Recording a foreign marriage in Thailand (Kor.Ror. 22)
Couples married under foreign law who need Thai records to reflect it: the foreign marriage certificate is authenticated, translated, and filed at a district office as a family-status record (Kor.Ror. 22).
A marriage validly concluded under the law of the country where it was registered is in principle effective, but many Thai processes — changing title and surname, spouse visas and permits, inheritance and property matters — work off Thai civil records. That is why the marriage is recorded at a district office as a family-status record, the Kor.Ror. 22.
The foreign marriage certificate must first be authenticated under the issuing country's rules, then endorsed by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General in that country. Back in Thailand it is translated into Thai and the translation legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs.
Files often stall on the Thai spelling of the Thai spouse's name. Foreign certificates carry the Latin passport spelling; the Thai translation must restore the person's actual Thai name as it appears in the house registration, not transliterate the Latin back into Thai — otherwise the registrar cannot match the person to the civil registry.
Taking the spouse's surname is a separate matter from recording the marriage, and Thai law treats it as a choice rather than an obligation. Sequence it deliberately: record the Kor.Ror. 22 first, then handle the surname and the identity documents that follow, so the names across your documents never contradict each other.
A divorce granted abroad follows the same logic: record the family-status change at a district office so Thai records reflect reality before remarrying or doing anything else that depends on single status.
Documents to prepare
- Foreign marriage certificate, authenticated under the issuing country's own rules
- Endorsement by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General in the country of issue
- Thai translation, with the translation legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs
- Thai spouse's national ID card and house registration
- Foreign spouse's passport
- Evidence that any prior marriage of either party has ended (if applicable)
Order of steps
- Authenticate the foreign marriage certificate under the issuing country's rules
- Have the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General in that country endorse it
- Translate into Thai and legalise the translation at the Department of Consular Affairs
- File the family-status record (Kor.Ror. 22) at a district or khet office
- Handle any follow-on steps such as title/surname change and updating identity documents, if desired
Pre-filing checklist
- The Thai name in the translation matches the house registration, not a re-transliteration
- Endorsement by the Royal Thai Embassy in the issuing country is present
- The translation is already legalised by Consular Affairs
- Both parties' previous marital statuses are legally closed
- The order between the Kor.Ror. 22 and any surname change is planned
Frequently asked questions
If we never file the Kor.Ror. 22, are we unmarried?
A marriage validly concluded abroad does not disappear, but Thai agencies reading the civil registry will still see the old status, which blocks anything that depends on spousal status.
Must we file at the office where the Thai spouse is registered?
Practice varies; some offices only accept filings connected to their area. Ask the specific office before travelling there.
Does a foreign divorce need recording in Thailand?
It should be recorded as a family-status change so Thai records match reality — especially before remarrying or doing anything requiring proof of status.
How long does it take?
Timing varies with the issuing country and each agency's caseload, so we do not publish a fixed number of days; we check current status and sequence the steps around your deadline.
For a document review before filing, contact us by LINE @nycli, phone +66-83-249-4999 or email nycli@ilc.ltd.