Listen to this page
Press play to listen.
The recording could not be played. Please try again later.
The basic rule
Documents issued by foreign authorities for residence permit applications must be submitted translated into Turkish and certified. The common procedure is to apostille the document in its country of origin and then obtain a notarised Turkish translation.
Applications begin through the e-ikamet system, and the file is submitted to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management. For certain application types, documents can also be submitted through notaries.
Main documents requiring translation
- Birth certificate — particularly for applications involving children
- Marriage certificate — for a family residence permit
- Criminal record certificate — obtained from the authorities of the applicant's own country
- Translation of a tenancy agreement if it is in a foreign language
- Health insurance policy, if in a foreign language
- Certificate of enrolment and acceptance letter — for a student residence permit
- Income and bank documents
In which country is the apostille obtained?
An apostille is issued by the competent authority of the country that issued the document. An apostille for a foreign birth certificate cannot be obtained in Türkiye; it must be obtained in the document holder's own country.
If the document's country of origin is not party to the Hague Convention, legalisation by the Turkish diplomatic mission in that country is required instead of an apostille.
How is the translation certified in Türkiye?
Once the apostilled foreign document arrives in Türkiye, a sworn translator translates it into Turkish and the translation is notarised. Migration authorities expect the complete set — original document, apostille, and notarised translation — to be presented together.
Reproducing the document holder's name exactly as it appears in the passport is particularly important in these files; system records are matched using passport details.
Planning the timeframe
Appointment and file submission dates are binding in residence permit applications. Obtaining documents from abroad, apostilles, and translations can take several weeks in total; the complete file must be ready before the appointment.
The issue dates of documents such as criminal record and birth certificates also matter; many provincial directorates require documents obtained within the last six months. Confirm current practice with the provincial migration authority.
Frequently asked questions
My document is in English — is a Turkish translation still required?
Yes. Migration authorities require the file in Turkish; documents in all foreign languages, including English, require notarised Turkish translations.
Is the apostille itself also translated?
Yes. The apostille is part of the document and its details are also reproduced in the translation.
This content is for information purposes. The documents and procedures required by institutions may change; we recommend confirming the requirements with the relevant institution before applying.
