An apostille is a certification that is added to a document to verify its authenticity and make it legally recognized in other countries. Apostille documents are often used when a person needs to use a foreign document, such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate, in Turkey.
To use an apostilled document from foreign authorities in Turkey, the document must first be translated into Turkish. Official translations of documents in Turkey can be obtained through professional translation services or government-approved translation services. These services are available in major cities across the country, and many also offer online translation services.
After the document is translated into Turkish, it must be notarized. Notarization is the process of verifying the authenticity of a document by the stamp and signature of a notary public. Notaries in Turkey are licensed professionals who are responsible for authenticating and verifying legal documents. Notaries can be found in most cities across the country and are usually located in legal or financial services offices.
Once the document is translated and notarized, it can be used in Türkiye. However, it is important to note that the use of the document may be limited to certain purposes or transactions. For example, a foreign birth certificate may be accepted as proof of identity in Turkey, but cannot be accepted as a legal document for the purposes of marriage or divorce.
If a foreign document does not have an apostille, it can still be used in Turkey, but the process is slightly more complicated. First, the document must be stamped with a consular stamp by the Turkish consulate in the country where the document was issued. This process is known as consular legalization. Or, it can be stamped by the embassy of the foreign country in Turkey.
Once the document has been consular legalized, it must be translated into Turkish and notarized as described above. Once these steps are completed, the document must also be approved by the District Governor’s Office (Kaymakamlık) in Turkey. This process is known as “kaymakamlık approval”.
On the whole, apostilled documents from foreign authorities can be used in Turkey after translation and notarization. Foreign documents without an apostille can also be used in Turkey, but the process is more complicated and involves additional steps, including consular legalization, translation, notarization and kaymakamlık approval. It is important to note that the use of foreign documents in Turkey may be restricted for certain purposes or transactions.
