How to Marry in Thailand

Thailand Marriage Law Requirements

What are the legal requirements to get married in Thailand?
Legal age for marriage is 20 years for both men and women. If between 17 and 20 years old then parental consent is required.
Bride and Groom may not be related by blood or adoption.
Only a civil ceremony is recognised under Thai and UK law

How long do I have to be resident in Thailand before I can get married?
There are no residency requirements to get married in Thailand, although you will need to apply for a marriage licence before marrying and this may take a few days.

Getting a marriage licence
In Thailand a UK citizen will need to make an affirmation of freedom to marry at the British Embassy in Bangkok or at the Consulate in Chiang Mai which you can do by appearing in person at the Embassy or Consulate during normal working hours and taking the documents below. There is a charge for this service.

What legal papers do I need to take with me?
After obtaining the affirmation you will need to have it translated into Thai.
You will also need to obtain authentification of the British Consular official’s signature and certification of the Thai translation which you can obtain from the The Legalisation and Naturalisation Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Please see their website for full details mfa.go.th
There is a fee for this and it can take up to 2 days to issue. You will then be issued with a marriage licence which you then submit to a Thai Registrar at the Amphur to have your marriage legally registered.