Marriage of Foreigners in Türkiye: Required Documents, Marriage Application, Apostille and Consular Certification

Which Law Applies to the Marriage of Foreigners in Türkiye?

Legal capacity to marry and the form of the marriage are not subject to the same law

Article 13 of Law No. 5718 on Private International and Procedural Law (MÖHUK) provides for three separate conflict-of-laws rules: legal capacity to marry and the substantive conditions are subject to the national law of each party at the time of marriage; the form of the marriage to the law of the country where the marriage is concluded; and the general effects of the marriage to the common national law of the spouses, failing that, in the case of different citizenships, to the law of their common habitual residence, and failing that, to Turkish law. The procedure of an official marriage ceremony held in Türkiye is therefore conducted under Turkish law; on the other hand, the national law of the foreign person is also important in determining that person's legal capacity to marry. MÖHUK Art. 13 — TBMM.

Whether the foreign country provides for a permission to marry, a conclusive record of the termination of a previous marriage, or an age requirement must be examined according to the citizenship, marital history and legal status of the specific person. The fact that a foreign person has a marriage solemnised in Türkiye does not mean that all conditions of their national law fall away automatically. Where there is a clear contradiction with Turkish public policy, the provisions of MÖHUK on public policy are assessed separately.

A religious ceremony, a wedding and an official marriage are different things

In Türkiye, a marriage is concluded by the parties declaring their will to marry one another before the competent marriage officer. A wedding celebration or a religious ceremony does not, on its own, take the place of an official marriage in Turkish law. After the marriage has been validly concluded, the marriage register is signed and the civil registry notification procedures are carried out. General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship (NVİ), Marriage Procedures.

Who Can Marry in Türkiye, and Before Which Authority?

Marriage of a Turkish citizen and a foreigner

If one of the spouses is a Turkish citizen and the other a foreigner, the official marriage in Türkiye is performed before the municipal marriage registry or the civil registry director competent in this matter. The citizenship, identity and marital status records of both parties are examined. It is not enough for the foreign person to be able to document legal capacity to marry; the application and ceremony conditions in Türkiye must also be completed. NVİ, Marriage Procedures.

Marriage of two foreigners who are citizens of different countries

The marriages in Türkiye of foreigners who are citizens of two different states are performed before the competent Turkish marriage officer. The legal capacity to marry of each spouse is examined separately under their own national law. The certification methods for documents coming from two different countries may differ; the fact that one party's document is apostilled does not remove the need for certification of the other's document.

Marriage of two foreigners who are citizens of the same country

Two foreigners who are citizens of the same country may marry before the competent Turkish authority. In addition, if their national laws confer the authority, it may be possible for the marriage to be concluded at the diplomatic or consular mission in Türkiye of the state concerned. Not every consulate has the authority to conduct marriages; whether the mission in question actually accepts such a procedure and the consequences of this marriage in Turkish civil registry/administrative procedures must be researched separately. NVİ, Marriage Procedures.

Persons with international protection, temporary protection and stateless status

A marriage application is in principle possible for stateless persons, refugees, conditional refugees, persons with subsidiary protection status, applicants for international protection and persons under temporary protection. These persons cannot be expected in every case to apply to the consulate of a country of which they are not citizens. Information on legal capacity to marry may be established, depending on the status, by the authorities that keep the relevant records or by documents issued by the provincial directorate of migration management. Identity and status documents are assessed within the scope of the specific file. NVİ, Marriage Procedures.

Legal Capacity to Marry, Age, Previous Marriage and Statutory Impediments

Age, capacity to discern and cases requiring permission

Under the Turkish Civil Code, the general rule is that a person who has completed 18 years of age, has the capacity to discern and has no legal impediment to marriage may marry independently. For a person who has completed 17 years of age, the permission of the legal representative; in exceptional circumstances, for a person who has completed 16 years of age, the permission of a judge comes into play. For a foreigner, the limits of Turkish public policy must be assessed together with the national law to be applied under Article 13 of MÖHUK. The fact that a foreign country permits marriage at an early age does not mean automatic acceptance in Türkiye. NVİ, Marriage Procedures.

Existing marriage, close kinship and health-related impediments

A person who is still married cannot marry again. Prohibited degrees of kinship by blood or by marriage, prohibitions linked to an adoption relationship, and deficiencies concerning the capacity to discern or a special health board report under the required conditions are also assessed. Where a previous marriage ended by divorce, the finality of the divorce decree is important; where it ended by death, the death record is important. The proper verification of the foreign decision and civil registry record, and where necessary the question of its entry in the Turkish civil registry or its recognition, are examined separately.

The 300-day waiting period after divorce cannot be generalised automatically for foreigners

The 300-day waiting period provided for a woman whose marriage has ended under Article 132 of the Turkish Civil Code, and the provisions on its removal by a court, are in force in Turkish law. However, in marriages with a foreign element, the conclusion that "every foreign woman must necessarily wait 300 days" cannot be reached without determining the national law to be applied to the legal capacity to marry and the substantive conditions of each spouse under Article 13 of MÖHUK. This distinction is particularly important when assessing the documents of divorced foreign persons or those who have lost a spouse. For a Turkish citizen as well, the conditions and the decision on the lifting of the waiting period are examined. Turkish Civil Code Art. 132 and Law No. 5718 Art. 13.

