Legitimation and parental rights for children
In short
Where parents are not married, the father does not automatically hold parental power. Legitimation under the Civil and Commercial Code is effected by subsequent marriage, by registration at the district office with the consent of the child and mother, or by court judgment.
The registration route depends on consent. Where the mother or the child does not consent, or cannot give consent, the matter goes to court, and DNA evidence is commonly used to establish paternity.
Legitimation matters practically for travel consent, schooling, inheritance and for visa applications where the relationship has to be proved to a foreign authority. Establish it before the situation that needs it arises.
What we need from you
- Child's birth certificate and household registration
- Identity documents of both parents
- Evidence of the relationship and of paternity
- The purpose the legitimation must serve (travel, visa, inheritance)
Watch out
Registering the father's name on a birth certificate is not the same as holding parental power under Thai law.
Reviewed as of 2026-08-04. General guidance only, not case-specific advice and not a guarantee of outcome. Government fees, conditions and processing times are set by the responsible authority and can change. This site does not publish prices — please ask our staff.
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