Sworn Translation, Notary & Apostille in Istanbul
A sworn translation (yeminli tercüme) is made by a translator who has taken an oath before a Turkish notary (noter); Göç İdaresi, the civil and land registries, courts and universities usually require this format. It is normally completed by notary certification (noter onayı), and foreign documents first need an apostille or consular legalisation. This guide covers how these steps differ, what sinks a translation and when you need an interpreter. Rafiq coordinates it all.
Sworn translation vs notary certification vs apostille
These are three separate steps, and none replaces another. A sworn translation renders a text into or out of Turkish by a translator whose oath is registered with a notary under Notaries Law No. 1512. Notary certification confirms that the translation comes from a translator sworn at that notary; it does not check the accuracy of the content. An apostille is an international certificate under the 1961 Hague Convention, applied by Türkiye since 1985, confirming the signature and seal on a public document, not what it says. Countries outside the Convention require consular legalisation through a chain of authorities instead.
Common mistakes that get sworn translations refused
Most refused translations fail on form, not language. The usual mistakes: a translation by someone bilingual but not sworn, refused however good it is; a name spelled in Latin letters differently from the passport or an earlier translation, so records conflict; leaving the apostille page untranslated alongside the document; handing in a photocopy when the office wants the original or a certified copy; and relying on an old document when the office requires a recently issued one, such as a criminal record certificate. Rafiq matches name spellings and the receiving office's requirements before translation starts.
When you need an interpreter rather than a written translation
You need an interpreter when the information or decision is in a live conversation, not on paper. Typical cases: a medical appointment, where accurate symptoms and instructions affect treatment; a migration office or land registry appointment; and signing at a notary, which requires an interpreter when a party does not speak Turkish. A friend without training may drop meaning or add opinions, and is bound by no professional confidentiality. In court, the court appoints its own interpreter. Rafiq provides an interpreter who comes with you in person and interprets as the conversation happens.
Common questions
Will a translation made in my home country be accepted in Türkiye?
Not always. Turkish offices usually accept translations by a translator sworn in Türkiye and certified by a notary. A translation made abroad may be accepted if certified by a Turkish consulate or apostilled, depending on the receiving office, but many offices ask for a new Turkish translation, so confirm the office's requirement before ordering any translation.
Does an apostille certify that a document's content is true?
No. An apostille confirms only the signature, the signer's capacity and the seal on the document, not the accuracy of its content. It is issued in the country that produced the document: a foreign document is apostilled at home, while a Turkish one is apostilled in Türkiye by the district governorship or governorship for administrative documents, or the justice commission for court documents.
Is a sworn translation enough without notary certification?
Usually not. Most official offices, including Göç İdaresi, the civil registry and the land registry, ask for a sworn translation certified by a notary (noter onaylı tercüme). Some private bodies or universities may accept the sworn translator's stamp alone, but this varies, and a refused uncertified translation means redoing the work and delaying your file.
Official sources
The information on this page follows what these official authorities publish; the final decision in every procedure is theirs: