What's the difference between a Notary Public and a lawyer who certifies documents?

Thailand uses Civil Law; there is no 'Notary Public' office. Instead, the Lawyers Council of Thailand licenses qualified attorneys as Notarial Services Attorneys, who can notarize signatures and certify document copies for overseas use. Typical fee is THB 1,500–3,000 per set.

If the document is destined for a Hague Apostille country, ensure your notarial attorney has their signature specimen filed with the MFA — otherwise legalization will fail.

How long does MFA legalization in Bangkok actually take?

Standard service: 3 working days (pickup on day 4). Express: 1 working day. Fees are THB 400/seal (standard) or THB 800/seal (express). When NYC Legal handles the run, we batch-submit daily Mon–Fri and provide LINE status tracking.

Does a NAATI-certified translation expire?

NAATI itself doesn't set an expiry on translations. However, the destination authority (e.g. Australian Department of Home Affairs) usually requires the underlying source document (marriage cert, PCC, etc.) to be issued within 3–12 months — so the translation effectively expires with the source.

Can I skip MFA and go straight to the embassy for legalization?

No. Every embassy in Bangkok that legalizes Thai documents requires a Thai MFA (Department of Consular Affairs) seal first. Without it, the embassy will refuse the submission at the counter.

Can I translate my own document and have a lawyer certify it?

Technically yes, but virtually all embassies and foreign agencies reject self-translations — translator and document owner being the same person is a conflict of interest. Use an embassy-listed translation office or a NAATI/certified translator instead.

When will Thailand join the Hague Apostille Convention?

As of May 2026, Thailand's MFA is studying accession to the Hague Apostille Convention but no ratification date has been set. Estimated timeline is at least 2–3 more years. Until then, Thai documents still need full legalization chain.

Can I request a Thai Police Clearance while living abroad?

Yes — either (1) give a notarized POA to a Thai lawyer who'll file at the Criminal Records Division in Chaeng Wattana, or (2) get fingerprints taken at a local police station abroad and mail the FD-258 card to Thailand. NYC Legal handles end-to-end in 7–10 working days.

How is translation priced — per page or per word?

Civil-registry documents (Tabien Baan, ID card, birth cert) are priced per page from THB 350. Legal, contracts and medical reports are priced per source word from THB 1.20 (common languages) up to ~THB 3 (rare languages like Burmese, Tagalog).

I signed a Power of Attorney abroad — how do I make it valid in Thailand?

Process: (1) local Notary Public certifies the signature, (2) Apostille or local government legalization, (3) Royal Thai Embassy in that country authenticates, (4) in Thailand, a Thai lawyer certifies the Thai translation. Total ~2–4 weeks.

Thai marriage certificate for Australian use — what kind of translation is required?

Australian Department of Home Affairs only accepts NAATI Certified translations (it does not accept MFA legalization). NYC Legal has in-house NAATI Certified Thai↔English translators. THB 1,500/page, PDF in 24h, hard copy with NAATI stamp in 3 working days.

What's the difference between an ED visa and a Non-B visa?

ED Visa (Non-ED) is for study only — no work allowed; 90 days to 1 year, extendable. Non-B Visa is for working in Thailand — requires a paired Work Permit; the sponsoring company needs ≥ THB 2M registered capital per Work Permit.

Do embassies in Bangkok accept credit cards for legalization fees?

Varies. Most (US, UK, Australia, Germany) require bank transfer or cashier's check — no cash. China, Japan, Korea accept counter cash. NYC Legal can advance the fees for you and provides a full VAT invoice.

How do I find a specific question?

Click any heading below — each question has its own anchor URL (e.g. /en/qa#notary-vs-lawyer-certification) you can bookmark or share directly.

Q&A: Real Questions from NYC Legal Clients

The 12 most-asked questions from our LINE and email intake — answered by licensed Thai attorneys and NAATI translators, with real upvote counts from readers.

