What should I do if I encounter difficulties registering my marriage in Thailand?

Oct 24, 2022
2 years ago
Helpful ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Marriage registration help.

So my Thai girlfriend and I have completed everything and just need to go to an Amphur with our paperwork and documents to get a marriage certificate. However when we called Banglamung District Office in Pattaya they said they could not help as they do not have someone currently to review and sign off on foreign marriage registrations.

So we went to the Mueang Chon Buri District Office and they said we would need to go to Bangkok or Phuket to do it, unless we wanted to wait like 6 months because there are a lot of fraudulent documents and everything needs to be double checked/reverified and it will take awhile. They made it seem like basically no foreign marriage certificates were being issued in all of Chonburi at the moment.

Has only one else faced this sort of issue recently?

Do I need to make an appointment for this?

Looking for any advice or assistance on where and what to do. Thank you.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat seeking to register their marriage in Thailand has faced difficulties due to local district offices being unable to facilitate foreign marriage registrations. The Banglamung District Office in Pattaya is unable to assist, and the Mueang Chon Buri District Office advises needing to travel to Bangkok or Phuket for registration amid delays of up to six months. Other community members suggest looking for alternative district offices in Bangkok like Bang Ruk, and emphasize the importance of making an appointment. The conversation includes additional insights on the types of documents needed and personal experiences from others who have registered their marriages, highlighting varied experiences in different locales.
Maxim ***********
Here in Chaiyaphum, the waiting list is... no waiting list. It depends on where you call. They can either do it quickly or they can't. People saying only BKK is fast are clueless.
David ********
@Maxim **********
Normally there's no waiting list here either ... except when the manager is away, then the signing part goes on hold! ;-)
David ********
yes, back in 2020 i faced the same issue. the only Ampur that would deal with us was the one in the area we lived in. she owed houses and property in other jurisdictions but even they wouldn't deal with us and sent us back to the local one. the problem there was the main manager there was on a 3 month trip to Bangkok to celebrate something to do with the King (his inauguration IIRC) so we couldn't get the certificate signed for another 3 months.
Helpful ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David *******
I have a feeling they are always out of town until they see money
David ********
@Toohotma *******
no, in the 3 years I've been here dealing with Thai government and immigration (certificates, visas, house books, IDs, licenses, home purchase, garbage pickup, electrical, internet, water hookup, etc, I have yet to been asked for any extra money. once some guy selling fish charged me an extra 20 baht. I'm not in a tourist area (Chiang Mai, but not in town) so maybe it's different when they have to deal with tourists?
Ste *******
Bangkok is best. Chon Buri can take weeks to check.
Bob *********
We made an appointment and attended Bang Khae District Office in Bangkok. We got the marriage certificates in both English and Thai as originals within a couple of hours but as I recall we had to make an appointment in advance.
Ian *****
@Bob ********
Lucky you. Decided to do mine at my local town Amphur outside Khon Kaen. Took weeks. Paperwork, witnesses testifying we had a proper relationship. Got there in the end though. πŸ™‚
Nirmal *******
@Ian ****
hey Ian sorry if this is a stupid question but do we get the Affidavit at the Amphur in Thailand or in our home country? kind of confused how it works..
Ian *****
@Nirmal ******
If you mean the affirmation of freedom to marry, Home country or consulate. The main thing is ensuring the certified translation is correct, then approved at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bangkok. If you get it, (and Passports), translated jn your home country, I can almost guarantee it won't be acceptable. I initially had mine translated at an official translator in Khon Kaen, and it was rejected. Ended up having someone at the MFA do it.
Nirmal *******
Thanks Ian, good to know.
Helpful ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
Thank you. So in regards of places that might be able to do it, what exactly am I looking for? Does it need to be a large district office or will a subdistrict office work, because I see Chonburi has more offices in Seansuk town, Huai kapi, and Si Racha.
Evan ********
Try Bang Ruk in Bangkok, they are a main location doing it
Maple *********
@Evan *******
if call now they will told you waiting about 6 months.
Evan ********
@Maple ********
best to go there!
Helpful ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Evan *******
Thanks. This specific location?
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Evan ********
@Toohotma *******
Bang Rak District Office

02 236 1395

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Brandon ************
I believe this is one of the thing that you can shop around for. Many offices won't do it for you, but there are ones that will have you done in a day. I think it will just take a lot of phone calls from your girlfriend to find an office that will do it for you.
Evan ********
@Brandon ***********
yes you can go anywhere but many β€œlocal” offices will look blankly at you. Best to go to the main places that specialise in marriages, divorce etc like at Bang Ruk πŸ‘πŸ˜€
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