital/hotel/office), and video-witnessed notarisation with an audit-recorded call — pick what your destination country accepts.
Warranty and re-issue policy
In Thailand, only a Notarial Services Attorney trained and licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand may notarise. Seals from unlicensed practitioners are refused by foreign consulates and registrars — always verify the attorney's registration number.
When you also need MFA + embassy legalization
The THB 800–1,800 fee includes the attorney charge, the in-person original inspection, the notarial seal, the English-language Notarial Certificate, and the register entry that makes the act verifiable years later. No hidden line-items.
The Notarial Register — traceability and verification
The 1–2-day standard covers scheduling, in-person notarisation, and Notarial Certificate preparation. Same-day rush is available in Bangkok at +30–50%.
How Thai notarisation differs from Anglo-American notaries
Anglo-American notaries (US, UK) hold a broader public office. In Thailand that scope is delegated to Notarial Attorneys via a specific Lawyers Council authorisation.
The 1–2-day timeline and rush options
Bring: original national ID or passport, the underlying original document, one copy, and a note on the destination country and intended use — the attorney will format the Notarial Certificate accordingly.
How the notarisation runs
- 11. Send documents and detailsBy LINE @nyclegal, email, or WhatsApp with destination country and intended use
- 22. Locked THB 800–1,800 quote within 30 minutesWe match a Lawyers-Council-registered Notarial Attorney to your job
- 33. Book — office / on-site / videoWhichever suits you. Appointment inside 1–2 business days
- 44. Attorney notarises in your presenceOriginal inspection, seal, Notarial Certificate, register entry
- 55. PDF plus original returnedPDF same day. Original by EMS/DHL to your address
Where it is accepted
Frequently asked
Q1.Do you offer video notarisation?
For destinations that accept e-Notary. We record the session and note the method on the Notarial Certificate.
Q2.When do I need MFA on top?
Whenever the destination requires 'legalization' or 'Apostille' in addition to notarisation. Our Full Chain package covers it.
Q3.Which countries accept this?
Worldwide use. Hague states add an Apostille; non-Hague (China, India, etc.) also add MFA + destination embassy legalization.
Q4.Do you serve clients outside Bangkok?
Yes. Send photos for a quote, then ship the originals by Kerry/EMS. Returns go by EMS or DHL.
Q5.Do I need to visit the office?
Not required. Choose our Sukhumvit office, mobile on-site (home/hospital/hotel), or a video-witnessed call.
Q6.What must I bring?
Original ID or passport, the underlying original document, one photocopy, and a note on the destination and use.
Q7.How many days?
1–2 business days standard. Same-day rush in Bangkok is +30–50%.
Q8.Are Thai notaries recognised overseas?
Yes — provided the attorney holds the Lawyers Council of Thailand Notarial Services Attorney licence. We include the registration number on every Notarial Certificate.
Related notary services
Ready to notarise?
Our Notarial Attorney team works every business day — office, on-site, or video, whichever suits you.
Full service playbook — Notarial Services Attorney (Thailand)
Thailand has no common-law Notary Public. The equivalent is a Notarial Services Attorney, a lawyer certified and registered by the Lawyers Council of Thailand, whose certificates are accepted by most overseas authorities.
Responsible authority: Notarial Services Attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand
Documents to prepare
- Original passport or Thai ID of every signatory (shown in person)
- The original document to be certified, all pages included
- The photocopy to be certified, if you need a certified true copy
- Any destination-specific form or power of attorney template
- Company affidavit issued within 6 months plus director ID, for corporate files
- An English translation where the source document is in Thai
Step-by-step process
- 1. Classify the certificate requiredsame day
Decide between signature witnessing, certified true copy, affidavit/oath, or certification of translation — the wording differs for each.
- 2. Attend and sign before the attorney15–30 minutes
Signatories sign in person with original ID; corporate files need the director named on the company affidavit.
- 3. Attorney signs, seals and logs the registersame day
A certificate is attached to the document and entered in the register kept under Lawyers Council rules.
- 4. Proofread before use1 business day
Verify names, dates, page count and binding against the destination's instructions.
