Apostille in Turkey: Where to Get It and When You Need It
Last updated: October 27, 2026 · Uğur Arı — sworn translator, Kartal 12th and Gebze 19th Notary Offices
An apostille certifies a document for use in another country and is never issued by a translator or a notary. In Turkey, administrative documents (birth and marriage records, diplomas) are apostilled by the district governorship (kaymakamlık) or the provincial governorship (valilik); judicial documents such as criminal record checks and court decisions are apostilled by the Justice Commission Presidency (Adalet Komisyonu Başkanlığı) at courthouses in cities with a high criminal court — the authorities Türkiye has designated to the Hague Conference (HCCH). For most Turkish documents the common order is apostille first, then sworn translation of the apostilled document — but some receiving institutions ask for the reverse, or for the translation to be apostilled as well, so confirm the order with them. Criminal record (adli sicil)? Its e-Devlet, apostille and translation steps are in the dedicated criminal-record guide.
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Which office for which document?
For administrative documents — civil registry extracts such as birth and marriage records (evlenme kayıt örneği), diplomas — go to any district governorship (kaymakamlık) or the provincial governorship (valilik). A marriage certificate for use abroad is therefore apostilled at the kaymakamlık, not at the registry office that issued it; if you were given a multilingual extract (Formül A/B/C), see the multilingual extracts guide before paying for anything. For a paper apostille, Türkiye's entry in the HCCH list of competent authorities states ‘No charge’, but the entry carries an update note dated 7 June 2012; the current fee position depends on the competent authority's practice, so confirm it with the authority. For an e-Apostille, a Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular notice states that a fee (harç) is paid and varies by document. Any notary or translation work your file needs is paid separately. For criminal record checks, court decisions and other judicial documents, the Justice Commission Presidency at a courthouse with a high criminal court issues the apostille; some documents can also be apostilled electronically (see below).
Apostille first or translation first?
Apostille the original document first, then translate: the apostille certificate itself must appear in the translation. Some receiving institutions additionally require the translation (or its notarized version) to be apostilled — this depends entirely on the destination country's institution, so check the application checklist.
What if the destination country is not in the Hague Convention?
The apostille only works between member states of the Hague Apostille Convention (most of Europe, the US, the UK and many others); Türkiye has applied it since 29 September 1985. For non-member states, consular legalization through that country's mission in Turkey replaces the apostille — a longer process worth starting early.
Can you handle the apostille for me?
The apostille is issued by the competent Turkish authority, not by me, and it is not automatically included in a translation. Depending on the document, I provide the sworn translation only; for eligible documents, where the conditions are met, I can help organise the e-Apostille process; where notarisation followed by an apostille is required, I assess the process according to the document and the applicable procedure. Whether this is possible depends on the document type, the destination country, the receiving institution's requirements and the competent authority's procedure, and notary, apostille and organisation costs may be assessed separately from the translation fee. Otherwise I tell you which office to apply to and in what order, and the final translation covers every stamp and annotation on your document, including the apostille annotation.
Is the apostille free?
For a paper apostille, Türkiye's HCCH competent-authority entry states ‘No charge’, but the entry carries an update note dated 7 June 2012; the current fee position depends on the competent authority's practice, so confirm it before you apply. For an e-Apostille, a Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular notice states that a fee (harç) is paid and varies by document. If your file first needs notarization or translation, those are paid separately.
Is there an e-apostille?
Yes, for some documents: certain Turkish documents can be apostilled electronically via eapostil.gov.tr, also reachable through e-Devlet; which documents are covered depends on the competent authority's system, and other documents receive a paper apostille. For eligible documents, where the conditions are met, I can help organise the e-Apostille process. Acceptance of an e-apostille depends on the institution in the destination country.
- HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (official list) →
- HCCH — Türkiye's competent authorities and fee (‘No charge’) →
- Ministry of Justice — criminal records and court decisions on e-Apostille (15.10.2019) →
- Onikişubat District Governorship — apostille procedure and fee →
Public official sources; procedures can change — verify the current version before you apply.
Requirements are ultimately set by the receiving institution, notary office or authority; practices vary and cannot be guaranteed. This guide is general information, not legal advice.