Which Documents Are Required for Foreigners to Marry in Türkiye?

The table below separates the general legal type of document from the cases in which the document becomes especially important. The municipality's current document list may include additional procedures according to the place of application, the language, the verification method and the marital status of the specific person. Some of the documents may substitute for one another; not all rows are an unconditional requirement for every couple.

Document list and details: NVİ Marriage Procedures and Kemer Municipality 2026 marriage document list.

Is the certificate of legal capacity to marry the same as a certificate of single status alone?

The certificate of legal capacity to marry (Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage, Ehefähigkeitszeugnis or the equivalent document specific to the relevant country) must show, according to the records of the competent authority, the person's identity and that there is no legal impediment to their marriage. Not every document that merely states "single" may take the place of a certificate of legal capacity to marry. According to the NVİ statement, the name, surname, mother's and father's names, date of birth and the information that there is no impediment to marriage are required. Missing particulars may be completed with the birth record. It is essential that the document comes from the competent authority and that the required certification procedure has been followed.

It is possible for the original of the certificate of legal capacity to marry to be kept in the file and, in case of suspected forgery, for the authenticity of the document to be queried with the relevant foreign authority. At the time of application, there must be no contradiction between the name, date of birth and previous marriage information in the document and the passport. NVİ Marriage Procedures.

When is a birth certificate also required?

The birth record extract completes information that the certificate of legal capacity to marry does not explain, such as parents' names, place of birth or date of birth. The international multilingual Form A or the official birth certificate of the relevant country may be suitable. The international convention under which the document was issued and whether it is valid between the countries where it will be used are assessed separately; the existence of a multilingual heading does not, on its own, constitute an exemption from certification.

Which records must those whose previous marriage has ended submit?

A divorced foreigner must submit not merely the divorce petition or a letter showing that the proceedings are continuing, but the final decision or the official civil registry/marital status record proving that the previous marriage has ended. For widowed persons, the death record and the marital status certificate are important. The date of the divorce/death must be clearly visible in the paperwork. Whether a foreign decision requires a separate procedure in Türkiye in terms of registry or marital status is determined according to the person's citizenship and the situation of the previous marriage in the records.

Passport translation and matching of names

The names in the passport, identity or accepted status document must be consistent with the name in the certificate of legal capacity to marry. Because of different alphabets (Cyrillic, Arabic, Latin), there may be transliteration, double surnames, previous surnames or letter differences. The Turkish translation prepared by a sworn translator may require notarial or competent consular approval. Notarial certification of a passport translation does not take the place of an apostille relating to the issuance of the passport or the marital status document.

Can the health report be obtained only from a state hospital?

No. The current NVİ statement indicates that the report stating that there is no illness preventing marriage may be obtained from public or private health institutions and organisations. However, the report must meet the procedural and content requirements of the legislation; the required special health board reports are assessed separately. The Kemer Municipality's 2026 list likewise includes family medicine, state hospitals and private health institutions. Therefore a general conclusion that reports obtained from private health institutions are invalid in every case cannot be reached. NVİ FAQ; Kemer Municipality 2026 PDF.

Number and nature of photographs and the validity period of the health report

The general NVİ page lists four photographs each for the persons to be married, and the Kemer Municipality's 2026 list five each. In both sources, current colour passport-size photographs taken within the last six months are the rule; in Kemer practice, photographs of 4×6 cm that are not biometric are specifically requested. The local difference in number should be explained without confusing a provision of legislation with the municipality's procedural request. For the health report and other documents, the acceptance conditions of the relevant administration on the date of application and their currency should be checked.

What Is an Apostille and How Is It Obtained for Marriage Documents?

An apostille is not a guarantee that the content of the document is correct

The Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents of October 5, 1961 provides that, for official documents to which the convention is applicable between the two countries concerned, an apostille certificate is used in place of traditional diplomatic or consular legalisation. The apostille verifies the signature, capacity and, where necessary, the seal/stamp of the official who issued the document; it does not automatically guarantee the material accuracy of the marital status declaration in the document or the document's conformity with Turkish marriage law. HCCH, 1961 Apostille Convention, Arts. 1–5.

For a document to be apostilled, its source must be an official document within the scope of the convention and the convention must be applicable between the country that issued the document and Türkiye. A state merely signing the treaty is not on its own sufficient with regard to situations before the date of entry into force or where no bilateral relationship has been established because of an objection. The current status of accession, entry into force and any objection should be checked in the HCCH official status table. HCCH, Convention status table.

Which authority issues the apostille for a document issued in a foreign country?