- 5. Escalate to MFA or embassy if required3–10 business days
If the destination expects consular legalisation, forward immediately so the file does not age out.
Practitioner tips
- Ask the destination whether a Thai Notarial Services Attorney is accepted directly or must be followed by MFA legalisation.
- Certify multiple documents in one sitting to keep register numbers sequential and traceable.
- Match the Latin spelling of your name to your passport exactly — receiving authorities compare character by character.
- Assemble the full set before filing once; batching is faster than submitting one document at a time.
- Photograph each seal or stamp after every stage so you can trace the file if follow-up is needed.
Cautions
- An attorney cannot certify a signature that was not made in their presence.
- Certification confirms the signature or the copy, not the truth of the content.
- Multi-page documents must be certified on every page where the rules require it, not only page one.
- Do not write on, amend, or correction-fluid an official document; request a fresh copy from the issuing office instead.
- Unsigned translations cannot be certified — the certifying office will refuse to stamp them.
DIY vs NYC handling it
| Task | Do it yourself | NYC handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Checking destination rules | You read checklists and call around yourself | We verify the current requirements and hand you one list |
| Multi-agency running | Several days off work, different queues and hours | We run the whole chain end to end for you |
| Translation and certification | You source a translator and risk rejection | Translated, double-checked and certified in one package |
| Errors and re-filing | One mistake restarts the whole chain | Pre-submission checks at every stage reduce rejections |
| Tracking | You chase the status by phone | Stage-by-stage updates on LINE with photo evidence |
Prefer not to run it yourself? NYC can handle the whole chain
Every step above can be done alone, but it means several agencies, mismatched queues, and one mistake restarting the sequence. Our attorneys and translators cover requirement checks, document re-issue, certified translation and MFA or embassy legalisation, with status updates at each stage. Send photos of your documents for a free assessment first.
Compare the options before you decide
Thailand's notarial attorney vs a foreign Notary Public
Thailand has no Notary Public office in the international sense. Equivalent work is performed by a Notarial Services Attorney licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand.
| Aspect | Thailand: notarial attorney | Abroad: Notary Public |
|---|---|---|
| Who is authorised | An attorney licensed for notarial services by the Lawyers Council | A notary appointed by the state or a court |
| Scope | Signature certification, true copies, affidavits and translations where the law allows | Varies by jurisdiction |
| Usual next step | File with the Department of Consular Affairs, then Apostille or embassy | Usually the country's own central authority |
| In-person required | Yes — you sign in front of the certifying attorney | Generally yes |
Where the receiving body uses its own terminology, follow that wording rather than claiming an equivalent title.
Apostille route vs embassy legalisation route
The destination country decides whether a file ends at an Apostille or still needs the embassy. Confirm the country's convention status first: the two routes use a different order and different paperwork.
| Aspect | Apostille route | Embassy legalisation route |
|---|---|---|
| When it applies | Destination is a party to the Apostille Convention | Destination does not accept an Apostille |
| Final authority | Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs | The destination country's embassy or consulate in Thailand |
| Typical number of steps | Fewer — the chain ends at the central authority | More — central authority first, then the embassy |
| Approximate timeframe | Shorter, still subject to the authority's queue | Longer, because the embassy appointment queue is added |
| Common rejection cause | Translation does not match the original, or the copy was not issued by the authority | The embassy's own form or language requirement was not followed |
Verify the current convention status and embassy conditions before filing.
Filing it yourself vs letting NYC run the chain
Every step can be done alone. This table compares the real workload of each option so the decision rests on time and rejection risk rather than marketing claims.
| Aspect | Do it yourself | NYC handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Checking destination rules | Read each authority's notice yourself and confirm by phone | Checked before you start, with the order the receiving authority accepts |
| Travel | Several agencies with queues that rarely line up in one day | Documents move by courier or online except where the law requires you in person |
| Rejection risk | One mismatch — a name spelled differently from the passport — restarts the chain | Names, dates and stamps are cross-checked before every filing |
| Status tracking | You follow up with each authority | Status updates at each stage, and we handle the fix if a file is returned |
| Advisory role | No one to compare options when your case falls outside the manual | You get advice on the options before work starts, not just execution |
Government fees and timeframes change; ask for an assessment of your own case before you start.
