Which level of certification do you need?
The most common delay in translation work comes from preparing a document at the wrong level of certification. There are three levels, and which one applies is decided not by the document itself but by the institution requesting it.
Sworn translation
A translation stamped and signed by a translator who holds a sworn affidavit at a notary's office. For many institutions this is sufficient on its own. Further details: sworn translation.
Notarised translation
The sworn translation is additionally certified by a notary's office. This level is required in a significant share of title deed, company formation, citizenship and court procedures. Further details: notarised translation.
Apostille and consular legalisation
If the document will be used abroad, the document itself needs certification, separately from the translation. Depending on whether the country is a party to the Hague Convention, either the apostille or the consular certification route applies. Further details: apostille and consular certification.
The order matters. For a document coming from abroad, the apostille is obtained before the translation; for a document going from Türkiye abroad, it is obtained once the translation and certification are complete. The wrong order means repeating every step of the procedure.
Which page for which type of document?
The type of document determines both the translator's field of expertise and the level of certification required. Each of the headings below is explained in detail on its own page.
Court files, contracts and powers of attorney: legal translation. Hearings and statements: court interpreting. Company documents, invoices and customs paperwork: commercial translation.
Diplomas, transcripts and equivalence letters: academic translation. Discharge summaries, medical reports and test results: medical translation. Passports and identity documents: passport and ID translation.
In some procedures the presence of an interpreter at the time of the transaction is required by law. At the title deed office: interpreting for title deed transactions. At the marriage ceremony: marriage ceremony interpreting. For meetings and negotiations two methods are used, depending on the need: simultaneous interpreting and consecutive interpreting.
Before you bring your document
- The spelling of your first name and surname must match the Latin-script spelling in your passport exactly; with Cyrillic and Arabic-script documents this is the most common source of error.
- Notary certification requires the original document or a notarised copy; a photocopy or a photograph is not sufficient.
- If you will submit the same document to more than one institution, state the number of copies at the outset; obtaining additional copies later can restart the procedure.
- Some documents have a validity period in the eyes of the institution; check the date before the translation begins.
- Tell us which institution the document is for and which procedure it serves; the level of certification is determined by that information.
Together with your consultancy file
The need for translation usually does not arise on its own but as part of an application. Because the translation of the documents required in your application file is handled by the same team, name spellings, terminology and date formats stay consistent across all of your paperwork.
The consultancy areas most often handled alongside translation: residence permit consultancy, work permit consultancy, Turkish citizenship consultancy and company formation for foreign nationals. For all areas: consultancy services.