Same-sex marriage in Thailand

Part of the LGBTQ rights series
Marriage

Recognized

Civil unions or registered partnerships but not marriage
Minimal recognition
See also
Notes
  1. ^ a b Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be registered in Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
  2. ^ Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
  3. ^ Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
  4. ^ a b Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
  5. ^ Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
  6. ^ a b c d e The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.
  7. ^ A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters such as housing, but is not legally binding.
  8. ^ Guardianship agreements, conferring some limited legal benefits, including decisions about medical and personal care.
  9. ^ Inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
  10. ^ Courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
  11. ^ Some cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
  12. ^ Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse recognized for residency rights.
  13. ^ Hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.
  1. ^ a b Not yet in effect.
LGBTQ portal

Same-sex marriage will be legal in Thailand from 23 January 2025.[1] Same-sex marriage legislation supported by the government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and major opposition parties was introduced to the National Assembly in November 2023. It was passed by the House of Representatives by 400 votes to 10 on 27 March 2024, and by the Senate in a vote of 130 to 4 on 18 June 2024.[2] It received royal assent from King Vajiralongkorn and was published in the Royal Gazette on 24 September 2024, and will take effect on 23 January 2025, 120 days after promulgation.[3]

Thailand previously did not recognise any form of same-sex unions.[4][5] The law replaced the terms "men and women" and "husband and wife" in the Civil and Commercial Code with the words "individuals" and "spouses", and also allows same-sex couples to jointly adopt children.[6] Previously, several bills for civil partnerships and same-sex marriage had been introduced to Parliament but failed to pass. Thailand will become the first Southeast Asian country and the second Asian country after Taiwan to legalise same-sex marriage.[7][8][9][10][11]

  1. ^ "มท. เตรียมความพร้อม "จดทะเบียนสมรสเท่าเทียม" กฎหมายเริ่มใช้บังคับ 23 ม.ค. 68". Thairath Online (in Thai). Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  2. ^ Anuwech, Pirada; Yoon, John (18 June 2024). "Thailand's Legislature Approves Same-Sex Marriage Law". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  3. ^ "มท. เตรียมความพร้อม "จดทะเบียนสมรสเท่าเทียม" กฎหมายเริ่มใช้บังคับ 23 ม.ค. 68". Thairath Online (in Thai). Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Thailand's Civil Partnership Bill sparks further debate on same-sex couple rights". CNA. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  5. ^ Thanthong-Knight, Randy (16 March 2021). "Thailand Has Three Paths to Recognizing Same-Sex Partnerships". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Thailand edges closer to legalising same-sex marriage". Reuters. 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  7. ^ "LGBTQ+ awaits 'groundbreaking' law". Bangkok Post. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  8. ^ Peter, Zsombor (29 March 2024). "LGBTQ advocates cheer Thailand's latest drive for same-sex marriage law". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Thailand: Promptly Pass Same-Sex Marriage Bill". Human Rights Watch. 27 March 2024. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  10. ^ Knight, Kyle; Phasuk, Sunai (18 June 2024). "Victory for Same-Sex Marriage in Thailand". Human Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Thai media: Thai same-sex marriage bill receives royal endorsement, will officially be first South-east Asian country to recognise LGBT relationships". malaymail.com. Retrieved 24 September 2024.