Certified Thai Document Translation

DoVisa translates all categories of Thai official and personal documents. Our most frequently requested translations include Thai birth certificates (Sor. Chor. 1), marriage certificates (Kor. Ror. 3), house registration books (Tabien Baan), Thai national ID cards, academic transcripts and degree certificates from Thai universities, Thai driving licenses, company registration documents (Bor. Or. Jor. 5), court orders, divorce decrees, medical records, police clearance certificates, military service records (Sor. Dor. 43), land title deeds, and financial statements. We also translate foreign documents into Thai for use with Thai government agencies, including immigration applications, work permit filings, and corporate registrations.

Thailand does not use the common-law notary system found in countries like the United States or United Kingdom. Instead, Thailand has Notarial Services Attorneys (Thanaai Khwaam Rapraong) appointed by the Thai Lawyers Council who can certify documents. Whether you need this additional certification depends on the receiving authority. Most Thai government agencies, including the Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Labour, and Immigration Bureau, accept our standard certified translation with translator declaration. However, documents intended for use in foreign countries typically require authentication by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which may first require certification by a Notarial Services Attorney. DoVisa can advise on the specific requirements for your destination country and arrange notarial certification if needed.

Thailand is not yet a Contracting Party to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 (the Apostille Convention). On 9 December 2025, the Thai Cabinet approved accession to the convention, but the formal instrument of accession has not yet been deposited with the Netherlands (the treaty depository). The convention will enter into force for Thailand approximately 8 months after the instrument is deposited. Until then, the single-step apostille process is not available for Thai documents. Documents intended for international use must still go through a full legalization process: authenticated by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legalized by the relevant foreign embassy or consulate in Thailand. This typically requires 5-10 business days. DoVisa will update this page when apostille service becomes operational in Thailand.

Thailand officially uses the Buddhist Era (BE) calendar, which is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian (CE/AD) calendar used internationally. A Thai document dated 15 March BE 2568 corresponds to 15 March 2025 CE. Our translators always provide both the original BE date and the Gregorian equivalent in certified translations, formatted as: 15 March 2568 BE (2025 CE). This dual-date format is universally accepted by foreign authorities and eliminates any confusion. Thai documents may also reference the Thai lunar calendar for religious or ceremonial dates, which our translators will note and convert accordingly. All date conversions are verified during our quality review process to prevent errors.

Thai name romanization is one of the most critical aspects of certified translation. Thai names can be romanized differently depending on the system used, and individuals often have established English spellings on their passports that may not follow any standard system. Our policy is to always match the romanization used on the individual's passport or official English-language ID when this information is available. We ask customers to provide a copy of their passport or a note specifying their preferred English name spelling. For Thai names where no established romanization exists, we follow the Royal Thai General System of Transcription (RTGS) as published by the Royal Institute of Thailand. This ensures consistency and reduces the risk of name discrepancies that could cause rejection by immigration or civil registration authorities.

In the Thai context, a certified translation is produced by a qualified translator who signs a declaration attesting to the accuracy and completeness of the translation. This declaration typically includes the translator's full name, qualifications, and a statement that the translation is a true and faithful rendering of the original document. A sworn translation adds an additional layer where the translation is certified before a Notarial Services Attorney or at a foreign embassy. Some countries, particularly in Europe, specifically require sworn translations for legal proceedings. DoVisa's standard certified translations satisfy the requirements of most Thai and international agencies. If your receiving authority requires a sworn or notarized translation, we can arrange this through our network of licensed Notarial Services Attorneys in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket at an additional cost.

Yes, our certified Thai translations are specifically formatted to meet immigration requirements in multiple jurisdictions. For Thai Immigration Bureau submissions (visa extensions, residence permits, 90-day reporting), our Thai translations of foreign documents include all required elements. For foreign immigration applications using Thai source documents, our English translations meet the requirements of USCIS (United States), IRCC (Canada), UK Visas and Immigration, the Australian Department of Home Affairs, and Schengen area immigration authorities. Each translation includes the translator's certification statement, contact details, and a declaration of accuracy that these agencies require. We also include a cover page identifying the original document type, language pair, and number of pages to facilitate processing by immigration case officers.