The apostille of a birth/legal capacity to marry certificate issued in Germany, France or another foreign country is obtained from the competent authority in the foreign country that issued the document. The governorship or district governorship in Türkiye does not subsequently issue an apostille on behalf of the foreign country for that country's own official document. The authority of Turkish governorships and district governorships is essentially for administrative documents issued in Türkiye; for judicial documents there are separate competent authorities. The HCCH's country-by-country "Competent Authorities" records should be taken as the basis. HCCH status and competent authorities; Ministry of Foreign Affairs certification information.

How is an apostilled document used in Türkiye?

The general practice is to obtain the original of the foreign official document, have it apostilled at the relevant foreign authority and then submit it to the marriage registry with a Turkish sworn translation and, where necessary, notarial approval. Requesting, for a duly apostilled document, a further consular certification by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the same signature and seal may be a duplicate procedure contrary to the purpose of the apostille. However, translation/identity matching and whether the document contains the required content are separate matters. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Certification Unit.

Does the apostille itself have a six-month validity period?

The Apostille Convention does not introduce a general six-month expiry period applicable to everyone. But the certificate of legal capacity to marry must show the current marital status; the document currency rule of the accepting institution, the validity period of the document in the issuing country, the validity period of the marriage file in Türkiye and the processing conditions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Certification Unit must be examined separately. For this reason, "the apostille has expired" and "the certificate of legal capacity to marry on it has become too old for the application" are different situations. HCCH Apostille Convention; Ministry of Foreign Affairs Certification Unit procedural information.

How Are Documents from Countries That Are Not Parties to the Apostille Convention Made Valid in Türkiye?

An official document of a country that is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention does not become unusable in Türkiye in any way merely because an apostille cannot be obtained. For these documents, a diplomatic/consular certification chain is generally followed. Where there is an exemption from certification under a special bilateral or multilateral agreement between countries, that arrangement is assessed first. The two routes below are summarised on the basis of the official statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye on documents issued in foreign countries and not apostilled. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Certification routes for non-apostilled documents obtained from foreign countries.

First route: Certification through the Turkish diplomatic mission in the country where the document was issued

1. The document is obtained from the genuinely competent civil registry, marital status or other official authority in the foreign country.
2. The internal certification procedures of that country are carried out; after the issuing body, the signature/seal of the higher administrative authority is verified if required.
3. The document is certified by the foreign ministry of the foreign country concerned.
4. The Turkish translation of the document is prepared by the sworn translation procedure accepted by Türkiye's diplomatic mission in that country; the document and the required translation are certified by the Turkish diplomatic mission.
5. After this chain is completed, the document is submitted to the relevant marriage registry in Türkiye. In this route, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is the rule that certification by the Ministry in Türkiye is not requested again after the completed certification by the Turkish diplomatic mission.

Important: Because the jurisdiction and translator acceptance conditions of each mission may differ, the notarial/certification service of the relevant Turkish mission should be checked before documents are sent from abroad.

Second route: Certification of the document at the foreign mission in Türkiye and the competent Turkish authority

1. The foreign official document is put through that country's issuing and, where required, foreign ministry certification stages.
2. The document is brought to Türkiye; here a Turkish sworn translation and notarial approval are made.
3. The document is duly certified at the competent diplomatic/consular mission in Türkiye of the foreign state that issued it.
4. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' information, if the foreign mission is in Ankara, the relevant approval is given at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Certification Unit; if it is in another province, the necessary procedure is carried out at the relevant governorship. The location of the specific mission, the introduction of its signature/seal and the current acceptance condition are verified separately.
5. The document, with the certification chain and Turkish translation completed, is delivered to the marriage registry.

This second route does not mean that any consulate stamp is sufficient on its own. What matters in particular is how the sequence signature of the foreign authority → approval of the foreign ministry → relevant diplomatic mission → final certification by the Turkish authority is operated for the specific country. Ministry of Foreign Affairs official two-route guide, relevant pages.

What options are examined if there is no apostille and no Turkish embassy either?

The absence in the country concerned of a fully authorised Turkish mission does not, on its own, make the document unusable. The competent mission with jurisdiction over the area, the competent mission in a neighbouring country, or the second route proceeding through the diplomatic mission of the foreign country in Türkiye is researched. However, no method guarantees the same institution and sequence in all countries. Obtaining a written list of procedures for the relevant country and marriage registry can prevent loss of rights and unnecessary certification costs.

Is an apostille required for a document issued directly by a consulate?

Article 1 of the 1961 Apostille Convention leaves documents executed by diplomatic or consular agents outside its scope. The assumption that an apostille must necessarily be obtained from the authority of the country abroad for a certificate of legal capacity to marry issued by the consulate in Türkiye of the person's country is therefore wrong. For such a document, the certification of the consular authority and signature by the competent authority in Türkiye, or a special convention exemption, is assessed separately. The NVİ practice that no procedure can be carried out on the basis of certificates of legal capacity to marry issued by honorary consulates must also be borne in mind. HCCH Convention Art. 1; NVİ Marriage Procedures.

Are an Apostille and Translation Always Mandatory for Multilingual Documents?

