Does my Turkish document need a sworn translation, notarisation or apostille?
Decision tool · Last updated: October 27, 2026 · Uğur Arı — sworn translator, Kartal 12th Notary Office
Where the document was issued, where it will be used, what type it is and who is asking for it — these four answers largely decide which steps may be required: a sworn English translation, notarisation, an apostille or consular legalisation. The tool below applies the rules from our guides to your answers and shows the likely sequence. The receiving institution always has the final say; ask them about every step marked "may be required".
Send the checker result and your document; we confirm translation, notarisation and apostille needs in writing before you pay. No upfront payment is required to request a quote.
Send Your Document on WhatsApp ↗The rules the tool applies (transparency)
- For a Turkish document used abroad the default step is a sworn English translation; two exceptions are checked: multilingual Formül A/B/C for civil-status records and the English e-Devlet version of a clean criminal record.
- Notarisation is never treated as "always required"; by institution type it is shown as "usually not / varies / usually asked".
- An apostille is shown as "may be required" for Hague countries and consular legalisation for the others; the likely authority is estimated from the document type (governorship or courthouse).
- A foreign document used in Turkey: sworn translation into Turkish, notarisation for most institutions, apostille obtained in the issuing country.
Frequently asked countries: apostille or consular legalisation?
| Status | Frequently asked countries (HCCH table, checked September 14, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Party to the Hague Apostille Convention (apostille) | United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, China, Japan, Korea, Morocco, Tunisia |
| Not a party (consular legalisation) | United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Syria, Lebanon |
For any other country check the HCCH status table; Hague membership decides the apostille route, not the institution\'s preference for a translation type.
e.g. passport, ID card, birth record, driving licence, criminal record, marriage certificate
e.g. diploma, one-page transcript, student certificate, certificate, equivalence certificate; long transcripts quoted in writing
Which class your document falls into, and whether any extra step is needed, is confirmed after document review. Prices are the same Turkish lira tariff as for clients in Türkiye; foreign-currency figures are approximate. Notarisation, apostille, courier and other extra steps are not included and are listed separately in your written quote. Foreign-currency figures are calculated from the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye buying rate of 9 October 2026 (NZD: ECB cross rate) and rounded up to .99.
Is the result binding?
No. The tool applies the general rules explained in our guides to your four answers and suggests a sequence at the level of "may be required". The binding requirement is set by the receiving institution.
Who issues the apostille in Turkey?
Administrative documents (civil registry, diplomas, company documents) are apostilled by the provincial or district governorship; judicial documents such as criminal records and court decisions by the Justice Commission Presidency at the courthouse (for eligible documents, where the conditions are met, an e-Apostille may also be possible; its scope depends on the competent authority's system); for notarial deeds, confirm the competent authority before you apply. Neither a translator nor a notary issues apostilles.
How do I check whether the destination is a Hague country?
On the HCCH Apostille Convention status table. The table on this page lists frequently asked countries and was checked on 14 September 2026.
Public official sources; contracting-state lists and procedures change, verify the current version when you apply.
Requirements and acceptance are ultimately decided by the receiving institution, the notary or the competent authority; practice changes and nothing here is guaranteed. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Send Your Document First. Pay After Reviewing Your Quote.
Certified translation requirements can vary by document and receiving authority. Send your document via WhatsApp, speak directly with a sworn translator, and receive a written quote covering the translation, any required certification and delivery options before making payment.
- Send your document. A photo or PDF by WhatsApp, and tell me where it will be used.
- The sworn translator reviews it. The document, its language pair, the purpose and the service you need — including whether notarisation, an apostille, a signed paper copy or international delivery is needed.
- You receive a written quote. Translation, any required certification, delivery and turnaround, before you pay.
- I prepare your translation. No upfront payment is required for the translation.
- You see it first. Once your translation is completed, I share a watermarked preview showing a suitable part of the document. The preview does not expose unnecessary personal data and does not replace the signed and stamped official document.
- Then you pay. After your payment is confirmed, I deliver the final, watermark-free translation with the translator’s statement, signature and stamp in the agreed format.
See that your translation is ready before you pay. No upfront payment is required, either to request a quote or for the translation. I cannot guarantee that a foreign authority will accept a document; where its requirements are unclear, I tell you to confirm them with the receiving authority before you pay.
I accept credit and debit cards. After you accept the written quote, you can pay by card, by bank transfer to my IBAN, or by Western Union where delivery to a bank account is available from your location; cash is possible in person in Türkiye. Card payments are made through a secure payment link in US dollars (USD); card charges, if any, are stated in your quote.
Send Your Document on WhatsApp ↗Ask a sworn translator about your document before paying.
Who provides this: İngilizce Yeminli Çeviri — Uğur Arı, sworn translator registered at the Kartal 12th Notary Office, Tuzla, Istanbul. Turkish ↔ English sworn translation, online, with the same Turkish lira prices worldwide.