For foreigners living in Türkiye
Residence permit, work permit, citizenship, property and marriage files all ask for translated documents — but not the same way. This page shows which of your papers actually need translation and which do not.
If you live in Türkiye, sooner or later an institution will ask for a translated document. The question is which documents, and at what approval level.
⭐ The rule that saves the most money
Documents issued in Türkiye are not translated. Your address registration, Turkish rental contract, Turkish bank statement, Turkish health insurance and student certificate from a Turkish university all stay as they are.
Translation applies only to documents issued abroad. Splitting your list into these two groups before you order anything removes the most common unnecessary cost.
Where each file differs
| File | Approval level |
|---|---|
| Residence permit | Sworn translation certified by a notary |
| Work permit | Sworn translator or official authority certification |
| Citizenship | Notarised sworn translation |
| Property transfer | Sworn interpreter present at the land registry |
| Marriage | Depends on the documents; multilingual forms may need nothing |
The work permit line is worth reading twice: the legislation accepts two certification forms, so notarisation is not required on every item.
⚠ Apostille is not issued here
Türkiye cannot apostille a foreign document. The apostille is obtained in the country that issued it — ideally before you leave, because obtaining it remotely takes months.
Name spellings
If your passport, birth certificate and diploma spell your name differently, you will be asked for a document showing they refer to the same person. This request appears again and again across files, so obtain it once and keep it.
Where to go next
Detailed procedures are under procedures; document-by-document notes are under documents.
Frequently asked questions
No. Documents issued in Türkiye are not translated.
No. Work permit files accept sworn translator or official authority certification.
No. It must be apostilled in the country that issued it.
You will be asked for a document showing they refer to the same person; obtain it once and keep it.