Can a foreign national serve as a witness for a marriage between Thai nationals in Thailand?

Nov 12, 2021
3 years ago
Anthony ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My step daughter (Thai national) is getting married shortly to a Thai national. Does anyone know if I can be a witness for the marriage (Signature witness) can't seem to find any clear information on this. I'm UK national. The registration office seems to busy to respond.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A UK national can be a witness for the marriage of their Thai stepdaughter to another Thai national, although the regulations typically state that witnesses should be Thai citizens. Some users have reported that it is possible to utilize random witnesses from the registration office for a small fee.
Stephan ***********
In my knowledge the witnesses have to be thai citizens, but can be random persons.
Benjamin ******
If you're getting married in Thailand, yes. For my marriage to a Thai national, I pulled a random person from the Amphur office to be the witness, and paid them 100 THB.
Tal **********
@Benjamin *****
This wasn't the question...
Benjamin ******
@Tal *********
Then what was the question? If he's getting married in Thailand (because this is a Thailand Visa Advice group), he can get a witness to the marriage by anyone at the local Amphur office.
Stephan ***********
@Benjamin *****
What I understand... the question was if he (UK national) can be a witness for his stepdaughter (Thai). I think he can't, only citizens can be witness.
Anthony ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stephan **********
seems like you have correct Stephen. Thanks for the clarification. I think it's ludicrous that you can not be a witness for your own step daughter but apparently that is the case if you are not a Thai national.
Steven ***************
@Anthony *******
. Maybe because it's a thai/thai marriage. If your step daughter was dual national it would probably be ok.

I witnessed a marriage in Bkk(Lak Si) but the girl was half thai/half Australian.
Frédéric ******************
@Steven **************
dual national if not a juristic status. For Thailand she is 100% Thai and for Australia she is 100% Australian.
Anthony ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steven **************
yes I think that's right
Stephan ***********
@Anthony *******
Just my own experiences, but other offices might have different rules. So just in cases... ask "your" office...
Anthony ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stephan **********
just got a reply the anwer is you have to be Thai national and that should be the same rule for every registration office regardless of what province your in.
Stephan ***********
@Anthony *******
That's exactly what they've told us in different offices too... The witnesses have to be Thai (also for Foreigner/Thai marriage), should be acquaintances, if possible. And the rules "should" be the same for every office. But hey... we talk about Thailand... ;-)
Steven ***************
@Stephan **********
. My cousin married a Thai here. He's Australian. His father witnessed it and he was British.. figure that one out.. This was 10 years ago though in Korat . I was there and watched it happen.

Seems they prefer a Thai total stranger be a witness for 100 baht than your own flesh and blood as a witness to a legal contract..
Stephan ***********
@Steven **************
As I said... we still talk about Thailand... 😉 It's the same when you buy a used vehicle. When you change the ownership to your name you need two (Thai) persons to sign the application as witnesses. You can pick some random guys just outside from the DLT, nobody check who signed the form...
Steven ***************
@Stephan **********
. You're wrong, anyone can be a witness, but it's supposed to be someone who knows you and has no objections to the marriage. Nationality is irrelevant.
Stephan ***********
@Steven **************
By the way... ;-)
Steven ***************
@Stephan **********
. Classic cases of public servants here exercising their discretionary rights as a power trip.

The next time I witness a crime here and someone asks me what I saw, I will just tell them it's legally irrelevant because I'm not a Thai..
Stephan ***********
@Steven **************
Good one... ;-)
Stephan ***********
@Steven **************
Well... right... "supposed to know you" is also wanted, but they not really care about this that much. But for the other thing... the office at Phuket told us to bring citizens, foreigners are not allowed. Same information comes from other offices where we've asked. If you know different it seems to be a "local" requirement. Same as every IO make their own rules...
Tal **********
@Benjamin *****
Read the post again... he's not the one who is getting married....
Benjamin ******
@Tal *********
If you, the collective you, are getting married (in other words, a person who is getting married), anyone who is getting married can use any witness.

>Does anyone know if I can be a witness for the marriage

Yes, anyone can be a witness.

In American English, the word "you" can be a plural and not singular.

"In modern-day English, there is only one form of you for formal, informal, singular and plural. "

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