An apostille is the certification that makes a document issued in one country official in another, so that the receiving country's authorities accept it as an official document. Whether a foreign document is valid in Turkey, or a Turkish document is valid abroad, very often depends on it. Below: which authority issues it, what a double apostille is, and what to do when the destination country does not accept apostilles at all.
What an apostille is and where it works
The apostille is valid between the countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention. An apostille obtained in one member country proves the document's authenticity in all the others; no consular legalization is needed on top. It certifies the signature and seal on the document, not its content.
The apostille is a subject of its own, and what is required can vary from country to country, from institution to institution, and even from officer to officer. Finding out in advance what the receiving institution wants saves you a second trip.
Which authority issues it, for which document
In Turkey the apostille is issued by two different authorities, depending on the type of document:
- Administrative documents — civil registry extracts, diplomas and transcripts, criminal record certificates, notarized translations, powers of attorney issued by a notary and the like: the district governor's office (kaymakamlık) or the governor's office (valilik).
- Judicial documents — court decisions and anything issued by a courthouse: the judicial commission at the courthouse.
It is usually done the same day; for judicial documents this can vary from one courthouse to another.
Double apostille
Some countries and institutions require a separate apostille on the original document and on its notarized translation. This is called a double apostille. Italy asks for it most often; in recent years similar requests have started coming from countries such as Spain and the Netherlands.
The order matters:
- An apostille is obtained on the original document.
- The apostilled document is translated and notarized; the apostille itself is included in the translation.
- A second apostille is obtained on the notarized translation. Since the translation counts as a notarial document, its apostille is issued by the district governor's office.
Countries outside the Hague Convention: consular legalization
If the destination country is not party to the Hague Convention, the document is legalized instead of apostilled. Three authorities in sequence: first the district governor's office, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and finally the destination country's embassy in Ankara. Because three separate authorities are involved, the process may not be completed in a single day. Some require an appointment, and some return the document only after more than a day, which makes precise planning difficult. We handle it the same way for documents sent from other cities.
We recommend asking the institution that will receive your document whether it needs an apostille and from which authority; the translation and notarization are our part.
Bureaucratic procedures in Turkey and at foreign missions change from time to time. Before you act, we recommend confirming the current requirements with the institution you are applying to. We are glad to check with you which documents need an apostille.
Send a photo of the document that needs an apostille; we prepare the notarized translation, apostille included if a double apostille is required.
Ask about an apostille