In consecutive interpreting the interpreter listens to a few sentences, and translates them once the speaker pauses. No booth, console or headset is needed — everyone stays at the same table. This is the mode used in every official procedure in Turkey where one party does not speak Turkish.
When Turkish authorities require a sworn interpreter
- At the notary (noter): If a party to the deed does not speak Turkish, a sworn interpreter must be present — powers of attorney, consents, undertakings, sale and transfer contracts.
- At the marriage office: If one of the spouses does not speak Turkish, the registrar requires a sworn interpreter, who attends the ceremony and signs the record.
- At the land registry (tapu): A title deed transfer involving a foreign buyer or seller is not completed without a sworn interpreter.
- In court and at the police station: The interpreter stays through statements, hearings and expert interviews.
- In meetings and negotiations: For small groups consecutive is cheaper than simultaneous and the conversation stays natural.
An interpreter is not valid at every notary
This is the point most foreign clients are not told in advance: the interpreter must be registered in the oath record (yemin zaptı) of the specific notary handling your deed. An interpreter sworn at another notary cannot sign for you there. All four of our offices sit in the same building as, or within walking distance of, the notary they work with, so this requirement does not move your appointment to another day.
Consecutive or simultaneous?
Consecutive roughly doubles the length of a meeting, because the speaker stops each time, but it needs no equipment at all. Simultaneous keeps the programme at its original length and is the right choice for conferences and large multilingual audiences — see our simultaneous interpretation page.
Languages we interpret
We have sworn interpreters in 72 languages. The ones most often requested for official procedures are English, Arabic, Russian, Persian, German, Ukrainian, Uzbek and Turkmen. See all 72 languages →
How to book an interpreter
Tell us the date, the time, the expected duration, the language pair and where the procedure takes place (notary, marriage office, land registry, court, your own office). We will confirm the interpreter and the price. For notary and marriage appointments, let us know the appointment time as early as you can.
If you also need documents translated
Most official procedures require translated paperwork as well as an interpreter. We can handle notarized translation and apostille and governorate approval in the same file.
Kenbil Translation has been working from the European side of Istanbul since 1992, with four offices: Sirinevler, Ikitelli, Halkali and Bagcilar Gunesli. Weekdays 09:00–18:00.
