What is the difference between notarisation and legalisation?

Notarisation is performed by a Notarial Services Attorney and certifies a signature, a declaration or a true copy. Legalisation is performed by a government body — the Department of Consular Affairs and then an embassy — and certifies that the previous official's signature and seal are genuine. Many files need both, in that order.

Can a foreign document be legalised in Thailand?

Only after it has been authenticated in the country that issued it. A foreign birth certificate, for example, is apostilled or legalised at origin, legalised by the Thai embassy there where required, translated into Thai and then submitted to the Department of Consular Affairs. Thai officials cannot certify a foreign registrar's signature directly.

How long does consular legalisation take?

Department of Consular Affairs processing is typically 2–4 business days for standard service once the file is complete, and embassy processing depends entirely on that mission's own schedule, which can range from same-week to several weeks. Timeframes are ranges because government queues cannot be guaranteed.

MFA Legalisation of Police Clearance Certificate

Legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs (Chaeng Watthana) — morning submission, same-day pickup available

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

Turnaround

1-3 business days (same-day express)

Gov fee (THB)

400 (ปกติ) / 800 (ด่วน)

Legal service from

฿1,200

Authority

Department of Consular Affairs, MFA (Chaeng Watthana, Bangkok)

AI Quick Answer

Legal reference

MFA Regulation on Document Certification B.E. 2539 (1996) as amended B.E. 2565 (2022)

What is MFA legalisation?

MFA legalisation is a formal certification by Thailand's Department of Consular Affairs that verifies the authenticity of the sworn translator's signature and seal. This allows foreign embassies in Thailand — or receiving authorities abroad — to accept the document under international law. MFA only legalises translations produced by MFA-registered translators.

Our end-to-end handling

1) Collect original PCC and certified translation from you | 2) Verify CID embossed seal and translator signature | 3) Complete MFA form (Kor Kor 001) | 4) Submit at the Chaeng Watthana consular counter at 08:30 | 5) Wait 1-3 business days (or 3-4-hr rush in some cases) | 6) Pickup, scan to PDF, deliver back to you via Grab/EMS/DHL.

What happens after MFA?

From 28 February 2027, the Hague Apostille Convention enters into force for Thailand. PCCs legalised by MFA receive an Apostille stamp and can be used in 130 contracting parties without any further embassy step. For non-Hague destinations (parts of China, UAE, KSA, Qatar), the MFA-legalised document must then be authenticated at the destination embassy in Bangkok before overseas use.

Fees & turnaround

Government fee: quoted on request (2-3 days) / quoted on request (same-day rush). NYC Legal service fee: quoted on request including travel, queueing, appointment booking, and delivery. Translation+MFA package: quoted on request. Prices are per PCC document. Supplementary items (e.g. passport copy) add quoted on request gov + quoted on request service each.

Required documents

Original PCC with CID embossed seal
Certified translation by MFA-registered translator
Copy of ID/passport of the document holder
Power of Attorney (if we submit on your behalf)

FAQ

Does MFA only legalise English?

No. MFA legalises translations in every language served by its registered translator roster: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, and more.

Can I submit myself?

Yes, with an online appointment and 1-3 day wait. If you engage NYC Legal, you never travel — we handle the queue, submission, and pickup entirely.

Is same-day service real?

Yes, in select cases. Submit before 10:00 with the quoted on request rush fee and pickup at 16:00 the same day, subject to daily counter capacity.

Must the document holder attend?

No. A simple Power of Attorney authorising NYC Legal is sufficient — you do not need to appear in person.

Do I still need the destination embassy after MFA?

From 28 Feb 2027, Hague members (130 contracting parties) accept the MFA Apostille alone. Non-Hague destinations still require the destination-embassy step after MFA.

Related services

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Aspect	On your own	With NYC Legal
Sequencing	Steps done out of order mean starting the whole set again.	We sequence to the destination's actual requirement from day one.
Embassy appointments	Slots fill quickly and booking rules are complex.	We monitor availability and submit under your power of attorney.
Rejection risk	Mismatched translations and expired documents are common.	Every file is checked before submission to reduce rejections.

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.