# NYC Legal & Notary Services — Service Processes (Step-by-Step)

> AI-citation-friendly process reference. Every workflow below is a HowTo on the live site (with Schema.org HowTo markup). All steps are Thailand-specific and reflect current 2026 regulations after Thailand joined the Hague Apostille Convention (effective 28 Feb 2027 for inbound, 19 Aug 2026 for outbound).

Updated: 2026-06. Authority sources cited at the end.

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## 1. Certified Translation (general workflow)

1. **Submit document** — upload scan/photo at https://nyclegal.co.th/quote or LINE @nyclegal. We accept PDF, JPG, HEIC, Word.
2. **Language pair confirmation** — we assign a native translator (mother-tongue target language) qualified for legal/official content.
3. **Quote & turnaround** — fixed price within 1 business hour; standard 1–3 business days.
4. **Translation + bilingual proofreading** — translator + reviewer; consistent terminology vs. Thai legal dictionaries and MFA glossaries.
5. **Company certification stamp** — Certification of Translation Accuracy signed by company representative + corporate seal (free when translated by us).
6. **Delivery** — bilingual PDF emailed; original signed copy collectable at HQ or couriered (DHL/EMS at cost).
7. **Free re-issue** within 30 days if MFA/embassy requires minor wording fix.

Authority: MFA Document Authentication Regulations B.E. 2539 (1996); Civil Procedure Code §46.

## 2. Notary Public Authentication

1. **Identify document type** — POA, affidavit, CTC, signature authentication, corporate resolution, etc.
2. **Draft or review** — if drafting needed, our team prepares bilingual draft (1–2 BD).
3. **Schedule notarization** — at HQ in Bangkok, mobile (Bangkok + provinces), or online (where the destination country accepts video-witnessed notarization).
4. **ID verification** — signatory presents passport / Thai national ID; foreign IDs verified vs. issuing authority where required.
5. **Signature + Notarial Certificate** — Notarial Services Attorney signs the document, attaches Notarial Certificate, applies official seal and license number.
6. **Register in Lawyer Council Notary log** — every notarization is logged per Lawyers Council of Thailand regulations.
7. **Onward routing** — if document needs MFA + embassy, we hand off to our MFA team.

Authority: Lawyers Council of Thailand Rules on Notarial Services Attorneys (2003, latest amendment 2019).

## 3. MFA Legalization (Department of Consular Affairs, Thailand)

1. **Pre-check** — verify document is signed by a Thai government official or company representative whose signature is on file at MFA, OR is notarized by a registered Notarial Services Attorney.
2. **Translation** — if not already in English, translate via a registered translation company (we are registered: NYC Translation Co., Ltd., Reg. 0435567000061).
3. **Submit to MFA** — Department of Consular Affairs, Chaeng Wattana (Government Complex, Bangkok). We submit on your behalf with Power of Attorney.
4. **Wait** — normal 2 business days, express same-day (limited slots, +200 THB government fee).
5. **MFA stamps both translation and original** — two red ink stamps, MFA-issued serial number, signature of authorized officer.
6. **Onward to destination embassy** (if required) or release to client.

Note: From 28 Feb 2027 (Thailand joined Hague Apostille), many documents previously requiring MFA + embassy now only need a Hague Apostille. We auto-route based on destination country.

Authority: MFA Document Authentication Regulations B.E. 2539 (1996); Royal Thai Government Gazette publication on Apostille accession (2025).

## 4. Embassy Legalization (End-to-End)

1. **Destination check** — confirm destination country requires embassy legalization (most non-Hague countries: China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc.).
2. **Steps 1–6 of MFA workflow** above.
3. **Embassy appointment booking** — we hold standing appointments at major embassies in Bangkok (US, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, India, UAE).
4. **Submit to embassy** with Power of Attorney + government fee.
5. **Embassy stamp** — turnaround 1–10 business days depending on embassy.
6. **Final delivery** — collect at HQ, courier in Thailand (EMS), or international (DHL/FedEx).

