Turkish Document Apostille in the U.S. — 2026 Guide

Türkiye and the United States are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so a U.S. public document used in Türkiye needs an apostille from the Secretary of State of the issuing state, plus a Turkish translation. The translation is normally expected to be notarised in Türkiye.

Quick facts

One genuinely useful fact: the population register extract, which is the backbone of every Turkish descent file, carries no fee and can be obtained from a consulate abroad as well as from the directorate or the state digital portal.

Fees breakdown

Turkish documents travelling the other way are apostilled by a governorate for administrative documents or by a court for judicial ones, rather than by one national office.

How to prepare a document for Türkiye

1. Order a certified copy from the issuing office.
2. Notarise private documents first, since the apostille certifies the notary.
3. File with the Secretary of State of the issuing state, or Washington for federal records.
4. Have the translation made and notarised in Türkiye where that is required.
5. Request the population register extract from the consulate, at no cost.

Required documents

• Original certified copy with signature and seal.
• Completed authentication request and payment.
• Photo identification for consular services.
• Prepaid return envelope for mail filings.

What the consulates do

They issue passports and identity cards, register births and marriages, issue population register extracts and blue cards, perform notarial acts, handle military service documentation and assist Turkish citizens in difficulty.

Additional notes

Criminal record certificates

The Turkish equivalent is the criminal record certificate with archive information, which is what foreign authorities usually require rather than the short version.

Ask for the annotated extract

For descent files you need the annotated register extract showing the whole family record, not a simple one.

Order two copies

Turkish offices keep what they receive, and repeating the chain from abroad is slow.

Never apostille a photocopy

The certificate attaches to an original or a certified copy from the record keeper.