Turkish company documents such as the Trade Registry Gazette, activity certificate, signature circular and tax plate are translated by a sworn translator, certified by a notary and, for official use abroad, usually apostilled or, for countries such as Iraq, legalised through the consulate. Foreign company documents used in Türkiye must normally be apostilled or consular-certified in the issuing country and then translated into Turkish and certified by a Turkish notary.
Two directions: Turkish company papers going abroad, foreign papers coming in
Company documents cross the Turkish border in both directions. A Turkish manufacturer opening a sales office in Germany, registering as a supplier with a buyer in the Gulf or taking part in a tender in Romania will be asked to prove that it exists, who may sign for it and what it does. A foreign company that wants to set up a subsidiary or branch in Türkiye, become a shareholder in a Turkish company or open a corporate bank account has to prove the same things to Turkish authorities.
In both cases the documents must be translated by a sworn translator, and usually authenticated so that the receiving authority can trust a paper issued in another country. This page explains which documents are typically involved and how the certification steps fit together.
Turkish company documents most often requested abroad
| Document (Turkish name) | What it proves | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Trade Registry Gazette (Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi) | Incorporation, company name, capital, address, appointment of managers and later changes | Announcements published by TOBB in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette |
| Activity certificate (faaliyet belgesi) | The company is registered and active | The chamber of commerce, industry or tradesmen the company belongs to |
| Signature circular (imza sirküleri) | Who may represent the company and within which limits, with specimen signatures | A Turkish notary |
| Tax plate (vergi levhası) | Tax number, tax office and declared activity | Revenue Administration (GİB) online services or e-Devlet |
| Articles of association (şirket sözleşmesi / esas sözleşme) | Purpose, capital structure and governance rules | Registered at the trade registry; also published in the gazette |
| Financial statements (balance sheet, income statement) | Financial standing, often for tenders, distributors or banks | The company and its financial adviser |
Foreign authorities rarely want everything. A buyer's supplier registration may only need the activity certificate and tax plate; a foreign court or registry usually wants the gazette announcements and the signature circular, often together with a power of attorney. Ask the receiving party for a written list before ordering translations.
Foreign company documents for use in Türkiye
When a foreign company becomes a shareholder in a Turkish company, opens a branch or deals with a Turkish bank, it normally has to provide documents from its home register: an extract or certificate of good standing, a board or shareholder resolution approving the investment, and a power of attorney for the person acting in Türkiye. Individual foreign shareholders usually provide their passport. Trade registry procedures in Türkiye are carried out through MERSIS, the central registry system of the Ministry of Trade.
Official investment guidance from Turkish public bodies states that documents issued or signed abroad must be notarised and apostilled, or approved by the Turkish consulate in the country of issue, and then officially translated into Turkish and certified by a notary in Türkiye. Banks apply their own compliance rules on top of this and may ask for additional documents, so get the bank's list early.
We work together with a financial adviser and a lawyer, so we can point you in the right direction on company formation questions. The legal and registry decisions remain with the authorities and your advisers.
Apostille or consular legalisation?
The route depends on the country where the document will be used:
- Hague Apostille Convention countries (including all EU member states, the UK, the USA and many others): an apostille is enough. You can check whether a country is a party in the status table published at hcch.net.
- Countries outside the Convention, such as Iraq: the document goes through a consular legalisation chain instead, which usually involves the notary, the governorship, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the destination country's consulate. Our Turkish page on legalisation for Iraq describes this chain.
For Turkish company documents there are two common sequences. Either the original receives an apostille and is then translated together with the apostille text, or the translation is made, certified by the notary, and the apostille is placed on the notarised translation. For commercial papers the second sequence is common, but some recipients want both the original and the translation apostilled. The authority receiving the documents decides, so ask them which version they need.
What we pay attention to in company translations
- Company names and legal forms: the registered Turkish name is kept as it is, and the legal form (A.Ş., Ltd. Şti.) is explained rather than replaced, so that the company can be identified in the register.
- Registry numbers and identifiers: trade registry number, MERSIS number and tax number are copied exactly.
- Powers of representation: "jointly" and "severally", signature limits and their duration are translated precisely, because a foreign bank or registry will rely on them.
- Financial terminology: balance sheet items are rendered in the accounting terminology of the target language, with the original currency and figures kept unchanged.
- Stamps and seals: every stamp, seal and handwritten note is described in the translation.
Where to verify information yourself
- ticaret.gov.tr and mersis.ticaret.gov.tr: Ministry of Trade and the MERSIS registry system.
- hcch.net: list of countries that apply the Apostille Convention.
- tnb.org.tr: Union of Turkish Notaries, for notary information.
Step by step
- Get the receiving authority's or bank's document list in writing.
- Send us clear scans of every page on WhatsApp or by e-mail, and tell us the target country and language.
- We confirm the certification route (notary, apostille or consular legalisation), the price and the delivery time.
- We translate, the notary certifies the translator's signature, and we tell you where the apostille or legalisation is obtained.
- You collect the documents at our Gaziantep office, or receive them by courier or digitally.
What determines the price
There is no fixed price list. The cost depends on the language pair, the number and density of pages (financial statements and articles of association are longer than a tax plate), whether notary certification and an apostille or legalisation are needed, and the deadline. Send the documents and you will receive a clear quote.
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
Usually the Trade Registry Gazette announcements (incorporation and later changes), a recent activity certificate, the signature circular and a power of attorney, sometimes also the articles of association and financial statements. The foreign registry or your lawyer there gives the exact list.
For official use in a country that applies the Hague Apostille Convention, usually yes. Some private recipients, such as a buyer checking a supplier, accept a notarised translation without an apostille. Countries outside the Convention, such as Iraq, require consular legalisation instead.
Both routes exist. The original can be apostilled and translated with the apostille, or the notarised translation can be apostilled. For commercial papers the second is common, and some authorities ask for both. Ask the receiving authority which version it accepts.
Typically a certificate of registration or good standing from its home register, a resolution approving the investment and a power of attorney, all apostilled or consular-certified in the home country and then translated into Turkish with notary certification. Check the current list with the trade registry office and your advisers.
Some chambers issue activity certificates in English. If the foreign recipient accepts that version, a translation may not be needed. If they ask for a sworn translation or a different language, we translate it.
Yes. Balance sheets and income statements are translated with the accounting terminology of the target language while the figures and currency stay exactly as in the original.
Yes. Send scans on WhatsApp or by e-mail from anywhere in Türkiye or abroad. Notarised originals are sent by courier, and digital copies are delivered by e-mail.
Related pages
This guide is general information. Requirements of authorities can change; always check the current list of the institution you are applying to.