Notary (Notarial Services Attorney)

Last updated on April 29, 2026

In Thailand, the legal system is based on civil law but the country does not have a notary public in the same sense as common-law jurisdictions. Instead, the Lawyers Council of Thailand (under the Lawyers Act) licenses qualifying attorneys as Notarial Services Attorneys — lawyers specifically authorised to certify signatures, authenticate copies, witness oaths, and administer affidavits, primarily for documents intended for use abroad.

If you are a foreigner living, working, or doing business in Thailand, you will likely need notarial services at some point — for property transactions, immigration filings, foreign company set-up, divorce abroad, inheritance matters, or simply to authenticate documents required by your home country. ThaiLawOnline’s licensed Notarial Services Attorneys provide bilingual (English / French / Thai) notarisation across Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, and Ubon Ratchathani.

What is a Notarial Services Attorney in Thailand?

Thailand follows the civil-law tradition, where the role performed elsewhere by a notary public is split between government registries (Land Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Civil Registration) and licensed attorneys. The Lawyers Council of Thailand created the Notarial Services Attorney qualification specifically so that Thailand-issued documents could be accepted abroad, and so that international documents can be properly attested in Thailand.

Only attorneys who have completed the Lawyers Council’s notarial training and obtained the licence are authorised to provide notarial services. Their seal and signature carry weight with foreign embassies, courts, and corporate registries. ThaiLawOnline’s notarial team holds current Lawyers Council licences and has been providing notarial services to expatriates and international businesses since 2006.

Common Notarial Services We Provide

• Signature certification — witnessing your signature on a document and certifying that it was signed in our presence after we verified your ID. Required for affidavits, statutory declarations, powers of attorney, and many home-country administrative forms.
• Certified true copies — comparing a copy to the original and certifying the copy is a faithful reproduction. Common for passport copies, university diplomas, marriage certificates, and ID cards.
• Affidavits and statutory declarations — sworn statements prepared and witnessed by the attorney, typically for foreign embassies, courts, or insurers.
• Certification of translation — certifying that a translation accompanies a Thai-language document, often paired with Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation.
• Attestation of company documents — corporate resolutions, board minutes, articles of association, share certificates, and powers of attorney for international transactions.
• Oaths and affirmations — administering oaths for evidence, affidavits, or court submissions.
• Apostille substitute documentation — Thailand is not an Apostille Convention signatory, so we prepare your document for the longer MFA + embassy legalisation chain.

Documents Commonly Notarised by Expats in Thailand

• Power of Attorney for property, banking, court, or family matters abroad
• Affidavit of single status / marital status for marriage abroad
• Affidavit of identity / address for foreign banks or insurers
• Certified copies of passport, Thai ID card, work permit, visa pages
• Translation certifications for divorce decrees, marriage certificates, birth certificates
• Statutory declarations for citizenship, inheritance, or pension applications
• Corporate resolutions, share transfer instruments, director consent forms
• Educational document certifications (degrees, transcripts) for visa or employment use
• Wills and codicils signed before a Thai attorney for use abroad

The Process — What to Expect at Your Notary Appointment

1. Book an appointment — tell us the type of document, the language, and the country where it will be used.
2. Prepare your documents — bring the original document, a clean copy if needed, and your passport or Thai ID. For corporate work, bring company affidavit and director’s ID.
3. Identity verification — the attorney verifies your identity in person before any signing.
4. Signing in the attorney’s presence — sign or affirm the document while the attorney watches; the attorney then attaches the notarial certificate, signs and seals it.
5. Optional MFA legalisation — if your destination country requires it, we coordinate the next step at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Legalisation Division (Chaeng Watthana, Bangkok) and, if needed, the relevant embassy.
6. Receipt and records — you receive a notarial certificate; we keep a record of the notarial act in our register as required by the Lawyers Council.

MFA Legalisation — When You Need More Than a Notary

Because Thailand is not party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, a notarial certificate alone is sometimes not enough for foreign use. Many embassies require further legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and then by the destination country’s embassy in Bangkok. Common destinations — France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States — each have specific legalisation chains.

We routinely handle the entire chain on your behalf: notarisation, MFA submission and pickup, and embassy lodgement. This typically takes 3 to 7 business days for standard MFA processing, plus embassy timelines.

Languages & Locations

All ThaiLawOnline notarial services are offered in English, French, and Thai. Documents in other languages can be accommodated with our certified translation partners. We have bilingual notarial attorneys available in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, and Ubon Ratchathani — with home-visit and hospital-visit options for clients with mobility constraints, subject to scheduling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Thai Notarial Services Attorney the same as a notary public?

Functionally similar but legally different. Thailand does not have a notary public office. The Lawyers Council of Thailand authorises specially-trained attorneys to perform the same acts (witness signatures, certify copies, take oaths). The notarial certificate is recognised abroad once paired with MFA / embassy legalisation where required.

Can I get something notarised online?

No — under current Lawyers Council rules, your physical presence is required so the attorney can verify your identity and witness signing. We do offer pre-screening of your document by email, so the appointment itself is short.

How long does a notary appointment take?

Most notarial acts take 20–45 minutes once the document is finalised. Multi-page corporate filings or affidavits with several signatories take longer. We always confirm the expected duration when you book.

What ID do I need to bring?

Foreigners: passport (original) and ideally a current visa or work permit. Thai nationals: Thai ID card. For corporate matters, bring the company affidavit and the director’s ID.

How much does it cost?

Fees depend on the act (signature certification, copy attestation, full affidavit drafting) and on whether you also need MFA / embassy legalisation. We provide a written quote in advance — never a surprise bill. See our pricing page for fee bands.

Can ThaiLawOnline help with a power of attorney for property in Thailand?

Yes. We draft, witness, and (if needed) translate the POA, and we coordinate Land Office acceptance. For POAs prepared abroad, we can advise on how to legalise them for use here.

Why Choose ThaiLawOnline for Notarial Services

• Licensed Notarial Services Attorneys with current Lawyers Council certification
• Bilingual EN / FR / TH notarisation, plus translation partners for other languages
• End-to-end legalisation chain: notarisation → MFA → embassy
• Multiple offices across Thailand — Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Samui, Ubon
• Trusted by expatriates and international businesses since 2006
• Transparent fixed-fee quotes before any work begins