The 1976 Vienna Convention: Form A, B and C

The Vienna Convention No. 16 on the Issue of Multilingual Extracts from Civil Status Records of September 8, 1976 provides for multilingual standard forms for extracts of birth, marriage and death records between contracting states. Form A denotes the birth extract, Form B the marriage extract and Form C the death extract. Article 8 of the convention provides that properly drawn-up documents of this kind are accepted between the contracting countries without the need for certification or an equivalent procedure. Türkiye is also a party to the convention. The contracting status of the country issuing and the country accepting the document, the true nature of the form and the information it contains are checked separately. CIEC, 1976 Vienna Convention No. 16 and status table.

The exemption from certification of this group of documents does not mean that every multilingual document is a certificate of legal capacity to marry. For example, Form B certifies a marriage that has taken place; on its own, it may not prove that there is no legal impediment to marrying in the future.

The 1980 Munich Convention: Multilingual certificate of legal capacity to marry

The Munich Convention No. 20 on the Issue of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry of September 5, 1980 concerns a multilingual certificate of legal capacity to marry that can be used by persons who will marry in another country. Türkiye is a party to the convention. Under Article 10 of the convention, a suitable document between the states bound by the convention is exempt from certification or an equivalent official procedure. It therefore cannot be said that "a multilingual certificate of legal capacity to marry without an apostille is invalid in every case". The document must actually have been drawn up in the form of the Munich Convention and the other country must be a party to the convention. CIEC, 1980 Munich Convention No. 20.

Distinguishing a multilingual document from a bilingual non-standard document

The fact that an administration has written a document in two columns, Turkish and English, does not automatically give rise to the exemption from approval of the 1976 Vienna or 1980 Munich Convention. The name, number, form, competent authority and contracting relationship of the document are examined. If the explanatory lines in the foreign language are not sufficient for the Turkish authority, an officially acceptable translation may be requested; the legal basis for this should be shown separately according to the type of document.

How Is the Certification Route Chosen According to Country and Type of Document?

Apostille lists prepared by rote by country name are not safe. The new accession of a state, the date of entry into force, an objection by the other state or a limited document scope may change the result. In every procedure, the records of the HCCH official status table, CIEC No. 16 and CIEC No. 20 should be assessed as of the date of application.

Translation of Foreign Documents into Turkish and Notarial Certification

Certification of the document and certification of the translation are different procedures

The apostille or consular certification of an official document concerns the accuracy of the signature and seal at its source; a sworn translation concerns the Turkish equivalent of the information in the document; and notarial approval concerns formal verification relating to the translation/signature procedure carried out within the framework of the legislation. The presence of one does not fulfil the entire legal function of the other. This distinction is particularly important for documents coming from countries without an apostille.

In Türkiye, a Turkish translation certified by a notary must be prepared in the form requested by the marriage registry. Although there may be cases in which a translation approved by a consulate abroad is accepted directly, there is no rule that every foreign notarial translation is accepted automatically in Türkiye. Whether a new translation is required in Türkiye is determined by the certification route chosen, the agreement and the procedure of the registry. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs Certification Unit guide.

How is a name mismatch in Turkish, Latin, Cyrillic and other alphabets resolved?

The name, surname, parents' names, place and date of birth must be compared across the passport, birth record extract, certificate of legal capacity to marry and divorce/death record. The source of any difference, such as transliteration, previous surname, double surname, adoption or change of citizenship, must be documented. Instead of changing the contradiction inside the translation without explanation, where necessary a correction record from the foreign competent authority, a name equivalence certificate or an explanation should be obtained.

How Is a Marriage Application Made in Türkiye, Step by Step?

Place of application and preliminary check

According to the current NVİ FAQ statement, subject to the exception for applications made to neighbourhood headmen's offices (muhtarlık), an application to any competent marriage registry is the basis, without any requirement of place of residence. In marriages involving a foreign spouse, municipal marriage registries or civil registry directors should be preferred because of the distinction between competent authorities. In the first stage, the language of documents, number of photographs, certification route for foreign countries and fee schedule of the registry to be applied to should be compared in writing. NVİ FAQ.

Application preparation and sequence of procedures

1. The parties' citizenship, previous marriage, age and residence/status information is determined; possible impediments to marriage are examined.
2. The foreign spouse or spouses obtain from their own countries or the competent missions a certificate of legal capacity to marry and, if necessary, a birth/divorce/death certificate.
3. For each document separately, the apostille, multilingual convention exemption or consular certification chain is determined and the procedures are completed.
4. The required Turkish translations and notarial procedures are carried out and compared with the passport/identity information.
5. The health report, photographs, marriage declaration form and any permission/court decisions relating to the specific situation are prepared.
6. The application is made to the municipal marriage registry or the competent civil registry director; the examination and the process of completing deficiencies are carried out.
7. If the documents are found suitable, the date and time of the marriage ceremony are fixed or, where appropriate, a marriage permit certificate is issued.
8. The marriage ceremony is held with the personal attendance of the persons to be married and before at least two witnesses; effective interpreting is provided for those who do not understand Turkish.
9. The marriage record, the family booklet/multilingual marriage certificate and, if necessary, notification procedures to the foreign country are followed up.

