Legalisation for Thailand
Thailand deposited its accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026, but it only takes effect on 28 February 2027. Until then, UK company documents for Thailand usually need an FCDO apostille followed by legalisation at the Royal Thai Embassy in London. After that date an apostille alone should normally be enough.
How a typical Thailand document job runs
Three steps. Confirm the recipient’s written list first.
Confirm the Thai recipient’s checklist and dates
Get the bank, ministry, Board of Investment, partner or counsel checklist in writing, including whether embassy legalisation is required and when the documents will be presented: before or after 28 February 2027.
Order Companies House documents (buy-now)
Order the Certificate of Good Standing, certified incorporation, articles or the pack. Standard Companies House orders aim to dispatch within 10 working days; we usually scan and send within 1 to 3 working days of receipt.
Request an apostille, embassy and translation quote
Before 28 February 2027, plan for an FCDO apostille then Royal Thai Embassy legalisation. Official FCDO fees: paper £45, e-Apostille £35. Embassy fees and translation are confirmed when quoting.
Thailand and the Hague Apostille Convention: the dates that matter
The HCCH Apostille Convention status table (last update 30 June 2026) lists Thailand as acceding on 30 June 2026, with entry into force on 28 February 2027. The gap is the objection period that applies to new members. Until 28 February 2027, Thailand is not yet applying the Convention, so the traditional route continues for UK documents.
In practice that means two periods for planning:
| When documents are presented | Usual UK route |
|---|---|
| Before 28 February 2027 | Companies House certified document, then FCDO apostille, then Royal Thai Embassy legalisation in London, plus any Thai translation |
| From 28 February 2027 | Companies House certified document, then FCDO apostille, plus any Thai translation, if no objection affects the UK |
Always follow the Thai recipient’s written checklist, which can differ from these patterns.
Before you order: key points
- Match the written list. Thai banks, ministries and partners set their own rules, and some may update them around February 2027.
- Filings must be up to date for the summary statement. Run a free filings check first.
- No shareholders or PSCs on the certificate. Ownership evidence needs other documents.
- Embassy requirements change. We confirm the current Royal Thai Embassy process and fee when quoting; we do not publish a fixed embassy price.
- We are a private agent. UKCOGS orders official documents and coordinates the FCDO step. We are not the FCDO, Companies House, GOV.UK or the Royal Thai Embassy, and we do not hold FCDO partner status.
- Documents only. We do not give Thai legal, investment, visa, immigration or banking advice. Neither the certificate nor the apostille has a fixed legal expiry; the recipient decides how recent it must be.
Typical company-document requests for Thailand (examples only)
- a Certificate of Good Standing with directors and registered office
- a certified Certificate of Incorporation
- certified articles of association
- a board resolution or power of attorney, certified by a UK solicitor or notary before the apostille
These are examples, not advice. If the list is unclear, use Which document do I need? or the pack builder, then send us the checklist with a quote request.
Worked example: timing around the February 2027 change
A UK engineering firm is forming a Thai joint venture. The Thai partner’s lawyer needs the UK company’s Certificate of Good Standing and certified articles by mid-December 2026. Because that is before 28 February 2027, the firm plans for an FCDO paper apostille (£45 per document) and Royal Thai Embassy legalisation, then a Thai translation. It orders the certificate and articles in October (£79 and £49 ex VAT through UKCOGS, each including the £22 Companies House fee) to leave time for the apostille queue, which GOV.UK says is usually up to 25 working days plus courier, and the embassy stage. A second UK company presenting similar documents in April 2027 asks its Thai recipient whether an apostille alone will now be accepted, and saves the embassy stage.
Paper versus e-Apostille
While embassy legalisation is needed, use the paper apostille: embassy stages usually require paper. GOV.UK says the e-Apostille (£35) needs a PDF e-signed by a UK notary or solicitor and takes up to 2 working days, and may become useful after February 2027 if the Thai recipient accepts it. Read apostille vs embassy legalisation.
Translation and freshness
Translation into Thai is often required, and the recipient may say how it must be certified and at which stage. Companies House prints no expiry date; Thai recipients set their own limits. Check age with the document freshness helper, and remember an apostille or embassy stamp does not refresh an old certificate.
Common mistakes
- Assuming Thailand already accepts apostilles alone because it has joined the Convention; it takes effect on 28 February 2027.
- Choosing an e-Apostille when an embassy stage still follows.
- Sending a free register download, which cannot be apostilled.
- Leaving too little time for the embassy stage before a Thai deadline.
- Forgetting the Thai translation, or doing it at the wrong stage.
Official fees (last checked 4 October 2026)
These are the official government fees from GOV.UK. UKCOGS buy-now prices for Companies House documents sit alongside them and include the Companies House fee.
