Police clearance and background documents

Thailand's police clearance certificate is issued by the Special Branch of the Royal Thai Police. Applicants provide fingerprints and identification and state the destination country and purpose. The certificate names that destination, so in many cases it cannot be reused for another country.

Applicants abroad may apply through a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General, taking fingerprints at a local police station or the mission and sending the file back to Thailand for checking. Procedures and forms differ by mission, so read the notice published by the mission covering your location.

Once issued, the certificate is legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs and then by the destination embassy where required. This family has a shorter acceptance window than others: many immigration authorities accept only certificates issued within a set period before filing, so schedule it near the end of the document set.

Medical certificates and health screening required by some countries must come from a provider the destination authority recognises, usually on that country's own form. Do not undergo testing before you hold the correct form.

Thailand still operates the traditional legalisation chain. The 1961 Hague Apostille Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 30 June 2026 (source: HCCH). Until that date, documents must still pass through the Department of Consular Affairs and the destination embassy.