Turkish birth, marriage and death records are available as multilingual extracts (Formül A, B and C) that the 24 states party to the CIEC Vienna Convention, such as Germany, France and the Netherlands, accept without translation or legalisation. For other countries, such as the UK, the USA and Canada, the documents need a sworn translation with notary certification and, for most official uses, an apostille. Foreign civil documents used in Türkiye must normally be apostilled or legalised and translated into Turkish.
Which civil status documents are involved
Civil status documents record the key events of a person's life. In Türkiye they are kept in the central population register of the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NVİ). The documents most often needed abroad are:
- Population register extract (nüfus kayıt örneği): shows the person or the whole family with parents, marital status and changes. It is the Turkish document most often requested for family reunification, citizenship and residence applications.
- Birth, marriage and death records, including the multilingual extracts described below.
- Divorce decisions of Turkish courts, with the note that the decision is final.
- Certificate of capacity to marry (evlenme ehliyet belgesi), which is what Türkiye issues when a foreign authority asks for a "single status certificate" or "certificate of no impediment".
Foreigners living in Türkiye need the same kinds of documents from their own country, for example to marry here, register a child or apply for residence.
Multilingual extracts: sometimes no translation is needed
Türkiye is a party to CIEC Convention No. 16 (Vienna, 1976), in force for Türkiye since 1985. Under this convention it issues multilingual extracts: Formül A for birth, Formül B for marriage and Formül C for death. They can be obtained with a barcode through the NVİ services on e-Devlet, from civil registry offices, and abroad from Turkish consulates. Their authenticity can be checked online with the e-Devlet verification service.
In the 24 contracting states the convention requires these extracts to be accepted without translation or legalisation. The contracting states are Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and Türkiye.
So if you need a Turkish birth or marriage record in Germany, France or the Netherlands, a Formül A or B may be all you need. Individual authorities can still ask for extra documents, and some consulates' visa lists do not accept electronic documents, so check with the receiving office. The United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Australia, Greece and the Gulf states are not parties to this convention; for them a translation is needed.
Certificate of capacity to marry (single status)
A Turkish citizen marrying abroad usually needs a certificate showing there is no impediment to the marriage. Under CIEC Convention No. 20 (Munich, 1980) Türkiye issues a multilingual certificate of capacity to marry. It is valid for six months from issue and, in the contracting states (Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Türkiye), it is exempt from legalisation. In other countries an apostille is generally required, and a translation may be too.
Apostille and translation for other countries
For the UK, the USA and Canada the standard route is a sworn English translation with notary certification, and for most official procedures an apostille as well; confirm with the authority. Turkish civil documents are apostilled by the governorship or district governorship; court decisions, including divorce decisions, by the Justice Commission (Adalet Komisyonu). The e-Apostille service on e-Devlet covers the population register extract, court decisions, criminal records and, since 28 December 2023, the multilingual Formül A, B and C extracts.
Whether the apostille goes on the original before translation, or on the notarised translation, depends on the receiving authority. Some want both. Ask them before you start.
Countries that are not parties to the Apostille Convention, such as Iraq, require consular legalisation instead; see our Turkish guide to legalisation for Iraq.
Foreign civil documents for use in Türkiye
A foreign birth, marriage or divorce document presented to a Turkish authority must normally be apostilled (or legalised) in the issuing country and then translated into Turkish by a sworn translator, with notary certification. Multilingual extracts from CIEC 16 countries may be accepted without translation.
Foreigners getting married in Türkiye
Marriage offices (evlendirme memurluğu) are run by municipalities, and each publishes its own list. A typical list for a foreign partner includes:
- the passport with a notarised Turkish translation and a valid visa or residence permit;
- a certificate of no impediment to marriage from the competent authority of the home country, showing the parents' names, date of birth and marital status, apostilled or legalised and translated into Turkish (multilingual certificates from Convention countries may be accepted directly);
- a birth certificate if the parents' names are not on the certificate of no impediment;
- a marriage health report;
- a sworn interpreter at the application and ceremony if a partner does not read and write Turkish.
One municipality's published list, for example, states that documents and the health report must not be older than six months and that names must match exactly across all documents. Get the current list from the marriage office in the district where you will marry. We also provide interpreting at the wedding office.
Foreign divorce decisions
A foreign divorce decision involving a Turkish citizen can be recognised administratively at a civil registry office in Türkiye or at a Turkish consulate abroad, if both spouses apply. The final decision, its apostille or legalisation and a Turkish translation are needed. Custody, alimony and other secondary orders require recognition by a court. Ask a lawyer about your case.
Names, dates and seals
In civil status translations we write names exactly as in the passport, keep Turkish characters (ç, ğ, ı, ö, ş, ü) where the passport uses them, give dates unambiguously and describe every stamp, seal and barcode. Different spellings of the same name across documents often cause problems at the receiving office.
How to order
- Check whether a multilingual Formül extract is accepted.
- Ask the authority which language, certification and apostille it needs.
- Send clear scans and your passport spelling on WhatsApp.
- Receive the price and delivery time; the price depends on language, pages, notary, apostille and urgency.
- Collect the translation in Gaziantep, or receive it by courier or digitally.
Send a photo or PDF and we will tell you which certification you need and the price. We confirm the delivery time once we have seen the document. Documents are accepted from anywhere in Türkiye and abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Often not. Germany is a party to the CIEC Vienna Convention, so the multilingual birth extract (Formül A) is accepted without translation or legalisation. Individual offices may still ask for additional documents, so confirm with the authority.
Through the NVİ multilingual extract services on e-Devlet with a barcode, from any civil registry office in Türkiye, or from a Turkish consulate abroad.
Türkiye issues a multilingual certificate of capacity to marry (evlenme ehliyet belgesi) at civil registry offices and Turkish consulates. It is valid for six months and is exempt from legalisation in the states party to CIEC Convention No. 20.
For official use in an Apostille Convention country, usually yes. It can be apostilled by the governorship or district governorship, or electronically through the e-Apostille service on e-Devlet.
Typically a passport with a notarised Turkish translation, a certificate of no impediment to marriage from the home country (apostilled or legalised and translated), sometimes a birth certificate, a marriage health report and a sworn interpreter if needed. Each municipality publishes its own list.
No. It needs an apostille from the issuing country, then a sworn Turkish translation certified by a Turkish notary.
Divorce decisions can be recognised administratively at a civil registry office or Turkish consulate if both spouses apply, with the final decision, its apostille and a Turkish translation. Custody and alimony orders need court recognition; consult a lawyer.
Related pages
This guide is general information. Requirements of authorities can change; always check the current list of the institution you are applying to.