Insurance Policy & Certificate of Cover
An insurance policy and a certificate of cover are issued by the insurer to the policyholder. When they are used abroad — to support a visa application, an enrolment or an employment file — the receiving party usually asks for an English version signed by an authorised officer, certified to the level that party specifies.
A policy is the evidence of the insurance contract under Book III, Title XX of the Civil and Commercial Code: it names the insured and the insurer and sets out the period, the cover and the exclusions. A certificate of cover is the insurer's summary confirming that the policy is in force for a stated period.
Most receiving parties do not want the whole policy booklet. They want a certificate containing the specific facts they check: the insured's name exactly as in the passport, a period that covers the intended stay, the geographic scope, and the medical or repatriation limits. Confirm those requirements before you ask the insurer to print anything.
Because this is a private document, the Department of Consular Affairs will not legalise it as-is. The workable route is: an authorised officer signs and seals it, a Notarial Services Attorney certifies that signature, and the translated set then moves through MFA legalisation and the destination embassy in that order.
If the receiving party requires a translation certified inside its own jurisdiction — a sworn translator in parts of Europe, a NAATI-certified translator for Australia — confirm that first, because it changes the whole sequence of work.
Documents to prepare
- The policy as issued, together with the policy schedule
- A certificate of cover signed by an authorised officer of the insurer
- A copy of the insured's passport or ID card, with the name spelled consistently
- A power of attorney if someone else files on your behalf
- Any written requirement from the receiving party — an embassy or university email, for example
Step order
- Ask the insurer for a certificate of cover containing exactly the facts the receiving party checks
- Have an authorised officer sign and seal it, with proof of signing authority if the destination asks
- A Notarial Services Attorney certifies that signature
- Translate into the required language, with the translator signing for the translation
- File for legalisation at the Department of Consular Affairs, MFA
- Legalise at the destination embassy or consulate, or obtain an apostille once the Convention is in force for Thailand and the destination is also a party
Pre-filing checklist
- The name on the policy matches the passport letter for letter
- The period of cover spans the period the destination requires
- The geographic scope explicitly includes the destination country
- Wet signature and seal, not only a scanned signature, where the destination does not accept digital signatures
- Insurer contact details are present so the destination can verify the document
Practical tips
- Ask the insurer for an English original where they can issue one — it removes a translation step and keeps the terminology aligned with the policy
- Keep a full certified copy set before you hand over originals, because some destinations retain them
- If you are filing in several countries at once, order several certificates up front instead of copying one certified set
- Check that the issuing company appears in the OIC register of licensed insurers before relying on it with a foreign authority
Common pitfalls
- Using an app-printed policy summary with no authorised signature — a notary cannot certify a signature that is not there
- A period of cover that falls a few days short of the destination's requirement, which fails the whole set
- Translating the insurer's name differently from its registered name, so the destination cannot verify it
- Assuming the MFA can legalise a policy directly and skipping the signature-certification step
Frequently asked questions
Can an insurance policy be legalised at the MFA directly?
As a rule, no. A policy is a private document. An authorised officer of the insurer must certify it, a Notarial Services Attorney must certify that signature, and only then can the set be filed with the Department of Consular Affairs. Confirm the current practice with the MFA before filing.
Do I have to translate the entire policy booklet?
It depends on the recipient. Most ask only for the policy schedule and the certificate of cover; some also want the conditions and exclusions. Get the requirement in writing before commissioning a translation.
Is a PDF certificate of cover acceptable?
Some countries accept verifiable electronic files, but many still require a wet-signed and sealed original, because notarial certification of a signature requires a signature to certify. Confirm with the destination first.
The name on my policy does not match my passport. What now?
Fix it at source with the insurer; never fix it in the translation, which must mirror the original. If it cannot be amended, ask the insurer for a same-person statement and certify that statement alongside the policy.
Can travel insurance substitute for health insurance?
Not always. Receiving authorities usually specify the type of cover and the conditions required, such as emergency medical treatment or repatriation. Compare each requirement against the policy schedule line by line before filing.
How long does a fully certified set take?
It depends on how fast the insurer issues documents and on the queues at the MFA and the destination embassy, which each set their own. We can give a realistic estimate once we see the actual documents — LINE @nycli, +66-83-249-4999 or nycli@ilc.ltd.
For a document review before you file, contact us on LINE @nycli, call +66-83-249-4999 or email nycli@ilc.ltd. Our team will confirm the steps, any missing documents and a realistic timeline for your case.
Related cases
- Claim Forms & Settlement Letters
- Motor Accidents & Compulsory Motor Insurance
- Life Insurance & Beneficiary Claims
- Health & Travel Insurance for Visa Applications
- Corporate & Marine Cargo Insurance
Official references
Requirements on this page follow the rules published by the authorities below. Always confirm the latest notice on the official site before filing.
- Bank of Thailand
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Department of Consular Affairs, MFA ThailandThailand's authority for document legalization and Apostille
- HCCH — Apostille Section (Hague Convention 1961)Thailand's accession enters into force 28 February 2027
Related services
Fees depend on document type, number of pages and turnaround. Send scans to LINE @nycli, call +66-83-249-4999 or email nycli@ilc.ltd for a written quotation.