Marriage in Turkey for Foreigners: Documents, Apostille, Legalization

In Turkey, tens of thousands of marriages involving foreign citizens are registered every year. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), in 2025 registered marriages included 28,646 foreign brides and 5,347 foreign grooms. International marriages are common both among couples where one spouse is a Turkish citizen and among two foreign citizens.

At the same time, document preparation often raises the most questions: which document confirms the right to marry, whether a birth certificate is required, where to obtain an apostille, whether a notarized translation of the passport is needed, and what additional requirements are imposed by the specific Evlendirme Memurluğu. Below, we explain in detail which documents foreigners need to register a marriage in Turkey and how to properly prepare them for submission.

Key terms

Evlenme Ehliyet Belgesi — a document confirming a foreigner's legal capacity to marry.

Evlendirme Memurluğu — the Turkish marriage registration authority.

Formül B — a multilingual marriage certificate (extract).

Uluslararası Aile Cüzdanı — an international family booklet.

Requirements for foreign citizens to marry in Turkey

A marriage between a Turkish citizen and a foreign citizen can be registered in Turkey. The fact that only one of the future spouses has Turkish citizenship does not create any fundamental difficulty: in this case, the main additional documentation concerns the foreign spouse.

Two foreign citizens may also officially marry in Turkey. If they have different nationalities, each of them confirms their legal capacity to marry with documents from their own country. If both are citizens of the same country, they may also marry before a competent Turkish authority. In addition, if permitted by the legislation of their country, in some cases the marriage may be concluded at the diplomatic or consular mission of that country in Turkey.

Thus, to marry in Turkey, a foreigner must first of all confirm their identity, marital status, and right to marry.

How can a foreigner marry a Turkish citizen?

If one of the future spouses is a Turkish citizen, most of the foreign document preparation concerns the other spouse. The Turkish citizen's details and marital status are checked through the Turkish population registration system, while the foreign citizen must provide documents from their own country.

The main foreign document is a document confirming legal capacity to marry — Evlenme Ehliyet Belgesi or its foreign equivalent. Depending on the country, it may be called Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage, Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry, Certificate of Marital Status, Certificate of Celibacy, Single Status Certificate, Ehefähigkeitszeugnis, or something else.

The name itself is not decisive. What is important is that the document makes it possible to establish the person's identity, marital status, and the absence of registered impediments to marriage.

In addition, a valid passport of the foreign citizen will usually be required (important: at the time of submitting the application, the foreigner must be legally present in Turkey — on a valid visa, under a visa-free regime, or with a residence permit), its translation into Turkish in the required form, four color full-face photographs taken within the last 6 months in accordance with the requirements of the Evlendirme Memurluğu, and a medical report. Depending on the contents of the certificate of legal capacity to marry and the circumstances of the specific case, a birth certificate, divorce documents, a death certificate of a previous spouse, or documents confirming a change of first and last name may additionally be required.

How can two foreigners marry in Turkey?

If both future spouses are foreigners, foreign documents are prepared separately for each of them. Each spouse must confirm their identity, marital status, and legal capacity to marry.

If the spouses are citizens of different countries, each obtains documents in their own country or through the competent authorities of their own country. For example, if a German citizen marries a citizen of Kazakhstan, the German spouse provides documents issued by German authorities, while the Kazakh spouse provides the corresponding documents from Kazakhstan.

The apostille or legalization is also carried out separately in accordance with the rules of the country of origin of each document. Therefore, when two foreigners marry, document preparation is effectively carried out in parallel under two different national procedures.

List of documents for marriage registration in Turkey

The main document is a certificate or other document confirming legal capacity to marry. However, the complete set depends on the person's marital history, the contents of the main document, and the municipality's requirements.

A foreign citizen usually needs to prepare:

• a valid passport (important: at the time of submitting the application, the foreigner must be legally present in Turkey — on a valid visa, under a visa-free regime, or with a residence permit) and, if necessary, its notarized translation into Turkish;
• a document confirming legal capacity to marry or the absence of impediments to marriage;
• a birth certificate, if necessary;
• if previously married — divorce documents or a death certificate of the previous spouse;
• if the first or last name has changed — documents linking the previous and current personal details;
• four color full-face photographs taken within the last 6 months in accordance with the requirements of the Evlendirme Memurluğu, and a medical report for the marriage file.