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FCDO paper apostille (standard)Per document, plus courier or postage | £45 | GOV.UK legalisation |
| FCDO e-ApostillePDFs e-signed by a UK notary or solicitor | £35 | GOV.UK legalisation |
| FCDO Next-Day (registered businesses, paper)Next working day | £40 | GOV.UK legalisation |
| Companies House certificate or certified copy, standardAims to dispatch within 10 working days | £22 | GOV.UK Companies House |
| Companies House expressSame-day dispatch if ordered before 11am | £65 | GOV.UK Companies House |
| UKCOGS Certificate of Good Standing (buy-now)Ex VAT, includes the official fee | £79 / £129 | COGS page |
| UKCOGS apostille, embassy or translation handlingLegalisation stages | Quote only | Get a quote |
GOV.UK also lists the business-only Restricted Urgent paper service at £100 (same day, pre-approval required) and return courier at £6 UK, £32 most of Europe and £42 rest of the world per 1.5kg. Certified Certificate of Incorporation and certified articles are £49 each ex VAT (including the £22 Companies House fee); the company documents pack is £249–£299 ex VAT.
Buy-now Companies House prices (ex VAT)
- Certificate of Good Standing: £79 standard (includes CH £22) or £129 express (includes CH £65)
- Certified Certificate of Incorporation: £49 (includes CH £22)
- Company documents pack: £249–£299 (typical £279)
- Company documents hub: certified articles £49 and other certified copies
- Filings check: £15, or use the free filings checker
Related pages
- The Hague Apostille Convention explained
- COGS buy-now · Pack · Incorporation · Company documents
- FCDO apostille and legalisation hub · Apostilled COGS (quote)
- Legalisation hub · Vietnam · China · Qatar
- Filings check · Freshness helper · Cost estimator · Order
Who we are
PASECOM GROUP LTD / Pasecom Group Ltd · 17139327 · 82a James Carter Road, Mildenhall, IP28 7DE · ICO ZC117546 · pete@pasecom.co.uk. Trading as UKCOGS. Private agent: not Companies House, not the FCDO, not GOV.UK and not the Royal Thai Embassy.
Sources checked 4 October 2026: HCCH Apostille Convention status table (cid=41, last update 30 June 2026; Thailand accession 30 June 2026, entry into force 28 February 2027); HCCH news “Thailand accedes to the 1961 Apostille Convention” (30 June 2026); GOV.UK “Get your document legalised” (FCDO £45 paper, £35 e-Apostille); GOV.UK Companies House order guidance (£22 standard, £65 express). Fees last checked 4 October 2026. Page last updated 4 October 2026.
FAQ: UK company documents for Thailand
Check every answer against the recipient’s written checklist. Last updated 4 October 2026.
Is Thailand part of the Hague Apostille Convention?
It has acceded but the Convention is not yet in force. Thailand deposited its instrument of accession on 30 June 2026 and the Convention is scheduled to enter into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027 (HCCH status table, checked 4 October 2026).
What route do UK company documents need before 28 February 2027?
Plan for an FCDO apostille certificate followed by legalisation at the Royal Thai Embassy in London, unless the Thai recipient confirms in writing that it needs something different. We confirm current embassy requirements when quoting.
What changes after 28 February 2027?
For UK public documents within the Convention, an FCDO apostille should normally replace the embassy stage, provided no objection affects the UK. Check the HCCH status table and the recipient’s checklist nearer the time.
My documents will be presented after 28 February 2027. What should I do?
Ask the Thai recipient which route it will accept on the date you present the documents. If the deadline is after entry into force, an apostille alone may be enough, which saves the embassy stage.
Do I need a Thai translation?
Often yes. Thai authorities and banks commonly ask for a translation into Thai and may specify how it must be certified. Ask the recipient in writing. Translation is quote-only with UKCOGS.
Paper apostille or e-Apostille for Thailand?
Use paper while embassy legalisation is needed, because embassy stages usually require a paper document. After the Convention takes effect, ask the recipient whether it accepts e-Apostilles.
How recent should the certificate be?
There is no UK legal expiry. Thai recipients set their own limits, often a few months. Use the free document freshness helper and allow for the embassy stage when planning.
Does a Certificate of Good Standing show shareholders?
No. Companies House cannot certify PSCs, shareholders or shareholdings on a certificate. Thai checklists asking for ownership evidence need other documents.
What does UKCOGS charge?
Buy-now ex VAT: Certificate of Good Standing £79 standard (includes CH £22) or £129 express (includes CH £65), certified incorporation £49, pack £249–£299. Apostille, embassy and translation stages are quote-only. Fees checked 4 October 2026.
Are you the FCDO, Companies House or the Royal Thai Embassy?
No. UKCOGS is a private document agent operated by Pasecom Group Ltd (17139327). We do not claim FCDO partner status and do not give Thai legal, investment, visa or banking advice.
Ready for a Thailand document route?
Order Companies House documents now. Request a quote for the apostille and any translation or embassy stage. Legalisation is quote-only, with no apostille buy button.