How long does apostille take in Turkey?

Typically 1-3 business days, depending on the issuing authority and document type. From our Ankara office, we handle the entire process — sworn translation, notarisation and apostille — and can often complete all steps within 2 business days.

My country doesn't accept apostilles. What do I do?

Countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention — such as Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, China and Iraq — require a different authentication chain: sworn translation → notarisation → Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval → embassy or consulate legalisation.

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Apostille in Turkey — A Complete Guide

Updated April 2025

If you need a Turkish document accepted in another country — a diploma, birth certificate, criminal record or notarised contract — you almost certainly need an apostille. Here is exactly how the process works in Turkey, who issues apostilles, and what happens when your country is not in the Apostille Convention.

What is an apostille?

An apostille is a standardised certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document. It was established under the 1961 Hague Convention and is accepted in 120+ countries. When a Turkish document carries an apostille, the receiving country recognises the signature and seal of the Turkish authority without any further legalisation.

Turkey joined the Hague Convention in 1985. Turkish apostilles are accepted in all member states — including Germany, France, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.

Who issues apostilles in Turkey?

Unlike many countries where a single authority issues all apostilles, Turkey distributes apostille authority by document type:

Document type	Issuing authority
Birth, marriage, death certificates	District or provincial governorship
Notarised documents	District or provincial governorship
University diplomas	Provincial Directorate of National Education
Court decisions	Ministry of Justice
SGK / social security documents	Ministry of Labour and Social Security
Ministry-issued documents	Relevant ministry

The full process — step by step

Sworn translation

If the receiving country needs the document in its own language, a sworn translator prepares a certified translation. In Turkey, sworn translators are court-appointed and their translations carry legal weight.

Notarisation (if required)

Some countries require the sworn translation to be notarised — stamped and signed by a Turkish notary public. This confirms the translator's identity and seal.

Apostille

The relevant Turkish authority affixes the apostille certificate. This is a single-page attachment that certifies the document's authenticity for all Hague Convention member states.

Delivery

The apostilled document is ready to be submitted to the foreign institution — embassy, university, court or government office.

Countries that do NOT accept apostilles

Some major destinations are outside the Hague Convention. For these countries, the process is longer and requires Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval plus embassy legalisation:

Country	Required chain	Timeline
Russia	Translation → Notary → MFA → Russian Embassy	8-12 business days
UAE	Translation → Notary → MFA → UAE Embassy	6-10 business days
Saudi Arabia	Translation → Notary → MFA → Saudi Embassy	8-12 business days
China	Translation → Notary → MFA → Chinese Embassy	8-12 business days

Note: Russia withdrew from the Apostille Convention in 2019. Documents sent to Russia before 2019 using apostilles are no longer valid for new submissions.

Official Sources

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a translation before or after the apostille?

Translation first, then apostille. The translated document is also notarised and can receive its own apostille if the receiving institution requires it.

How long does the whole process take?

For apostille-member countries: typically 2-4 business days for translation, notarisation and apostille. For non-member countries: 7-12 business days including embassy legalisation.

Can you handle everything from abroad?

Yes. Send us a scan or photo of your document via WhatsApp. We complete the translation, notarisation and apostille in Ankara, then courier the certified documents to your address anywhere in Turkey or abroad.

Need an apostille on your Turkish document?

Send us a photo of your document. We'll confirm what's needed and how long it takes — usually within the hour.

WhatsApp +90 555 722 1645