Getting Married in Udon Thani

[Orky]

Hi.
Need some info.
I will get my documents for marry as listed below:

1. If you wish to marry in Thailand you should therefore:

A. complete the Information sheet for registration of marriage in Thailand (in Danish). Click here. Save and print the form.

B. bring the following original documents to the Embassy with the Information sheet or send them by letter:

■Passport
■Birth certificate
■Health insurance card or other official documentation of your present address.
■Salary statement (the latest) or similar documentation of your income, for instance your pension statement or your yearly salary statement from the Danish tax authorities (Årsopgørelse).
■Documentation of name and address of employer and your title (if you hold a job).
■Names and addresses (references) of two persons you know in Denmark, who are not your family.
■Names and age of your children, if any.
■If you have previously been married, your divorce certificate.
■Death certificate if you are a widow/widower
■Certificate from your Danish municipality concerning notification of marriage.

Can i get the certificate for Legalisation at Udon Thani ?
If yes, we can go marry at Amphur in Udon Thani, right ?

[BobHelm]

Orky, I am British, so this is the procedure for us to marry in Thailand - I think it will be the same for you AFTER the Embassy visit & I believe that the documents you quote is what your Embassy needs..I am totally unsure if the Embassy letter needs to go from Danish to English to Thai, or can go directly from Danish to Thai - maybe another European national can advise...

You Embassy needs to supply you with an "Affirmation of Freedom to Marry".
You then need to take this & get it officially translated into Thai by a translator - who will need to stamp it.
You then take the Embassy Original & the Translated copy to The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok.
They will attach the two copies together & stamp them with an official stamp (both original & Thai translation on the back & also a stamp where they have been stapled together.

I believe that the Ministry normal service is bring one day, get back the next but you can pay extra for a same day 'express' service - prepare for a few hours wait though!!
I believe that you then take that official paperwork to the Amphur where your good lady has a 'blue book' registration & not, I believe just any old Amphur. She will also need to prove to the registrar that she is 'free to marry' - but not, obviously, need to go the Ministry route!!

[trubrit]

Can go to any Amphur actually Bob .

[BobHelm]

Ah, OK thanks for that TB (live & learn ).

[Orky]

Thanks.

But Legalisation of certificate i need to do in Bangkok aswell, after been at embassy, just think i could do in Udon.

But thats okay

[BobHelm]

As far as I am aware it can only be done at the Ministry. A few years ago it also could only be done in personal as well - although I guess that could have changed by now..
It was possible to do the whole British Embassy, Official translation & Ministry approval in one day - as long as 'express' service was requested & paid for along the way....

[trubrit]

If you really want to avoid the hassle and who doesn't. May I suggest after getting your affirmation from the embassy you pop in to one of the translators offices opposite. Give them the affirmation for translation, they will then take it to the Ministry for confirmation and will post it Ems to you at home . The last time I took a friend on this route they charged 500bht in total and everything was received in Udon within two days .

[Orky]

Thanks.... i try that sure.

[semperfiguy]

OK Orky...I'm going to give you the up to the minute scoop on all this. I just went through this myself only three months ago, so I will advise you from first hand experience. I am an American, so the only difference will be the variation in charges for notorization at the Danish Embassy versus the US Embassy. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs will require that you have an Affidavit of Freedom to Marry, and if you have been divorced, they will require an additional form which is referred to as a Affidavit of Divorce. Both of these will need to be translated into Thai, and I highly recommend AC Services just across the street from the US Embassy which is just up the road from the Danish Embassy. You can call them and they will even send someone to where you are to guide you back to their offices...at no charge. I have been using them for 20 years and they are excellent and will have your papers translated within 2 hours. Their web site is:

