Thailand is ready to implement the Equal Marriage Law, which will come into force on 23 January 2025. The Government has assigned relevant agencies to provide the public with better understanding about the new law.
The Equal Marriage Law amends the Civil and Commercial Code and defines marriage as a partnership between two people, rather than a woman and a man. It allows same-sex couples who are 18 years old or older to legally register their marriages and enjoy the same rights as opposite-sex couples. However, those under 20 years old require parental consent.
The rights of LGBTQ+ couples also include the ability to adopt children, manage and inherit their spouse's assets, the right to divorce, access to state welfare if their spouse is a government official, and application for citizenship.
Thailand will become the 37th country in the world, the first country in Southeast Asia, and the third in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. The implementation of the law marks a significant chapter in Thailand’s history, and it reflects efforts to promote equality and human rights.
The law was approved by the House of Representatives on 27 March 2024 and by the Senate on 18 June 2024. It was endorsed by His Majesty the King and published in the Royal Gazette on 24 September and is scheduled to take effect 120 days after it was published in the Royal Gazette.
All 50 districts in Bangkok and other districts across the country are also ready to arrange marriage registration for same-sex couples. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Bangkok Pride plan to organize an event to make the Equal Marriage Law widely known on the day it comes into effect.
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