In many countries this is done by a separate profession, the notary public. Thailand has no such profession. Instead the power is given to attorneys who have completed the training and are registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Our attorneys hold that registration.
What the certificate confirms is that the signatory is who they say they are, that they signed in the certifying attorney’s presence, and that they understood what they signed. It does not certify that the contents are correct, nor does it make the document binding.
Certification is usually the last step before a document leaves the country, and the step where mistakes cost the most time: if the order is wrong the recipient rejects it and the whole process starts again.
What we certify
- Signatures on documents of any kind.
- True copies, where the original cannot be sent abroad.
- Execution as a witness — powers of attorney, cross-border contracts and similar documents.
- Oaths and affirmations, for statements that must be sworn before someone authorised to take them.
- Thai and English translations, certified as matching the original.
- Onward legalisation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the destination country’s embassy.
Documents commonly certified
- Powers of attorney authorising someone to act for you abroad.
- Company certificates, shareholder lists and financial statements.
- Marriage and birth certificates, house registration and civil status documents.
- Academic qualifications and transcripts, for work or study overseas.
- Sale and joint venture agreements with foreign counterparties.
- Supporting documents for visa applications where the embassy requires certification.
Why some documents need several layers
Thailand is not party to the international arrangement that allows a single certificate — the apostille — to be accepted everywhere. A Thai document for use abroad therefore passes through a chain: the certifying attorney, then the Department of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then the destination country’s embassy.
Some countries and authorities need only the attorney’s certificate. We check what the destination actually requires before starting, so that no time or money goes into steps that are not needed.
What to bring, and how long it takes
- The original document — not a copy or a photograph.
- Passport or identity card of every signatory, in original.
- A company certificate issued within the last six months and the company seal, if signing for a company.
- The country and the authority the document is going to.
- The signatory in person, since the certifying attorney must witness the signature.
The attorney’s certificate can be done the same day. Where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an embassy are also involved, allow for each authority’s queue. Tell us the date the document is needed and we will sequence the steps to meet it.
Requirements differ between countries and authorities and change over time. This page is general guidance; tell us the details of your matter so the current requirements can be checked.