A document can be correct in substance and still be refused if it lacks the certification the receiving side requires. Government offices, banks and foreign counterparties each set their own rules about who must certify and in how many stages. Doing the stages out of order means starting again.
In this group the form matters as much as the content. We check what the receiving authority actually requires before starting, so that no time or cost goes into a stage that was never needed.
The firm has an attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand as a Notarial Services Attorney, and can therefore certify documents for use abroad.
What this group covers
- Notarial certification of documents and signatures for use with authorities or counterparties abroad.
- Powers of attorney: drawn in the form the receiving authority requires, with the authority granted scoped to the task and no wider.
- Translation and legalisation between Thai and English, including the onward stages at the Department of Consular Affairs and the destination embassy.
- Private investigation: establishing facts and gathering evidence for proceedings, within what the law permits.
The order of legalisation for documents used abroad
Thailand is not party to the international convention that allows a single certificate, so Thai documents are legalised in stages. The usual order is:
- The Notarial Services Attorney certifies first.
- The Department of Consular Affairs certifies that attorney's signature.
- The destination country's embassy or consulate certifies last.
Some countries and some offices need only the attorney's certificate, so the destination's requirements are worth checking before starting.
What to bring
- The original document, not a copy or a photograph.
- The original passport or Thai ID card of every signatory.
- A company certificate issued within six months and the company seal, if signing for a company.
- Which country and which office the document is for.
- The date the document is needed, so the stages can be sequenced to meet it.
Requirements differ by country and by office, and they change. This page is general guidance; tell us the details and the current requirements can be checked.