Published: 16 September 2026 · Reading time approximately 7 minutes
In a marriage application in Türkiye a health report showing that there is no impediment to marriage is required from both parties. This requirement applies to the foreign party as well, and the report is expected to be obtained in Türkiye.
Where is the report obtained?
The report is obtained from the family medicine practice, community health centre or state hospital in the place where the marriage is to take place. The marriage registry office mostly directs you at the time of application to the institution to attend. There are offices that accept a private hospital report and offices that do not — which is why it is worth asking before you go.
Health reports brought by the foreign party from their own country are generally not accepted; the report is required from an authorised health institution in Türkiye.
What does the report cover?
The content of the examination is determined by the legislation and the practice of the local directorate of health; the doctor decides. In practice, alongside the general examination certain screenings may be requested, and in some provinces haemoglobinopathy screening is carried out as a matter of routine. The health institution you apply to will tell you which tests are needed — this is not a matter for consultancy.
If there is a language barrier
If the foreign party does not speak Turkish, difficulty in understanding can arise during the examination. An accompanying interpreter ensures both that the questions are understood correctly and that the content of the report is conveyed to the parties. The same interpreter can also be appointed for the marriage ceremony.
Period of validity and the right order
A health report is not without a time limit; registry offices expect the report to be submitted within a certain period from the date on which it was issued. For that reason the correct order is this: first complete the apostille and translation chain for the certificate of single status and the birth certificate, settle the date of the marriage, and then obtain the health report. Those who do it the other way round obtain the report twice.
All the documents requested from the foreign party
- A valid passport and identity document
- Certificate of single status (certificate of capacity to marry) — apostilled or certified, with a notarised translation
- Birth certificate — with the same certification and translation chain
- A health report obtained in Türkiye
- Passport-size photographs
- If previously married, a document showing the divorce or the death record
The requirement for an interpreter at the ceremony
If one of the parties does not speak Turkish, a sworn interpreter must be present at the marriage ceremony. The interpreter's name is notified to the marriage registry office before the ceremony; looking for an interpreter at the last minute on the day of the ceremony leads to the marriage being postponed.
What do we do?
We draw up the marriage registry office's current document list at the outset, manage the apostille and translation chain and put the health report step at the right place in the timetable. Accompanying you to the examination and appointing an interpreter for the ceremony are met from the same office. We also plan the application for a family residence permit after the marriage in the same file.
Legal basis
The provisions of Turkish Civil Code No. 4721 on the conditions of marriage; the provisions of Public Health Law No. 1593 on the pre-marriage examination; the Marriage Regulation.
Legislation and administrative practice may change. The information on this page is for general guidance only; an assessment specific to your case requires a consultation.