What the common mistakes actually cost
Almost every failure in notarial signature certification by a licensed attorney happens during preparation, not at the counter, and the real cost is the TIME needed to repeat the chain. Below is what each mistake comes from, how long it typically adds, and how to avoid it.
| Mistake | Why it happens | Time cost | How to prevent it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-translating, or using a translator the destination does not recognise | Some countries accept only registered translators, others only translations certified by a Thai government body. | Typically adds 4–10 working days for a fresh translation and a restarted chain. | Ask the destination exactly which form of translation it accepts, then match the translator to that form from the start. |
| Running the chain in the wrong order — embassy before the consular department | Each body only certifies the signature of the body immediately before it in the chain. | Typically adds 5–12 working days and forces a re-filing from the skipped stage. | Confirm the route with the receiving authority before starting, or have us map the chain up front. |
| Removing staples or separating pages after certification | The certification is attached to the bound set; once separated the set counts as incomplete. | Typically adds 3–7 working days to re-certify the set. | Scan first, then keep the originals in a rigid envelope without detaching anything. |
| Booking the wrong service channel or appointment type | Each channel has its own queue and document conditions; the wrong one means booking again. | Typically adds 2–14 working days depending on appointment availability that month. | Confirm the service type and the appointment date in advance and keep at least one spare week. |
| Planning without allowing for public and embassy holidays | Embassies close on both Thai and home-country holidays, so the real calendar is shorter than it looks. | Typically adds 3–9 working days around a long holiday period. | Check the holiday calendar of every body involved before fixing a travel or filing date. |
Deep timeline: what can run in parallel
The windows below are approximate and depend on each authority's queue. Stages marked as parallel can start alongside the previous stage — that is where the total calendar time is actually reduced.
- 1. Document review and certificate wordingsame day
We confirm whether you need a signature certification, a true-copy certification, or a statement of fact — each uses different wording.
- 2. Signing appointment in person1–2 working days
The signatory must appear with an original ID or passport at the moment of signing.
- 3. Certificate issued and sealedsame day
The certificate is issued with a register number and logged under Lawyers Council rules.
- 4. Onward legalisation, if the destination requires it3–10 working dayscan run in parallel
For overseas use the file may still pass the consular department and then the embassy, in that order.
Note: all windows are general estimates, not guarantees. Actual timing depends on how complete your file is and on the queues at the authorities involved.
We work as advisers, not only as a document-running agency
Our team has worked on documents, translation and legalisation for more than 15 years, combining notarial attorneys licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand with translators the receiving authorities accept. Every case starts with advice on the correct route and only then moves to execution — we do not simply run whatever is handed to us.
Before we start — mapping the document route
We confirm whether your file ends at an Apostille or still needs the embassy, whether a freshly issued copy is required, and which form of translation the receiving authority accepts. This is where most time is saved, because it is where most people choose wrongly and restart.
While preparing — consistency checks
We match the spelling of your name against the passport, check the issue date against the validity window the destination applies, verify stamps and signatures, and confirm the translation matches the original line by line.
While filing — coordination with the authorities
We file in the order each authority expects, follow the queue, and report status as it moves. If an authority asks for more paperwork, you hear about it immediately, together with the options for fixing it.
After delivery — practical guidance
We explain which bodies this set can be filed with, how to store the originals, and how many certified sets to request up front if you expect to use them again, so you do not repeat the whole chain later.
Cases where advice up front changes the outcome
- The applicant is upcountry or abroad, so the power of attorney and courier plan must be arranged carefully.
- The name on an older document does not match the current passport because of a name change or a different transliteration.
- The destination only says "certified translation" without stating which form of certification it accepts.
- Documents have a limited validity window and every item must still be valid on the day of filing.
If you are unsure which route your case takes, send photos of the documents and name the destination country or authority. We map the sequence and the paperwork first; you then decide whether to run it yourself or hand it over.
