Frequently asked questions
Plain answers on eligibility, documents, timelines and recognition for same-sex couples marrying in Thailand.
Part 1 — Same-sex marriage requirements
Can a foreign LGBTQ+ couple with no connection to Thailand get married here?
Yes. You can marry in Thailand without any special connection to the country, as long as you enter and stay legally. You don’t need a work visa, student visa, or Thai citizenship, and you don’t need to speak Thai.
Can a foreign LGBTQ+ couple from a country that does not recognize same-sex marriage still get married in Thailand?
Yes. You can marry in Thailand regardless of where you are from. Your marriage is registered while you are present in Thailand and is governed by Thai law, so it is valid even if your home country does not yet recognize same-sex marriage. (See Part 5 for what this means for you internationally.)
Part 2 — Service
What service do you offer?
We offer end-to-end marriage registration for foreign LGBTQ+ couples who want to marry under Thailand’s marriage equality law. We handle the full paperwork process for you and provide after-marriage guidance. We also work with trusted LGBTQ+ friendly partners, wedding venues, hotels, and restaurants to support the rest of your trip.
What’s included in your package?
Before you arrive: a booking platform that lets you visualize your full marriage journey timeline; a client portal to review your timeline, change your date, and track the documents you need; a secure upload channel so our lawyer can review your documents in advance; the option to add partner services (coming soon); and translation of your documents prepared in advance, so legalization can begin on day 0 (your arrival day). After you arrive: document pick-up at your hotel or the airport; all government and district office fees; transport to the embassy, ministry, and district office as needed; booking with the district office and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA); all translation and legalization, including legalization at the MFA on your behalf; and district coordination — we book your district in advance, in your chosen area and within about a one-hour drive of where you are staying.
What’s not included in your package?
Embassy fees, fees for documents issued in your home country, and any legalization done in your home country. Your in-person appearance at your embassy where required (this generally cannot be done by power of attorney; Japan is the exception). Guarantees of timeline or outcome — we cannot guarantee exact timing or success, though our success rate is around 99%, and about 90% of couples finish within 4 days of the legalization initiation date (the first working day after landing). A guaranteed exact district — we aim for a district within about an hour of where you stay, but your preferred district may be fully booked or not foreigner-friendly, so occasionally we use the nearest available one. And every additional request — we do our best to honor special requests, but some may not be possible.
How much is the service fee, and what are the payment terms?
The fee is 45,000 THB, flat, paid in three stages: Booking — 10% (4,500 THB), paid when you book, which gives you access to the client portal and the upload channel, plus a dedicated team member as your personal assistant; Document approval — 40% (18,000 THB), charged after we approve your documents, when we begin translating and booking your dates; and Completion — 50% (22,500 THB), charged only after your marriage is successfully registered. If it does not go through, you are not charged this final amount. For any extra services, our team will guide you case by case.
Can you provide on-site registration?
Yes, for an additional fee. This also depends on the district and the dates available.
Can you process our documents before we land?
Yes. We translate your documents before you arrive so that legalization can begin on day 0. We cannot legalize them before you land, however, because legalization requires your immigration entry stamp.
Part 3 — Documents
What documents do I need?
To marry in Thailand you will need your passport and an affidavit of freedom to marry. Both must be translated and legalized. You should also bring documents that support your relationship, for example proof of shared payments, photos together, and travel records.
What is an affidavit of freedom to marry?
It is a certificate showing that you are single and not currently married to anyone. Being single is a legal requirement for marriage in Thailand, so this document proves you are free to marry.
Will the district office accept my documents?
The district office accepts documents that have been legalized by the Thai MFA, and we handle that legalization for you. We also check the content of your documents before you arrive.
What does a “legalized copy of your passport” mean?
It means that the competent authority — your home country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or your embassy — certifies a copy of your passport as a true copy.
Can I prepare all my documents before arriving, or at my embassy?
