A Thai wedding generally consists of two parts: the legal part and the ceremonial part. These are done separately. There is no requirement of government documentation to have a religious ceremony, which is most common with Thai people. This is considered by many to be the real wedding. Normally, weddings in Thailand are Buddhist. A dowry

Dowry

A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...

 is still common, but arranged marriages are rare.

The legal part is performed at a local Amphoe

Amphoe

An amphoe is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as district, amphoe make up the provinces, and are analogous to a county seat...

 where the marriage is registered. It is not a chattel marriage

Marriage

Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

, but a contractual marriage. The marriage certificate is in the Thai language.

Thai marriage eligibility

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Eligibility

• 1. Both parties must be at least 17 years of age. A court order
  Court order
  A court order is an official proclamation by a judge that defines the legal relationships between the parties to a hearing, a trial, an appeal or other court proceedings. Such ruling requires or authorizes the carrying out of certain steps by one or more parties to a case...
  
   would otherwise be needed
• 2. Neither party should be insane
• 3. Both should not be in blood relations to each other by direct ascendant or descendant line
• 4. Both should not have the same adoptive parents
• 5. Neither should have a spouse at the time of the marriage

NOTE: If the woman is a widow or is divorced, the marriage can only take place after expiry of 310 days from her husband's death or termination of the marriage. The exception being where:

• 1. A child was born during this time;
• 2. The divorced couple are remarrying;
• 3. There is a court order allowing the woman to marry;
• 4. There is a certificate from a doctor (working in a Thai hospital only) to state that the woman is not pregnant.

Thai Nationals

• 1. His/Her Identification Cards;
• 2. Their house registration certificates;
• 3. Proof of divorce
  Divorce
  Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
  
   or in the case of spousal death, proof of death must be made available.

Foreigners

• 1. A copy of the passport including the arrival card;
• 2. Affirmation of eligibility to marry from the Embassy;
• 3. Translated copies of the affirmation in Thai certified by an approved Foreign Ministry translator.
• 4. Original proof of divorce or in the case of spousal death, proof of death must be made available.
• 5. Passport showing entrance visa into Thailand.

Thai marriage procedures

• 1. Obtain the affirmation document from your embassy, or embassy website;
• 2. Complete the affirmation document and return it to your embassy; (Embassies fees/procedures vary)
  • 2a You would have to provide an income statement;
  • 2b Copy of your divorce order or death certificate of your spouse; (If divorced or widowed)
  • 2c List your children and ages and;
  • 2d Two citizens in your home country as references.
• 3 Collect your signed affirmation document from the embassy the {same or} following day, depending on embassy {or consulate};
• 4. Have your affirmation, (divorce order or death certificate of your late spouse) translated into Thai. {This is seldom required, but is recommended, if marrying in a small amphur or to sell embassy services.}
• 5. Take the affirmation and documents together with translations and copies of your passport
  Passport
  A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
  
   to the Legalization Division of Consular Affairs Department, where the Consular Official's signature will be authenticated. This takes a few hours.

There are two fees available: -

1. Baht 400 per document, and it takes up to two full days or

2. Baht 800 per document for the same day service.

• 6. Wait a few hours or collect it in 2 days from the Thai Consular Affairs office;
• 7. Take the documents to the local District Registrar (also known as the 'Amphoe
  Amphoe
  An amphoe is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as district, amphoe make up the provinces, and are analogous to a county seat...
  
  ') who will register the marriage and issue the marriage certificate
  Marriage certificate
  In some jurisdictions a marriage certificate is the official record that two people have undertaken a marriage ceremony. This does include jurisdictions where marriage licenses do not exist...
  
  . {There are two copies in Thailand and they will not issue new ones if lost so take good care of them}

• 8. Have certificate translated to English or your home language before leaving Thailand as they are costly to do overseas, Also if you intend to use it for visa or immigration purposes check for certification requirements by the desired country, as some require the Thai government to certify the translation. Personal experience not official policy }