Documents from Germany for use in Türkiye

A German public document used in Türkiye needs an apostille on the original, issued by Germany's competent authority, and a notarised Turkish translation made in Türkiye. No consular legalisation is needed. In the other direction, a Turkish document used in Germany needs an apostille issued in Türkiye, and the German authority may ask for a translation. Our page on apostille and legalisation explains the general system.

Apostille status of documents from Germany

According to the HCCH status table (checked on 21 October 2026), Germany is a party to the Apostille Convention. The Convention entered into force for Germany on 13 February 1966. Türkiye has been a party since 29 September 1985.

Because both countries are parties, a German public document needs no consular legalisation by a Turkish embassy or consulate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dışişleri Bakanlığı) does not certify a document that already carries an apostille. If you are unsure which system applies to a document, our guide on telling the two systems apart walks through it.

Public documents under the Convention include:

• court documents, such as a German divorce judgment;
• administrative documents, such as a civil-status certificate;
• notarial acts, such as a power of attorney drawn up by a German notary;
• official certificates placed on private documents, such as a notary's certification of a signature.

The apostille certifies the signature, the signer's capacity and, where relevant, the seal. It does not certify what the document says. Which German authority issues the apostille depends on the document. Check Germany's own official sources for the authority and its requirements.

Translating German documents into Turkish

Get the apostille first, in Germany, on the original. Then have the document translated in Türkiye. For the reasons behind this order, see why the apostille comes first.

A sworn translator translates the German document into Turkish. A sworn translator has taken an oath before a Turkish notary, and the oath record stays at that notary's office. The notary then adds an endorsement under the translation that identifies the sworn translator and gives the translator's address. The notary dates, signs and seals it.

A notarised translation is treated as valid until proven otherwise. When it is used inside Türkiye, it needs no apostille of its own. A translation office prepares the translation but issues neither the notary's endorsement nor an apostille.

What to check in the translation

• Names. German names are in Latin script, so they are written letter for letter. Umlauts and other marks stay, even where the Turkish alphabet has no such letter.
• One spelling. Your passport spelling is the reference. If documents differ, the documents of your state of nationality prevail.
• Dates and reference numbers. Check them against the original, including file numbers on court and registry documents.
• Stamps and verification codes. Seals, handwritten notes and any printed verification code are part of the document and appear in the translation.

Bring the original German document. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication FAQ, a Turkish notary cannot certify a copy of a foreign authority's document as a true copy.

A translation made in Germany follows different rules. One Turkish consulate's published notice on powers of attorney says a translation made abroad needs its own apostille. A translation made in Türkiye by a sworn translator needs only a Turkish notary's certification.

German documents issued inside Türkiye

The Apostille Convention does not cover documents made by diplomatic or consular agents. A document that a German mission in Türkiye issues therefore follows the Turkish Ministry's own route:

• Embassy document. A sworn translator translates it. The notary joins the original and the translation and certifies them. The Consular Authentication Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara then certifies them, by appointment through tasdik.mfa.gov.tr.
• Consulate-general document. The governor's office (valilik) of that province approves it. It is then valid throughout Türkiye, without the Ministry.
• Honorary consulate document. Turkish civil registry offices do not act on it.

A CIEC multilingual civil-status extract is a separate case. Turkish civil registries take it without legalisation.

Turkish documents for use in Germany

For a Turkish document used in Germany, an apostille issued in Türkiye is enough. The issuing authority depends on the document type.

• Notarised translation into German. This is a notarial act. A governor's office or a district governor's office (kaymakamlık) issues the apostille. Since 2024 this can be in any province or district, not only where the notary works.
• Administrative and civil-registry documents. A governor's or district governor's office issues the apostille, and you arrange it yourself.
• Original court decisions. The apostille comes from the presidency of the justice commission (adalet komisyonu başkanlığı). The e-Apostil system also issues e-apostilles for criminal record certificates and court decisions.

A notarised German translation of a Turkish court decision is still a notarial act. Its apostille comes from a governor's or district governor's office.

The German authority may also ask for a German translation. Ask it whether it wants the apostille on the original Turkish document, on the notarised translation, or on both.