It depends on your nationality. For some countries you need to prepare documents in your home country before flying in; for others you can complete everything at your embassy in Thailand. Our platform and our team will tell you which path works best for you.
What is “legalization,” and why do I need it?
A document issued by one country is generally only valid in that country. For it to be accepted in another country, it must first be authenticated through the proper process by the competent authorities. We guide you through this so your documents are valid in Thailand.
What if my documents are not in English?
If you legalize documents in your home country, include an English translation in the legalization bundle and legalize the translation together with the original. If you legalize at your embassy in Thailand, we provide the translation for you. If you request documents from your embassy in Thailand, they will usually be issued in English.
Part 4 — Timeline
How long does the whole process take?
Gathering the required documents before you fly in usually takes about 1 week to 1 month, depending on your nationality. After you arrive, legalizing your documents at the MFA takes about 3–4 working days. If your country requires an embassy visit, add roughly 1–3 days. In total, expect around 3–5 working days without an embassy visit, or 6–8 working days with one.
How long does it take after I arrive in Thailand?
The fastest possible timeline is 2 days after arrival, though most couples take around 3–4 days. If you need to visit your embassy, factor in its processing time and opening days. We’ll help you plan around this.
How long should I stay?
If your documents are ready and you don’t need an embassy visit, we recommend 4–5 working days. If you do need an embassy visit, plan for a longer stay, typically 6–8 working days, and we’ll give you an exact recommendation based on your nationality.
How long is document processing before arrival?
About 1 week to 1 month, depending on your nationality and the strategy you choose. Our lawyer will advise you on the best approach.
Can I book an exact date?
Yes. You can book your exact arrival date, and our team arranges everything else around it. Your marriage date may shift slightly, because we cannot predict the exact MFA legalization time (2–4 days), but it will usually be within 1–2 days of your target. If you have more flexibility, booking your date about 5 days after MFA legalization can effectively guarantee it.
Part 5 — Implications of your marriage
What is the benefit of marrying here if my country does not recognize same-sex marriage?
Quite a lot. “Married or not married” is not a single global switch — Thailand issues you a valid marriage certificate, and each country and institution decides for itself whether to honor it. Your home country’s position only affects home-country benefits. In Thailand you receive full spousal rights under Thai law (marital property, inheritance of Thai assets, hospital next-of-kin and medical decision-making, and marriage-based visas where relevant). Most countries that recognize same-sex marriage judge a marriage by the law of the place where it took place, so they will generally recognize your valid Thai marriage. For immigration, if either partner is a citizen or resident of a country that recognizes same-sex marriage, your Thai certificate can let that partner sponsor the other for a spouse or partner visa. Many employers, insurers, and banks also recognize a valid marriage certificate for spousal benefits. You also get an official, dated record of your relationship — and because legal recognition is expanding, marrying now locks in your date, which can matter for taxes, pensions, residency, and inheritance.
Can other countries that recognize same-sex marriage recognize my marriage?
Generally, yes. We provide a legalized and translated copy of your marriage certificate for use internationally. The destination country may still ask for additional supporting documents.
Part 6 — Other
Why do you need to know my nationality?
Each nationality requires different documents, and each embassy has its own practice. Knowing your nationality lets us calculate your timeline and design the best strategy for you.
What if I can’t travel back to my home country to get documents?
It depends on your nationality. For some, you can obtain the documents from your embassy; for others, you may need to get them from your embassy in a third country. We’ll guide you through the options.
Why do you ask where I want to get or legalize my documents?
So we can plan all the timing and simplify your marriage journey as much as possible, and help you find the best strategy.
Where will we register, and can I choose the exact district?
You can choose the region you’re arriving in and request your preferred district. We can’t guarantee a specific district, however, because practices vary and some are less foreigner-friendly than others.
What is the booking system?
It’s the tool that lets you visualize your marriage journey. We calculate the documents you need to determine which dates you could come and register, then let you choose your arrival date and see every step along the way.