If you’ve moved to Bangkok, you’ve probably had a moment that goes something like this: a bank, an embassy, or a Thai office hands back your paperwork and says, “this needs to be notarized.” You walk outside, search “notary public Thailand” — and the results confuse you more than they help. Some say “notary public,” others say “notarial services attorney,” a few say “lawyer with notary stamp.” So which one do you actually need?
Here’s the short version: Thailand does not have a notary public in the American or British sense. What we have instead is a Notarial Services Attorney — and for almost every situation a foreigner runs into, that’s exactly the person you’re looking for.
This guide walks through what a Thai notarial services attorney does, when foreigners typically need one, and how the process actually works on the ground in Bangkok.
The quick distinction: notary public vs. notarial services attorney
In the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and most other common-law countries, a “notary public” is usually a lay person (sometimes a lawyer, sometimes not) who has been commissioned by the state to witness signatures, certify copies, and administer oaths. In civil-law countries like France, Italy, or Spain, a “notary” is a senior legal officer with much broader authority — drafting wills, registering property, certifying contracts.
Thailand sits between the two systems but has chosen its own model. Under the Lawyers Council of Thailand, the body that regulates the legal profession, there is a category called Notarial Services Attorney (in Thai: ทนายความผู้ทำคำรับรองลายมือชื่อและเอกสาร). To qualify, a person must already be a licensed attorney, complete the Council’s notarial services certification, and be commissioned to issue notarial certifications.
In everyday English we often just say “Thai notary” or “notary in Bangkok,” and that’s fine. But if a form, embassy, or contract uses a precise term, the formal title is Notarial Services Attorney.
What a Thai notarial services attorney can actually do for you
A commissioned Thai notarial services attorney is authorized to:
- Notarize signatures — witness you signing a document, verify your identity using your passport, and apply the notary seal so anyone reading it later knows the signature is genuine
- Certify true copies — confirm that a photocopy is an exact reproduction of the original document, then stamp the copy with the notary seal so embassies, banks, and authorities accept it without seeing the original
- Administer oaths and affirmations — let you swear or affirm the truth of a statement (for example, an affidavit declaring single status before marriage)
- Authenticate documents — confirm that a document was signed in the attorney’s presence and is properly executed
- Issue certificates of notarization in both English and Thai, so the document is ready for international use without further translation
- Provide certified translations — translate documents between English and Thai and certify the translation as accurate (the same attorney handles both translation and notarization on a single visit)
In Thailand, a notarial services attorney does not register property transfers (that’s the Land Office) or issue Apostilles directly. For the difference between notarization and Apostille / consular legalization, see our companion guide: Apostille vs. Notarization in Thailand.
When foreigners typically need one in Thailand
If any of these match your week, you probably need a notarial services attorney:
- You’re applying for a visa (Thai or foreign) and need certified true copies of your passport and supporting documents
- You’re getting married in Thailand and your embassy has issued an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry that needs Thai-language certification
- You’re opening a Thai bank account and the bank wants notarized proof of address
- You’re buying or selling Thai property and either you or the other party can’t be present in person — a notarized power of attorney lets a representative sign for you
- You’re sending a document abroad — a foreign court, foreign embassy, or overseas bank needs your Thai-issued document to be notarized (and often legalized) before they’ll accept it
- You’re running a Thai or foreign business and need certified directors’ resolutions, shareholders’ lists, or contract signatures
- You’re outside Thailand and need a Thai-issued document — Remote Online Notary (RON) lets you complete the notarization by video call from anywhere
If your situation isn’t on the list, the rule of thumb is simple: any time someone asks you to “have this notarized” while you’re in Thailand, they mean a notarial services attorney.
How much does it cost?
Thai notarial fees are far lower than US or European equivalents. Our two standard published rates are:
- Certified true copy: ฿500 per document
- Signature notarization: ฿1,000 per stamp
For services where pricing varies by document or destination — RON, certified translations, consular legalization, business documents — please send the document and we’ll quote a fixed price before any work begins. Full information on the Pricing page.
We’d add one warning: if a notary office quotes you a “facilitation fee” or “service fee” on top of a published rate, ask what it covers. We don’t add fees beyond the rate quoted to you.
How the process actually works
The standard in-person flow is:
- Send your document — by email, LINE, or WhatsApp. We pre-check it for free and tell you if anything is missing before you make the trip
- Visit our office — either Ratchada (HQ) or CentralWorld; bring the original document and your passport
- We notarize — identity verification, signature witness, and the bilingual EN/TH certificate
- Walk out with the finished document — or, if you’d prefer, we deliver via Grab, LINE Man, or EMS
If you can’t reach Bangkok — or you’re outside Thailand entirely — Remote Online Notary (RON) skips step 2. The whole notarization happens by video call.
What about legalization for use abroad?
Notarization is often only the first step when a document is going abroad. Many countries require an additional consular legalization — a stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) followed by the destination country’s embassy in Bangkok. We handle this entire chain in-house — see our Consular Legalization service.
Final word
If you’re a foreigner in Thailand and someone has told you to “get this notarized,” the person you need is a Notarial Services Attorney licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand. The work is fast, the published fees are fixed and transparent, and (at our office at least) every document is explained to you in your language before you sign.
If you have a document and you’re not sure what you need, just send us a photo. We’ll tell you in plain English — for free — what step comes next and what it’ll cost. No commitment.
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> Bayon is a Notarial Services Attorney with Bangkok Notary Service, with 10+ years of practice serving foreigners in Bangkok.