What are the steps and costs for obtaining a marriage license in Bangkok for an American marrying a Thai citizen?

Oct 31, 2024
21 days ago
Mike ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
My fiancee is a Thai citizen and I am an American citizen. We want to get married in April next year. Can anyone give us advice on what is the best place in Bangkok to hire for getting a marriage license and an estimate of the cost would be appreciated? Thank you
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To get married in Bangkok, you can apply for a marriage license at the Bang Rak Amphur, famously known as "Love Village". The process includes filling out forms in Thai, paying a nominal fee (around 40 Baht), and securing witnesses from the office. It's recommended to hire an agent to help navigate the process and handle translations, which may cost between 8,000 to 10,000 Baht. The entire procedure takes a few days involving necessary document translations and approvals. For an official ceremony, various venues and options are available, but remember that marriage in Thailand is more of a legal process than a ceremonial one.
Kenneth *******
She will know.
Michael *********
TSL & Associates directly across the street from the courthouse.
Bernie ********
Key visa can arrange this
John *******
Have you been to Thailand? It is like any USA city, it depends on your budget.
Robert **********
If she can't do a bit of research and come up with the answers to a simple question like this....................give her the flick.
Mcgow ********
Do it yourself mate. It's not as difficult as it's made out to be.
Uwe ****
@Mcgow *******
A better advice would be to omit the second sentence...
Mcgow ********
@Uwe ***
an advice to you, is don't be a pr@#k
Uwe ****
We talk again next year and let's see who is a prick... Thai marriage is a joke... Have you ever told her what you don't like about her? One time? Did she ever tell you? It's a facade from day one... I wonder why those beautiful girls might be interested in you? Any guess? But you still think, your girl is different, don't you?
Bo ********
@Uwe ***
no one wants to here real speak
Sasi ************
Any government official can do the registration and issues the marriage certificate, fees are minimal. If you want them to come your place of choice you’ll need to set up a schedule, some do and some don’t.

Best of luck!
Gordon *******
Don't
John **********
@Gordon ******
I was wondering how long it would take for someone to say that 🤣
Pat ****
wow
Uwe ****
@John *********
I never understand why anyone would marry a Thai woman. After staying in this country for some time, it should be obvious that they have no moral compass and continuity when it comes to love... In short: They don't care!
Us *****
@Uwe ***
listen, they do care. The problem is that they are lazy. Coming from America it amazes me how lazy the Thai people are in this country.
John **********
@Uwe ***
That's not right they do care. Just not about you 🤣. They care about social standing and money.
Uwe ****
Yeah, Thailand is a one of a kind country. I am blessed to be here - truly honored! Just stay away from its people as you will quickly find out the facade - behind their smile is a black hole they don't want to talk about...
Gordon *******
@John *********
rule number one in Thialand don't fall in love
Us *****
@Gordon ******
I thought rule number one is to make sure it is a real girl. Rule #2 is the 3 day rule. Rule #3 is not to buy a condo. For some reason, these farangs break them all the time.
Pete *******
Bang Rak, license cost me 40baht.
Andy **********
Bang Rak Amphur is what the bride would want; its liteerally "Love Village", which means its busy. Amphurs are offices. You go along, fill in some forms that are in Thai, pay a small fee, round up some witnesses (people who work in the office), and thats it, you're married. There isn't an official you stand in front of and recite vows etc. Usually, you need an Agent/Fixer to get you to miss the queue. I'm British, so I had to go through an Affirmation Ceremony at the Embassy, which had its own fees (to check I wasn't a bigamist basically). That paperwork, plus your passport needs to translated into Thai, and notarised, taken to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who will take 3 working days to approve your application to marry, then you take that stamped paperwork to the Amphur you have booked at and complete. An agent will charge 8-10,000 Baht, and will do all the translations and running around Bangkok. Its worth it, as translators can get your Western name wrong. I had my affirmation done on a tuesday morning, agent was ready to collect the paperwork, and scoot off to get everything done before the MFA shut at 3pm. I just turned up to the Amphur on the following monday, the earliest it could be done, after hanging arounf Bangkok for way too long. Your wife will want a party with her friends afterwards, including photoshoot in dress ups, Thai and Western. Leave that to her to organise, as she will get the price down, so you have more money to buy her gold. If she has been previously married, no Sin Sod, but really, you are kind of expected to give her a decent wedding gift of cash, preferably in USD or GBP anyway. Stones or farang gold won't go down well. If you want an actual ceremony, thats a bit of theatre a hotel can arrange. You could go the whole shebang, and get in a tag team of 9 monks, but in Bhuddism, marriage isn't a religious thing, so all you are really getting is a good luck ceremony, not really a marriage ceremony in the Western sense. Or you could go to a Church in Bangkok, if thats your thing. But you still need to go to the Amphur to make it legal.
Kev *********
@Andy *********
Andy, has the process changed with regards affirmation? My experience is that as a British citizen you apply for an affirmation of freedom to marry. No ceremony, just submission of a document with divorce certificates of any previous marriages. When the affirmation is confirmed, it needs to be translated and notarised as an accurate translation at Chiang Watthana Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Andy **********
@Kev ********
Ah ceremony is a bit strong. Submit documents, the book appointment. You do need to lay your right index finger on the certificate and swear an oath in front of a witness. You need to be there in person to swear it's all correct and true. The translation is done by a third party and a notary paid. MFA shuts at 3pm, 3 working days to process. British Embassy only does appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Stuart ***********
@Andy *********
great explanation/advice. I stupidly didn't use an agent, but on reflection I definitely should have, it would have definitely been worth it. Not saying it's complicated, but involves a lot of running around Bangkok that would have been reduced. They also arrange the interpreter that is mandatory at Bang Rak. I have never used an agent for visas, to give some context.
Andy **********
@Stuart **********
My agent just running out of an office asking me to sign bits of paper before a final "are you sure". The agents all have their contacts in these offices. I didn't need a translator, but we didn't use bang rak.
Stuart ***********
@Andy *********
it was the other way round for me. My wife told me afterwards that the interpreter asked her if I could speak Thai and then said 'are you sure!'. My wife is beautiful and ...I am older and not beautiful 🤣
Graham ******
All the steps to get married in Thailand are detailed here -
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Robby ************
Ban Rak
Bbc *********
U need to know where (location) theme then only we can help , example at soo cowboy , chao Phraya , grand place , nana place and etc
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