Can the spouses make the application separately or through an agent?

It is possible to conduct the marriage application procedures through a special power of attorney (Marriage Regulation Art. 17). The power of attorney must show the clear identity of the agent and of the person to be married, the information on the person they will marry, and that the authority is directed at conducting the marriage procedures. On the other hand, a marriage ceremony cannot be performed by proxy: under Article 27 of the Marriage Regulation and the provisions of the Turkish Civil Code, the parties must declare their will personally at the ceremony. Because of this distinction, the possibility of making the application through a special power of attorney and the personal presence of the parties at the marriage ceremony are different conditions. NVİ FAQ, application through an agent.

When is an interpreter required for a foreigner who does not know Turkish?

The will to marry must be declared freely, intelligibly and clearly. In the application and marriage procedures of a person who does not know Turkish, meaningful communication must be established through a sworn interpreter accepted by the competent registry. A failure of the parties to understand the oral declarations at the marriage ceremony may give rise not only to a documentary deficiency but also to a serious procedural problem concerning the assessment of the will to marry. The Kemer Municipality's 2026 statement specifically indicates the need for a sworn interpreter during the ceremony. Kemer Municipality 2026 PDF.

Marriage witnesses and the nature of the ceremony

The Turkish official marriage ceremony is held in the presence of the parties, publicly, before at least two adult witnesses with the capacity to discern. The officer asks each party whether they wish to marry; following affirmative and audible declarations of will, the officer declares that the marriage has been concluded in accordance with the law, and the marriage register is signed. The witnesses must present valid identification. Turkish Civil Code Arts. 141–142; NVİ Marriage Procedures.

Marriage of Foreigners in Antalya and Kemer: How Should the 2026 Document List Be Read?

The official information form of the Kemer Municipality Marriage Registry, published on March 19, 2026, includes for foreign persons a certificate of legal capacity to marry, a birth certificate, a divorce/death record if any, a passport translation, a health report, five 4×6 cm passport-size photographs each and, for persons without a work/residence permit, a request for an entry-exit record from the airport passport control unit. This list makes concrete which documents may be requested in an application; however, it is not a new general norm that removes country-based apostille exemptions and statutory provisions. Kemer Municipality 2026 document list.

An important distinction on photographs, the entry-exit record and proof of address

The request for an entry-exit record in the Kemer form is listed in the local procedure list for persons without a work/residence permit. This record cannot be presented as a general and independent residence permit requirement for being able to marry in all of Türkiye. Indeed, within the framework of Article 20 of the Marriage Regulation, the principle is that the address declared by foreigners in the declaration is taken as the basis and that no separate document on the address is requested. The receiving authority may assess a person's lawful stay and identity situation under separate legislation; legal capacity to marry and a foreigner's immigration status are not the same procedure.

A general statement that a hotel accommodation document must be provided in every case for two foreigners also cannot be derived from the legislation. If such a request exists, the written justification for the document by the specific municipality should be researched. NVİ's statement of four photographs and Kemer's of five should be clearly separated and clarified with the relevant registry at the time of application. NVİ Marriage Procedures; Kemer 2026 form.

Currency of country lists and municipal document announcements

Fixed lists in municipal announcements headed "apostilled countries" or "countries where an apostille is not required" should not be interpreted by confusing the scopes of the 1961 Apostille Convention, Vienna No. 16, Munich No. 20 and bilateral agreements. For example, a provision that "a multilingual civil status extract may be accepted without an apostille" does not show that every official document coming from that country will be accepted without an apostille. For this reason, if a country list is to be prepared, the relevant type of document + convention + date of accession/entry into force should be shown together. HCCH; CIEC No. 16; CIEC No. 20.

Can a Foreigner Without a Residence Permit or Who Has Overstayed Their Visa Marry?

The right to marry and the right to lawful stay in Türkiye are different legal subjects. In a marriage application, the foreigner's identity, legal capacity to marry and documents are examined. However, overstaying a visa or a violation of residence status may have consequences, under Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, in terms of administrative sanctions, the risk of deportation or a later residence permit application. Concluding a marriage does not automatically remove a past immigration violation.

Neither can a general conclusion be given that it is absolutely prohibited for all foreigners to marry without a residence permit, nor an assurance that there is no status problem whatsoever. This must be assessed together with the identity document to be accepted, the status document, the practice of the place of procedure and the foreigner's entry/stay situation in the country. NVİ, marriage of foreigners; Göç İdaresi, family residence permit application document list.

What Can Be Done If the Marriage Registry Rejects the Application?

A missing document must be distinguished from a statutory impediment to marriage

Under Article 137 of the Turkish Civil Code, the marriage officer examines the application and the documents and has deficiencies completed. If the application is not in due form, if one of the parties lacks the capacity to marry or if there is a statutory impediment to marriage, the reason for rejection must be notified in writing. Having a missing apostille completed, requesting a new translation for a document, and asserting that a person lacks the capacity to marry are not procedures of the same legal nature. Turkish Civil Code Art. 137.