NotaryAsked by Pat S.2026-02-04· 38 upvotes
What's the difference between a Notary Public and a lawyer who certifies documents?
Accepted Answer
Thailand uses Civil Law; there is no 'Notary Public' office. Instead, the Lawyers Council of Thailand licenses qualified attorneys as Notarial Services Attorneys, who can notarize signatures and certify document copies for overseas use. Typical fee is THB 1,500–3,000 per set.
Suggested · 12 upvotes
If the document is destined for a Hague Apostille country, ensure your notarial attorney has their signature specimen filed with the MFA — otherwise legalization will fail.
🔗 Direct link to this question
Legalization (MFA)Asked by Khun Mai2026-03-12· 54 upvotes
How long does MFA legalization in Bangkok actually take?
Accepted Answer
Standard service: 3 working days (pickup on day 4). Express: 1 working day. Fees are THB 400/seal (standard) or THB 800/seal (express). When NYC Legal handles the run, we batch-submit daily Mon–Fri and provide LINE status tracking.
🔗 Direct link to this question
NAATIAsked by Joy T.2026-01-22· 41 upvotes
Does a NAATI-certified translation expire?
Accepted Answer
NAATI itself doesn't set an expiry on translations. However, the destination authority (e.g. Australian Department of Home Affairs) usually requires the underlying source document (marriage cert, PCC, etc.) to be issued within 3–12 months — so the translation effectively expires with the source.
🔗 Direct link to this question
Legalization (MFA)Asked by Khun Ton2026-04-02· 29 upvotes
Can I skip MFA and go straight to the embassy for legalization?
Accepted Answer
No. Every embassy in Bangkok that legalizes Thai documents requires a Thai MFA (Department of Consular Affairs) seal first. Without it, the embassy will refuse the submission at the counter.
🔗 Direct link to this question
TranslationAsked by Nan W.2025-12-09· 47 upvotes
Can I translate my own document and have a lawyer certify it?
Accepted Answer
Technically yes, but virtually all embassies and foreign agencies reject self-translations — translator and document owner being the same person is a conflict of interest. Use an embassy-listed translation office or a NAATI/certified translator instead.
🔗 Direct link to this question
ApostilleAsked by Khun Aey2026-05-01· 62 upvotes
When will Thailand join the Hague Apostille Convention?
Accepted Answer
As of May 2026, Thailand's MFA is studying accession to the Hague Apostille Convention but no ratification date has been set. Estimated timeline is at least 2–3 more years. Until then, Thai documents still need full legalization chain.
🔗 Direct link to this question
Legalization (MFA)Asked by Khun Pim2026-02-18· 33 upvotes
Can I request a Thai Police Clearance while living abroad?
Accepted Answer
Yes — either (1) give a notarized POA to a Thai lawyer who'll file at the Criminal Records Division in Chaeng Wattana, or (2) get fingerprints taken at a local police station abroad and mail the FD-258 card to Thailand. NYC Legal handles end-to-end in 7–10 working days.
🔗 Direct link to this question
TranslationAsked by Khun Boss2026-03-28· 25 upvotes
How is translation priced — per page or per word?
Accepted Answer
Civil-registry documents (Tabien Baan, ID card, birth cert) are priced per page from THB 350. Legal, contracts and medical reports are priced per source word from THB 1.20 (common languages) up to ~THB 3 (rare languages like Burmese, Tagalog).
🔗 Direct link to this question
NotaryAsked by Khun Joom2026-01-08· 36 upvotes
I signed a Power of Attorney abroad — how do I make it valid in Thailand?
Accepted Answer
Process: (1) local Notary Public certifies the signature, (2) Apostille or local government legalization, (3) Royal Thai Embassy in that country authenticates, (4) in Thailand, a Thai lawyer certifies the Thai translation. Total ~2–4 weeks.
🔗 Direct link to this question
NAATIAsked by Mae K.2026-04-20· 58 upvotes
Thai marriage certificate for Australian use — what kind of translation is required?
Accepted Answer
Australian Department of Home Affairs only accepts NAATI Certified translations (it does not accept MFA legalization). NYC Legal has in-house NAATI Certified Thai↔English translators. THB 1,500/page, PDF in 24h, hard copy with NAATI stamp in 3 working days.
🔗 Direct link to this question
VisaAsked by Khun Earth2026-03-05· 22 upvotes
What's the difference between an ED visa and a Non-B visa?
Accepted Answer
ED Visa (Non-ED) is for study only — no work allowed; 90 days to 1 year, extendable. Non-B Visa is for working in Thailand — requires a paired Work Permit; the sponsoring company needs ≥ THB 2M registered capital per Work Permit.
🔗 Direct link to this question
Legalization (MFA)Asked by Khun Bow2026-04-15· 19 upvotes
Do embassies in Bangkok accept credit cards for legalization fees?
Accepted Answer
Varies. Most (US, UK, Australia, Germany) require bank transfer or cashier's check — no cash. China, Japan, Korea accept counter cash. NYC Legal can advance the fees for you and provides a full VAT invoice.
🔗 Direct link to this question

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