Documents for Thailand: Consular Legalization Until 27 February 2027, Apostille from 28 February 2027

Japanese documents to be submitted in Thailand are expected to be processed as follows: until 27 February 2027, a certificate of official seal from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) followed by consular legalization at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo (or the Consulates-General in Osaka and Fukuoka); from 28 February 2027, an apostille from MOFA. This is because Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Hague Apostille Convention, which is separate from the Hague Convention on child abduction) on 30 June 2026, and the Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027.

If you are preparing documents for Thailand now and they will be submitted by 27 February 2027, obtain consular legalization as before. This page covers the current procedure before entry into force (appointments, fees and English translation requirements at the Royal Thai Embassy), what changes after entry into force, points to note if your timeline spans the switchover, typical documents, and our service. "Submission" here means the date on which the receiving authority in Thailand (a government office, court, school, employer, bank, etc.) accepts the documents, not the date you hand them to an agent or intermediary in Japan.

In short: consular legalization until 27 February 2027, apostille from 28 February 2027

Under the Hague Apostille Convention, when public documents are used between Contracting States, an apostille issued by the competent authority of the issuing country replaces consular legalization by the receiving country's embassy or consulate. See the list of Hague Apostille Convention countries.

Thailand's accession: deposited on 30 June 2026, in force from 28 February 2027

The HCCH announced that the Kingdom of Thailand deposited its instrument of accession on 30 June 2026 and that the Convention will enter into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. The HCCH status table lists 130 Contracting Parties including Thailand, but because the Convention is not yet in force for Thailand, 129 were in force as of November 2026 (MOFA's list shows 131 countries and regions, including Hong Kong and Macao). In Southeast Asia, Thailand follows Viet Nam, for which the Convention entered into force on 11 September 2026.

As of September 2026, Thailand is not yet on MOFA's list of Contracting States. Until the entry-into-force date it is treated as a non-Contracting State, so MOFA issues a certificate of official seal, which must then be legalized by the embassy.

Current procedure: public and private documents start in different places

Public documents (issued by government offices or municipalities)

Documents such as the koseki, the certificate of residence (juminhyo), the criminal record certificate, the company registration certificate and graduation certificates from public schools receive a certificate of official seal at MOFA (Tokyo headquarters or the Osaka branch). According to MOFA's FAQ, there is no fee, documents are returned by mail only, and if there are no problems they are sent out 3 business days after acceptance (e.g. accepted on Monday, sent on Thursday afternoon). Since 5 October 2026, applications at the Tokyo counter require an online appointment (no appointment is needed in Osaka). Documents more than 3 months past their issue date are generally not accepted (except where the receiving authority requires a document that is issued only once, such as a diploma).

Private documents (prepared by companies or individuals)

Certificates of employment issued by companies, powers of attorney, translations and similar documents cannot be certified by MOFA directly. They are certified by a notary at a notary office, the notary's seal is certified by the director of the Legal Affairs Bureau to which the notary belongs, and then MOFA issues the certificate of official seal. At notary offices in Hokkaido (within the Sapporo Legal Affairs Bureau district), Miyagi, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, Osaka and Fukuoka, the one-stop service lets you obtain the notary's certification, the Legal Affairs Bureau's certification and MOFA's certificate of official seal at once (consular legalization at the embassy is still needed afterwards).

For private documents you did not prepare yourself, such as a health certificate from a private clinic or health check center, the usual method is for the applicant to prepare a declaration stating that the attached document is genuine, attach the document and have it certified by a notary (the notary fee for a declaration in a foreign language is JPY 12,500 per document).

Graduation certificates from national and public university corporations and private universities, and health certificates from hospitals attached to national university corporations or run by incorporated administrative agencies, can also receive a certificate of official seal at MOFA. (They are not eligible for an apostille, but this is not a problem for Thailand while the certificate of official seal is used. From 28 February 2027 they will go through a notary office to obtain an apostille.) For school documents, see Graduation certificates.

Consular legalization at the Royal Thai Embassy: appointments, fees and translation requirements

After MOFA's certificate of official seal, apply for consular legalization at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo (3-14-6 Kami-Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo). The requirements shown on the embassy's legalization page and online appointment site are as follows.

The embassy explains that its legalization confirms the authenticity of MOFA's certification and does not verify the content of the document or the accuracy of the translation.

People in the Kansai area can also apply at the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Osaka. According to the consulate-general, the fee is JPY 3,000 per stamp, documents certified by MOFA (within 3 months of certification) are accepted, an appointment by email is required, and documents are ready in 3 business days including the application day. An agent needs a power of attorney as well as identity documents for the applicant and agent (originals and copies for the agent) and copies of the applicant's and agent's employee ID cards (no power of attorney is needed at the embassy in Tokyo). The consulate-general's guidance does not mention whether an English translation is needed, so confirm this when booking. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Fukuoka also legalizes documents certified by MOFA for JPY 3,000 per stamp (cash only), with an advance appointment by phone or email (confirm whether a translation is needed and how documents are returned when booking).

