Documents for getting married in Turkey

If you are marrying in Alanya and one party is a foreign national, translation alone is not enough — a different legalisation regime applies depending on your country. This is where files most often stall.

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Documents for the foreign party

Birth certificate — clearly stating name, surname, place and date of birth
Certificate of no impediment to marriage — confirming you are free to marry and whether single, divorced or widowed
Passport
If there has been a divorce or the death of a spouse — the divorce or death certificate
A document proving lawful stay in Turkey — visa, residence permit or work permit

All of these are translated by translation offices in Turkey and certified by a notary. That is exactly what I do.

Which legalisation your country needs

The municipality's official page sets out three separate regimes. Knowing yours in advance saves obtaining the document twice.

1.0

Apostilled document

Russia · Ukraine · Kazakhstan · Uzbekistan · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Kyrgyzstan · Turkmenistan · Tajikistan

Citizens of Hague Convention member states obtain the birth certificate and certificate of no impediment with an apostille. Apostilled documents are then translated in Turkey and certified by a notary. Most of my clients fall into this group.

2.0

Multilingual document

Germany · Netherlands · Belgium · Italy · France · Austria

Citizens of states party to the Civil Status Convention obtain the birth certificate and certificate of no impediment in «multilingual» form.

3.0

Consulate + Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Syria · Iran · Iraq · Jordan · Morocco · Algeria · Saudi Arabia and similar

Citizens of states party to no convention have their documents certified at their consulate in Ankara, then by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and only then translated and notarised in Turkey.

If the document is issued by a consulate in Turkey

If the consulate is in Ankara, certification is by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; if elsewhere, by that province's governorship; then translation and notarisation follow.

Frequently asked questions

Do my documents have a validity period?

The municipality's page states a general validity period for documents. I recommend confirming the current period with the marriage office before obtaining your document — an out-of-date document is the most common cause of delay.

Can I get the apostille in Turkey?

No. An apostille is issued by the competent authority of the country that issued the document. It cannot be obtained after you arrive in Turkey, so it must be handled before you leave.

Will a translation done in my own country be accepted?

The municipality's page requires translation by a translation office in Turkey with notary certification. Translations made abroad are generally not accepted.

What do I need for citizenship after marriage?

Citizenship through marriage is a separate application with its own document set. I prepare the translations for that process too.

Get a quote for your documents

If you are unsure which documents need translating, send photos; I will look and tell you what is missing and which certification applies.

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