An amphur divorce in Thailand gives you a Divorce Certificate (form Kor Ror 7). A court divorce gives you a judgment and a certificate of finality, which you then register at a district office. To use either abroad, you usually need a certified translation and legalisation.
What document do you receive after an amphur divorce in Thailand?
You receive a Divorce Certificate (ใบสำคัญการหย่า, form Kor Ror 7). The registrar records the divorce in the Divorce Register (ทะเบียนการหย่า, form Kor Ror 6), which both spouses and their two witnesses sign in front of the registrar, and the written divorce agreement on children and property is filed with the record. Each spouse is entitled to a copy of the certificate.
Under Section 1531 of the Civil and Commercial Code, a divorce by mutual consent of a registered marriage takes effect from the moment of registration. The certificate is therefore your primary proof that the marriage has ended and of the date it ended.
If you divorce between two registry offices, for example one spouse at a district office in Thailand and the other at a Thai embassy abroad, the divorce is complete only when the second office registers it. That second office issues the certificate, and the other spouse's copy is sent through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What do you receive after a court divorce in Thailand?
A court divorce gives you two court documents, and then a district office record:
- The judgment (คำพิพากษา), which orders the divorce and usually deals with parental power, child support and property.
- A certificate of finality (หนังสือรับรองคดีถึงที่สุด), issued once the time to appeal has passed or appeals are exhausted. In Thailand the appeal period is generally one month from the reading of the judgment.
- Registration at a district office. A court divorce takes effect when the judgment becomes final, but under Section 1531 it cannot be used against third parties acting in good faith until it is registered. With a certified copy of the final judgment, the registrar records the divorce and issues the divorce register entry and certificate.
You do not need your former spouse to attend. Section 16 of the Family Registration Act B.E. 2478 allows an interested party to ask the registrar to record a court divorce by filing a certified copy of the final judgment, and the Council of State has confirmed that this step may be done through an authorised representative.
Check the wording of the judgment. In one case reviewed by the Council of State, the district office first doubted whether a court-approved settlement was itself a divorce judgment, because it said the parties would go and register the divorce. Clear wording avoids that delay.
| Item | Amphur divorce | Court divorce |
|---|---|---|
| Main documents | Divorce Certificate (Kor Ror 7) and register entry (Kor Ror 6) | Judgment, certificate of finality, then district office registration |
| Divorce effective from | Date of registration | Date the judgment becomes final |
| Who signs at the office | Both spouses and two witnesses, in person | Either party or an authorised representative files the judgment |
| Terms on children and property | In the divorce agreement | In the judgment or court-recorded settlement |
How do you get a certified translation and legalisation?
Thai divorce documents are in Thai, so foreign authorities generally want a certified translation that Thailand's Department of Consular Affairs (DCA) has legalised. According to the DCA's published public manual, you prepare the English translation yourself; it can be done by a translation agency or by an individual translator who signs the translation. The DCA checks the translation before stamping it and returns documents that contain translation errors.
- Obtain the original certificate or a certified copy from the district office, and for a court divorce, certified copies of the judgment and certificate of finality.
- Have the documents translated into English, following the DCA's translation format.
- Submit the original and translation to the DCA's Legalization Division in Bangkok or one of its regional legalisation offices. Normal service takes about two working days; court documents can take longer, and fees are charged per stamp, with a per-page fee for court documents.
- Have the legalised documents authenticated by the embassy or consulate of the country where you will use them, if that country requires it.
- Confirm with the receiving authority whether it needs the full judgment, the finality certificate, a recently issued copy, or a translation into a language other than English.
If you are already abroad, someone in Thailand can submit documents for legalisation with your power of attorney. The DCA requires that power of attorney to be certified, for example by a Thai embassy or consulate, and foreign nationals may also need certification by their own country's authorities.
Does Thailand accept the Apostille?
Not yet. Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, and the Hague Conference reports that the Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Until then, the legalisation chain above still applies.
After that date, a Thai public document for use in another Apostille country should need only an apostille instead of legalisation by that country's embassy, unless the receiving country objected to Thailand's accession. The Department of Consular Affairs has been preparing to provide the service, so check its announcements for the procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kor Ror 7 issued in English?
Treat it as a Thai-language document. Even where a form carries English headings, foreign authorities usually expect a full certified translation of the content.
I lost my divorce certificate. How do I get a new one?
Ask a district office for a certified copy of your divorce record, bringing your passport or Thai ID card. Then translate and legalise the certified copy as you would the original.
My ex-spouse refuses to register our court divorce. Can I do it alone?
Yes. Either party can file a certified copy of the final judgment with the registrar, and you may appoint a representative to do it for you.
Can I remarry in Thailand straight after my divorce?
Generally yes, but Section 1453 still contains a waiting period of 310 days for a woman whose previous marriage ended, with exceptions such as giving birth during that period, remarrying the former spouse, a doctor's certificate of non-pregnancy, or a court order. If you will remarry abroad, check that country's rules too.
Where should you start?
Decide where you will use the divorce documents, then ask that authority exactly what it requires before you order translations. Collect originals or certified copies first, register any court divorce at a district office, and only then start legalisation. If your divorce involved a court case, a settlement, or a divorce between two registry offices, a family lawyer can check that the documents clearly show the divorce and its date, which saves repeat trips to embassies.
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