Applying to the court against a rejection decision

Under Article 138 of the Turkish Civil Code, each of the persons to be married may apply to the court against the marriage officer's rejection decision. The objection is, as a rule, finally decided on the file; for rejection decisions concerning grounds of absolute nullity, the law provides for a separate trial procedure. In a specific application, the reason for rejection, the document requirement alleged to have been wrongly applied, the official source and the certification procedures should be shown together. Rather than being content with an oral statement that "the documents are not accepted", it is important to request a reasoned written decision where necessary. Turkish Civil Code Art. 138.

Marriage Permit Certificate, Validity Periods and Marriage Costs

The marriage permit certificate is valid for six months

When the application file has been examined and no impediment is found, a marriage permit certificate may be issued if requested. Under Article 139 of the Turkish Civil Code, the certificate gives the right to marry before the competent marriage officer within six months from the date it is issued. Under Article 140 of the Turkish Civil Code, if six months pass after the certificate is issued, the marriage ceremony cannot be held. This six-month rule does not show that all foreign marital status documents or the apostille necessarily expire on the same date. Different documents may have different currency/registration conditions. Turkish Civil Code Arts. 139–140.

Marriage fee, translation, apostille and certification costs

The total expense in the marriage procedures varies according to the local tariff applicable to the family booklet/marriage procedures, whether the ceremony is held in the municipal hall or elsewhere/outside office hours, notary and sworn translation costs, apostille or consular certification in the foreign country, document dispatch and the required health report procedures. These are not all a single fixed amount under the name "marriage fee". The Kemer Municipality's announcement of March 19, 2026 showed a family booklet/file fee of TRY 2,997; this amount is only the record of the local announcement of the stated date and should not be accepted as an unchanging tariff for the whole of Türkiye or for October 25, 2026. The tariff in force of the relevant registry is checked before the application. Kemer Municipality 2026 information.

Which Documents Are Obtained and Which Procedures Follow After a Marriage in Türkiye?

Marriage register, family booklet and multilingual marriage record

The registration procedures for a marriage solemnised by the competent Turkish authority are carried out; the spouses are given an international family booklet. Upon request, a multilingual marriage certificate/record extract may be issued. The relevant authority is responsible for notifying the civil registry of marriages held before Turkish authorities; the NVİ statement indicates that domestic marriages must be notified to the civil registry directorate within 10 days. NVİ Marriage Procedures.

Registration of the marriage in the foreign spouse's country

An official marriage concluded in Türkiye may not be directly reflected in the identity, civil registry and marital status records of the foreign spouse's country. The notification/registration of the marriage with the competent authority or consulate of the foreign spouse, the multilingual Form B or another marriage certificate, and the necessary certification and translation conditions should be researched. The country that accepts Form B and a country that requires an apostille/consular certification may not have the same procedure. Republic of Türkiye Consular Procedures, marriage registration.

Marriage does not automatically grant Turkish citizenship or a right of residence

Marrying a Turkish citizen does not automatically grant Turkish citizenship to the foreign spouse. For an application for citizenship through marriage under Article 16 of Law No. 5901 on Turkish Citizenship, a marriage that has continued for at least three years and other statutory conditions are in principle required. Similarly, a family residence permit is subject to separate application and assessment conditions; a marriage booklet alone is not a residence permit document. NVİ Acquisition of Turkish citizenship; Göç İdaresi family residence permit document list.

Matrimonial property regime and divorce in a marriage with a foreign element

The matrimonial property regime arising from the marriage may give rise to conflict-of-laws questions different from those of marriages without a foreign element. Article 15 of MÖHUK gives the spouses a limited choice of law among certain laws; if there is no choice, the conflict rules provided in the law apply. The fact that the marriage was held in Türkiye does not show that every asset or divorce dispute in the future will without exception be subject to Turkish law. Likewise, the recognition or registration in Türkiye of decisions of foreign countries may involve separate processes. Law No. 5718 Arts. 14–15, TBMM.

The Most Common Mistakes Before the Application

• Wrong country regime: Requesting an "apostille" from a country that is not a party to the Apostille Convention, or preparing documents without checking accession/entry into force.
• Wrong type of document: Mistaking a birth certificate or Form B for a certificate of legal capacity to marry on its own.
• Incomplete certification: Substituting a notarial translation alone for the diplomatic certification of a foreign official document.
• Unnecessary duplicate procedures: Requiring Ministry of Foreign Affairs certification on top of a valid apostilled document, or disregarding an exemption arising from a convention.
• Name and date differences: Mismatch in transliteration or the date of finality in passports, marital status records and divorce documents.
• Confusing general and local rules: Automatically generalising the photograph or entry-exit record requirement sought in Kemer to the whole of Türkiye.
• Unauthorised authority: Accepting a document issued by an honorary consulate as a document of a competent official mission.
• Equating immigration status with marriage: Thinking that the marriage procedure automatically removes a visa violation, or residence or citizenship conditions.
• Confusing the application with the ceremony: Thinking that having a power of attorney for the application removes the obligation of the parties to be present at the marriage ceremony.
• Confusing periods: Treating the apostille, the certificate of legal capacity to marry, the marriage permit certificate and the currency of the local file as a single six-month rule.