http://www.thaimarriagevisa.com/

Take a break for lunch, come back and they are ready. Cost for me was 700 Baht for the two documents...English to Thai. Of course, if you have not been divorced, then you will only be paying 350 Baht for one document. Now...they will ask you if you want them to take the papers to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and assist you with the completion of all paperwork, but they will charge you handsomely for that service. There will also be people on the street outside your embassy who will try to coerce you into letting them finalize all of your paperwork as well, but just run as fast as you can from all of that because you don't need any additional services. They will try to hit you up for 5000 Baht and not 500 as has been previously suggested on this thread. Once you have your translations in hand, take a taxi to the TM of FA office and enter the ground floor and go up two levels and get in line to have your papers certified. Each document with it's translation will be 400 Baht because it will require 2 stamps at 200 Baht each for next day service. When you reach the counter to explain the reason for your visit, tell the girl that you want same day service, and you can pay double the price. She will send you into a room to sit in front of a supervisor's desk who will OK your papers for same day service, then she will direct you to submit your paperwork at a particular window for certification. Give them another 2 hours max and you will be out the door. Come back to Udon Thani and go to the local Amphur with your paperwork in order to Register your marriage and obtain the Marriage Certificate, then you're all done. You'll need to determine the correct Amphur office depending on the area of Udon in which you reside. I live in Tambon Nong Bua, so that's the Amphur office that I used. We were in and out in short time and the registration was 200 Baht. Be sure to take your camera and ask someone to snap a few photos of you and the Thai wife posing with the supervisor and holding the Certificate of Marriage so that it is recognizable. If you plan to bring her to your country in the future then those photos which help to substantiate the validity of your marriage. I have been down this road 3 times in the last 28 years, so I have already made all the mistakes so that you don't have to if you will take my advice. If you need more help just send me a PM and I will be more than thrilled to lend a helping hand.

[BobHelm]

and if you have been divorced, they will require an additional form which is referred to as a Affidavit of Divorce.

semperfiguy is this a new requirement???
It did not used to be a requirement for UK nationals.
I am saying this as I am currently looking at a 2006 registered affidavit of a friend of mine, who was divorced & it is all a single sheet/single translation piece & records the fact of the divorce within that 1 page - although I do realise that different Countries Embassies can have hugely different individual requirements which are totally unrelated to Thai requirements.
As far as the translation & transportation costs are concerned, then TIT.. If TB has a "500 baht all in" contact then he is well worth PMing to discover the details..

[wayne747]

Orky,
I assume you have considered the option of marrying in Denmark ?
It is easier, paper-wise

[trubrit]

and if you have been divorced, they will require an additional form which is referred to as a Affidavit of Divorce.

semperfiguy is this a new requirement???
It did not used to be a requirement for UK nationals.
I am saying this as I am currently looking at a 2006 registered affidavit of a friend of mine, who was divorced & it is all a single sheet/single translation piece & records the fact of the divorce within that 1 page - although I do realise that different Countries Embassies can have hugely different individual requirements which are totally unrelated to Thai requirements.
As far as the translation & transportation costs are concerned, then TIT.. If TB has a "500 baht all in" contact then he is well worth PMing to discover the details..

I don't think it applies to UK citizens and I don't really see it is neccessary for anyone , after all. The original document is an affadavit to swear " You are free to marry" and you do have to give referees that would testify to this, so a further affadavit swearing you are divorced, would seem to be , not only a duplication, but possibly a , contradiction of the first .
As for the translation and government authorisation of the affadavit. There are many agencies offering this service located around the traffic lights at the top end of Wireless Road, all housed in permanent premises and charging about the same . It goes without saying that a tout standing outside any Embassy should be avoided like the plague .

[semperfiguy]

and if you have been divorced, they will require an additional form which is referred to as a Affidavit of Divorce.

semperfiguy is this a new requirement???
It did not used to be a requirement for UK nationals.
I am saying this as I am currently looking at a 2006 registered affidavit of a friend of mine, who was divorced & it is all a single sheet/single translation piece & records the fact of the divorce within that 1 page - although I do realise that different Countries Embassies can have hugely different individual requirements which are totally unrelated to Thai requirements.
As far as the translation & transportation costs are concerned, then TIT.. If TB has a "500 baht all in" contact then he is well worth PMing to discover the details..

