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Service Knowledge Base

Notarial Services Attorney (Notary Public) Knowledge Base

Common questions about signature and document certification by a Notarial Services Attorney in Thailand, and the follow-on MFA legalisation step. (64+ search topics covered)

What can a Thai notarial services attorney certify?

Signatures executed in their presence, true copies checked against originals, affidavits and statutory declarations, powers of attorney, translator's declarations, and confirmation that a person appeared and identified themselves. They do not certify that the facts asserted inside a document are true, nor can they guarantee how any foreign authority will decide a case.

How do I verify that the attorney is properly registered?

Ask to see the lawyer's licence and the Lawyers Council registration for notarial services. Every certificate should show the attorney's full name, licence number, signature and seal. If in doubt you can ask the Lawyers Council of Thailand to confirm the registration.

How long does the whole chain take?

The attorney certification is completed within a single appointment, typically 15–30 minutes per document set. Consular legalisation depends on the service channel chosen and the department's queue, and embassy legalisation depends on each embassy's own rules and queue. We give an expected window and update at each stage, but we do not promise government processing times.

Does Thailand have notaries public?

Not in the common-law sense. Thailand uses “Notarial Services Attorneys” — licensed Thai lawyers who complete the training and registration required by the Lawyers Council of Thailand under the Royal Patronage under its 2008 regulation on the registration of attorneys certifying signatures and documents. Their certificates carry the attorney's licence number so the receiving authority can verify them.

What does a company need to bring?

A company affidavit or certificate of incorporation issued within the destination's accepted window, ID or passport of the authorised director, the company seal if the articles require it, and a board resolution when the transaction requires one. Directors must sign in front of the attorney; pre-signed documents can only be handled as certified copies.

How are fees calculated?

By certification stamp — per document or per signature — not per page. Government charges such as consular legalisation and embassy fees are separate line items paid at official receipt value. Out-of-office and after-hours appointments carry a travel or overtime component. You receive a written total before any work starts.

Is a notarial certificate enough for use abroad?

Often not on its own. Many receiving countries also require legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs and/or that country's embassy. Confirm the required chain before the first step so the set does not have to be reissued.

Affidavit or statutory declaration — which one do I need?

Both are written statements confirmed before an authorised person. Affidavits use sworn wording and appear mostly in litigation; statutory declarations use declared wording and appear mostly in administrative matters such as confirming status or a relationship. We follow the form the receiving authority prescribes and never draft wording beyond what the deponent actually knows.
Topics covered
ประเภทงานรับรอง: affidavit · คำให้การเป็นหนังสือ · statutory declaration · power of attorney · หนังสือมอบอำนาจ · certified true copy passport · witness signature · signature verification · certificate of free will (รับรองเจตนา) · รับรองสถานะโสด
วัตถุประสงค์ปลายทาง: notary สำหรับยื่นวีซ่า · notary สำหรับสมัครเรียนต่างประเทศ · notary เปิดบัญชีธนาคารต่างประเทศ · notary จดทะเบียนบริษัทต่างประเทศ · notary ศาลต่างประเทศ · notary ซื้อขายอสังหาริมทรัพย์ · notary สำหรับ Sponsor / Support letter · notary รับรองเอกสารมรดก
ชั้นการรับรองต่อ (Legalisation chain): กรมการกงสุล แจ้งวัฒนะ · นิติกรณ์เอกสาร · MFA legalization · รับรองสถานทูต · embassy legalization Bangkok · apostille ประเทศไทย · consular.mfa.go.th · รับรองเอกสารไปใช้ต่างประเทศ
Official references

Need your documents reviewed or your case assessed? Ask our team by phone, LINE, or email. We reply during business hours (Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00, Sat 9:00–15:00, ICT).

083-249-4999LINE @NYCVcontact@nycvisa.org
Notarial Services Attorney certifying a signature on a document
Notarial Services Attorney certifying a signature on a document — From actual casework by the NYC Visa & Translation team
Service Playbook

Notarial Services Attorney in Thailand — scope and documents

Thailand has no separate notary profession. Certification is performed by a Notarial Services Attorney licensed by the Lawyers Council, who certifies signatures and signing in their presence — not the truth of the content.

Documents to prepare

  • • The document to be signed, left unsigned until the appointment
  • • Original passport or Thai ID of every signatory
  • • Recent company affidavit if signing for a legal entity
  • • Company seal where the articles require it
  • • Any wording template the destination requires
  • • An interpreter or translation if a signatory cannot read the document language

Step-by-step process

  1. 1. Send the draft for review — We confirm which form of certification and wording the destination expects.
  2. 2. Attend the signing — Signatories appear in person with original identification.
  3. 3. Attorney issues the certificate — The certification carries the attorney's seal and registration number.
  4. 4. Continue the chain if needed — For foreign government use, the file proceeds to consular legalisation and beyond.

Pitfalls and rejection causes

  • • Pre-signed documents cannot be certified as signed in the attorney's presence.
  • • Signature certification is not a statement that the content is correct or enforceable.
  • • Some jurisdictions demand specific certificate wording — check before booking.
  • • Company affidavits older than the destination's limit are commonly rejected.

