Turkish Civil Records in the U.S. — 2026 Guide

The document that carries every Turkish family file is the population register extract. The annotated version shows the complete family record — births, marriages and deaths within the family unit — and it is what proves a line of descent. It is available from consulates abroad, from the directorate in Türkiye, or through the state digital portal, and it is free.

Quick facts

Registering a child born in the United States is done under the civil registry legislation, either through a consulate or directly at a registry office in Türkiye, with the child’s apostilled and translated foreign birth certificate.

Fees breakdown

Once the registration is complete, the applicant is notified to collect the identity card, and only with that card in hand can they apply for a passport at a consulate or passport office.

How to file

1. Order the child’s U.S. birth certificate and have it apostilled.
2. Arrange the Turkish translation, notarised where required.
3. Obtain the Turkish parent’s annotated register extract, at no cost.
4. File the registration at the consulate covering your area, or at a registry office in Türkiye.
5. Collect the identity card when notified.
6. Apply for the passport once the card exists.

Required documents

• Child’s foreign birth certificate, apostilled and translated.
• Turkish parent’s identity card and passport.
• Turkish parent’s annotated population register extract.
• Parents’ marriage certificate where applicable.
• Proof of address.
• Completed registration forms.

Where to file

At the consulate covering your area, or at a civil registry office in Türkiye.

Additional notes

Marriage status matters less than you think

Descent from a Turkish parent applies regardless of place of birth or whether the parents were married, so an unmarried couple’s child is not excluded.

Names in Turkish

Turkish letters that do not exist in English are a recurring source of mismatch across documents. Fix the spelling once and use it everywhere.

The extract is the starting point

Before paying anyone for research, request the annotated extract. It often answers the question by itself.

Keep copies

Every later procedure asks for these documents again.