The process involves MOFA's certificate of official seal, an embassy appointment, an English translation and a return Letter Pack, and the embassy works by appointment only. If you ask our office, we handle everything from MOFA's certificate of official seal to consular legalization at the embassy, the English translation (translation fees are separate) and shipping of the certified documents within Japan or abroad. For documents that MOFA and the embassy require in different forms, such as a sealed criminal record certificate, we check the requirements before proceeding.

Preparing the English or Thai translation

The Royal Thai Embassy requires an English translation to be attached to Japanese documents. Its guidance does not specify who must translate, but the receiving authority may specify the translator or format. Our office can prepare the English translation (from JPY 3,300 per A4 page, tax included). Whether a Thai translation is needed depends on the receiving authority. If a district office (amphoe or khet) handling marriage registration asks for a Thai translation, either follow the embassy's guidance (have the English translation certified by a notary office, the Legal Affairs Bureau and MOFA, then apply to the embassy with the Thai translation for an additional JPY 3,000), or prepare the Thai translation in Thailand. Check the receiving authority's instructions, including whether a translation prepared in Thailand must be certified, before arranging it.

If your timeline spans 28 February 2027

If your procedure spans the entry-into-force date, note the following.

• If submission will be completed by 27 February 2027: obtain consular legalization as before. MOFA does not issue apostilles for Thailand before entry into force, so an apostille is not an option
• If submission will be on or after 28 February 2027: under the Convention, an apostille is sufficient. Whether it is actually accepted depends on the practice of the receiving authority (Thai government office, employer, school, bank, etc.), so right after the switchover we recommend confirming with the receiving authority which form it accepts before starting
• Documents legalized before entry into force: for Viet Nam, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan announced that public documents legalized before entry into force remain valid (see Apostille for documents going to Viet Nam). For Thailand, as of November 11, 2026 there is still no official guidance from MOFA or the Royal Thai Embassy. We will update this page when guidance is issued
• Issuing authority in Thailand: the HCCH list of competent authorities registers the Department of Consular Affairs of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the authority issuing apostilles (counters, fees and processing times had not been announced as of November 11, 2026). After entry into force, Thai documents used in Japan will also only need a Thai apostille

Example: setting up a company in Thailand in March 2027

If the registration documents (company registration certificate, representative's power of attorney, etc.) will be submitted in March, it makes sense to proceed with an apostille. However, MOFA will only issue apostilles for Thailand from 28 February, and documents must have been issued within the last 3 months. So plan backwards: (1) finalize the wording of the power of attorney and, if the receiving authority requires it, the Thai translation first; (2) obtain the company registration certificate in early February or later; and (3) obtain the apostille from MOFA on or after 28 February. For the power of attorney, a notary office offering the one-stop service can provide everything from notarization to the apostille at once after entry into force (28 February 2027 is a Sunday, so in practice from 1 March), so there is no need to have it notarized in advance. For procedures with fixed deadlines, such as litigation, documents applied for at MOFA by mail or at the counter (such as the company registration certificate) take 3 business days, plus international shipping, so you may miss an early-March deadline. If there is no margin, proceed with consular legalization. If submission will be in February, use consular legalization. If the submission date is not yet fixed and you want to prepare the documents first, you will also need consular legalization; in that case, confirm with the receiving authority that legalized documents will still be accepted if submission slips to March or later.

The registration or litigation itself in Thailand is handled by local lawyers, accounting firms and the like. Our office helps with certification and translation of documents issued or prepared in Japan. We draft the power of attorney based on the form provided by your local representative.

Typical documents used in Thailand

We receive requests for the following documents for work visas and work permits, employment at Japanese schools or as English teachers, marriage with a Thai national, setting up local companies, retirement and product exports.

If you live in Japan, you apply for a criminal record certificate in person, giving fingerprints, at the prefectural police headquarters where you are registered as a resident (the Metropolitan Police Department in Tokyo). If you live abroad, you apply at the local Japanese embassy or consulate. Applications from abroad are forwarded through MOFA to the National Police Agency, and it generally takes about 2 months (sometimes 3 months or more) to receive the certificate (MOFA, "Certificates issued at Japanese embassies and consulates"). If you live in Thailand and need MOFA's certificate of official seal and the Royal Thai Embassy's legalization, you will have to send the certificate to Japan and have it sent back to Thailand after legalization (you can also designate an agent in Japan to receive it when you apply). Apply early, working backwards from your deadline. How to apply and how to handle the envelope are explained in Criminal record certificate.

Even if you live outside Tokyo, you can apply to MOFA for the certificate of official seal by mail. The Royal Thai Embassy, however, requires an appointment and an in-person visit, so using an agent (no power of attorney is needed at the embassy in Tokyo) saves you the trip. MOFA accepts documents issued within the last 3 months, and the Royal Thai Embassy accepts documents within 3 months of MOFA's certification. Receiving authorities in Thailand often set their own validity periods too, so plan your schedule backwards from submission.

Our service: requests from anywhere in Japan or abroad

Royal Partners Administrative Scrivener Office (Minato-ku, Tokyo) handles consular legalization of documents for Thailand, including English and Thai translation. From 28 February 2027 we will handle these requests as an apostille service.

