A marriage in Thailand is legally binding, both domestically and internationally.
A marriage may be arranged by the couple themselves or by a third party. The ceremony may be religious or non-religious, and is typically accompanied by a dowry paid in cash or gold to the bride’s family.
The dowry is a traditional Thai practice that rewards the family of the bride for their love and support. This can be an important factor in the success of a Thai wedding.
It is usually negotiated on behalf of the bride’s family, and can be a substantial amount of money. Some couples choose to pay this amount on their own, while others opt to make the payment part of the marriage contract.
To get married in Thailand, both parties must be over the age of 17. If they are under 17 years old, they must obtain a court order before they can marry.
Both parties must be able to provide proof of their identity and citizenship. This should include a valid passport, and an authenticated affirmation of freedom to marry issued by the appropriate embassy.
Once both parties have the correct documentation they can apply for a ‘Certificate of No Impediment to Marry’ (CNI). Both must sign it in the presence of a consular official at the appropriate embassy.
The CNI is then translated into the Thai language, then certified by the relevant embassy and a marriage certificate issued. Once this has been done, both parties must then visit an amphur or ‘khet’ (the equivalent of a local town hall) office in their home country to complete the marriage registration.
This can take between 4 and 5 days. However, there are services available to help with this process if you are not comfortable with it yourself.
There are also legal professionals who can help you with the marriage process in Thailand. These will be able to guide you through the paperwork and ensure you are not making any mistakes.
Once you have the ‘CNI’ and the marriage certificate, it is important to register your marriage in Thailand. There are several different types of marriage registration, including one in which you marry in the same country as your partner and another in which you marry outside the country.
You can do this at any ‘amphur’ or ‘khet’ in Thailand regardless of where you are from, but it’s best to have this completed in Bangkok as it is easier for people to understand and less crowded.
The process for registering a marriage in Thailand can be quite confusing, but it is not impossible. It is essential to have all the necessary documents and to make sure they are in perfect order before you head to the amphur.
It is recommended that you hire a local lawyer or other legal expert to help with the process of getting married in Thailand. This will save you time and money, as well as a huge headache.
Embassies are often not the most helpful with this kind of paperwork, so you’ll want to do it yourself or get a local Thai lawyer to help you.
