Affidavit of Identity, Certified Passport Copy & Identity Verification for Foreigners in Thailand — Lawyers Council Notarial Reg. B.E. 2546, HCCH Apostille (มีผล 28 ก.พ. 2570)

Why notarize a passport copy if I already hold the passport?

Overseas authorities (banks, USCIS, UKVI, IRCC) do not accept original passports by post because of loss/theft risk. A notarized copy with an Apostille is the global default substitute that satisfies the best-evidence rule. Some authorities, including HMRC, require notarized copies only — originals are refused.

What is a One-and-the-Same Person Affidavit and when is it needed?

Use it when names or spellings disagree across documents: birth certificate 'JOHN A. SMITH' vs passport 'John Alexander Smith'; Cyrillic 'Иван Петров' vs Latin 'Ivan Petrov' vs 'Ivan Petroff'; Chinese '王小明' vs Pinyin 'Wang Xiaoming' vs older 'Wong Hsiao-ming'. The affidavit reads 'I [Full Legal Name] am the one and the same person referred to as [Variant 1], [Variant 2]…' with all source documents attached, then notarized and apostilled.

How much does an Affidavit of Identity + Notarized Passport Copy cost?

Fixed-fee: (1) notarized passport copy of bio + visa page = สอบถามค่าบริการทางโทร/LINE/อีเมล; (2) all stamped pages = สอบถามค่าบริการทางโทร/LINE/อีเมล; (3) one-page Affidavit of Identity + Jurat = สอบถามค่าบริการทางโทร/LINE/อีเมล; (4) One-and-the-Same Person Affidavit (multi-document) = สอบถามค่าบริการทางโทร/LINE/อีเมล; (5) MFA Apostille = สอบถามค่าบริการทางโทรศัพท์ / LINE / อีเมล standard / สอบถามค่าบริการทางโทร/LINE/อีเมล express; (6) embassy legalization = สอบถามค่าบริการทางโทร/LINE/อีเมล depending on the mission. Total turnaround with Apostille is typically 3–5 business days.

Can an expired passport be notarized?

Yes, but the Notarial Certificate must expressly state 'Expired on [date]' and the purpose must be clearly stated — e.g. evidence in litigation, probate, or travel history. For current-identity uses (account opening, visa filings) only a valid passport is acceptable. Omitting the expiry status is a material false statement under Penal Code § 137.

I am not currently in Thailand — how can I get a notarized passport copy?

Use a notary public in your country of residence and apostille there (if HCCH); the document is fully usable in Thailand because Thailand acceded to the HCCH Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026 (entry into force 28 February 2027). We can also refer you to trusted notaries through the IUNA / UINL networks if needed.

What must an Affidavit of Support for a visa sponsorship contain?

(1) sponsor's name, address, nationality; (2) relationship to the visa applicant; (3) sponsorship amount and duration; (4) source of funds (bank statements + tax returns for ≥ 6 months); (5) signature + notarization + Jurat. USCIS Form I-864 has a fixed format — we use the latest USCIS template (2024 revision).

When is an Affidavit of Lost Passport useful?

Use it to (1) notify Immigration under § 39 before applying for a replacement at your home-country embassy; (2) support an Emergency Travel Document application; (3) ask Immigration to invalidate visa/stamps in a lost passport if recovered later. A police report is required before the affidavit can be notarized.

How does a FATCA/CRS Tax Residency Affidavit differ from a regular Identity Affidavit?

It additionally requires (1) tax residency country (not citizenship); (2) Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); (3) US Person status (Yes/No); (4) beneficial ownership disclosure for entity accounts; (5) signature in the prescribed W-9 (US) or W-8BEN (non-US) form, then notarized. Used by banks, brokers, insurers, and trustees worldwide.

Why verify MRZ check-digits under ICAO Doc 9303?

Counterfeit and altered passports commonly fail the MRZ check-digit algorithm (computed from Document Number + DOB + Expiry under the ICAO standard). We run every passport through an ICAO MRZ validator — the same control immigration services worldwide apply. If a passport fails, we refuse to notarize and direct the holder to their embassy.

How does PDPA affect sending a notarized passport copy overseas?

Passport data is Sensitive Personal Data under PDPA § 26. Cross-border transfer requires (1) explicit written consent; (2) named destination + purpose; (3) Standard Contractual Clauses or destination adequacy. We provide a Privacy Notice on every engagement, store copies encrypted, and honour data-subject deletion requests within 30 days.

Why no contingency fees?

Lawyers Council Code of Ethics § 11 prohibits contingency fees for Thai lawyers, including notarial services connected to transactions that may give rise to litigation. We invoice fixed fees, quoted in writing before work begins.