Getting Married in Turkey as a Foreigner: A Simple Guide

Are you considering getting married in stunning Turkey? Documents, processes, and some real talk recommendations will all be covered in this blog, regardless of whether you're marrying a Turkish national or someone else. Just what you truly will be discussed in this blog.

What Documents Are Needed in Turkey for Marriage? 

As foreign couples, answering this question will help you understand how everything works and help you avoid mistakes that could jeopardise the entire marriage registration procedure in Turkey.

Important Reminder           

In Turkey, only civil marriages are permitted. In addition to the civil ceremony, you are free to hold any religious ceremony you like, although in Turkey, religious services are not legally recognised. Moreover, take note that Turkish authorities are not permitted to perform a marriage that would not be permitted in your own nation. You won't be able to get the documentation needed under Turkish marriage law from the authorities in your home country if your country's laws forbid you from being married, which will prevent you from getting married in Turkey.

Essential Requirements for Turkish Marriage 

The Turkish Civil Code states that in order to get married legally in Turkey, a number of requirements must be fulfilled:

• 18 is the legal minimum age to get married. According to Turkish law, any marriage involving children that is not authorised by law is void and subject to penalties.
• Both parties must voluntarily and mutually consent. Any form of duress or compulsion can render a marriage void.

Let's begin with the fundamentals of Turkish marriage registration

Depending on where you're from and when you intend to get married, the requirements for marriage registration in Turkey can change, but generally speaking, all couples must provide the following paperwork for both partners.

What You Need to Prepare:

1. Passports

• Both parties need valid passports.
• Make sure your passports are translated into Turkish by a certified translator and notarized.

2. Birth Certificates

• Required for both individuals.
• Must be officially translated into Turkish and legalized (either with an apostille or through the Turkish consulate in your home country).

3. Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (aka: single status certificate)

• This proves you’re legally free to marry.
• You can usually get it from your home country’s local government, embassy, or consulate.
• It must be translated into Turkish and notarized or approved with an apostille.

4. Health Report

• Both partners must go to a government hospital or health center (called “Devlet Hastanesi” or “Sağlık Ocağı”) in Turkey to get a medical checkup.
• The blood test is mandatory (mainly to check for diseases like hepatitis, HIV, and thalassemia).

5. Photos

• You’ll need about 6 passport-size biometric photos each.
• Make sure they meet Turkish standards (white background, recent, no smiling).

6. Residency Document (if applicable)

• If you live in Turkey, bring your residence permit.
• If you're just visiting, your tourist visa and entry stamp should be enough in most cases.

7. Marriage Petition/Application Form

• You get this at the local Marriage Registry Office (Evlendirme Dairesi).
• Both partners must be physically present to apply.
• The prerequisites for marriage in Turkey are not as stringent or difficult as those in many other nations, as the list above illustrates! 

The Value of Eyewitnesses 

Legal validation of the marriage ceremony requires at least two witnesses who are at least eighteen years old. Foreigners may testify if they have a personal relationship with the couple. The marriage certificate must bear their signatures and presence.

There are, however, a number of other factors you must also take into mind, just like with everything concerning legal documentation. For example, you may need to obtain particular documentation from the marriage office from your consulate in Istanbul or Ankara, depending on your nationality.  Additionally, you might need to present your original documentation, have some documents legalised by your Turkish consulate, alter the format of your current paperwork, and take into account how long your Certificate of Marital Status will be valid.

Crucial Considerations for Paperwork 

Take into account the following crucial factors to guarantee a trouble-free marriage in Turkey and a seamless application process:

• Document legalisation at your consulate and then at the Turkish governor's office in your area
• The local notary in Turkey will translate your paperwork into Turkish.
• Your consulate's marriage office may request that the format in which your documents are provided in your country be changed to one that is accepted.

Document Legalisation

Document legalisation, sometimes referred to as authentication or notarisation in Turkey, is the process of attesting to the authenticity and legality of a significant document so that it can be appropriately acknowledged and utilised for its intended purpose.Before they can be used to support your marriage application, all documents issued in another nation must be legalised.

Legalisation of apostille for citizens of nations covered by the Hague Convention 

You may be required to obtain an Apostille Legalisation if the nation in which your document was issued is one covered by the Hague Convention. In essence, this is a universal legalisation certificate that can be used in any country covered by the Hague Convention to confirm the legitimacy of a document without requiring that the document be legalised in the country that requests it.

Turkish Translation of the Necessary Documents 

Depending on the original language, you must first have your documents professionally translated into Turkish. Regretfully, you cannot simply submit your documents in their original language. Only documents authorised by the local public notary and written in Turkish are accepted by the Turkish government.  Before submitting your documents, you must have them professionally translated into Turkish and notarised if they are in any other language. In the interim, you should steer clear of any time-sensitive documents that have a set validity period because they may be expiring. 

Where to Apply? 

In the district where you or your spouse reside, visit the Belediye Evlendirme Dairesi (Marriage Office of the Municipality). Offices in a few big cities—Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, and Izmir—have more expertise working with foreign couples.

How Much Time Does It Take?

• You can typically get married in two to five days after your paperwork is prepared and authorised.
• If they're busy, particularly during the summer, some well-known municipalities may take longer.

Following the Wedding: Your Marriage License

An official Turkish marriage certificate known as a "Evlenme Cüzdanı" will be given to you.
Get it apostilled for international recognition if you intend to use it overseas. This can be done at the Governor's Office (Valilik) or a Kaymakamlık.

What Happens If I'm Widowed or Divorced?

• Bring your ex-spouse's death certificate or your divorce decree.
• These also need to be notarised, apostilled, and formally translated.

To Conclude, Getting married in Turkey can be beautiful, exciting, and—if you're prepared—pretty smooth. Don’t let paperwork scare you. Just follow each step, ask questions at the marriage office if unsure, and enjoy this big chapter of your life.