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What are the current requirements for notarizing a U.S. marriage certificate when applying for a DTV visa in Thailand?

Jun 12, 2025
3 days ago
Hi all! Currently planning to apply for my DTV visa and my wife’s “following” visa. I will need to submit my marriage certificate (I was married in the US and I have the document here in Thailand with me). My problem is, I have been told that I need to get the marriage certificate notarized and stamped by my embassy before I submit it, and I just found out that U.S. embassies in Thailand quit doing this service with U.S. and state documents as of March. We will be staying in Vietnam to apply but we are worried that the US consulate in that country also won’t notarize our marriage certificate. I am a bit lost on what to do! Has anyone gone through this process thst might have a suggestion?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is planning to apply for a DTV visa and needs to submit their marriage certificate to support their application. However, they are facing confusion regarding the requirement of notarization, as the U.S. embassy in Thailand no longer offers this service. Comments suggest that notarization may not be necessary if the marriage certificate is in English, and that a simple copy is usually sufficient for the DTV visa application. There is also some discussion about the requirements varying based on experiences of other expats.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Anonymous ******************
Who "told" you this? If you were married in the US, your marriage certificate would be in English. When I applied, I needed to submit my (UK) issued marriage certificate and was never asked to get it notarised.
Dca *****
@Benjamin **************
a DTV E–Visa Dependant Spouse application just needs a Copy of your County Marriage Certificate, and, if your County Marriage Certificate is not in English language or Thai language, then a translation of your Marriage Certificate is needed (of course, a County Marriage Certificate from USA is in English already)

Now, you could perhaps be confusing things with Registering a Foreign Marriage Certificate to a Thai Citizen Spouse (Thai Citizens Married Outside Thailand) at a Thai local District Office

Of course, you will need to scan your County Marriage Certificate as a PDF, but that's about as much as any Thai Embassy/Thai Consulate needs for a DTV E–Visa application for your wife's DTV E–Visa application as a Dependant of you holding the Main DTV E–Visa
Benjamin ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dca ****
thanks
Wannikea *********
Who told you it needs to be notarized?
Greg ********
I think it is similar with Brotish Embassy these days too. Saw a post this morning about a notary service for British Expats in Thailand who do the work for you and coordinate with Thai Embassy in UK. Maybe there is similar for US citizens?
Benjamin ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
I will check that out, thank you! Yours has been the only relevant comment here lol. My friends who have been through the process, as well as several posts on this very group, have expressed that they were required by the Thai embassy in the country they applied in to get their marriage certificate officially stamped/notarized by their embassy or a vital records office in their home country. I am working on getting a notarized copy sent from the US