A birth certificate is not an unconditionally separate mandatory document for every foreigner. If the document confirming legal capacity to marry already contains all the necessary information, including the date of birth and parents' details, a separate certificate may not be required. At the same time, some municipalities request it additionally.

A birth certificate is particularly important if it is necessary to confirm the parents' names, a former surname, or resolve discrepancies between the passport and other civil status documents.

If a person was previously married, a divorce certificate or divorce judgment may be required. A widower or widow may need a death certificate of the previous spouse. If the first or last name changed after marriage, divorce, or for another reason, the Turkish authority may require a document explaining the change.

Which documents need to be apostilled for marriage in Turkey?

It is not necessary to automatically apostille the entire set, but rather those foreign official documents that are submitted to the Turkish authority and for which an international agreement does not provide an exemption from additional authentication.

In practice, one of the most frequent requests is an apostille on a certificate of single status, that is, on a document confirming marital status or legal capacity to marry. The exact name of such a document depends on the country in which it is issued.

A document confirming legal capacity to marry is one of the main documents for which an apostille is most frequently required. If a Certificate of No Impediment, Single Status Certificate, Ehefähigkeitszeugnis, or its equivalent is issued by the competent public authority of a country to which the Hague Convention applies, it is usually authenticated with an apostille in the country of issue.

A birth certificate, if required for the marriage file, must also be prepared for official use in Turkey. Depending on the country, this may mean an apostille, consular legalization, or the application of an international agreement exempting the document from additional authentication.

Divorce documents may also require an apostille. In different countries, termination of marriage may be confirmed by a divorce certificate, court judgment, register extract, or another official document.

A death certificate of the previous spouse is prepared according to the same principle if the termination of the previous marriage must be confirmed in order to register a new one.

Documents confirming a change of first or last name may also require an apostille if they are used to explain discrepancies between the passport, birth certificate, and document confirming marital status.

In practice, the documents most commonly apostilled are: a document confirming legal capacity to marry, birth certificate, divorce documents, death certificate of the previous spouse, and documents confirming a change of first or last name.

A passport is usually not apostilled. For its use in a marriage procedure, a translation into Turkish is generally required and, depending on the municipality's requirements, notarization of the translation. A foreign apostille is also not required on documents issued directly in Turkey, such as a Turkish medical report.

An apostille is issued in the country of origin of the document. A German document is apostilled in Germany, a French document in France, and an American document by the competent U.S. authority depending on the type and place of issue of the document. Turkish authorities cannot place a Turkish apostille directly on a foreign certificate or foreign document.

At the same time, an apostille is not always required. Certain multilingual civil status documents and documents from some countries may be covered by international agreements exempting them from additional authentication. Therefore, before ordering an apostille, the legal regime applicable to the specific document should be determined.

How can documents for marriage in Turkey be apostilled and legalized?

If the 1961 Hague Convention applies to the foreign document and there is no special exemption, an apostille is usually used.

Typical procedure: obtaining the document → apostille in the country of issue → delivery to Turkey → translation → notarization if necessary → submission to the Evlendirme Memurluğu

If an apostille is not applicable between the relevant countries, the document may undergo consular legalization. The specific sequence depends on the country, but the procedure may include authentication by the competent authority of the country of issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Embassy or Consulate of Turkey.

A separate situation arises when a document confirming marital status or legal capacity to marry is issued by a foreign embassy or consulate directly in Turkey. The possibility of issuing such a document, its form, and the procedure for subsequent authentication depend on the legislation of the relevant country and the requirements of the Turkish marriage registration authority.

A consular document should not automatically be treated as equivalent to a certificate or document issued by a civil status authority in the country of origin. A separate authentication procedure may apply to it, so before contacting the consulate, it is advisable to determine whether such a document will be accepted by the specific Evlendirme Memurluğu.

Are electronic apostilles accepted in Turkey for marriage registration?

More and more countries issue civil status documents and apostilles electronically. An electronic apostille (e-Apostille) issued under the Hague Convention is not in itself legally less valid merely because it exists in electronic form.

However, for marriage registration in Turkey, not only the legal validity of the apostille but also the ability of the specific municipal authority to practically verify the entire document is important. An electronic document may contain a QR code, registration number, or link to a government verification system. If such a system is available only in a foreign language, verification may raise additional questions for the receiving authority.