Conclusion

Completing the marriage procedures of foreigners in Türkiye safely is not merely a matter of collecting paperwork; it means determining the law applicable to each spouse's legal capacity to marry, choosing the right type of document, identifying the international convention or certification procedure applicable to that document and ensuring that the marriage ceremony is held in accordance with Turkish law. In particular, for documents from countries that are not parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, the appropriate certification route in the form of official authority → foreign ministry → consulate/Turkish authority must be chosen for the specific country. It should also be remembered that international multilingual civil status extracts and multilingual certificates of legal capacity to marry are subject to separate conventions. A check of documents and names before the application, checking the written list of the competent registry and, where necessary, assessing the legal rights of recourse against a rejection can prevent delay in the procedures and unnecessary cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Turkish citizen marry a foreigner in Türkiye?

Yes. Provided that the foreign spouse's legal capacity to marry and the required official documents are verified, an official marriage can be held before the competent Turkish marriage officer. For details, see the section "Who can marry in Türkiye, and before which authority?".

Can two foreigners have a marriage solemnised in Türkiye?

Yes. Two foreigners who are citizens of different countries may marry before the competent Turkish authority. Two foreigners who are citizens of the same country may also consider the option of marrying at the relevant mission, if their national laws allow it.

Is a certificate of legal capacity to marry from a country without an apostille invalid?

No. Unless there is a special convention exemption, the certification chain of the foreign country's internal/foreign ministry certification and the Turkish diplomatic mission, or the foreign mission in Türkiye and the competent Turkish authority, may be applied.

Is the apostille obtained in the foreign country or in Türkiye?

For a document issued in a foreign country, the apostille is, as a rule, obtained from the competent authority of the country that issued the document. The governorship in Türkiye does not issue an apostille on behalf of a foreign state for a foreign official document.

Is separate Ministry of Foreign Affairs certification required for an apostilled document?

For a duly apostilled official document under the applicable 1961 Apostille Convention, separate consular/Ministry of Foreign Affairs certification is not sought for the same purpose. However, the Turkish translation and the adequacy of the content of the document are checked separately.

Does an apostille guarantee that the content of a certificate of single status is correct?

No. The apostille essentially concerns the verification of the signature, capacity and seal/stamp on the official document; it does not by itself verify the material content of the document or legal capacity to marry.

Is an apostille required for a document that a consulate issues in Türkiye?

The 1961 Convention leaves documents of diplomatic and consular agents outside its general scope. For these documents, the authority of the mission and the required certification by the Turkish authority are researched separately; the apostille is not applied as a general rule.

What is the international Form A?

It is the multilingual birth record extract issued under the 1976 Vienna Convention No. 16. The nature of the document and the application of the convention between the countries concerned should be verified.

Does the international Form B replace a certificate of legal capacity to marry?

Generally no. Form B is a marriage record extract; the document proving legal capacity to marry may be different.

Why is the 1980 Munich Convention important?

A multilingual certificate of legal capacity to marry properly issued between countries bound by the convention is, under Article 10 of Convention No. 20, exempt from certification or an equivalent procedure.

Is every bilingual document automatically exempt from an apostille?

No. The exemption rests not on the document's being written in two languages but on the scope of the relevant international convention, the standard form and contracting status.

Is a certificate of legal capacity to marry the same as a certificate of single status?

Not always. The document issued by the competent authority must show not only marital status but also that there is no legal impediment to marriage and the required identity information.

Is a birth certificate also requested separately?

If the certificate of legal capacity to marry does not contain the parents' names, place or date of birth, a birth record extract may be required separately. Some registries list the birth certificate separately in their local lists.

Which document does a divorced foreigner bring?

The final divorce decree or the relevant official register record showing that the previous marriage has ended, the marital status certificate and the required translation/certification procedures are assessed.

Which document does a foreigner whose spouse has died submit?

The death or marital status record must show that the previous marriage ended by death and the date of the event. Foreign document approval and Turkish translation may also be required separately.

Does a foreign woman necessarily wait 300 days in Türkiye?

Not automatically. Under Article 13 of MÖHUK, the national law of the person concerned applies to legal capacity to marry and its conditions; Article 132 of the Turkish Civil Code and its relationship with public policy are assessed according to the specific case.

Can the health report be obtained from a private hospital?

Yes, provided it complies with the content and procedure required by the legislation, a report may be obtained from public or private health institutions and organisations. The relevant special health board conditions are reserved.

Should there be four photographs or five?

The general NVİ information asks for four photographs each; the Kemer Municipality's 2026 list asks for five each. The current list of the registry to be applied to should be taken as the basis.

Must the passport be translated into Turkish?

The registry may request a Turkish sworn/notary-approved translation for identity checks; the procedure is determined according to the foreign language, the form of the document and the type of identity accepted.

Can a foreigner whose visa has expired marry?

