When Australian documents need to be used in Thailand — whether for business, legal, property, or personal matters — they usually need to be notarised by a Notary Public first. This step ensures the document is genuine and ready for acceptance by Thai authorities, banks, and government agencies.
1. When You Need Notarisation
Typical situations where Australians require notarised documents for Thailand include:
- Business & corporate matters
- Powers of attorney to appoint Thai representatives
- Company incorporation papers, constitutions, shareholder resolutions
- Commercial contracts and tender submissions
- Property & finance
- Land purchases or leases
- Banking and mortgage agreements with Thai institutions
- Inheritance or estate administration documents
- Personal & legal
- Passports, driver’s licences, and proof of address
- Education degrees, transcripts, and professional licences for employment
- Statutory declarations, affidavits, or court documents for use in Thai proceedings
- Marriage, birth, or divorce certificates for family matters
If a Thai bank, lawyer, or government office asks for “notarised,” “certified true copy,” or “legalised” documents, this process applies.
2. The Legalisation Pathway for Thailand
Thailand is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. This means documents need a three-step legalisation process:
- Notarisation by an Australian Notary Public
- The notary verifies your identity and certifies the document (true copy, signature witnessing, or preparation of an affidavit).
- The notary’s seal and signature confirm the document’s authenticity.
- Authentication by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
- DFAT confirms the notary’s appointment and issues an Authentication Certificate (not an Apostille).
- Legalisation by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate
- The Thai Embassy or Consulate in Australia then authenticates DFAT’s stamp.
- Once this step is complete, the document is legally recognised in Thailand.
Important: Unlike Singapore, Thailand always requires Embassy/Consular legalisation because it is not a Hague member.
3. Preparing for Notarisation and Legalisation
To streamline the process:
- Bring original identification
A current passport or Australian driver’s licence is required. - Provide the original document
For certified copies, the notary must physically inspect the original. - Check Thai requirements
Some authorities need a Thai translation (usually certified by a Thai translator) before or after notarisation — confirm with the recipient. - Allow extra time
DFAT authentication usually takes 1–3 business days (in-person) but mailing can take longer.
The Thai Embassy/Consulate typically requires 3–5 business days (plus postage if not lodged in person).
4. Costs
While prices vary by service provider, you can expect:
- Notary fees: Generally AUD $100–$200 per document (more for complex transactions).
- DFAT Authentication fee: Currently AUD $98 per document (as of 2025).
- Thai Embassy/Consulate fee: Usually AUD $30–$50 per document (subject to change).
- Courier/postage: If you need express handling or return shipping.
5. Practical Tips
- Plan for extra steps: Thailand’s non-Hague status means the process takes longer than for Singapore.
- Bundle documents when possible: Ask if multiple pages can be bound and sealed together.
- Confirm translation needs: Some Thai bodies require documents translated into Thai and certified before submission.
- Use tracked postage or in-person lodgement: Particularly for high-value legal or property documents.
- Company signatories: Bring ASIC extracts if signing on behalf of a company to avoid rejection.
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