Particular caution should be exercised with older electronic documents. In some government systems, electronic verification is available only for a limited period. A link may stop confirming the document, change, or lead to a page that is difficult for a Turkish official to use. As a result, a legally valid document may prove inconvenient for practical submission.

In addition, it is necessary to distinguish between an electronic original document and an electronic apostille. A paper document may have an electronic apostille, while an electronic document may be authenticated through a separate government system. Therefore, the entire authentication chain must be checked, not merely the presence of the word “Apostille.”

France is one example, where following the reform apostilles are largely issued electronically. At the same time, for use of documents abroad, it is possible in certain cases to obtain a paper version. For some French electronic civil status documents, the possibility of online verification is also linked to the period that has elapsed since their issue.

Practical recommendation: if a document is intended specifically for marriage registration in Turkey, it is advisable to check in advance whether the selected Evlendirme Memurluğu will accept the electronic form and whether the official will be able to verify its authenticity. If there is a choice between an electronic and paper form, a paper copy with an easily verifiable apostille is often a more predictable option for a municipal procedure.

How should documents for marriage in Turkey be translated and name-related errors avoided?

After obtaining an apostille or completing consular legalization, documents are usually translated into Turkish. In practice, it is more convenient to first complete the entire document authentication procedure and only then translate it together with the apostille and other stamps.

A notarized translation of the passport in Turkey is a standard part of document preparation at many Evlendirme Memurluğu offices. The translation must correspond to the passport details and other civil status documents.

For submission to a Turkish authority, a translation performed by a sworn translator and its notarization may be required. Many municipalities also require a notarized translation of the foreign passport.

Particular attention must be paid to the spelling of the first and last name. The translation of the passport, birth certificate, marital status certificate, and other documents must be consistent with one another.

Problems may arise not only because of different surnames but also because of different transliterations of the same name. For example, a name written in Latin characters in the passport may differ from the version automatically used in the translation of a document issued in Russian, Arabic, Chinese, or another language.

The date and place of birth, the names of the mother and father, former surnames, and other identifying details must also be checked. Even a minor discrepancy may result in an additional request from the registration authority.

If the surname in the passport does not match the birth certificate or marital status document, the reason for the change must be confirmed. This may be a previous marriage, divorce, official name change, acquisition of new citizenship, or another legal event. In such a case, a document is provided that makes it possible to trace the connection between the previous and current personal details.

How is a foreigner's marriage registered in Turkey?

Once the place of marriage registration has been determined and the foreign documents have been prepared, the subsequent procedure is usually fairly straightforward. First of all, the future spouses should clarify the requirements of the specific Evlendirme Memurluğu, because the form of the documents and individual practical requirements may differ.

After that, the foreign spouse obtains the necessary documents concerning marital status and legal capacity to marry. If necessary, a birth certificate, documents concerning a previous divorce, a death certificate of a spouse, or documents confirming a change of first and last name are also obtained.

Foreign documents undergo the required authentication procedure. For documents from countries where the Hague Convention applies, this is usually an apostille. If an apostille is not applicable, consular legalization may be required. After authentication is completed, the documents are translated into Turkish and, if required, the translation is notarized.

The future spouses also prepare photographs and obtain the medical report required for the marriage file. Once the complete set has been assembled, the application is submitted to the marriage registration authority.

Typical sequence: checking requirements → obtaining foreign documents → apostille or legalization → translation → medical report → submitting the application → marriage registration

After the documents are checked and no impediments to marriage are found, a date for the ceremony is set. The marriage is concluded before an authorized Turkish official in the presence of witnesses.

If one of the future spouses does not have sufficient command of Turkish, a sworn interpreter may be required. Depending on the municipality's requirements, their presence may be required when submitting the application, during the ceremony, or at both stages.

Specific features of marriage registration in Turkey for citizens of different countries

The general requirements of Turkish legislation are the same for foreigners, but the way the marital status document is obtained, its form, and the authentication procedure depend on the country of citizenship. Some common cases are described below.

Marriage registration for foreigners in Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara, and Izmir

The main rules for marriage by foreigners apply throughout Turkey, but the practical requirements of the Evlendirme Memurluğu may differ. Therefore, a set of documents accepted by one municipality should not automatically be considered sufficient for another.

