Burak Ünal, Founder & Sworn Translator (English, French) · Updated
Translation and certification
- Yeminli tercüme (sworn translation)
- A translation made and signed by a sworn translator, who stamps it and declares it a faithful rendering of the source. It is the form of translation that Turkish notaries certify.
- Yeminli tercüman (sworn translator)
- A translator who has taken an oath before a Turkish notary for one or more languages after proving their competence, and whose signature that notary keeps on file.
- Noter tasdiki, noter onayı (notarization)
- The notary's certification of the sworn translator's signature on a translation. It is what most Turkish offices mean when they ask for an official translation.
- Noter tasdikli tercüme (notarized translation)
- A sworn translation that a Turkish notary has certified. The usual requirement for foreign documents used in Turkey.
- Apostil (apostille)
- A certificate under the 1961 Hague Convention that confirms the signature and seal on a public document, so that it is accepted in other member countries without further legalization.
- Konsolosluk tasdiki (consular legalization)
- The chain of certifications required instead of an apostille when the destination country is not party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
- Aslı gibidir (certified true copy)
- A stamp by which a notary or the issuing institution confirms that a copy matches the original.
- Islak imza (wet signature)
- A handwritten signature in ink, as opposed to an electronic signature. Some institutions accept only originals with a wet signature.
Who translates and certifies your documents
Burak Ünal
Founder & Sworn Translator (English, French)
- Sworn translator (English, French), Istanbul Courts, 2025 - registration no. 582
- Registered sworn translator at Beyoglu 10th and 13th Notaries
Get a quote for your document
Send a photo or scan by WhatsApp or email, or use the quote form. We reply with the price and delivery time, usually the same business day.
Civil registry documents
- Nüfus kayıt örneği (population register extract)
- An extract from the Turkish civil registry showing a person's identity and family details, available on e-Devlet or from a civil registry office.
- Tam vukuatlı nüfus kayıt örneği (full civil registry extract)
- The full version of the extract, listing every recorded event such as births, marriages, divorces and deaths. Often requested for marriage, citizenship and inheritance procedures abroad.
- Formül A, B, C (multilingual extracts)
- Multilingual birth (A), marriage (B) and death (C) extracts issued under the 1976 Vienna Convention. Some countries accept them without a translation.
- Evlenme ehliyet belgesi (certificate of no impediment)
- A document confirming that a person is free to marry, asked of foreigners marrying in Turkey and of Turkish citizens marrying abroad.
- Adli sicil kaydı (criminal record certificate)
- A certificate showing whether a person has a criminal record, issued in Turkey through e-Devlet or at a courthouse.
- Yerleşim yeri belgesi (proof of address)
- A certificate of a person's registered address, issued on e-Devlet or by a civil registry office.
Education, work and residence
- Denklik (recognition, equivalence)
- Official recognition of a foreign diploma in Turkey: by YÖK for university degrees and by the Ministry of National Education for school certificates.
- YÖK (Council of Higher Education)
- The body that regulates Turkish universities and decides on the equivalence of foreign university degrees.
- İkamet izni (residence permit)
- Permission for a foreign national to live in Turkey, issued by the Presidency of Migration Management.
- Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı (Presidency of Migration Management)
- The authority that handles residence permits and other procedures for foreigners in Turkey.
- Çalışma izni (work permit)
- Permission for a foreign national to work in Turkey, issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
- e-Devlet
- The Turkish government's online portal. Many documents printed from it carry a barcode that the receiving institution can use to verify them.
Company and legal documents
- Vekâletname (power of attorney)
- A document, usually drawn up at a notary, that authorizes someone to act on another person's behalf. A foreigner signing one at a Turkish notary is usually asked for a notarized translation of their passport.
- Muvafakatname (letter of consent)
- A notarized consent, for example a parent's consent for a child to travel or study abroad.
- Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi (Trade Registry Gazette)
- The official gazette in which company formations, changes and appointments are published. Foreign registries and banks often ask for a translation.
- İmza sirküleri (signature circular)
- A notarized specimen of the signatures of the people authorized to sign for a company.
- Faaliyet belgesi (certificate of activity)
- A chamber of commerce certificate confirming that a company is registered and active.
- Vergi levhası (tax certificate)
- A document showing the tax office and tax number of a company or a self-employed person.
- Kesinleşme şerhi (finality annotation)
- An annotation confirming that a Turkish court decision is final. Institutions abroad usually ask for it together with the decision.
- Tanıma ve tenfiz (recognition and enforcement)
- The court procedure by which a foreign judgment, such as a divorce decree, takes effect in Turkey. The decision is filed with its apostille and a sworn, notarized translation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a sworn translation and a notarized translation?
A sworn translation is signed and stamped by a sworn translator. A notarized translation is a sworn translation whose translator signature has then been certified by a Turkish notary. Most Turkish offices ask for the notarized version.
Is an apostille the same as notarization?
No. Notarization certifies the translator's signature in Turkey. An apostille is a separate certificate that makes a Turkish public document, including a notarized translation, valid in another Hague Convention country.
Do I need a translation of my e-Devlet document?
If you use it abroad, usually yes, because the receiving institution needs it in its own language. Check whether it also needs an apostille.
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