Muslim Marriage in Thailand

Getting married is an important milestone in anybody’s lifetime. For many, it's a fulfilling dream to be able to spend an eternity with their soulmate. Despite this, finally tying the knot together and preparing for a wedding ceremony takes a lot of hard work and preparation.

Thailand is a popular destination for marriages to take place in, regardless of someone’s cultural or religious background. Marriages formed between individuals of an Islamic sect are also very common here, but how does one get married as a Muslim of Islamic faith in Thailand?

How can a Muslim get Married in Thailand?

Aspiring newlyweds will be pleased to know that getting married as a Muslim in The Land of Smiles is relatively simple. An Islamic marriage is known as a “Nikah” and often involves additional steps and processes compared to other types of marriages. Here are a list of steps you should follow to ease your concerns, ensuring that your wedding ceremony goes as smoothly as possible.

Qualifications

• Both partners are required to be Muslim.
• If one partner isn’t a Muslim, they will need to convert to Islam before getting married by following these steps:
• An Islamic Conversion Certificate will be required.
• Both the conversion and the certificate can be completed at the Central Islamic Council of Thailand (the process lasts no more than an hour).
• Conversion can be done both in Thailand or overseas.
• For some nationalities, individuals would need to acquire a letter of consent enabling them to get married.

List of Muslim Countries

• Bahrain (additional documents required)
• Bangladesh
• Egypt
• India
• Kuwait (additional documents required)
• Libya (additional documents required)
• Malaysia
• Maldives (additional documents required)
• Pakistan
• Palestine
• Syria
• Turkey
• UAE (additional documents required)
• Yemeni

Required Documents (for the male applicant):

• A copy of your passport
• 10 photocopies of your ID (4.5" x 3.5", against a white background)
• Islamic Conversion Certificate (if not a Muslim upon birth)
• House Registration (Tabien Baan) for local Thais
• Name Change documents of your first name or surname (if applicable)
• Additional documents (if from Kuwait, Maldives, UAE, Bahrain, or Libya):
  • Letter/certificate stamped by the embassy showing that you are able to marry outside the country
  • Divorce Certificate or Certificate to Authorize Marriage if applicable (must be stamped by your country’s respective government office)
  • Document allowing for Islamic Marriage outside the country (this can be acquired at the embassy)

Required Documents (for the female applicant):

• A copy of your passport
• 10 photocopies of your ID (4.5" x 3.5", against a white background)
• Applicants must be photographed while dressed in a hijab
• If Thai (whether Muslim by birth or non-Muslim), photocopies of your Thai ID are also needed
• Islamic Conversion Certificate (if not a Muslim upon birth)
• Name Change documents of your first name or surname (if applicable)
• Single certificate from your home country (stamped by the Ministry)
• Death certificate (only applicable if the previous spouse is deceased)
• Divorce certificate (only applicable if the applicant was divorced)
• Medical certificate as proof that the applicant is not pregnant (only applicable if divorced for less than 3 months)
• Additional documents (if from Kuwait, Maldives, UAE, Bahrain or Libya):
• Document proving that you are allowed to marry outside your home country:
• Letter of consent from the embassy granting permission to marry, or
• Letter of consent from a Competent Authority in your home country
• Divorce Certificate or Certificate to Authorize Marriage, if applicable (must be stamped by your country’s respective government office)
• Additional documents (for Thai nationals):
• Photocopy of your Thai ID (with proof on there stating that you are a Muslim)
• House Registration (tabien baan)

Stages of the Application

1. Plan a trip to Thailand for the marriage ceremony (if not already in the country)
2. Procure and provide all required documents
3. Hire a marriage professional (optional, but highly recommended)
4. Book an appointment with the Central Islamic Council of Thailand to have your marriage ceremony conducted.
5. Plan arrangements around the ceremony such as:
1. Establishing the appropriate dress code
2. Finding out the right venue (mosque, etc)
6. Attend the marriage ceremony and sign the marriage papers. The Islamic Council can also provide an English and Arabic version of the marriage papers for your benefit
7. Register your marriage with the Central Islamic Council of Thailand
8. Get your marriage certificate and conversion certificate legalized at the Thai Foreign Affairs Department. For some nationalities such as Malaysia and Singapore, these documents will also need to undergo attestation. This can be done at the embassy

Why Should you Contact Siam Legal?

Seeking the assistance of a law firm is vital to ensuring that your journey to spend a lifetime with your significant other is smooth and stress-free. Siam Legal can provide you all that and much more.

As a leading law firm in Thailand with over 20 years of proven expertise in the field, we at Siam Legal provide top-tier support to our clients with any legal or immigration-related concerns. With a team of English-speaking Thai lawyers, we strive for excellence in supporting our clients as proven by our successful track record.

Among our extensive retinue of services, clients are able to acquire our services on: Corporate matters, Property Conveyancing, Family Law, Immigration, Legal Services like wills and notaries, and Criminal/Civil Litigation.

If you’re interested in using our services today, please feel free to contact us.

Marriage Registration by Nationality