Thailand's Marriage Equality Act: Key Provisions, Rights, and Effective Date

On September 24, 2024, the Royal Gazette published the Act Amending the Civil and Commercial Code (No. 24), B.E. 2567, commonly known as the Marriage Equality Act, which officially took effect on January 23, 2025. This law amends the Civil and Commercial Code by replacing the words "man and woman" with "person," allowing couples of every gender to register their marriage under Thai law for the first time, with rights equal to those of opposite-sex couples in every area, including inheritance, medical decision-making, and adoption. Thailand thus became the first country in ASEAN to officially recognize marriage equality. This article summarizes the key points of the law, the rights that married couples actually receive, and what remains to be watched now that the law is in force.

What is the Marriage Equality Act?

The Marriage Equality Act, formally titled the Act Amending the Civil and Commercial Code (No. 24), B.E. 2567, is a law that amends the Civil and Commercial Code (CCC) to recognize marriage between any two persons, no longer limited to a man and a woman. The Royal Gazette published this law on September 24, 2024, and it took effect on January 23, 2025. This marked a major milestone, making Thailand the first nation in ASEAN to officially recognize marriage equality.

Key Provisions of the Marriage Equality Act That Change the Civil and Commercial Code

1. Changing "man and woman" to "person and person"

The central amendment to the CCC is replacing the words "man" and "woman" with the word "person" throughout the chapter on marriage. This means that any two people, whatever their gender as recorded in the civil registry, can register their marriage under Thai law.

2. Changing "husband and wife" to "spouses"

The amended CCC uses the word "spouses" in place of "husband" and "wife" to be gender-neutral, and it also changes "the engaged man and woman" to "the person who proposes and the person who accepts the engagement."

3. Raising the minimum age for engagement and marriage from 17 to 18

The Marriage Equality Act also raises the minimum age for engagement and marriage from 17 to 18 years of age, in order to prevent child marriage and align with international standards. Those aged 18 to 19 still require parental consent, as they have not yet reached legal adulthood.

4. Recognizing the right to register a marriage with a foreign national

Previously, Section 1459 of the CCC recognized marriage to a foreign national only for man-and-woman couples. Now that the Marriage Equality Act is in force, Thai citizens can register a marriage with a foreign national under Thai law immediately, regardless of gender. Registration can be done either in Thailand (at a district office or district administrative office) or abroad through a Thai embassy.

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5. The right to adopt children jointly

LGBTQ+ couples can now adopt their spouse's child as their own adopted child, just like opposite-sex couples. This differs from the past, when only one person could serve as the adoptive parent.

6. Recognizing grounds for divorce and compensation

The amended CCC expands the grounds for divorce under Section 1516 to cover spouses of every gender, adding the case of "habitually engaging in or consenting to acts that gratify the sexual desire of another person," so that no legal gap remains for same-sex spouses.

Rights That LGBTQ+ Spouses Receive Under the Marriage Equality Act

Once a marriage is registered under the Marriage Equality Act, same-sex couples receive rights equal to those of opposite-sex couples in every area, as follows:

Legal and financial rights

• The right to inherit as a statutory heir
• The right to make medical decisions on behalf of a spouse
• The right to welfare and social security benefits as a spouse
• The right to file taxes jointly
• The right to be a beneficiary of a life insurance policy
• The right to claim medical expense reimbursement as a spouse

Family rights

• The right to adopt children jointly
• The legal right to raise children together
• The right to manage a spouse's property

Travel and residence rights

• Foreign spouses can more easily obtain visas and residence rights in Thailand
• Marital status is recognized in countries that accept marriage equality laws

⚠️ Important note: For other laws that define the rights of "husband and wife" differently, the responsible government agencies must review and propose amendments to the related laws to the Cabinet within 180 days of the amended CCC taking effect. As a result, some rights may not take effect immediately.

Key Timeline of the Marriage Equality Act

Date	Event
December 21, 2023	The House of Representatives considered the Marriage Equality Bill in its first reading
June 18, 2024	The Senate approved the bill
September 24, 2024	The Royal Gazette published the Act Amending the Civil and Commercial Code (No. 24), B.E. 2567
January 23, 2025	The Marriage Equality Act officially took effect

The Positive Impact of the Marriage Equality Act in Thailand

Legal equality

The Marriage Equality Act gives same-sex couples the same rights and legal protections as opposite-sex couples, reducing an inequality that had long persisted.

Benefits for the economy and tourism

Thailand has the potential to become a popular destination for the weddings of LGBTQ+ couples from around the world, which benefits the tourism industry, event planning, and related businesses.

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International reputation

Passing the Marriage Equality Act demonstrates Thailand's commitment to promoting human rights and makes Thailand the first country in ASEAN to officially enact a law of this kind.

Protection of children and young people

Raising the minimum marriage age to 18 significantly helps prevent child marriage.

Challenges After the Marriage Equality Act Takes Effect

Although the law has passed, challenges remain that must be monitored going forward.

• Updating related laws — many laws that still use the term "husband and wife" need to be amended to align with the new code, such as social welfare, tax, and social security laws.
• Training officials — civil registrars and related agencies must be trained to serve the public accurately and equally.
• Shifting social attitudes — laws can change quickly, but social attitudes take time and require cooperation from every sector.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Marriage Equality Act (FAQ)

• Q: When did the Marriage Equality Act take effect?
• A: It took effect on January 23, 2025.
• Q: Who can register a marriage under the new law?
• A: Any two persons, regardless of gender, can register a marriage under Thai law, including couples in which one partner is a foreign national.
• Q: Can LGBTQ+ couples adopt children jointly?
• A: Yes. The Marriage Equality Act recognizes the right to adopt children jointly, just as for opposite-sex couples.
• Q: Where do you register a marriage?
• A: You can register at any district office or district administrative office nationwide, or at a Thai embassy abroad.
• Q: What is the minimum marriage age under the new law?
• A: 18 years of age (raised from the previous 17).
• Q: Do all the rights take effect immediately?
• A: The rights under the CCC take effect immediately, but rights under other laws that still use the term "husband and wife" may have to wait for those laws to be amended, within 180 days.

The Marriage Equality Act is a major milestone in the history of Thai law and of human rights in ASEAN. The amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code (No. 24) opens the way for people of every gender to register a marriage, adopt children, and receive full spousal rights. Passing the law, however, is only the beginning. True equality requires continued amendment of related laws, training of officials, and an ongoing shift in social attitudes.

References: iLaw (ilaw.or.th), the Royal Gazette, the Office of the Council of State

Verified references

Links and relevance to the article’s main topic were reviewed on 13 August 2026. Each source supports only the scope stated in the original document and does not replace personalised medical, legal, or service advice.

1. ราชกิจจานุเบกษา: พ.ร.บ.แก้ไขเพิ่มเติมประมวลกฎหมายแพ่งและพาณิชย์ (สมรสเท่าเทียม) Accessed 13 August 2026
2. ศาลยุติธรรม/ศูนย์ต่อต้านข่าวปลอม: วันบังคับใช้สมรสเท่าเทียม Accessed 13 August 2026