U.S. Consular Officers may provide specific notarial services authorized by relevant U.S. law and Department of State policy to both U.S. citizens and foreign citizens who need to have documents notarized for use in the United States. See more detailed information below regarding what documents we can and cannot notarize.
Services we can provide
Acknowledgement of Signature
An Acknowledgement of signature verifies a particular person signed a given document such as a deed or bill of sale. We can notarize only the signatures of those who are present to sign in front of a Notarizing Officer. If you are signing on behalf of a corporation, LLC, etc., you are required to provide proof that you are authorized to sign on behalf of the organization.
Authentication or Legalization of Royal Thai Government Officials’ Signatures
Authentications certify the official seal, signature and/ or authority of foreign officials who perform an official act with regard to a document that is to be used in the United States. The U.S. Embassy may authenticate documents that bear the seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided their signature is on file with this office.
Note: An official Thai document should be translated into English by a licensed translation service prior to contacting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A Consular Authentication does not attest to the authenticity of the contents of a document but merely to the seal and signature of the issuing Thai government official.
Marriage Affidavit
A U.S. Citizen who wishes to get married in Thailand must obtain a notarized marriage affidavit which will be provided at the Embassy or Consulate when checking in at the American Citizens Services Unit. As of January 23, 2025 same-sex marriage in Thailand is legal.
The Embassy and Consulate assume no responsibility for the veracity of the representations that appear in the affidavit. Only the identity of the individual making the statement is validated.
NOTE: the Embassy and Consulate will not notarize affidavits or perform other notarial services listed in the “Services we cannot provide” section above even if it is statement that you yourself wrote and are seeking to have notarized.
Certified True Copy
- Certified true copy of documents for use with Social Security applications, FBU Manila – Mail-in service is available.
- Certified true copy of U.S. passports for use in other purposes – Mail-in service is available.
- Certified true copy of a foreign passport for use with Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) applications – Mail-in service is available.
DS-3053 – Statement of Consent for your Child’s Passport Application
When a child under the age of 16 applies for a U.S. passport service, the child and both parents are typically required to appear in person. If you are not able to attend their passport appointment in person, you may submit a notarized Statement of Consent, Form DS-3053.
There is no fee for this service.
Power of Attorney
A power of attorney allows you to designate someone to take legal action on your behalf, such as authorizing someone to buy or sell a property in the United States in your name while you are abroad. You can use our blank Power of Attorney or bring your own drafted one. If you are signing on behalf of a corporation, LLC, etc., you are required to provide proof that you are authorized to sign on behalf of the organization.
Services we cannot provide
Affidavits intended to replace Authentication
U.S. Embassy Bangkok / U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai cannot notarize an affidavit statement such as “I, John Citizen, affirm that my birth certificate/academic credentials/etc is genuine.”
For more information, please refer to our Fact Sheet (PDF 313KB).
U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai are unable to authenticate public documents issued in the United States. Such documents include vital records (birth, marriage, death and divorce), as well as academic, commercial, or other credentials.
As of March 2024, Thai Immigration no longer requires the authentication of documents issued in the United States at the local, state, or federal level. In addition, self-sworn affidavits for Thai visa purposes will no longer be requested by Thai Immigration officials nationwide. Please use this letter to address issues relating to these changes: Thai Immigration Letter (PDF 84KB)
Please find detailed steps for Authentications of U.S. documents to be used abroad below and which will ensure your documents meet authentication requirements demanded by Thai authorities during your stay in Thailand.
- Step 1 Check authentication certificate requirements for a document to be authenticated https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/authentication-certificate-requirements.html.
- Step 2 Visit the Royal Thai Embassy https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/th/page/certify-us-documents for a document legalization, or look up the United States-based Embassy of the country where the documents will be used.
- Step 3 Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legalization Division, Consular Affairs in Thailand.
Please click here to see a full information for authentication procedure.
For more information about Authentications of U.S. documents to be used abroad is available here https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications.html.
Authentication and Certification of Federal Records
Such documents must be authenticated in the United States for use overseas; for additional details, please visit the Department of State’s Notarial and Authentication Services or the Office of Authentication, or call +1 202-485-8000.
Please visit the National Center for Health Statistics webpage Where to Write for Vital Records for state specific information on how to request copies of vital records.
U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai are unable to authenticate public documents issued in the United States. Such documents include vital records (birth, marriage, death and divorce), as well as academic, commercial, or other credentials.