Actual costs such as the embassy fee (JPY 3,000 per stamp), notary fees (e.g. JPY 12,500 per declaration in a foreign language under the Notary Fee Ordinance) and the return Letter Pack submitted to the Royal Thai Embassy are charged separately (we send you the receipts electronically). Service fees are per request, and JPY 3,300 (tax included) is added for each document from the second. See Fees for details. Tell us the type and number of documents, the receiving authority and when you will submit them, and we will give you a free quote, including whether to proceed with consular legalization or an apostille.

Before you request our service, please confirm which certification method and translation format the receiving authority accepts; we will quote on that basis. Our office obtains the certifications in Japan on your behalf and cannot guarantee that the receiving authority in Thailand will accept the documents.

Whether you live in Japan or in Thailand, consultation and payment can be done by email and online payment (credit card via Square, PayPal or bank transfer). Original documents are sent to us by mail. Some documents require you to apply in person (criminal record certificate) or to obtain a signature certificate. Certified documents can be shipped to an address in Thailand.

FAQ

I am preparing documents for Thailand now. Should I get an apostille?

If you will submit them by 27 February 2027, you need consular legalization. Before entry into force Thailand is not a Contracting State, so MOFA does not issue apostilles for Thailand and issues a certificate of official seal instead. If submission might slip to 28 February or later, confirm with the receiving authority which form it will accept before you start.

Can I get consular legalization at the Royal Thai Embassy myself?

Yes. Make an appointment and bring the original with MOFA's certificate of official seal, a copy, the English translation, the appointment confirmation and application form and a return Letter Pack, and pay JPY 3,000 per legalization stamp. Documents are returned by mail about 3 days after application. Applying through an agent is also possible, with no power of attorney needed. Because booking appointments and preparing translations take time, our office handles everything from the certificate of official seal onwards.

Can I prepare the English translation myself?

The Royal Thai Embassy's guidance only says that an English translation is required for Japanese documents and does not specify the translator. However, the receiving authority in Thailand may specify the translator or format (translator's signature, notarization, etc.), so check its instructions first. Our office can also prepare the English translation.

Can documents legalized by 27 February 2027 still be used in Thailand from March?

As of September 2026 there is no official guidance for Thailand. For Viet Nam, which acceded earlier, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan announced that public documents legalized before entry into force remain valid, but Thailand may not take the same approach, and it also depends on the receiving authority. For documents you plan to submit after entry into force, check with the receiving authority.

How can Thai documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, degree certificate, etc.) be used in Japan?

First check whether the Japanese receiving authority (municipal office, Immigration Services Agency, employer, etc.) requires certification of foreign public documents. It may be enough to attach a Japanese translation without certification. If certification is required, the usual method until 27 February 2027 is certification by the Department of Consular Affairs of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs; after entry into force, an apostille issued by that department will be sufficient.

Summary and how to request our service

• Thailand deposited its instrument of accession on 30 June 2026, and the Convention enters into force on 28 February 2027. Until then, "MOFA's certificate of official seal → consular legalization at the Royal Thai Embassy"; after that, "MOFA's apostille"
• Consular legalization at the Royal Thai Embassy requires an appointment, costs JPY 3,000 per stamp, requires an English translation of Japanese documents, accepts documents within 3 months of MOFA's certification and is returned by mail
• Private documents go notary office → Legal Affairs Bureau → MOFA (completed at once with the one-stop service)
• If your timeline spans the entry-into-force date, confirm with the receiving authority which form it accepts
• We will update this page on documents legalized before entry into force once Thailand issues official guidance

Tell us the type and number of documents, the receiving authority and when you will submit them, and we will quote the procedure, total cost and timeline.

References (official sources)

• HCCH, "Thailand accedes to the 1961 Apostille Convention" (30 June 2026; deposited 30 June 2026, entry into force 28 February 2027, 130 Contracting Parties)
• Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo, "Legalization" (in Japanese)
• Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo, online appointment site for document legalization
• Royal Thai Consulate-General in Osaka, "Legalization of documents" (in Japanese)
• MOFA, "FAQ" (updated 18 September 2026; in Japanese)
• MOFA, "Application guide 3: How to apply and required documents" (updated 18 September 2026; in Japanese)
• MOFA, "Contracting States (Regions) to the Hague Apostille Convention" (updated 11 September 2026; in Japanese)
• HCCH, "Thailand – Competent Authority (Art. 6)" (updated 1 July 2026; Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand)
• Royal Thai Consulate-General in Fukuoka, "Legalization" (in Japanese)
• MOFA, "Certificates issued at Japanese embassies and consulates" (where to apply for police certificates and processing times; in Japanese)

Commentary by a private firm (not an official view)

• AIM Bangkok, "Thailand Apostille 2026: In Force from 28 Feb 2027" (updated 17 August 2026; local view that consular legalization remains necessary until entry into force)

The information on this page is as of 26 September 2026 (each institution's page was viewed on that date). We will update it around the entry into force of the Convention (28 February 2027).