About the Author
Kwok is a practising solicitor based in London, admitted in England & Wales and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. He is registered with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Kwok has worked as legal counsel and in-house solicitor across leading firms and corporations. He personally oversees every apostille and legalisation case at Ginkgo Advisory, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and end-to-end quality control.
Kwok Lam
Legal Consultant of Ginkgo Advisory
British Nationals Getting Married in Thailand
If you are a British national planning to get married in Thailand, you must follow the correct Thai marriage process.
The UK Government guidance, “Confirm you’re free to get married in Thailand”, explains what British nationals need to prepare before marriage registration in Thailand.
In most provinces, British nationals need:
a marital status affirmation;
a certified copy of their UK passport;
Thai translation of the documents;
legalisation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand;
registration at a local district office, also known as an amphur, amphoe or khet.
If you were previously married or in a civil partnership, you must also prove that the previous marriage or civil partnership has ended.
For England and Wales, this usually means a Decree Absolute or Final Order.
Ginkgo Advisory assists with the UK document side of this process. We can help British nationals obtain a UK Decree Absolute or Final Order, prepare solicitor certification and arrange a UK FCDO apostille where needed.
Check the Thai District Office First
Before you apply for your marital status affirmation, contact the Thai district office where you plan to marry.
This office may be called:
amphur;
amphoe;
khet;
or local district office.
The district office can confirm:
whether you need a marital status affirmation;
whether you need a certified passport copy;
which province you must state on your affirmation;
whether your documents need Thai translation;
whether any foreign divorce document needs legalisation;
what timing rules apply before your marriage date.
This step matters because Thai marriage registration rules can vary by office and province.
Marital Status Affirmation for Thailand
In most provinces in Thailand, British nationals need a marital status affirmation to get married.
This document confirms that you are free to marry.
You must apply online and book an appointment at the British Embassy Bangkok.
At the appointment, you will:
check the information in your affirmation;
make any corrections before signing;
make your declaration;
sign your affirmation;
receive the affirmation at the end of the appointment.
You should book your embassy appointment at least 7 days after you apply online. This gives consular staff time to check your documents.
During busy periods, appointment availability may be limited. You should not leave the process until the last minute.
Certified Copy of UK Passport
British nationals usually also need a certified copy of their UK passport for marriage in Thailand.
The UK Government guidance states that the online application covers both:
the marital status affirmation;
and the certified copy of your passport.
The current consular fees listed in the guidance are:
£50 for the marital status affirmation;
£25 for the certified copy of your passport;
£75 total.
You must bring the original documents that you uploaded. If you do not bring them, the embassy may cancel the application. You may then need to apply again and pay again.
Documents Needed for the Online Application
To apply online, you usually need:
the month and province where you intend to marry;
your UK passport;
proof of your permanent address;
your partner’s passport or national identity card;
the names and addresses of two referees who do not live in Thailand;
proof that any previous marriage or civil partnership has ended;
a credit or debit card for payment.
Your referees should usually be non-Thai nationals living outside Thailand. They can be family members or friends. They do not need to be the same people who witness your marriage ceremony.
The online application may time out if you are inactive for 20 minutes. Prepare your documents before you start.
Timing Rules for the Affirmation
You should not apply for your affirmation more than 3 months before your intended marriage date.
Most district offices only accept affirmations dated up to 3 months before the marriage.
You can only get married during the month and in the province stated in your application. The same information will appear on your affirmation.
For example, if your affirmation states that you plan to marry in Phuket in September, you should use it for a marriage in Phuket during September.
If your plan changes, check the position before relying on the old affirmation.
Proof of Address
For notarial services, you need to provide proof of your identity and address.
If you live in Thailand, you may use:
a Tabien Baan / yellow book;
or a pink ID card.
If you do not have these, ask the district office what they will accept.
For a UK or other address outside Thailand, you may use documents such as:
a DVLA-issued driving licence;
a bank or mortgage statement;
a utility bill;
a Council Tax bill;
a tenancy agreement;
a Housing Association rent card;
an HMRC tax demand;
or an HMRC self-assessment statement.
Your proof of address must usually be dated within the last 3 months, unless it is a residence permit or driving licence.
The document should show your name as it appears on your passport and your address.
If You Were Previously Married or in a Civil Partnership
If you have been married or in a civil partnership before, you must provide proof that it has ended.
