Certified True Copy of a Passport in Thailand: How to Get It Notarised

Who asks for a certified true copy

Overseas banks, investment platforms, payment providers, universities, professional regulators and foreign government agencies commonly ask for certified copies of a passport, degree, transcript, marriage certificate or utility bill. The certification lets them rely on a copy without receiving the original.

What to bring

The attorney can only certify what they see:

• The original document itself. A copy of a copy cannot be certified as a true copy of the original.
• Your passport or Thai ID card, so the attorney can confirm who you are.
• The receiving organisation's exact certification wording, if it has one — some require 'I certify this is a true copy of the original and a true likeness of the holder'.
• Information on any date limit; many banks accept certifications only for a few months.

Documents that need extra care

Thai-language documents usually need a certified translation for use abroad. Foreign civil records such as a birth certificate are normally authenticated in the issuing country, so a Thai certified copy may not be enough for an authority that wants the original authenticated. We check the destination's rules before certifying.

Further authentication

Some organisations accept the certified copy as it is. Government agencies more often require legalisation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the destination embassy.

Thailand acceded to the Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026 and the Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Until then, documents normally follow the consular legalisation chain; from that date, an apostille may replace it for covered public documents where the Convention applies between Thailand and the destination country.

Why does Thailand utilise Notarial Services Attorneys rather than civil-law notaries for certifying passport copies?

Thailand operates under a distinct legal tradition that does not maintain civil-law notaries or standard common-law notaries public. Instead, notarial functions across the Kingdom are governed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand under Regulation B.E. 2551. Under this regulatory system, certified advocates who undergo specialised training, testing, and formal vetting are licensed as Notarial Services Attorneys. When foreign institutions demand a certified or notarised passport copy executed within Thailand, this official attorney designation fulfills that evidentiary function. The attorney verifies the original document, witnesses any required statements, and applies an official seal and signature recognized under Thai professional standards.

At Thai Legal & Immigration Consulting Service Co., Ltd., our team of 7 Notarial Services Attorneys provides formal document certifications from our offices located in Bangkok on Lat Phrao Soi 95 and in Khon Kaen. Prospective applicants can schedule consultations through LINE @Thailegal to have their original passports physically examined. Because Thailand lacks public notary offices, foreign agencies sometimes seek clarification on the attorney's qualifications. Our practitioners provide verifiable credentials referencing their registration with the Lawyers Council of Thailand, enabling offshore verification teams to cross-reference our standing directly against professional roll records.

It is vital to recognize that receiving authorities abroad retain full authority over document admissibility. While a Notarial Services Attorney performs authentications in strict accordance with Thai regulations, foreign banks, universities, and regulatory bodies establish their own acceptance thresholds. Confirming their specific format expectations before your appointment ensures that your certified passport copy fulfills their administrative standards without avoidable procedural revisions.

How do overseas compliance departments distinguish between a true copy and a true likeness certification?

International banking institutions, digital asset custodians, and corporate compliance departments frequently mandate distinctions between a standard certified true copy and a certified true likeness. A basic certified true copy confirms that a physical photocopy accurately mirrors the original passport presented at the appointment. In contrast, a true likeness certification requires the Notarial Services Attorney to confirm both document authenticity and personal identity. The attorney must visually examine the passport holder in person, comparing facial features against the biographical photograph and verifying that the person standing before them corresponds to the individual depicted.

When foreign compliance protocols require a true likeness endorsement, specific wording is almost invariably mandatory. Many financial institutions insist on predefined phrasing, such as confirming that the copy represents an accurate reproduction and a genuine likeness of the bearer. If an applicant simply requests a standard true copy stamp without conveying these institutional guidelines, the receiving entity may reject the submission. Bringing the exact wording criteria to our Bangkok or Khon Kaen offices enables our Notarial Services Attorneys to integrate the required language directly into the notarial jurat.

Furthermore, true likeness evaluations require a thorough physical review of the passport itself. The attorney must inspect the document for tampering, damaged binding, altered laminates, or irregular biographical text. Expired passports or documents presenting noticeable physical damage cannot receive an unqualified likeness endorsement, as compliance officers require active, uncompromised credentials to satisfy international anti-money laundering regulations.

What procedural distinctions arise when certifying foreign passports versus Thai identity credentials?

The procedural path for certifying identification documents within Thailand differs considerably depending on whether the credential is an international passport or a Thai domestic identity record. For foreign nationals residing in Thailand, their foreign passport serves as their primary proof of lawful status. When certifying a foreign passport, the Notarial Services Attorney inspects the physical booklet against global security standards, ensures machine-readable zones correspond with textual entries, and verifies whether the receiving overseas party requires only the biographical spread or additional visa endorsement pages.

Conversely, Thai domestic identification documents—such as a Thai national identity card, a house registration book (Tabien Baan), or a Thai passport—present linguistic and structural considerations. When these records are prepared for use in foreign jurisdictions, certifying a Thai-language copy is typically only the preliminary step. Most foreign institutions also require a certified English translation. In such instances, the Notarial Services Attorney certifies the Thai original as a true copy and separately authenticates the translator's certification, creating a linked, verifiable document package.

Proper document assembly is critical for both domestic and foreign credentials. If an overseas authority demands multi-page certification—such as an entire passport booklet or linked translation sets—the attorney applies secure binding methods. This may involve eyeleting, corner ribboning, or embossed seals across document joins. This binding safeguards document integrity, reassuring receiving authorities that pages have not been substituted or modified following formal certification.

How should cross-border applicants navigate consular legalisation versus the upcoming Apostille framework?

Determining whether a certified passport copy requires further governmental validation depends entirely upon the standards established by the receiving authority. Numerous private entities, including overseas commercial banks and educational institutions, accept a certified true copy bearing the stamp and signature of a registered Notarial Services Attorney directly. Conversely, foreign judicial courts, immigration ministries, and governmental licensing bodies frequently require the document to undergo full consular legalisation to prove the authenticity of the certifying attorney's credentials.

In the current regulatory environment, consular legalisation entails a multi-tiered administrative chain. The document certified by the Notarial Services Attorney must first be presented to the Legalization Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Thailand for official verification. Once the MFA verifies the attorney's status, the document must be submitted to the embassy or consulate of the destination country located in Thailand. Only after the destination embassy appends its diplomatic seal is the consular legalisation chain complete for international submission.

This traditional pathway will change significantly following Thailand's accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026. The Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Until that specific enforcement date, documents must strictly follow the established consular legalisation procedure. After 28 February 2027, qualifying documents destined for participating member states will instead receive an Apostille certificate, eliminating the subsequent embassy legalisation requirement. Our 7 Notarial Services Attorneys at Thai Legal & Immigration Consulting Service Co., Ltd. assist clients in tracking these transition milestones via LINE @Thailegal to ensure your documentation adheres to the correct verification protocols.

Related services

• Notarial Services Attorney

Frequently asked

Sources & references

1. Lawyers Council of Thailand — checked 2026-11-04
2. Department of Consular Affairs – Legalization — checked 2026-11-04