Hello Bob! I checked out my two forms again from the US Embassy, and the Affidavit of Freedom to Marry does have one question related to maritial status, but it doesn't go into detail. The Affidavit of Divorce does go into more detail as to the name of the former wife, the court of jurisdiction for the divorce, date of divorce, etc. I can't honestly say that Thailand now requires two distinct forms; however, I can tell you that when I was married here to my third wife in 1991, I only had to submit the one form...Affidavit of Freedom to Marry, and I was divorced at that time as well. It would seem logical that the various embassies would only be constructing forms which would comply with Thai government requirements, but I agree with you that all of those issues could be addressed on one form. The US Embassy gets 1600 Baht now (up from 800) for each form that is notorized at their good office, so they very well could have split the forms so as to extract another 1600 Baht from the wallet of a US citizen. I'm sure that a divorced man could well get away with just never mentioning the fact that he's ever been married and save himself a few thousand Baht in the process. I don't recall anyone asking me for more information than I volunteered to offer. Personally, I prefer doing the honorable and moral thing by never telling a lie, but if one's conscience can bear it, then have at it. If you walk, talk and tell the truth you don't ever have to look over your shoulder and worry about getting caught. These things have a way of boomeranging on a fella!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, bottom line is...perhaps Orky could just call his embassy and ask about their forms and procedures. If he asks 10 Thais, he'll get 10 different answers...and they will all be wrong. Murphy's Law is alive and well in Thailand..."if anything can go wrong...it will"! And in Thailand one can expect it 100% of the time!

God Bless!

[Stevo]

For UK nationals... if you have been married and divorced before, you will need to submit your 'Decree Absolute' with your 'Freedom to marry' doc.
No translation is necessary for this doc.

[Orky]

Thank all .... but maybe i better do as advice on embassy website:

REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE IN THAILAND

Registration of marriage in Thailand can only be done at a District Office ("amphur"), which is similar to a town hall in Denmark. Please note that a marriage ceremony performed in a church, or in a mosque, or a ceremony at home with monks attending the wedding is not legally binding in Thailand - and therefore not legally binding in Denmark either.

In order for a Danish citizen to register marriage in Thailand, the Thai authorities request that the Danish Embassy issue a certificate in English and in Thai, which confirms the Danish national's name, nationality, passport number, issuing passport authority, address in Denmark, employer, position, and salary. Furthermore, names and year and date of birth of children from previous relationships, if any and finally, names and addresses of 2 contact persons (references) in Denmark, who are not family members, should also be included in the Embassy’s certificate.

The Embassy stresses that it is not necessary to hire a Thai agency or lawyer in order to get married in Thailand.



When you return to Denmark after having registered your marriage in Thailand, please inform the municipality in which you live (Folkeregisteret) about your marriage.

---

1. If you wish to marry in Thailand you should therefore:

A. complete the Information sheet for registration of marriage in Thailand (in Danish). Click here. Save and print the form.

B. bring the following original documents to the Embassy with the Information sheet or send them by letter:

■Passport
■Birth certificate
■Health insurance card or other official documentation of your present address.
■Salary statement (the latest) or similar documentation of your income, for instance your pension statement or your yearly salary statement from the Danish tax authorities (Årsopgørelse).
■Documentation of name and address of employer and your title (if you hold a job).
■Names and addresses (references) of two persons you know in Denmark, who are not your family.
■Names and age of your children, if any.
■If you have previously been married, your divorce certificate.
■Death certificate if you are a widow/widower
■Certificate from your Danish municipality concerning notification of marriage ("Ægteskabsattest" NOT "Bopælsattest"). In order to obtain a " Marriage Certificate", please print out the Marriage Declaration. Fill out the declaration and you and your future spouse then need to sign it, enclose the attachements as specified in the guidelines together with DKK 500,00 and send it by mail to your (latest) municipality. Please remember to inform the municipality to which address the "Marriage Certificate" should be sent!
Please inform the Embassy whether you want the certificate to be sent to you with an invoice or if you will pick it up in person. If you send the documents by letter and will pick up the certificate in person, you may show the original documents on arrival at the Embassy.

Under normal circumstances, it takes 3-4 working days for the Embassy to issue a certificate for registration of marriage in Thailand.

You will be charged a fee for the Embassy's assistance (See: List of Consular Service Fees).

Alternatively and in order to save time, you may find it more convenient to forward copies of the documents to the Embassy beforehand, in order that the certificate and any translations are ready when you arrive in Thailand. Please note, however, that you must present all the original documents when coming to the Embassy to pick up your certificate for registration of marriage in Thailand.

