Getting Married in Turkey as a Foreigner: Documents, Apostille and Interpreter

Civil marriages in Turkey are conducted by municipal marriage offices (evlendirme dairesi) under the Marriage Regulation (Evlendirme Yönetmeliği). The basic rules are national, but the exact list of documents and the number of photos vary from office to office. Use this guide to prepare, then get the final list from the marriage office where you will apply.

The documents a foreign partner usually needs

1. Certificate of no impediment (evlenme ehliyet belgesi, also called a celibacy certificate). It shows your name, parents’ names, date of birth and that there is no obstacle to your marriage. It is issued by your country’s authorities or by its embassy or consulate.
2. Birth certificate, translated into Turkish and notarized in Turkey.
3. Passport, with a notarized Turkish translation of the identity page.
4. Health report from a public or private health institution confirming there is no obstacle to marriage.
5. Photos: recent, in colour, taken from the front. Offices ask for between three and six.
6. If you were married before: the divorce decision or the death certificate of your former spouse, with the same certification and translation.

Multilingual civil status certificates issued under the CIEC conventions may not need a translation or legalization at some offices. Ask your marriage office.

Apostille or legalization: which documents need it?

• Documents issued in your home country: an apostille if your country is a party to the Apostille Convention, otherwise legalization by the Turkish embassy or consulate there.
• A certificate issued by your consulate in Turkey: Istanbul marriage offices such as Fatih and Beyoğlu ask for the consulate’s signature to be approved by a district governorship (kaymakamlık) or the Istanbul Governorship. If the certificate comes from an embassy in Ankara, approval by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be needed.

The apostille or approval always comes first, then the translation. The apostille itself is translated together with the document.

The right order

1. Obtain the certificates in your home country or from your consulate.
2. Have them apostilled, legalized or approved as described above.
3. Have everything translated into Turkish by a sworn translator in Turkey and certified by a notary.
4. Get the health report and photos.
5. Submit the file to the marriage office and book the ceremony date.

Article 42 of the regulation says the file is valid for six months from the date of the eligibility certificate, so do not start too early.

Do you need an interpreter at the ceremony?

If one of the partners does not speak Turkish, yes in practice. The regulation lets the marriage officer use an interpreter who knows that partner’s language, and the couple brings the interpreter to the ceremony. Most Istanbul marriage offices, Fatih among them, require this interpreter to be a sworn translator. Book the interpreter when you book the date.

We provide wedding interpreters from our four Istanbul offices. The interpreter comes with you to the ceremony and translates the officer’s questions and your answers.

After the wedding

• You receive a multilingual marriage certificate (çok dilli evlenme belgesi), which some countries accept without a translation.
• If your home country needs a translated or apostilled copy, we can prepare it. Our apostille guide explains the options.
• Marriage does not give residence or citizenship automatically. The foreign spouse applies separately, for example for a family residence permit.

How we can help

We translate certificates of no impediment, birth certificates, divorce decisions and passports in 72 languages, have them notarized at the notary next to our office, and follow the governorship approval for consular certificates. Our offices:

• Şirinevler (Bahçelievler): on the same floor as the 20th Notary
• Halkalı (Küçükçekmece): on the same floor as the 31st Notary
• Bağcılar Güneşli: on the same floor as the 47th Notary
• İkitelli: next door to the 29th Notary

Living outside Istanbul? If you are in Antalya, Alanya, Fethiye, Bodrum or İzmir, send your document on WhatsApp; the notarized translation is couriered to you. See notarized translation anywhere in Turkey.

Frequently asked questions

Can we marry in any district of Istanbul?

Generally you apply at the marriage office of the district where one of the partners lives, but some municipalities accept other couples too. Ask the office you prefer.

Is a translation made in my home country enough?

Turkish marriage offices expect a Turkish translation certified by a Turkish notary. A translation made abroad is usually not accepted.

Can a friend who speaks both languages interpret?

Most marriage offices in Istanbul ask for a sworn interpreter, so a friend is usually not accepted. Check with your office.