Can I get a Thai Apostille today?

Not yet. Thailand acceded to the HCCH Apostille Convention and it enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Documents needed before that date must be legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs and then by the embassy of the destination country in Bangkok. We prepare files so the same set can be reused once the Apostille route opens.

Which documents can be apostilled?

Public documents: civil registry records such as birth, marriage and death certificates, court and police documents, notarial acts, and academic records issued by recognised institutions. Private documents, such as a company letter, are usually notarised first so a public official's signature exists to authenticate.

Does an Apostille verify the content of my document?

No. It verifies the origin: the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signatory and, where applicable, the seal or stamp. The receiving authority still assesses whether the content and translation meet its own requirements.

Apostille for Police Clearance Certificate (effective 28 Feb 2027)

Thailand will join the Hague Apostille Convention — skip the destination-embassy step, save time and cost for 130 contracting parties

DBD ทะเบียน 0435567000061 ขึ้นทะเบียนกรมการกงสุล สภาทนายความฯ · 6 Notary NAATI Certified ตอบใน 15 นาที

Turnaround

1-3 business days

Gov fee (THB)

400 (ปกติ) / 800 (ด่วน)

Legal service from

฿1,500

Authority

Department of Consular Affairs, MFA (Competent Authority under HCCH)

AI Quick Answer

Legal reference

Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents — Thailand acceded 28 Feb 2027

What is an Apostille and why does it matter?

An Apostille is a standardised certification format under the 1961 Hague Convention, accepted by 130 contracting parties in lieu of any embassy step. Thailand deposited its instrument of accession on 30 June 2026; the Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. For any PCC bound for a Hague member — USA, UK, EU, Australia, Japan, Korea, India, Mexico, Singapore, etc. — the process is 60% faster and 40% cheaper because the destination-embassy leg is eliminated.

The new post-Feb 2026 workflow

1) Obtain PCC from CID (7-15 business days) | 2) Certified translation into English or destination language (2-3 days) | 3) Apostille stamp at MFA Department of Consular Affairs (1-3 days) | 4) Done — usable in any Hague member country. Saves 7-14 days of embassy queue plus quoted on request per embassy in fees.

Common Hague member countries

Americas: USA, Canada (since 2024), Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile · Europe: UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway · Asia: Japan, Korea, India, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, Pakistan · Oceania: Australia, New Zealand · Middle East: Israel, Turkey, Bahrain, Oman. Full 125+ list at hcch.net.

Non-Hague destinations (embassy still required)

China (except Hong Kong / Macau) — despite China's own accession, bilateral Apostille recognition with Thailand has not been formally confirmed yet, so consular legalisation still applies · UAE (except GCC visa contexts) · Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman (some cases) · Vietnam · Egypt · Pakistan (outside Apostille) · Bangladesh · Myanmar · Laos · Cambodia. These destinations still follow the traditional MFA + destination-embassy chain.

Required documents

Original PCC
Certified translation (Thai → destination language)
Passport copy
Destination country and purpose

FAQ

When does Apostille go live in Thailand?

28 February 2027. Before that date the old MFA + embassy chain still applies.

Is the Apostille placed on the PCC or the translation?

On the certified translation (or the original PCC, if the destination accepts Thai). MFA affixes a rectangular Apostille stamp with a code and QR for online verification.

Can I obtain the Apostille myself?

Yes. MFA accepts direct filings, but the translation must first come from a registered translator, and queue time is 3-7 days. With NYC Legal it drops to 1-3 days.

Do all Hague members accept Thailand's Apostille immediately?

Most do. A few members may lodge a bilateral objection — check hcch.net or ask our team to verify before you file.

What does an Apostille cost?

Government fee quoted on request (standard) / quoted on request (rush) + our service quoted on request including travel and delivery.

Related services

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Aspect	On your own	With NYC Legal
Choosing the route	Public reporting about the apostille date is confusing and the wrong route wastes weeks.	We confirm the effective date and the destination's requirement before any work starts.
Translation quality	Name spellings that differ from the passport are the single most common rejection cause.	Names, dates and document numbers are checked against the original before submission.
Multi-agency handling	Repeated trips to submit and collect documents.	We run the chain continuously and report status at each stage.

Option	What it is	Best for	Watch out for
Notarial Services Attorney (Thailand)	A lawyer licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand to certify signatures and documents.	Signature and true-copy certification, powers of attorney, documents for foreign schools or companies.	This is not a US-style Notary Public; some receiving parties still require consular legalization on top.
MFA legalization (Department of Consular Affairs)	Certification of the signature/seal of the issuing Thai authority by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.	Thai civil and government records used abroad: house registration, marriage, birth, police clearance.	Translations must follow the format the MFA accepts, otherwise the file is returned and you lose a cycle.
Destination embassy / consulate legalization	A further certification by the destination country's embassy in Thailand after the MFA step.	Countries that do not accept an Apostille, or authorities that explicitly require an embassy stamp.	Each embassy has its own intake days, forms and translation requirements — verify before filing.
Apostille (Hague Convention of 1961)	A single-layer certification used between member states in place of multi-step embassy legalization.	Documents issued in one member state and used in another member state.	Thailand deposited its instrument of accession on 30 June 2026 and the Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Until then Thai documents still follow the MFA + embassy route.