The right to marry and immigration status are different. Identity, legal capacity and application procedures are examined separately; a visa violation is not removed automatically by the marriage and may give rise to immigration law consequences.

Must two foreigners bring a hotel accommodation letter?

It cannot be said to be a general condition mandatory in every case. The Marriage Regulation contains a provision on taking the address declared by foreigners as the basis; if there is a local document, its basis should be examined separately.

Must the application be made in the district of residence?

According to NVİ, an application to the competent marriage registry is possible without a place-of-residence requirement, subject to the exception for applications to neighbourhood headmen's offices. In procedures involving a foreign spouse, competence is specifically checked.

Can the marriage application be made through a lawyer or another agent?

Application procedures may be conducted with a special power of attorney. The authority and identity elements of the power of attorney must be clear; the marriage ceremony itself cannot be performed by proxy.

Must the marriage declaration form be in writing?

In the marriage application and file procedures, due preparation and signature of the marriage declaration form is essential. The recording of the couple's oral wish to marry by the official does not remove the need for the required declaration form and signatures. The oral acceptance at the marriage ceremony, however, must additionally be declared personally.

Should a person who does not know Turkish have an interpreter at the ceremony?

Interpreting accepted by the competent registry must be provided so that the will to marry can be clearly understood. The Kemer Municipality's 2026 list provides for a sworn interpreter during the ceremony.

How many witnesses are needed at the marriage ceremony?

At least two adult witnesses with the capacity to discern are needed. The persons to be married must be present in person.

How many months is the marriage permit certificate valid?

Under Article 139 of the Turkish Civil Code, the certificate is valid for six months from the date it is issued. This period is not the general validity period of the apostille or of every foreign document.

What can be done if a document requested by the municipality is contrary to law?

First, the reason for which the document is requested and not accepted should be determined in writing. An application may be made to the court against the marriage officer's rejection decision under Article 138 of the Turkish Civil Code.

Is a family booklet issued when one marries in Türkiye?

The family booklet is issued after the marriage before the competent Turkish authority is completed; upon request, a multilingual marriage record certificate may also be obtained.

Is a marriage in Türkiye automatically registered in the foreign spouse's country?

Not in every country. The registry notification conditions of the foreign state concerned, the marriage certificate it accepts and, where necessary, the certification/translation procedure should be assessed separately.

Does marrying in Türkiye immediately grant the foreign spouse Turkish citizenship?

No. Marriage to a Turkish citizen does not grant citizenship automatically; under Article 16 of Law No. 5901, there is the possibility of applying, in principle, with a marriage that has continued for at least three years and other conditions.

Does a marriage automatically provide a family residence permit?

No. A family residence permit requires a separate application and assessment under Law No. 6458 and the application procedures.

Is the marriage cost the same for everyone in 2026?

No. The family booklet and the local tariff, the place/time of the ceremony, translation, notary, apostille and consular procedures are different items. A local and dated price cannot be used as a national fixed amount.

Can I have a document without an apostille certified in Türkiye by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

Yes, but if the country from which the document comes, its preliminary certifications and the chosen method are suitable. The conditions of the relevant one of the two separate routes in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs guide are fulfilled; a single uncertified foreign document cannot in every case be taken directly to the Ministry to obtain a result.

Where can the list of countries party to the apostille be checked?

It is checked from the official 1961 Apostille Convention status table of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), with the entry into force and the application between the states concerned examined separately.

Sources and legal bases

1 — Law No. 5718 on Private International and Procedural Law, in particular Arts. 13–15. TBMM text of the law.

2 — Law No. 4721 Turkish Civil Code, in particular Arts. 124–132 and 136–143. Ministry of Justice UYAP Legislation.

3 — Marriage Regulation, in particular Arts. 13, 15, 17, 20, 23 and 27. Official practice statement on NVİ Marriage Procedures.

4 — Law No. 5490 on Civil Registration Services and the civil registration legislation. NVİ official statements.

5 — General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship, "Marriage Procedures". Official page.

6 — General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship, "Civil Registration Services Frequently Asked Questions". Official page.

7 — Republic of Türkiye Antalya Kemer Municipality Marriage Registry, "Documents Required for Marriage — 2026", document record dated March 19, 2026. Official PDF.

8 — HCCH, Apostille Convention of October 5, 1961. Text of the convention and status table.

9 — Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Certification Unit — official guide on the use in Türkiye of non-apostilled documents issued in foreign countries. PDF.

10 — Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consular Certification Unit information. PDF.

11 — Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consulate General in Milan, "Signature-Seal Certification". Official information note.

12 — International Commission on Civil Status (CIEC), Vienna Convention No. 16 of September 8, 1976, in particular Arts. 1 and 8. Text and status.

13 — CIEC, Munich Convention No. 20 of September 5, 1980, in particular Art. 10. Text and status.

14 — Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Procedures, explanations on marriage and marriage registration. Official FAQ.

15 — General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship, acquisition of Turkish citizenship through marriage, Law No. 5901 Art. 16. Official page.

16 — Presidency of Migration Management, application documents for a family residence permit. Official e-Residence page.