Sworn/Yeminli Translation Help (via partner)

What makes a translation officially certified in Turkey?

In Turkey, no translation is accepted by official bodies unless it is issued by a "sworn translator" (yeminli tercüman). Under Turkish Notary Law No. 1512 (Noterlik Kanunu), the translator must take an oath before a notary public before becoming qualified to provide certified translations. The notary verifies the translator's command of the relevant language, and the oath is then recorded in an official record held specifically by that notary.

Only after this step is the translator considered "sworn," and their translations become eligible for official certification by the notary (noter onaylı tercüme), making them acceptable to government offices, courts, universities, and other official bodies in Turkey. An ordinary translation provided by a bilingual person without this procedure is not normally accepted in official transactions, regardless of its actual linguistic quality.

Important points to know

• Relying on an uncertified or unofficial translation in a government transaction exposes it to the risk of outright rejection by the relevant office
• Civil registry, land registry (tapu), immigration, courts, and universities generally require a translation issued by a sworn translator and certified by a notary — not merely a "comprehensible" translation
• A transaction rejected due to an uncertified translation means starting the procedure over, which costs extra time and can delay time-sensitive matters such as university enrollment or residence applications
• The validity of the oath record is tied to the specific notary before whom the translator took the oath, which is why some authorities are strict about the source of a translation and its certification

Frequently asked questions

Can any bilingual person translate my document into an officially certified translation? No. Turkish law (Notary Law No. 1512) requires the translator to have taken an oath before a notary to become a "sworn translator," and for their translation to subsequently be certified by that notary. A translation issued by a bilingual person without this procedure is not normally accepted in official transactions.

What specifically makes a translator "sworn"? A translator becomes sworn after a notary verifies their command of the relevant language and formally administers the oath, which is then recorded in a record held by that notary. Only from that point on are their translations eligible for official certification and use in government transactions.

Is a sworn translation alone enough without notary certification? Usually not; government authorities generally require the sworn translation to be accompanied by notary certification (noter onaylı tercüme) for it to be officially accepted.

Last updated: 2026-09-07