Both Turkiye and the US are parties to the Apostille Convention, so US recipients usually ask for an apostille issued in Turkiye rather than consular legalization. Which Turkish office issues it depends on the document, and some documents can now be apostilled online. Ask the US recipient exactly what they want before you start.
- 01
Administrative documents
Governorship or district governorship.
Apostilles for administrative documents are issued by the governorship (valilik) or district governorship (kaymakamlık). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not certify apostilled documents again.
- 02
Judicial documents
The courthouse justice commission.
Court documents, and criminal record certificates for use abroad, are apostilled by the justice commission (adalet komisyonu) at courthouses with a heavy penal court. For notarized documents practice varies, so check with the office first.
- 03
Online
e-Apostil covers some documents.
- Criminal record certificates (adli sicil)
- E-signed court decisions
- Civil registry extracts (nüfus kayıt örneği)
- Multilingual birth, marriage and death extracts
- 04
Online · How
Through eapostil.gov.tr or e-Devlet.
e-Apostil applications are made at eapostil.gov.tr or with an e-Devlet login, and the result can be verified online. Documents that are not on the e-Apostil list, such as diplomas and company documents, need a paper apostille.
- 05
From the US
Getting the document first.
Civil registry extracts and criminal records are available on e-Devlet, or in person at a Turkish consulate with a Turkish ID card or passport. Consulates issue e-Devlet passwords in person; they do not issue e-Apostil, which you apply for online yourself.
- 06
Translation
Ask which version gets the apostille.
A sworn translation, certified by a notary, is common. Some recipients want the Turkish original apostilled and then translated; others want the translation apostilled. Ask the recipient before you begin.
Good to know
Ask the recipient what they need before you apply.
Rules and office practice change. Turkish-law matters are handled by the Turkish attorneys at Sonmez Partners.
Official sources
- HCCH – Türkiye apostille authorities
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Document certification (PDF)
- Consulate General in Los Angeles – e-Apostil (PDF)
- Consulate General in Los Angeles – Civil registry services (PDF)
- Consulate General in Guangzhou – e-Apostil document list (PDF)
Last reviewed: October 2026. General information only, not legal advice. Sonmez Consulting LLC is not a U.S. law firm.