Marriage certificate translation

Marriage certificates, divorce decrees and marital-status records are the core documents for marrying in Turkey and for residence and citizenship applications.

When you need it

  • Applying to marry in Turkey — alongside a marital-status record and birth certificate
  • A Turkish citizenship application file
  • Family residence permit applications
  • Proving a previous marriage has ended — a divorce decree or certificate
  • Proving a spousal relationship in inheritance and maintenance cases

What I watch for

1.0

In divorce decrees the court name, case number and the finality endorsement are all carried over; without the finality endorsement most authorities will not accept the document.

2.0

The registration number on the certificate is preserved in the translation.

3.0

Where a surname changed, both the pre- and post-marriage surnames appear exactly as written in the document.

4.0

The issuing authority is rendered by its own official name, not by a Turkish equivalent.

Frequently asked questions

Does my divorce decree need to be translated in full?

Authorities usually want the full text plus the finality endorsement. We decide the scope together based on where you are applying.

My certificate is old and handwritten. Can it be translated?

Yes. I translate handwritten and older documents; if part of it is illegible I will tell you and we find a way forward.

Which documents are needed alongside this for citizenship?

Usually a birth certificate, marriage certificate, marital-status record and criminal record. I can review the whole file together.