Marriage Registration

To many foreigners, Phuket is an ideal destination to officially tie the knot. The Island has everything a couple would need for a perfect wedding; romantic views, luxurious venues, and the traditions to partake in. The question is can you get legally married in Phuket?

No matter if it's the marriage between two foreigners or between an expat residing in Phuket and a Thai national, you can be legally married in Phuket including other parts of Thailand as long as you and your partner fulfill the eligibility and follow the marriage registration procedures pursuant to Thai law.

For a marriage in Thailand to be legally valid, it needs to be formally registered with relevant Thai authorities. The wedding ceremony itself is neither sufficient nor mandatory. Though the process is generally straightforward, there is necessary paperwork that must be prepared. Hence, it is a lot more convenient to have a legal professional who knows the system and the language to assist you to ensure there will be no complications for this important event of your life.

Who is Eligible to Register for Marriage in Phuket?

• Both parties must be at least 20 years old. For a minor aged 17 to 19 years old, to get married, a court order is needed with appropriate reasons or parental consent is required.
• Either party should not be an insane person.
• The parties should not be related by blood in the direct ascendant or descendant line.
• The adopter should not marry the adoptee.
• The parties should not have spouses at the time of the marriage.
• For a woman who is a widow or has been divorced, the marriage is allowed after 310 days from the termination of the past marriage or the husband’s death. The exceptions include:
• The divorced couple remarry.
• The child has been born during this period of time.
• There is a court order permitting the woman to marry.
• There is a medical certificate issued by a Thai hospital proving that the woman is not pregnant.

Required Documents

The general documents required for foreign and Thai nationals are as follows.

For Foreign nationals:

• A valid passport
• Copies of entry visa and arrival card into Thailand
• Affidavit of Freedom to Marry issued by the foreigner’s embassy
• Divorce certificate or death certificate, in case there was a previous marriage

For Thai nationals:

• Identification card issued by Thai authorities
• House registration certificate
• Divorce certificate or death certificate, in case there was a previous marriage

In addition, there must be 2 witnesses present when registering for marriage at the local district office (Amphur) in Phuket.

Easy Steps to Get Married in Phuket

The overall process for marriage registration in Phuket takes several days and some steps will need to be carried out in Bangkok.

Step 1: Obtain Affidavit of Freedom to Marry

The foreign party must request for the Affidavit of Freedom to Marry from your respective embassy or consulate. This must be done in Bangkok unless there is a consulate of your nationality offering this service in Phuket.

To obtain the Affidavit, the foreigner must be personally present. It is advised to contact the embassy or the consulate to confirm the necessary documents for the Affidavit beforehand as the documents may vary from nationality to nationality. The time for issuing the document ranges from hours to days depending on each embassy.

This Affidavit proves the status of the foreigner that he/she has the freedom to marry in Thailand. In case the foreigner was previously married, the divorce certificate or death certificate must be provided at the embassy.

It is noteworthy that some district offices require passport certification from the embassy when registering for marriage.

Step 2: Translation and Legalization of Documents

Once the Affidavit has been obtained, the documents must be translated into Thai by a trusted translation agency.

Then, the documents will need to be authenticated by the Thai Department of Consular Affairs in Bangkok. This process normally takes two business days for the documents to be ready.

Step 3: Marriage Registration

With all the documents translated and legalized, the couple can then register their marriage in front of the registrar at the local district office (Amphur) in Phuket. The parties can give consent to be married by signing their names on the marriage certificate which will be officially issued and handed to both partners once all the paperwork has been executed.

The registration can take place at other locations as long as the registrar under the supervision of the district office is present.

Once the marriage certificate is obtained, you will be officially married in Thailand. It is recommended to translate the certificate into English for the purpose of reporting the marriage in your own country or for the certificate to be used and recognised outside Thailand.

A reputable law firm in Phuket will provide you with all the information and a list of necessary documents you will need for the marriage registration procedure. With the help of a local legal expert, your marriage registration in Phuket will be quick, simple, and stress-free every step of the way. Contact us now for a consultation.

Siam Legal Phuket Law Firm

123 / 27-28 Moo 5, Bangtao Place, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket, 83110, Thailand
Phone: +66 76 326 322

Siam Legal Phuket Location