What is the difference between an interpreter and a translator?
Short answer
An interpreter works with speech in real time; a translator works with written text. They are different skill sets, and Thai courts and government offices book them separately — an interpreter for the hearing or appointment, a certified translation for the documents on file.
The practical consequence is scheduling. An interpreting assignment is tied to a slot on someone else's calendar and cannot be produced in advance, while a translation is a deliverable with a production window. Requests that mix the two — a hearing plus a translated exhibit bundle — need both lines quoted separately.
Some assignments genuinely need one person to do both, for example an interpreter who has already translated the contract under discussion. That continuity helps accuracy, but it has to be arranged deliberately rather than assumed.
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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