As of March 2024, Thai Immigration no longer requires the authentication of documents issued in the United States at the local, state, or federal level. In addition, self-sworn affidavits for Thai visa purposes will no longer be requested by Thai Immigration officials nationwide. Please use this letter to address issues relating to these changes: Thai Immigration Letter (PDF 84KB)
Please find detailed steps for Authentications of U.S. documents to be used abroad below and which will ensure your documents meet authentication requirements demanded by Thai authorities during your stay in Thailand.
- Step 1 Check authentication certificate requirements for a document to be authenticated https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/authentication-certificate-requirements.html.
- Step 2 Visit the Royal Thai Embassy https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/th/page/certify-us-documents for a document legalization, or look up the United States-based Embassy of the country where the documents will be used.
- Step 3 Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legalization Division, Consular Affairs in Thailand.
Please click here to see a full information for authentication procedure.
For more information about Authentications of U.S. documents to be used abroad is available here https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications.html.
Authentication and Certification of State/Local Documents and Academic Credentials
Contact the educational institution which issued the document. For further information visit the Department of State’s website Authentication of American Academic Credentials for Use Abroad.
U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai are unable to authenticate public documents issued in the United States. Such documents include vital records (birth, marriage, death and divorce), as well as academic, commercial, or other credentials.
As of March 2024, Thai Immigration no longer requires the authentication of documents issued in the United States at the local, state, or federal level. In addition, self-sworn affidavits for Thai visa purposes will no longer be requested by Thai Immigration officials nationwide. Please use this letter to address issues relating to these changes: Thai Immigration Letter (PDF 84KB)
Please find detailed steps for Authentications of U.S. documents to be used abroad below and which will ensure your documents meet authentication requirements demanded by Thai authorities during your stay in Thailand.
- Step 1 Check authentication certificate requirements for a document to be authenticated https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/authentication-certificate-requirements.html.
- Step 2 Visit the Royal Thai Embassy https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/th/page/certify-us-documents for a document legalization, or look up the United States-based Embassy of the country where the documents will be used.
- Step 3 Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legalization Division, Consular Affairs in Thailand.
Please click here to see a full information for authentication procedure.
For more information about Authentications of U.S. documents to be used abroad is available here https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications.html.
Any Documents Related to Relinquishment or U.S. Citizenship Renunciation, Transfer Allegiance, Claim Immunity
A formal renunciation of U.S. Nationality can only be made in front of a Diplomatic or consular officer of the United States in a foreign state. Should you wish to formally renounce your U.S. citizenship, please carefully review the Loss of Citizenship and Nationality information at the following link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/us-citizenship.html.
After you have reviewed and clearly understood the relevant Loss of Citizenship and Nationality information and conditions, you may contact us via the appropriate Contact form depending on your location below to schedule Renunciation appointment:
Bangkok Contact Form for the American Citizens Services unit at the U.S. Embassy, Bangkok,
Chiang Mai Contact Form for the American Citizens Services unit at the U.S. Consulate General, Chiang Mai.
Income Verification
U.S. Embassy Bangkok and U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai do not notarize income affidavits for any purposes. For more information, please refer to our Fact Sheet (PDF 430KB).
Additional information for a visa extension.
Retirement Criteria and required documents is available on Immigration Bureau page here Visa Extension – สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง – Immigration Bureau
Signature of Medallion Guarantees
A Medallion Signature Guarantee is not a notarial service, but rather a special procedure related to securities, which can only be performed by an authorized representative of a financial institution participating in a medallion program approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Statement Beyond the Consular Officer’s Knowledge
U.S. Embassy Bangkok / U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai cannot notarize the document that satisfies a specific legal requirement, that a person is the spouse of another, or an individual is an employee of a certain business or corporation.
U.S. Apostilles
Information on Apostilles can be found on the Department of State webpage Judicial Assistance – Notarial and Authentication (Apostille).
Verification Letter to Open Thai Bank Account
U.S. Embassy Bangkok and U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai do not provide “verification” letters to open Thai bank accounts.
Residency Verification Letters to Apply for a Driver’s License or to Buy/Sell a Vehicle or Property
In Bangkok, please contact the Thai Immigration Bureau’s Chaeng Wattana Office (Counter B, 1st Floor) in Bangkok or the nearest regional immigration office in other provinces to obtain a certificate of residence from Thai Immigration Bureau. For more information, please refer to our Fact Sheet (PDF 209KB).