Answered2 years ago
Do I need an Affidavit of Freedom to marry in Thailand if I'm already married to a Thai citizen in my home country?
My Question: Do I need an Affidavit of Freedom to marry if I am marrying (in Thailand) the Thai citizen to whom I’m already married in my home country?
Answer summary
The original poster inquired about the need for an Affidavit of Freedom to marry a Thai citizen when they are already married to the same person in their home country. Comments clarified that a second marriage is not necessary; instead, they can register their existing marriage in Thailand with the appropriate documents, such as a marriage certificate attested by the Thai Embassy. There were discussions about the implications of marriage registration regarding legal rights, such as medical decision-making, inheritance, and property, which suggest the benefits of local registration.
35 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Andre ***********
Joke right
Arthur ********
you can marry every night on beach road pattaya ,the document is baht
Ivan *******
You just need to bring your marriage certificate, attested by the Thai Embassy from your country, then come to Thailand, and register your marriage in Thailand.
KO ********
@Ivan ******
we registered our Singapore marriage by having the certificate certified by Singapore Embassy in BKK. Then Thai embassy I think it’s called in Central. We got an agent to handle that then took doc to amphoe in person as you need to be there to signKO ********
@Bruce ******
this is correct. I guess you could get married again but the you definitely need the freedom to marry thingy. They don’t make it easy…. I went through the marriage registration process so if you need advice let me know.Ivan *******
@KO *******
actually you don't need to get married again. Since you are already married you only need to register your marriage in Thailand. You can't go around getting married in every country you visit..KO ********
@Ivan ******
I never said you need to get married again
Dirk **************
Better marry twice. Just to be safe 😂
Bob **********
You register your marriage in Thailand
David **********
Glutton for punishment t
Ron ******
So you want your marriage registered in Thailand?
Bruce *******
OP@Ron *****
actually, with same sex marriage beginning 22 January, I’m thinking ahead. The #1 reason to get registered locally is medical decision making - Thailand has NO legally defined medical power of attorney. Hospitals routinely refuse them. Therefore, a Thai partner may be unable to make medical decisions on behalf of their foreign partner, AND vice versa. I know of several horror stories (first hand) in which a Thai partner hospitalized in first class conditions and cared for by their foreign partner was snatched away, brought back to the village, denied care, and died. The foreign partner was powerless to stop it - and neither was the poor hospitalized Thai.
Although I don’t worry about a similar situation for us, it seems that legally one is in a much better position if you don’t have to prove your overseas marriage in every instance.
There are also some (very) minor advantages with respect to inheritance and property, though, as of 2018, most of those advantages accrue already if you have a valid overseas marriage.
Ron **********
@Ron *****
to be eligible for a marriage extension thus only 400k locked away in a Thai bankMichelle ***********
Why marry the same person twice
Bunny *****
@Michelle **********
because he loves her so much that he would choose her all over again.Bruce *******
OP@Bunny ****
I would marry him every day over again, if I could! And that’s after 31 years!Michelle ***********
@Bruce ******
i would've gone ahead and attached it here, but I don't see an option to attach a jpeg you'll just need to open up Messenger. Look for the3 - settings icon, and after you press that, it should say, you have a message waiting from someone who's not your in your friends list.
Michelle ***********
@Bruce ******
my pleasure🙏Bruce *******
OP@Michelle **********
Thanks, I’ll look for that.Michelle ***********
@Bruce ******
i sent you some information in messenger.On the right to marriage equality act amendment. You just need to accept my message request. I hope the info helpsMichelle ***********
@Bruce ******
i get that, but why don't you just renew your vows and register your current marriage in January? When the new law takes effectBunny *****
@Bruce ******
that's the way! May you both always feel that way for each other!
James *******
@Michelle **********
He likes cake.
Luigi ***********
😅😅
Yvan **********
Or a divorce certificate translated in Thai
Yvan **********
Yes
Ronachai **************
You cannot get married again but you can register your foreign marriage in Thailand with the right documents
Michael **********
ps this was 34 years ago.
Michael **********
@Ronachai *************
i got married twice to my wife. the first time was a traditional Thai wedding in the village ,but there was no paper work with it so we got married again a week later in Bangkok.i registered this marriage in the uk through the English embassy.
Si *******
@Michael *********
A Thai village wedding doesn’t count officially,Just expensive.
But the advantage is no need for a messy divorce,
Just disappear.
Graham ******
@Michael *********
You got married once in Bangkok, the village wedding is just like having a western wedding function but no Registrar, it's just a party
John ********
@Michael *********
totally irrelevant to this. Village wedding means absolutely nothing legallyRonachai **************
I meant that you cannot get two registered marriages, the traditional Thai wedding if fine but doesn't count as a registered marriage
John ********
You can’t get married twice boy
Activity
20 joined20
people
Related
25What advice do you have for obtaining a marriage visa in Thailand for a UK resident?
4.1k33503mo
Do New Zealanders need a Freedom to Marry certificate to marry a Thai national in Thailand?
5.6k211297mo
What translation services can I use for marriage approval in Thailand?
1.3k10138mo
What is the form required for approval to marry in Thailand from the embassy?
4.8k131208mo
What documents are necessary to open a bank account in Thailand on a non-immigrant O visa and married to a Thai citizen?
3.3k18421y
What are the legal requirements for a foreigner to get married to a Thai citizen in Thailand?
1.5k9101y
What documents do I need to get married to a Thai lady in Bangkok?
3.4k28152y
Do you need to be married to a Thai citizen before applying for a Non-O Visa based on marriage?
2.9k18352y
What is the difference between an Immigrant visa for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen and a Nonimmigrant Spouse visa (K-3)?
1.6k12103y
Do I need to inform immigration if I get married while on a 6-month visa in Thailand?
2k11273y
What documents do I need to marry in Thailand besides my own?
2.5k2493y
Do Americans need a 'free to marry' document to get married in Thailand?
2.9k25223y
What are some recommended wedding agents in Bangkok for expats marrying Thai citizens?
1.8k11163y
Does changing her last name affect a Thai woman's land ownership rights after marrying a foreigner?
2.1k794y
Can foreigners get married in Thailand?
4k29394y
Is our marriage legally recognized in the USA if registered in Thailand?
10k81864y
How can my Thai daughter-in-law verify her marriage certificate for the US embassy in Phuket?
2.8k3044y
What are the requirements and recommendations for getting married in Thailand as a foreign couple?
1.9k1595y
What is the turnaround time for obtaining the "Affirmation of Freedom to Marry" certificate from the Canadian Embassy in Thailand?
4.2k38306y
How can a US citizen register a marriage in Bangkok for a 1-year marriage visa?
1.6k11126y
How do I register my marriage at the district office in Thailand with all documents ready?
3.2k28218y
What documents are needed for two foreign nationals to get married in Thailand for a Dependent Non-O Visa?
802438y
Can I change a Visa on Arrival to a Marriage Visa in Thailand?
1.8k13149y
Do I need to translate and legalize my Thai partner's UK divorce document to get married in Thailand?
1.8k1599y
What is the process for a British citizen to obtain a marriage certificate in Thailand when marrying a Thai citizen?
3.9k35249y
Resources
Need help with your Thai visa?
#1 visa agent · 4,000+ reviews · 100,000+ expats served