What is consular legalisation and when is it required?

An apostille is not valid in every country

An apostille is valid only between countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention. Documents for use in a non-contracting country undergo consular legalisation instead.

As the list of contracting countries can change over time, the destination country's current status must be confirmed before proceeding.

How does the legalisation chain work?

Consular legalisation is a chain of successive certifications. The general procedure is as follows:

• The document is issued and, if necessary, a notarised translation is prepared
• The document is certified by the district governor's office or governor's office
• Legalisation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obtained
• At the final stage, the diplomatic mission in Türkiye of the country where the document will be used legalises it

Each link in the chain verifies the preceding one; the document will not be accepted if a stage is skipped.

Time and cost

Consular legalisation takes longer than obtaining an apostille. Consular appointment systems, working days, and workloads are the main factors determining the timeframe.

Consulates charge their own fees for legalisation. This fee is separate from translation and notarial costs and is paid directly to the consulate.

For which countries is it required?

Some Gulf countries and certain countries in Africa and Asia are not party to the Hague Convention. However, the list changes; many countries have joined the Convention subsequently.

If you tell us the destination country for your document, we can clarify the appropriate route together.

A common mistake

The most common mistake is obtaining an apostille for a non-contracting country and having the document rejected at the consulate. In that case, the process starts again.

Another common mistake is following the legalisation chain in the wrong order. A consulate will not process a document that lacks the preceding certification.

Frequently asked questions