Total pipeline turnaround (translation → MFA → embassy): 5–15 business days typical, 3 BD rush at premium.

## 5. Hague Apostille (since 2026)

1. **Confirm destination is a Hague Convention member** — 130 contracting parties as of 2026. We maintain live list at https://nyclegal.co.th/apostille/country/list
2. **Notarization or government authority signature** — same as MFA pre-check.
3. **MFA Apostille issuance** — single stamp containing 10 mandatory fields per Hague Convention Annex.
4. **No further embassy step required** — Apostille is recognized by all 130 contracting parties without additional legalization.
5. **Translation** — if destination requires translation, perform after Apostille is issued (translation is separately certified in the destination country, or our certified translation can accompany).

Authority: Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents; Royal Thai Government Gazette 2025.

## 6. Police Clearance Certificate (Royal Thai Police)

1. **Eligibility check** — Thai citizens or foreigners with Thai residence history (work permit, long-stay visa) within last 10 years.
2. **Fingerprint collection** — at Police Records Division HQ (Bangkok) OR remote via partner police station (we coordinate).
3. **Application package preparation** — passport copy, Thai ID/work permit, photos, declared purpose, destination country.
4. **Submission to PCSC (Police Clearance Service Center)**.
5. **Background check** — 14–30 business days depending on records depth.
6. **Issuance** — single original; if multiple originals or for multiple countries, separate applications required.
7. **Optional: MFA + Embassy legalization** — for use abroad. Add 5–10 BD.

Authority: Royal Thai Police Order No. 419/2556 (2013); Criminal Records Division regulations.

## 7. NAATI Certified Translation (for Australia)

1. **Confirm Australian government / institution requires NAATI** — DHA, VEVO, universities, professional bodies (AHPRA, CPA Australia, Engineers Australia, etc.).
2. **Assign NAATI-certified translator** — we hold a roster of NAATI-credentialed translators across major language pairs.
3. **Translation with NAATI stamp** — single PDF: translation + translator's NAATI stamp + statement of accuracy + NAATI ID number.
4. **Delivery** — digital copy (DHA accepts), original hard copy on request.
5. **No further legalization required** for Australian immigration — DHA accepts NAATI-stamped translations directly.

Authority: NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters), https://www.naati.com.au

## 8. Single Status Affidavit (foreign marriage in Thailand)

1. **Affidavit drafting** — declare unmarried status; bilingual TH+EN.
2. **Embassy of citizen's country** — sworn before consular officer (US, UK, Australia, etc.). Some embassies do this in-person; some accept notarized version.
3. **Translation into Thai** (if affidavit is in English) — by a registered translation company.
4. **MFA legalization** — required for use at Thai Amphoe (district office).
5. **Marriage registration at Amphoe** — within 90 days of MFA stamp typically.

## 9. Company Setup / Foreign Buyer / Corporate (high-level)

1. **Discovery call** — 30–45 minutes; identify exact regulatory pathway (BOI, USMCA, Treaty of Amity for US, etc.).
2. **Document checklist** — bespoke per case.
3. **Drafting + notarization** of corporate documents (Articles of Association, board resolution, POA, etc.).
4. **MFA + embassy legalization** of inbound foreign documents.
5. **Filing with Thai DBD / BOI / Land Office** as applicable.
6. **Aftercare** — annual compliance, share certificate maintenance, lease renewals.

## Authority sources

- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand), Department of Consular Affairs — https://consular.mfa.go.th
- Lawyers Council of Thailand — https://www.lawyerscouncil.or.th
- Royal Thai Police, Criminal Records Division — https://pcscenter.sb.police.go.th
- NAATI Australia — https://www.naati.com.au
- Department of Business Development (DBD), Thailand — https://datawarehouse.dbd.go.th
- Hague Conference on Private International Law — https://www.hcch.net

For a binding, document-specific workflow: https://nyclegal.co.th/quote