1. Legalization in the Country of Origin

The original foreign language documents must first be certified by the relevant authorities in the issuing country to confirm they are genuine and not fraudulent.

• Inquire with the Thai Embassy: You must contact the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in that country. Ask them specifically whether the already certified document needs further legalization by the Thai Embassy itself.

2. Translation and Certification in Thailand

Once the document has been certified by the relevant foreign authority and/or the Thai Embassy abroad, you must proceed with the following steps in Thailand:

• Translation to Thai: Have the original document translated accurately into the Thai language.
  
• Translation Certification: Take the original document and the Thai translation to the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Legalization Division). A Thai official will then officially certify the accuracy of the Thai translation.

3. Key Advice and Advance Preparation

The legalization process involves multiple steps and can be time-consuming, making advance preparation crucial:

• Best to Complete Abroad: It is highly recommended that you complete the entire document legalization process before you travel to Thailand. Documents certified overseas are generally considered highly credible by Thai authorities.
  
• Caution with Local Embassies (in Thailand): If you attempt to process the legalization through your country’s embassy or consulate in Thailand, some offices may not offer this service, resulting in wasted time. Even if they do accept the document, the certification might only be for the signature and not a thorough check of the document’s validity, which may lead to it being less accepted by Thai government agencies.
  
• Request the list of required documents from the relevant government office: Before you begin, you should contact the Amphoe (District Office) or Khet (Local Registry Office) where you plan to submit the documents, as well as the Immigration Bureau (T.M. / I.M.), to get a clear list of all required documentation. This ensures you do not miss any critical paperwork.