New Zealand Apostille for Documents Used in Türkiye
New Zealand apostilles for Türkiye: the DIA Authentication Unit, original certificates, copies it accepts, and why only an NZ notary public will do.
New Zealand documents are apostilled by the Authentication Unit of the Department of Internal Affairs. Its rules are set per document type, and one rule applies across all of them: where notarisation is needed, it must be done by a New Zealand notary public. Certification by a justice of the peace or a solicitor is not accepted, and a document certified that way cannot be apostilled.
Originals, certified copies and notarised copies
Birth, death, marriage, civil union and name change certificates must be sent as originals. For a marriage, that means the certificate, not the copy of particulars signed on the wedding day.
Court orders and dissolution orders are accepted in one of three forms: an original government-issued document with an ink signature, seal or stamp, a copy certified by the issuing department, or a copy notarised by an NZ notary public. A document printed from a website or an email does not count as an original. Other government documents, such as citizenship certificates or NZQA results, can also be sent as a copy certified by the issuing department.
Education records depend on the institution. Records from the universities of Canterbury, Victoria, Lincoln, Massey and Waikato, other tertiary institutions and schools are accepted as originals or as copies notarised by an NZ notary public; other universities share their records through My eQuals.
Company documents are easier. Companies Office extracts, certificates of incorporation, and trade mark and patent registrations are accepted as copies without notarisation, while company constitutions and Chamber of Commerce documents need an NZ notary public.
Applications are made with form BDM460, and the apostille can be issued on paper or as an e-apostille, a secure PDF sent by email. Ask the Turkish authority in advance which form it accepts.
Translation in Türkiye
Once apostilled, the document is translated into Turkish in Ankara by translators sworn before a Turkish notary. If the receiving authority requires it, a Turkish notary certifies the translation, and that authority decides on acceptance.
Who issues the apostille
| Document family | Competent authority | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Civil status | Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit | www.govt.nz |
| Court | Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit | www.govt.nz |
| Government | Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit | www.govt.nz |
| Education | Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit | www.govt.nz |
| Company | Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit | www.govt.nz |
| Notarial | Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit | www.govt.nz |
Frequently asked questions
- Who issues the apostille for civil status documents from New Zealand?
- Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit. Applies to NZ birth, death, marriage (not the copy of particulars signed on the wedding day), civil union and name change certificates: the original certificate must be sent.
- Who issues the apostille for court documents from New Zealand?
- Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit. NZ court orders and dissolution orders/divorce papers are in the table row whose requirement is an original government-issued document with ink signature, seal or stamp, a copy certified by the issuing department, or a copy notarised by an NZ notary public.
- Who issues the apostille for government documents from New Zealand?
- Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit. Other NZ government-issued documents (e.g. citizenship certificate, NZQA results, certificate of no impediment to marriage): a copy certified by the issuing government department is also accepted.
- Who issues the apostille for education documents from New Zealand?
- Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit. University records from Canterbury, Victoria, Lincoln, Massey and Waikato, other tertiary institution records and school records require the original or a copy notarised by an NZ notary public; other NZ university records are shared via My eQuals.
- Who issues the apostille for company documents from New Zealand?
- Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit. NZ Companies Office Extract and Incorporation, Trade Mark and Patent Registration: copies accepted without notarisation. Chamber of Commerce documents and company constitutions are in the row requiring notarisation by an NZ notary public.
- Who issues the apostille for notarial documents from New Zealand?
- Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit. Certification by a justice of the peace or a solicitor is not accepted; only an NZ notary public.