Our Thai translation pricing is based on a per-page rate with volume discounts that apply automatically for larger orders. Pricing varies based on language pair, document type, and processing speed. Express service options are available for time-sensitive projects. Additional services such as Notarial Services Attorney certification, Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication, and hard-copy shipping are quoted separately based on your specific requirements. Upload your documents on our order page to receive a detailed quote before work begins — no hidden fees.

Standard delivery is 3-5 business days for most document types. Single-page documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and ID cards typically complete in 3 business days. Multi-page documents such as academic transcripts, contracts, and court orders may require the full 5 business days. Express service delivers within 24 hours for single-page documents and 48 hours for multi-page documents (up to 10 pages). Large projects exceeding 20 pages receive a custom timeline based on complexity and translator availability. If you also require Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication or embassy legalization, add 5-10 additional business days for the complete process. We recommend starting the translation process as early as possible, particularly for visa or immigration deadlines.

Yes, DoVisa offers Thai translation into multiple target languages. Our most popular pairs beyond Thai-English include Thai-German (for Schengen visa applications and business with Germany), Thai-Japanese (for spousal visa and technical document needs), Thai-Chinese Simplified (for business and trade documentation), Thai-French (for applications to Francophone countries), and Thai-Korean (for employment and education purposes). Less common language pairs such as Thai-Spanish, Thai-Portuguese, and Thai-Arabic are available with slightly longer turnaround times as they require specialized translators. All language pairs include the same certified translation format with translator declaration and quality review process. Contact us for a quote if your required language pair is not listed on our website.

DoVisa stands behind every certified translation with our acceptance guarantee. If a government agency, immigration authority, embassy, or accredited institution rejects our translation due to a quality or formatting issue, we will revise the translation at no additional cost and reissue it within 24 hours. In the rare event that a rejection cannot be resolved through revision, we provide a full refund of the translation fee. To invoke this guarantee, simply send us the rejection notice or communication from the receiving authority along with your order number. Please note that this guarantee covers translation quality and certification format issues. Rejections based on the content of the original document (such as expired documents or missing information in the original) are outside the scope of this guarantee. Over the past year, our translation acceptance rate at Thai and international agencies stands at 98.7%.

Yes, and this is one of our most requested services. Foreign nationals residing in Thailand who wish to convert their foreign driving license to a Thai license must present a certified Thai translation of their existing license at the Department of Land Transport (DLT). The translation must clearly show the license holder's name, date of birth, license class, issue date, and expiry date. Our DLT-formatted translations are specifically designed to match the layout that Thai transport officials expect, reducing processing time at the license office. We also translate Thai driving licenses into English for use abroad, which is helpful for rental car agencies and insurance companies in foreign countries that may not accept a Thai license alone or an International Driving Permit.

You do not need to send original documents. Our translation process works entirely from digital copies. Simply scan or photograph your Thai documents and upload them through our secure portal. For best results, ensure the scan is clear, well-lit, and captures all text including stamps, seals, and margins. We accept PDF, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF formats with a recommended minimum resolution of 300 DPI. If your document has text on both sides (such as a Thai ID card), please upload images of both sides. Your original documents remain safely in your possession throughout the entire process. The certified translation references the original document and includes a statement that the translation was produced from a true copy provided by the client.

All DoVisa Thai translators meet stringent qualification requirements. Each translator holds a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university, with most holding specific degrees in translation studies, linguistics, or the relevant subject matter field. Our translators maintain memberships with recognized professional bodies including the Thai Translators and Interpreters Association and relevant international organizations. Each translator has a minimum of three years of professional document translation experience and must pass our internal certification examination covering legal, medical, academic, and administrative terminology. Translators are assigned to documents matching their area of specialization. A legal document, for example, is always handled by a translator with legal translation expertise. Our quality assurance process includes a mandatory second review by an independent linguist, ensuring every translation meets our published accuracy and formatting standards.

Yes, DoVisa offers a complete legalization management service for Thai documents destined for international use. Since Thailand is not an apostille convention member, the legalization process involves multiple steps: certified translation, optional notarial certification by a Thai Notarial Services Attorney, authentication by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and legalization by the destination country's embassy in Bangkok. We handle each step on your behalf, managing submissions, tracking progress, and collecting completed documents. Our team maintains ongoing relationships with MFA staff and embassy consular sections, which helps us navigate procedural requirements efficiently. The full legalization process typically takes 7-15 business days depending on the destination country's embassy processing times. We provide a detailed timeline and cost estimate before you commit, and you receive status updates at each stage of the process.