Before obtaining a marital status certificate, ordering an apostille, and arranging a translation, it is advisable to determine the specific municipality where the application will be submitted. This is particularly important in large cities where marriage registration is handled by different district municipalities.

How can documents for marriage in Turkey be obtained if they are lost or located abroad?

If a foreign citizen already lives in Turkey, obtaining documents for marriage does not always require personally traveling to the country of citizenship. In many countries, a duplicate certificate or a new official extract can be obtained through a representative, government register, or another competent authority.

If a birth certificate, divorce document, or another civil status document has been lost, it is often easier and more reliable to obtain a new official copy and then obtain an apostille for it or complete the required legalization procedure.

This particularly applies to documents concerning current marital status. An old document may no longer reflect up-to-date information, so a recently issued certificate is often required for the marriage procedure.

Depending on the legislation of the country, Schmidt & Schmidt can arrange for the document to be obtained through the competent authority or a representative, after which it can be apostilled or undergo the required consular legalization.

If a power of attorney is required to obtain the document, its form is determined by the rules of the country where the request will be made. In some countries, a power of attorney is sufficient; in others, notarization, an apostille, or additional legalization is required.

After the documents have been obtained and authenticated, they can be sent to Turkey by international courier service.

The complete process may look as follows: obtaining the document → apostille or legalization → international delivery → translation in Turkey → notarization → submission to the Evlendirme Memurluğu

What documents do spouses receive after marrying in Turkey?

After the marriage is registered, the spouses are issued a family booklet (Uluslararası Aile Cüzdanı). For use of the marriage information abroad, a multilingual marriage certificate — Formül B — may also be obtained.

Formül B certificate is used as a multilingual marriage registration document and may be required by spouses to confirm their marriage outside Turkey.

Whether an additional apostille is required on a Turkish document depends on the country where it will be used. In some countries, the international multilingual form is sufficient, while in others an apostille and possibly a translation will be required.

Therefore, preparing foreign documents for marriage in Turkey and subsequently preparing a Turkish marriage certificate for use abroad are two separate procedures.

How does Schmidt & Schmidt help prepare documents for marriage in Turkey?

Schmidt & Schmidt specializes in obtaining and internationally authenticating official documents. We can assist with the preparation of foreign documents for marriage in Turkey beginning at the stage of obtaining them in the country of origin.

Depending on the specific case, we can arrange the obtainment of a document confirming marital status or legal capacity to marry, a birth certificate, duplicate civil status documents, divorce documents, a death certificate of a previous spouse, and documents confirming a change of first or last name.

If the document is already available, it is first possible to check whether the existing copy can be used. Obtaining a new certificate is not always necessary. At the same time, a document that is too old, a document with outdated electronic verification, or a certificate that does not contain the necessary information may need to be replaced.

After obtaining the document, we can arrange an apostille or consular legalization in the country of origin. This is particularly important because a foreign document cannot be brought to Turkey and then have a Turkish apostille placed directly on it.

When choosing between an electronic and paper form of a document, we also take into account its subsequent use in Turkey. If an electronic document or e-Apostille is difficult to verify or there is a risk of practical problems during submission, obtaining a paper copy or another form of the document can be considered.

After authentication is completed, the documents are delivered to Turkey. If necessary, we can arrange a translation into Turkish, notarization, and international courier delivery.

Next step

Send us scans of the documents you already have and provide:

• the citizenship of both future spouses;
• the country where the documents were issued;
• whether the foreign spouse was previously married;
• the city in Turkey where the marriage is planned to be registered.

After checking, we will determine which documents need to be obtained, which require an apostille or consular legalization, and which may be used without additional authentication.

Official sources

The general rules governing marriage by foreign citizens in Turkey are established by Turkish legislation and applied by the authorized marriage registration authorities. Up-to-date information on the procedure is published by the Turkish General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü — NVI).

• Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü — Evlenme İşlemleri
• Ankara Büyükşehir Belediyesi — Nikah İşlemleri
• Kadıköy Belediyesi — Marriage
• Muratpaşa Belediyesi — Evlendirme İşlemleri
• Bornova Belediyesi — Evlilik İşlemleri

Because municipal practice may differ, before preparing foreign documents it is recommended to additionally check the official website of the specific Evlendirme Memurluğu where the application is planned to be submitted.

Frequently asked questions about marriage of foreigners in Turkey