The UK Government guidance lists several possible documents:
a Decree Absolute or Final Order;
an annulment certificate;
a civil partnership dissolution;
your partner’s death certificate and marriage certificate, where relevant.
For England and Wales divorce cases, you will usually need a Decree Absolute or Final Order.
A Decree Absolute is the older final divorce order. It usually applies to divorces completed before 6 April 2022.
A Final Order is the current final divorce order. It usually applies to divorce cases issued on or after 6 April 2022.
Both documents prove that the previous marriage has legally ended.
What If You Do Not Have the Original Divorce Document?
Many British nationals no longer hold the original Decree Absolute or Final Order.
Some only have:
an old scan;
a court PDF;
a blurred photo;
a downloaded copy;
an old email attachment;
or an unclear divorce document.
The UK Government guidance confirms that you can order a UK Decree Absolute or Final Order if you do not have the original.
Ginkgo Advisory can assist with this UK document stage.
We can help you:
identify the correct UK divorce document;
obtain a Decree Absolute or Final Order where available;
review whether your current PDF or scan is suitable;
check whether the document is a court PDF, HMCTS copy, scan or paper order;
prepare solicitor certification where appropriate;
arrange UK FCDO apostille where needed;
support a 2 working days UK apostille route in suitable cases.
Does a UK Divorce Document Need Apostille for Thailand?
You should check this with the Thai district office, the British Embassy process and any authority that will receive the document.
Some UK documents may need extra preparation before a Thai authority accepts them. This may include solicitor certification, UK FCDO apostille, Thai translation or Thai MFA legalisation.
For a UK divorce document, a safer route may be:
obtain the UK court document → solicitor certification → UK FCDO apostille → Thai translation / Thai MFA legalisation where required → use in Thailand
This is especially relevant if the document is a court PDF, electronic divorce order or unclear copy.
Ginkgo Advisory handles the UK side. You should confirm the Thai-side translation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation requirements with the relevant Thai authority or local service provider.
After the British Embassy Appointment
After your embassy appointment, you may need to translate and legalise the documents before a Thai authority will recognise them.
The guidance says that you may need to get the documents translated into Thai and legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand.
You may visit the MFA in Bangkok or a legalisation office in locations such as:
Bangkok;
Chiang Mai;
Pattaya;
Phuket;
Ubon Ratchathani.
You need to book an appointment online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Marriage Ceremony in Thailand
You must take your affirmation and certified passport copy to the district office where you plan to marry.
The district office must be in the province stated on your affirmation.
The registrar will conduct the marriage ceremony and issue two identical Thai marriage certificates.
A religious ceremony alone does not create a valid legal marriage in Thailand. The registrar must conduct the legal ceremony.
You may also pay a fee for the registrar to marry you at your chosen venue, if that option is available.
Same-Sex Marriage in Thailand
Thailand’s Equal Marriage law comes into effect on 22 January 2025. Applications for registration are expected to be accepted from 23 January 2025.
The UK Government guidance states that the British Embassy will assist British people with the necessary documentation for same-sex marriage in Thailand once the law enters into force and the Thai Ministry of Interior outlines the procedures.
British nationals planning a same-sex marriage in Thailand should check the latest procedure with the relevant Thai district office and the British Embassy Bangkok.
How Ginkgo Advisory Helps
Ginkgo Advisory is a London-based legal service provider.
We help with the UK document side of marriage preparation for Thailand. This is especially useful where a British national has been divorced in England or Wales and needs a clear UK divorce document.
We can assist with:
UK Decree Absolute retrieval;
UK Final Order retrieval;
UK divorce document review;
solicitor certification;
UK FCDO apostille;
2 working days UK apostille service, where suitable;
document preparation for Thailand marriage use.
We do not replace the British Embassy Bangkok, the Thai district office or the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
You should always check the local Thai marriage requirements directly.
Our role is focused. We help ensure that the UK divorce document is obtained, reviewed, certified and apostilled correctly before you use it overseas.
British National Getting Married in Thailand: UK Divorce Document Support
If you are a British national getting married in Thailand and you were previously divorced in England or Wales, your Decree Absolute or Final Order may form part of your marriage paperwork.
Ginkgo Advisory can help you obtain the UK divorce document, prepare solicitor certification and arrange a UK FCDO apostille in suitable cases.
Contact Ginkgo Advisory for UK Decree Absolute / Final Order certification and apostille support for marriage in Thailand.
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