Certified True Copy service for use in Thailand and abroad
A certified true copy is issued when a Thai notarial services attorney compares your original against the copy and signs a certificate confirming they match. Standard files are completed the same day to one working day once originals are available, and we can continue the chain through the Department of Consular Affairs and the destination embassy when the receiving authority requires it.
Who this is for: Applicants filing with banks, universities and foreign authorities, and companies sending corporate document sets overseas.
Key facts
| Certifier | Notarial services attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand |
|---|---|
| Standard turnaround | Same day to 1 working day, excluding downstream government queues |
| Original required | The original or an authority-issued certified extract must be presented |
| Chain option | Consular Affairs, then destination embassy, where required |
Documents to prepare
- Original document to be copied, or an authority-issued certified extract
- A clean copy with no cropped edges and no watermark over the text
- ID card or passport of the signatory
- Company affidavit issued within the last 6 months for corporate files
- Power of attorney with copies of both IDs if a representative attends
- Written requirements from the receiving authority, if you have them
How the work actually runs
- 1. Send scans for assessment
Photograph or scan every page so our team can confirm the document is certifiable and identify the level of legalisation the destination expects.
Handled by: Client and advisory team · Time: Same day
- 2. Confirm scope and chain order
Decide whether the file ends at attorney certification or continues to Consular Affairs and the embassy, because the wrong order forces a restart.
Handled by: Advisory team · Time: Same day
- 3. Compare original with copy
The attorney checks page count, page numbers, seals and the issuing officer's signature.
Handled by: Notarial attorney · Time: Same day
- 4. Sign and seal the certificate
The certification wording, date, register number and seal are applied in the format prescribed by the Lawyers Council.
Handled by: Notarial attorney · Time: Same day to 1 working day
- 5. Continue the legalisation chain
Submit to the Department of Consular Affairs and then the destination embassy in the order the destination requires.
Handled by: Filing team · Time: 2–5 working days per authority
- 6. Return the file
Collect at our office or receive by EMS/DHL with tracking, plus a digital copy for your records.
Handled by: Operations team · Time: 1–5 working days depending on destination
Why cases get rejected
- Sending only a copy with no original available for comparison
- Missing pages, or cropped scans that cut off official seals
- Corporate records older than the 3–6 month window many destinations accept
- Certifying before translation when the destination requires the reverse order
- Name spellings that differ across documents with no same-person affidavit
Compare your options
| Option | Use when | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified extract from the issuing authority | The destination accepts only authority-issued extracts | 1–7 working days | Safest route for strict receiving authorities |
| Attorney certified true copy | The destination accepts a notarial attorney certificate | Same day to 1 working day | Fastest route and can continue to consular legalisation |
| Attorney plus Consular Affairs | The file is used abroad and a full chain is requested | 3–7 working days | Until 27 Feb 2027 the consular chain applies, not an Apostille |
Frequently asked questions
How is a certified copy different from signature notarisation?
A certified copy confirms the copy matches the original; signature notarisation confirms a person signed before the attorney. Many files need both in the same bundle.
Can I use the service from abroad?
Yes. Send originals by international post, or use the Thai embassy route in your country of residence. We assess which path is faster and less likely to be rejected.
Can passports be certified?
Yes. The physical booklet must be presented for comparison, and we recommend certifying the biodata page together with any pages the destination asks for, such as entry stamps.
Translate first or certify first?
It depends on the destination. Most European authorities require the original to be certified first and then translated, while Thai filings usually translate first. We check the rule before we start.
How long is a certified copy valid?
The certificate itself has no statutory expiry, but receiving authorities commonly require documents issued within 3–6 months, so check the destination rule before filing.
Can long corporate bundles be certified?
Yes. The attorney binds the set, initials the page joins to prevent substitution, and states the page count in the certificate.
Is a PDF scan enough?
It is enough for assessment, but certification requires the original, unless the issuing authority produced a verifiable electronic document.
What if I do not want to run the process myself?
We handle the entire chain: document review, certification, translation, consular and embassy filing and return delivery, with status updates along the way.
We do more than stamp documents. Our advisers, with over 15 years of combined experience, read the destination's own requirements first and then set the translate–certify–consular–embassy order correctly, which is exactly what keeps files from being rejected.
Send your documents on LINE for a reviewRather not handle the paperwork? Our advisory team, 15+ years in the field, runs the whole chain for you.
Read next
Official sources
Talk to our advisory team before you start
Our team has over 15 years of experience in translation, certification, and filings with Thai and overseas authorities. We advise on choosing the correct certification route, sequencing your documents, and repairing files that were previously refused.
- A case review before work begins, so you only prepare the documents that are genuinely required
- The correct order of steps from day one, reducing the risk of a refusal and a restart
- A plain explanation of the destination authority's stated requirements as published at the time of advice
- If you would rather not handle it yourself, we run the full process end to end and return the finished file
Final acceptance rests with the receiving authority. Our guidance follows the latest verifiable published practice.