Case study: the Thai corporate document set for overseas expansion
Opening a subsidiary, opening a bank account or signing a contract abroad normally requires a recent company affidavit, the shareholder list, the memorandum of association and a board resolution. Each item is translated and certified in the order the destination requires. A full set typically takes five to fifteen working days.
Who this is for: Executives, in-house counsel and company secretaries who must present Thai corporate records to a foreign authority, bank or counterparty.
Reviewed by our advisory team (15+ years combined experience) · Last updated
Key facts
| Document age | Affidavits are commonly required to be issued within 30–90 days |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Department of Business Development (DBD) |
| Total duration | 5–15 working days, depending on the number of certification layers |
| Target language | English in most cases; some countries require their own official language |
Documents you need
- Current company affidavit issued by the DBD
- Shareholder list (Bor Or Jor 5)
- Memorandum of association and articles of association
- Board resolution approving the transaction and naming the authorised signatory
- Passport or identification card of the signing director
- Power of attorney where a representative will act
Step-by-step process
1. Obtain freshly issued records from the DBD
The affidavit and shareholder list are re-issued for each transaction because destinations impose an age limit on them.
Handled by: Department of Business Development · Typical time: Same day to 3 working days
2. Draft the board resolution around the actual transaction
The scope of authority, the transaction and the signatory are stated precisely so the receiving party does not read the mandate too narrowly.
Handled by: Company secretary / advisory team · Typical time: 1–3 working days
3. Translate with a single, consistent corporate glossary
The company name, officer titles and share classes must be rendered identically across every document, otherwise the reader may treat them as two different entities.
Handled by: Translation team · Typical time: 2–4 working days
4. Certify in the order the destination requires
Typically Notary Public, then the Department of Consular Affairs, then the destination country's embassy where that is still required.
Handled by: Notary / MFA / embassy · Typical time: 3–10 working days
Common reasons files are rejected
- Using an affidavit older than the age limit set by the receiving party.
- The company name translated inconsistently between documents in the same bundle.
- A board resolution drafted too broadly or too narrowly to cover the real transaction.
- Forgetting to translate seals and the certifying officer's signature block on the original.
- Filing at the embassy before the MFA step, which breaks the certification order.
Comparing the available routes
| Option | Use when | Typical time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Translation with a certificate of accuracy | A private counterparty only needs a reliable translation | 2–4 working days | Not sufficient for filing with a foreign government body |
| Notary + MFA certification | The destination is a government body or a bank | 5–10 working days | The most common route for corporate work |
| Full chain up to the destination embassy | The destination country requires double certification | 8–15 working days | Allow for each embassy's appointment queue |
Frequently asked questions
Does the company affidavit have to be re-issued every time?
In practice yes. Most foreign authorities and banks require the affidavit to have been issued within 30 to 90 days of filing, so a previously certified copy is usually rejected and the certification attached to it cannot be reused.
Do the articles of association have to be translated in full?
It depends on the destination. Bank account opening and subsidiary registration usually require the whole document so the reviewer can check directors' powers and share transfer restrictions; other transactions accept the relevant clauses only. We confirm the scope with the receiving party first so nothing essential is left out and nothing unnecessary is translated.
How should the board resolution be drafted?
State the meeting date, the quorum, the transaction approved, the signatory's scope of authority and the period during which the mandate is valid. Too broad invites questions about specificity; too narrow forces a fresh meeting when transaction details change, so it is worth drafting with an adviser from the start.
Does it help if the destination country is an Apostille member?
The destination's membership only shortens the chain when the issuing country can also issue an Apostille. For documents issued in Thailand, follow the status and dates set out on our Apostille page and confirm with the receiving authority before planning.
Can your team manage the whole bundle?
Yes — from confirming the checklist with the receiving party, obtaining the Thai records, drafting and reviewing the resolution, translating with a consistent glossary, through every certification layer and delivery. Clients do not have to coordinate several agencies themselves, which is where most bundles fail.
ปรึกษาทีมงานก่อนเริ่มดำเนินการ
ทีมงานของเรามีประสบการณ์มากกว่า 15 ปีในงานแปล รับรองเอกสาร และการยื่นต่อหน่วยงานราชการทั้งในและต่างประเทศ เราให้คำปรึกษาตั้งแต่การเลือกเส้นทางรับรองที่ถูกต้อง การจัดลำดับเอกสาร ไปจนถึงการแก้ไขเคสที่เคยถูกตีกลับ
- ประเมินเคสก่อนเริ่มงาน เพื่อบอกได้ว่าเอกสารชุดใดจำเป็นจริง และชุดใดไม่ต้องทำ
- วางลำดับขั้นตอนให้ถูกต้องตั้งแต่ต้น ลดความเสี่ยงถูกตีกลับและต้องเริ่มใหม่
- อธิบายข้อกำหนดของปลายทาง (สถานทูต หน่วยงาน หรือหน่วยงานต่างประเทศ) ตามที่ประกาศไว้ ณ วันที่ให้คำปรึกษา
- หากคุณไม่อยากยุ่งยาก เราดูแลให้ครบทั้งกระบวนการ ตั้งแต่แปล รับรอง จนถึงรับเอกสารคืน
ผลการพิจารณาขึ้นอยู่กับดุลพินิจของหน่วยงานปลายทาง เราให้คำแนะนำตามแนวปฏิบัติล่าสุดที่ตรวจสอบได้