Tips from our team

  • • Coordinate multi-party signings into a single appointment.
  • • Prepare two spare sets in case several wet-ink copies are needed.
  • • Tell us the document language ahead so an interpreter can be arranged.

Prefer not to handle the queues yourself, or worried about a rejection? Send us photos of your documents for a free pre-check. We handle the full chain — obtaining certified copies, translation, certification and submission — and keep you updated at each step. Reach us on LINE, phone or email during business hours.

Route Comparison

Notarial services attorney vs government certification

Many cases lose weeks simply because the wrong certifying party was chosen at the start.

RouteWhen to useCertifying authorityApprox. durationRejection risk
Notarial services attorneyThe receiving party is private — a university, bank or overseas counterpartyAttorney licensed by the Lawyers Council of ThailandUsually same daySome foreign government bodies require a further consular layer on top
Consular legalisationThe receiving party is a foreign government authorityDepartment of Consular Affairs, MFA ThailandVariable, by queue and channelSome private documents must have signatures notarised before consular submission is possible
Layered certification (attorney + consular + embassy)Commercial contracts, powers of attorney, or documents used in foreign legal proceedingsAttorney with the Department of Consular Affairs and the destination embassyVariable — allow several weeksSkipping a layer usually means the whole bundle is rejected

Timelines above are practical estimates from live casework and can change with each authority's policy; confirm with the receiving authority before booking travel. If you would rather not test routes by trial and error, our advisers can assess which route fits your case.

Advisory Service

We do not just process documents — we advise you through the whole case

Our team has worked on cross-border documents, certified translation and government liaison for over 15 years. Most rejections we see are not caused by missing paperwork but by choosing the wrong route on day one, so we always start with a case assessment.

Route assessment

We look at your destination, purpose and deadline, then tell you which certification route applies — and which steps you can skip.

Pre-submission review

Name spelling, consistency across documents, document age and translation format are checked before anything reaches a counter.

Timeline planning

We sequence the steps around your appointment or travel date and flag bottlenecks in advance.

Rejection recovery

We read the refusal reasons, identify the underlying cause, and plan a resubmission that answers what the authority asked for.

Rather not learn by trial and error? Send your case details and document photos for a review — reach us on LINE, phone or email during business hours.

Practical Q&A

Practical questions · Near me / DIY / Required documents

Where can I find a notary public near me in Thailand?

Thailand has no US/UK-style notary public. The authorised signatory is a “Notarial Services Attorney” licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand under Royal Patronage, so the work must be done at a firm with such a licensed lawyer. Our main offices are Lat Phrao 95 (Bangkok), Khon Kaen and Udon Thani, with meeting points near BTS/MRT stations and city malls. Ask our team by phone, LINE or email for the most convenient point.

Can I notarise a document myself without a firm?

No. Only a lawyer holding the Lawyers Council notarial-services licence may certify. What you can prepare yourself is the paperwork: the correct original or true copy, and your ID. Signature certification requires you to sign in front of the attorney, so do not sign the document in advance.

Which documents do I need to bring for notarisation?

At minimum: (1) your original passport or Thai ID card; (2) the exact document version you will submit; (3) for company signatories, a company affidavit dated within the period your recipient accepts, plus the seal if used; (4) the destination country and receiving authority, because the wording of the certificate and any onward steps (for example whether MFA legalisation is needed afterwards) depend on the destination.
Practical advice & cautions

Notarial services in Thailand: advice and cautions

Before you start

  • Confirm the document list before you travel to us

    The type of certification, number of sets and the follow-on steps change what you must bring. Contact our team by phone, LINE or email to confirm first.

  • Tell us the destination authority first

    What happens after notarisation differs by country and receiving authority. Some accept the attorney's certification alone; others require further authentication by the Department of Consular Affairs and the destination embassy. Naming the country and authority up front lets us sequence the work correctly.

  • The signer must sign in front of the attorney

    Signature certification confirms the signature was made in person, so bring a valid original ID card or passport and do not sign the document in advance.

  • Bring original documents, not photos or scans

    A certified true copy must be compared against the original in person. If the original is abroad or lost, obtain a certified reissue from the issuing authority first.

Common reasons documents get rejected

  • Expired ID or mismatched name spelling

    Names must match your passport. If you changed your name or the spelling differs, bring the supporting change-of-name evidence.

  • Stopping before the follow-on steps

    Many files are rejected because they stop at the attorney's certification when the recipient also required consular and embassy authentication. Plan the full chain from the beginning.

  • Assuming Thailand has a common-law notary public

    It does not. Certification is performed by a Notarial Services Attorney registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand. If your recipient specifically requires a Notary Public, confirm in advance that they accept this form of certification.

  • Expecting an apostille issued in Thailand

    Thailand is not a party to the Apostille Convention. Documents for overseas use follow authentication by the Department of Consular Affairs and the destination embassy instead.

Requirements differ by authority and destination country and can change. Confirm current conditions with the receiving authority, or ask our team by phone, LINE or email.

Related services

What clients usually handle next

One document set often moves through several stages — translation, notarial certification, legalization and finally a visa filing. The links below follow that real sequence.

External authority references

Authority requirements change. Verify with the receiving authority before filing, or ask our team by phone, LINE or email.