Police clearance and medical certificates

Police clearance certificates for applicants inside Thailand are issued by the Royal Thai Police Special Branch. Applicants provide fingerprints and identity documents as the unit specifies. Thai nationals living abroad can generally apply through the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General where they reside, following that post's published procedure.

The certificate is normally issued in English, so translation is often unnecessary. Where the destination uses another language — Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Middle Eastern languages, for example — the document needs translation and then legalisation, first at the Department of Consular Affairs and then at the destination embassy.

Validity is critical. Most destinations require the certificate to have been issued within a set window before filing, so obtaining it too early can mean repeating the whole exercise. Sequence the steps so the certificate is still inside its window on the submission date.

Medical evidence comes in two distinct forms. One is a general medical certificate on the form a Thai agency prescribes. The other is an examination at a clinic designated by the destination embassy (a panel clinic), where results usually go directly to the authority and need neither translation nor legalisation. Confirm which system applies before booking.

Supporting-document requirements vary by visa category, nationality and the embassy or consulate receiving the file, and they change over time. Always check the current checklist published by the receiving authority before you start.