United Kingdom Apostille for Documents Used in Türkiye
UK apostilles for Türkiye: the FCDO Legalisation Office, what it accepts directly, when a UK notary or solicitor comes first, and the e-Apostille.
UK documents are apostilled by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The practical question is usually not where to apply but whether the document can go to that office as it is.
Accepted as issued, or certified first
Some documents qualify directly. Certificates from a public registry, such as a birth, marriage or death certificate or a company certificate issued by Companies House, are on the list. Court documents qualify when they are sealed with a wet ink court seal, and government department documents when they are signed by an official, for example a letter confirming tax registration.
Other documents can be legalised once a UK public official, such as a UK notary or solicitor, has certified them. The guidance names a power of attorney, a contract and a qualification certificate as examples, which covers a degree certificate for a Turkish university or a power of attorney for a property sale in Türkiye. A certified copy of a UK document has to be made by a notary based in the UK.
Applications are made online, for a paper apostille or for an e-Apostille. The e-Apostille requires the documents to be uploaded as PDF files electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor. It is not available for General Register Office documents, disclosure certificates, fingerprint certificates and some membership certificates, so a birth or marriage certificate still takes the paper route. Before choosing the electronic form, ask the Turkish authority whether it accepts an e-Apostille.
From the UK to Ankara
After the apostille, translators sworn before a Turkish notary translate the document into Turkish at our Ankara office. Where the receiving authority asks for it, a Turkish notary certifies the translation, and the authority decides whether the document is accepted.
Who issues the apostille
| Document family | Competent authority | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Civil status | Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) | www.gov.uk |
| Court | Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) | www.gov.uk |
| Company | Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) | www.gov.uk |
| Government | Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) | www.gov.uk |
| Notarial | Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) | www.gov.uk |
| Education | Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) | www.gov.uk |
Frequently asked questions
- Who issues the apostille for civil status documents from United Kingdom?
- Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office). Listed as a public registry document that can be legalised. General Register Office documents cannot get an e-Apostille (paper apostille only).
- Who issues the apostille for court documents from United Kingdom?
- Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office). Court documents must be sealed with a wet ink court seal.
- Who issues the apostille for company documents from United Kingdom?
- Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office). Company certificates issued by Companies House are listed as legalisable public registry documents.
- Who issues the apostille for government documents from United Kingdom?
- Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office). Government department documents must be signed by an official.
- Who issues the apostille for notarial documents from United Kingdom?
- Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office). Other documents can be legalised once certified by a UK public official such as a UK notary or solicitor.
- Who issues the apostille for education documents from United Kingdom?
- Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office). A qualification certificate is given as an example of a document that is legalised after certification by a UK notary or solicitor.