Legalising Malaysian Documents for Thailand

Oct 18

Short answer: Malaysia is not in the Apostille Convention, so Malaysian documents for Thailand need full legalisation. Thailand joined the Convention on 30 June 2026 and it takes effect for Thailand on 28 February 2027, but an apostille only works between two member countries, so nothing changes for Malaysian documents. The chain is: an English translation if the document is not in English, Wisma Putra, the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and then a Thai translation legalised by Thailand's Department of Consular Affairs (DCA), which Thai government offices expect.

We handle the Malaysian side end to end: certified English translations that Wisma Putra accepts, notarisation where needed, Wisma Putra attestation and the Royal Thai Embassy. We also prepare the Thai translation, signed and certified the way the DCA asks, so the set is ready for the DCA counter. Send your document on WhatsApp for a quote.

Last reviewed: October 2026. For translation rules, see certified Thai translation of Malaysian documents.

Step by step

Start with the right document. Civil-status documents come from JPN. For a marriage in Thailand, non-Muslims use JPN's letter of marital status, and Muslims use the single status certificate or permission to marry from the State Religious Department. Copies and private documents, such as powers of attorney, statutory declarations and company documents, are notarised first; see notarisation. Degrees are endorsed by the Ministry of Higher Education and school certificates by the Ministry of Education; see degree and transcript attestation.
Translate it into English if it is not already in English. The Royal Thai Embassy asks for the original English translation, certified as accurate, together with the document. Wisma Putra accepts translations by Malaysian court translators, ITBM, the Malaysian Translators Association and DBP. Our team is certified by ITBM, DBP and the Malaysian Translators Association and includes Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak High Court interpreters.
Attest the document and the translation at Wisma Putra in Putrajaya. Collection is the same day or the next working day. Wisma Putra charges RM 20 for civil-status and notarised documents and RM 10 for certified translations, true copies and school certificates; see the legalisation fees tracker.
Legalise at the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, or at the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kota Bharu. The Thai post certifies the Wisma Putra officer's signature, not the content of the document.
Have the Thai translation legalised by the DCA in Thailand. The English set is translated into Thai and the DCA legalises the Thai translation: 200 baht per stamp, ready in 2 working days. Book a queue at qlegal.consular.go.th for the Chaeng Watthana head office, the Pathum Wan office at CentralWorld, or a regional office such as Songkhla, Phuket or Chiang Mai. The DCA also accepts documents by post, paid by money order.
Hand the documents to the Thai office that asked for them: a district office (amphur or khet), the Department of Employment, Immigration, a school or a company registrar.

Royal Thai Embassy, Kuala Lumpur

Address: Royal Thai Embassy, 206 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Consular section (+60) 3-2148 8420 or 3-2148 8222.
Legalisation hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and 2.30 to 4.30 pm. Collection is from 2.30 to 4.30 pm only.
Fee: RM 60 per document, cash only.
Time: about 2 working days. Express service and morning collection are not available at present.
Bring: the application form, a copy of your IC or passport signed as a true copy, the original document (or certified copy) with one photocopy, and the original English translation certified as accurate with one photocopy. A representative also brings an authorisation letter and true copies of both IDs.

Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kota Bharu (4426 Jalan Tok Guru, 15400 Kota Bharu; (609) 744 5266): RM 60 per stamp, 1 working day, and it accepts translations into English or Thai. There is also a Royal Thai Consulate-General in Penang (No. 1 Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman; (604) 226 8029); call it to confirm legalisation hours and fees before you go.

Which Thai offices ask for this

District offices (marriage registration): a foreigner needs a certificate of single status, either from the home country and certified by its foreign ministry, or issued by their embassy in Thailand, and in both cases translated into Thai and certified by the DCA. Two witnesses and the passport are also needed; see marriage and divorce certificate translation.
Work permits and Non-B visas: the BOI One Start One Stop centre asks for company documents and medical certificates issued within the last 6 months, and a power of attorney signed by a director abroad must be authenticated by a notary public or a foreign authority. Employers often also ask for degree certificates and transcripts.
Teacher licences (Teachers Council): a copy of the degree and the original transcript sealed by the university. A transcript that has been opened before it reaches the Teachers Council is void, so do not open the envelope.
Dependant visas and extensions: proof of relationship, such as marriage and birth certificates; see birth certificate translation.
Company matters: SSM documents and board resolutions for Thai partners or registrars; see using Malaysian company documents abroad.

What gets documents refused

No Wisma Putra stamp before the Thai Embassy.
A Malay-only document taken to the Thai Embassy without an English translation.
Copies that were not notarised, or degrees not endorsed by the Ministry of Higher Education.
A Thai translation without the translator's signed certification ("รับรองคำแปลถูกต้อง") or, since 10 February 2026, without a copy of the translator's valid government ID.
Names spelled differently from the passport.
Company certificates or medical certificates older than 6 months for a work permit.
Wrong payment: the Thai Embassy takes cash only, and the DCA's postal service takes money orders only.

Thai documents for use in Malaysia

The order is reversed: an English translation signed "Certified Correct Translation", legalisation by the DCA, then the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur (RM 60, about 2 working days) or the consulates in Penang or Kota Bharu, and finally Wisma Putra. Thai district offices now issue 30 civil-registration documents in English, which can save a translation. For a marriage at JPN with a Thai partner, the Thai certificate of marital status must be no older than 6 months.

Islamic marriage certificates issued by a Provincial Islamic Committee in southern Thailand are certified by the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kota Bharu. The rules for registering these marriages in Malaysia changed in 2026 and JAKIM is reviewing them, so check with your state religious department first. We translate Thai documents into English or Malay for JPN, the courts and schools.

ข้อมูลภาษาไทย

มาเลเซียไม่ได้เป็นภาคีอนุสัญญา Apostille เอกสารมาเลเซียที่จะใช้ในประเทศไทยต้องผ่านการรับรองจากกระทรวงการต่างประเทศมาเลเซีย (วิสมา ปุตรา) และสถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงกัวลาลัมเปอร์ (ค่าธรรมเนียม 60 ริงกิตต่อฉบับ ชำระเป็นเงินสดเท่านั้น) จากนั้นจึงแปลเป็นภาษาไทยและยื่นขอรับรองนิติกรณ์คำแปลที่กรมการกงสุล กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ ติดต่อเราทาง WhatsApp (+60 17-227 9378)

Common questions

Thailand joins the Apostille Convention in 2027. Do I still need legalisation?

Yes. An apostille only works when both countries are members, and Malaysia is not, so Malaysian documents for Thailand still go through Wisma Putra and the Royal Thai Embassy. See Thailand and the Apostille Convention.

Can I use the Thai consulate in Kota Bharu or Penang instead of Kuala Lumpur?

Yes. Kota Bharu legalises at RM 60 per stamp in 1 working day and accepts translations into English or Thai. For Penang, call first to confirm hours and fees.

Do I need a Thai translation?

For most Thai government offices, yes. District offices, for example, want the foreign document translated into Thai and certified by the DCA. We prepare the Thai translation with the translator's certification and ID copy that the DCA asks for.

How much are the official fees?

Wisma Putra charges RM 10 to RM 20 per document, the Royal Thai Embassy RM 60 per document in cash, and the DCA 200 baht per stamp. Translation and courier are separate.

How long does it take?

Wisma Putra is the same or the next working day, the Royal Thai Embassy about 2 working days, and the DCA 2 working days.

Do I have to go to the embassy myself?

No. A representative can submit with your authorisation letter, and we lodge and collect documents on your behalf.

Related guides

Sources:

Zhihan Chew