UK Contractors Bidding for Turkish Construction Work
Which UK company documents a foreign contractor needs for Turkish contractor registration and tenders, and how they are apostilled and translated.
A UK contractor applying for a Turkish contractor authorisation number (Yapı Müteahhitliği Yetki Belgesi Numarası) files its documents in Turkish. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change (provincial directorate) requires foreign-language documents to be submitted together with their original Turkish translations. The documents go to the directorate in a closed envelope, attached to the application form (Ek-1). The contractor registration rules refer to the public procurement legislation under Law No. 4734 for how documents must be presented. Under that legislation, the construction tender rules also govern foreign documents.
Getting UK documents apostilled
The tender rules exempt official documents issued in a state party to the Apostille Convention from certification by a Turkish consulate or the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as long as the documents fall under Article 1 of the Convention and carry an apostille. In the UK the apostille comes from the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. You apply online for a paper apostille or an e-Apostille. The Legalisation Office lists a company certificate issued by Companies House as a public registry document. A document from a government department must be signed by an official, such as a letter confirming tax registration. Other documents, including a power of attorney or a contract, can be legalised once a UK notary or solicitor has certified them. A certified copy of a UK document must be made by a notary based in the UK. An e-Apostille requires PDF files electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor.
The tender rules also set out a consular route. Either the document is certified by the issuing country's foreign ministry, directly or after other competent authorities there, and then by the Turkish consulate in that country. Or it is certified first by that country's representation in Türkiye and then by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Documents issued by honorary consulates cannot be relied on.
Translation and specific documents
For foreign bidders, a translation made by a sworn translator in the issuing country that carries an apostille needs no further certification. A translation made by sworn translators in Türkiye and approved by a notary also needs no further certification. For domestic bidders, and for joint ventures or consortia with a Turkish citizen or a Turkish-law company as a partner, translation by sworn translators in Türkiye and notarial approval are mandatory.
A balance sheet issued abroad must be prepared under that country's law and approved by the authority competent to issue it. Work experience gained abroad is documented under that country's legislation, with details including the employer's name or title and the location and nature of the work. The quoted texts do not list every document the directorate requires. Confirm the full list with the provincial directorate.