2. You should bring the certificate to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be verified as a true document issued by the Royal Danish Embassy. The address of the Ministry is:

Legalisation Department of Consular Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Chaeng Wattana Road
(close to the Communications Authority of Thailand)
Bangkok
Tel: 02 981 7171
Fax: 02 575 1054

It usually takes a couple of days for the Ministry to verify a document. Please note that the Ministry will charge you a fee. The Danish Embassy cannot assist you in having the certificate verified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Since May 2003 it has been possible for foreigners to forward by mail documents for legalization directly to the Royal Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legalization Division.

The procedure is as follows:

1.Contact the Mr. Adulsak Chobchaoychat, Legalization Division at 02-575-1056/58 for more information or details of documents needed especially regarding the legalization fee.
2.Fill in the form “Application for Legalization”.
3.Enclose a copy of your passport or power of attorney.
4.Enclose the document for legalization as well as 2 copies hereof.
5.Enclose a money order paid in THB to Laksi Post Office + THB 40 for the expense of return express mail by EMS.
6.State your telephone number and address in Thailand.
7.The legalization process normally takes 2 working days.
8.In case you do not have your own address in Thailand you can have the documents sent to your name + c/o Royal Danish Embassy, Sathorn Soi 1, Bangkok 10120. Hereafter you can pick up your letter at the Embassy by presenting your passport.
9.Forward the documents to: Mr. Adulsak Chobchaoychat, 123 Department of Consular Affairs, Legalization Division, Chaeng Watthana Rd., Laksi District, Bangkok 10210.

3. When the certificate has been verified, you may register marriage at any District Office (amphur). The Embassy, however, usually recommends that you register marriage in Bangkok*, or in another larger city, as the district offices in the cities are more familiar with the embassies' certificates. You do not need to make an appointment in advance with the district office.
The amphur will charge you a small fee for the registration of marriage. Please note that you might also have to pay a small fee to the two marriage witnesses, if they are provided by the amphur.

4. After your marriage you may choose to inform the Danish authorities (Folkeregisteret) of your changed civil status. For that purpose you need to have your marriage certificate translated to English by a translation agency and then legalised by the embassy.


* The district office closest to the Embassy is:

Yannawa District Office
209/1 Naradhiwat Ratchanakharin 28 Road
(behind TESCO Lotus)
Chongnonsi Sub-district, Yannawa District
Bangkok 10120

Tel: 02 681 5482

Bangrak District
(opposite Bangrak police station)
5 Naret Road
Si Praya Sub-district, Bangrak District
Bangkok 10500

Tel: 02 236 1399

[BobHelm]

That is a good comprehensive service offered to the citizens of your country by the Embassy Orky.
I am afraid that British citizens can only stand by in amazement when they compare the way that our Embassy treats our citizens...

[Nick@AUA]

That is a good comprehensive service offered to the citizens of your country by the Embassy Orky.
I am afraid that British citizens can only stand by in amazement when they compare the way that our Embassy treats our citizens...

Speak for yourself - I have always been treated very well by the British Embassy.

Just a question re marrying a Thai national - when registering the marriage at a district office (amphur), can it be done easily in Udon (even if the girl is from another province)?

[trubrit]

Just a question re marrying a Thai national - when registering the marriage at a district office (amphur), can it be done easily in Udon (even if the girl is from another province)?

Simple answer to that Nick. YES. Providing you have the necessary documents from your embassy you can marry at any amphoe in the country .Doesn't matter where she is from as long as she is Thai.

[Nick@AUA]

Thanks TB. is it easy to do...get married that is. You just need a letter from your Embassy, then you are good to go.

[trubrit]

Thanks TB. is it easy to do...get married that is. You just need a letter from your Embassy, then you are good to go.

Yes its so easy I have done it three times . Seriously though, it is easy ,however if your lady is marrying outside of her registered home town she might not be able to change her surname to yours on her ID without visiting her own amphoe . Some will , some won't . My friend who is the local registrar tells me anywhere can, but it is up to the individual officer . I am sure you won't want to know, but divorcing is even easier , just 20bht and you don't even need an embassy letter . :-"