Since 23 January 2025 same-sex couples in Thailand can marry officially, on the same terms as everyone else. Here is how it works for foreigners, based on the Government Public Relations Department, the Thai foreign ministry and the UK Foreign Office, checked on 17 October 2026.
What the law changed
The amendments to the Civil and Commercial Code known as the marriage equality law were published in the Royal Gazette on 24 September 2024 and took effect on 23 January 2025. Marriage is now defined as a partnership between two people rather than between a man and a woman.
- Age: 18, with parental consent until 20
- Rights: adoption, managing and inheriting marital property, divorce, state benefits if a spouse is a civil servant, and the right of a spouse to apply for citizenship
- Where to register: any district office in Thailand (amphoe in the provinces, khet in Bangkok, all 50 districts) and Thai embassies and consulates abroad
Documents you need
| Who | What to bring (according to the PRD) |
|---|---|
| Thai citizen | ID card or equivalent government document, house registration (tabien baan) |
| Foreigner | passport and a certificate of single status from the home country or the embassy in Thailand |
A certificate in a foreign language is usually translated into Thai and legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs of the Thai foreign ministry. Its website has a separate section on documents for marrying a foreign national and online booking for legalisation. Ask the district office where you plan to register about their exact translation requirements, as they can differ.
How registration works
- Get the certificate of single status at home or from your embassy in Thailand
- Translate it into Thai and have it legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs if the district office requires it
- Go to the district office together with passports and documents, and ask in advance whether witnesses or an appointment are needed
- Receive the marriage certificate in Thai. If you need it at home, have it translated and legalised for your country
Recognition abroad
A marriage registered in Thailand is valid in Thailand. Whether your country recognises it is up to its own law. Check before the wedding if you plan a spouse visa, a name change or joint paperwork at home.
How LGBT+ couples are treated
The UK Foreign Office’s October 2026 advice describes Thailand as generally safe for LGBT+ travellers. Thailand’s Ministry of Culture advises all couples against public hugging and kissing, especially at temples, so a little restraint in public is the local norm for everyone.
FAQ
Can two foreigners get married in Thailand?
The Government Public Relations Department lists the documents for foreigners (a passport and a certificate of single status) without requiring the other partner to be Thai. Couples where both partners are foreign register at a district office under the same rules. Before you travel, ask the office you plan to use what translation and legalisation they expect.
Where do I get a certificate of single status?
From your home country or your embassy in Thailand, according to the PRD. Documents in a foreign language are usually translated into Thai and legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs of the Thai foreign ministry, whose website has a section on documents for marrying a foreign national. Procedures differ between embassies, so start with your embassy's website.
Will my Thai marriage be recognised at home?
That depends on your country's law, not Thailand's. A marriage registered in Thailand is valid in Thailand, and recognition abroad is decided by your country of citizenship. Check before the wedding, especially if you plan a spouse visa or a name change at home.
What rights does marriage give in Thailand?
According to the PRD, spouses can adopt children, manage and inherit marital property, divorce, receive state benefits if a spouse is a civil servant, and a foreign spouse can apply for citizenship. These are the same rights opposite-sex couples have.
Is Thailand safe for LGBT+ travellers?
The UK Foreign Office's October 2026 advice describes Thailand as generally safe for LGBT+ travellers and notes that same-sex marriage was legalised in January 2025. Thailand's Ministry of Culture advises against public hugging and kissing for any couple, especially at temples.
Sources
- Ministry of Culture of Thailand. Do and Don't guide (on the House of Representatives Secretariat site, 2021)
- Government Public Relations Department (PRD). Thailand Ready for Equal Marriage Law to Take Effect on 23 January 2025 (2025-01-19)
- Government Public Relations Department (PRD). Same-sex couples in Thailand can register marriage from 23 January onward
- Department of Consular Affairs, Thai MFA. Legalisation of documents, including documents for marrying a foreign national (Thai)
- UK FCDO. Thailand travel advice: Safety and security (LGBT+ travellers)
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