As Uzunpınar & Tüfek International Law Firm, we provide comprehensive and professional legal consultancy to our clients regarding the marriage of foreigners in Türkiye within the scope of foreigners law, family law, international marriage procedures, and citizenship through marriage processes. Türkiye is among the countries that allow foreign nationals to marry, and provided that certain legal requirements are fulfilled, foreigners may officially marry in Türkiye.

The marriage of foreigners in Türkiye is subject to the provisions of the Turkish Civil Code and the relevant legislation. Marriage procedures are carried out within the framework of Turkish marriage law regardless of the nationalities of the parties. Therefore, it is not sufficient for foreign nationals to be eligible to marry under the laws of their own countries; there must also be no impediment to marriage under Turkish law. In practice, the most common issues encountered relate to the procurement of a certificate of celibacy, apostille procedures, notarized Turkish translations of documents, and residence status.

Marriages conducted in Türkiye have international validity provided that they are duly performed in accordance with the procedure. However, following the marriage, processes such as residence permits, family residence permits, and acquisition of Turkish citizenship through marriage must be properly planned for the foreign spouse. Otherwise, even if the marriage itself is valid, the foreign spouse’s lawful stay in Türkiye or a future citizenship application may be jeopardized.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. Can foreigners marry in Türkiye?
Yes. Foreign nationals may officially marry in Türkiye, either with a Turkish citizen or between two foreigners. However, in order for the marriage to take place, there must be no impediment to marriage under both the parties’ national laws and the Turkish Civil Code.

2. Is a residence permit required to marry in Türkiye?
No. A residence permit is not mandatory in order to marry in Türkiye. However, the foreign national must have entered Türkiye lawfully and must be within the valid period of their visa or visa exemption. In practice, some marriage offices may request documentation showing the duration of stay.

3. Which documents are required for foreigners to marry in Türkiye?
In general, the following documents are required:
• Passport
• Birth certificate
• Certificate of celibacy (certificate of capacity to marry)
• Health report
• Biometric photographs
• Apostilled documents and their notarized Turkish translations
The required documents may vary depending on the nationality of the foreign person.

4. What is a certificate of celibacy and why is it required?
A certificate of celibacy is an official document showing that there is no impediment to the foreign national’s marriage under the law of their own country. Marriage procedures in Türkiye cannot be carried out without this document. The certificate must be apostilled and its Turkish translation must be notarized.

5. What is an apostille and why is it important in marriage procedures?
An apostille is an international certification that ensures documents issued in a foreign country are valid in Türkiye. Most documents submitted during the marriage process of foreigners in Türkiye must bear an apostille. The absence of an apostille may result in the rejection of the marriage application.

6. Can two foreigners marry in Türkiye?
Yes. Even if both parties are foreign nationals, an official marriage may be performed in Türkiye. In this case, separate certificates of celibacy, birth certificates, and apostille procedures are required for each foreign national. The marriage is performed by a Turkish marriage officer.

7. Is a marriage performed in Türkiye valid in foreign countries?
Yes. Marriages duly performed in Türkiye have international validity. However, for the marriage to be recognized in the foreign spouse’s country, the marriage certificate must be apostilled and, where necessary, notified to the relevant authorities of that country.

8. Does a foreigner who marries in Türkiye automatically acquire Turkish citizenship?
No. Marriage in Türkiye does not automatically grant Turkish citizenship to the foreign spouse. In order to acquire Turkish citizenship through marriage, it is required to be married for at least three years, for the marriage to actually continue, and for administrative examinations to conclude positively.

9. How can a foreign spouse stay in Türkiye after marriage?
After marriage, the foreign spouse may apply for a family residence permit. A family residence permit provides lawful stay in Türkiye for the duration of the marriage. The residence permit application is a separate administrative process independent of the marriage itself.

10. Why is legal assistance important in the marriage of foreigners in Türkiye?
This process involves numerous technical stages such as international document procurement, apostille, translation, residence planning, and citizenship planning. Even a minor mistake may lead to delays in the marriage, rejection of documents, or future problems regarding citizenship and residence. An experienced foreigners law attorney ensures that the process is completed smoothly and swiftly. As Uzunpınar & Tüfek International Law Firm, we manage the process of foreigners marrying in Türkiye in full compliance with the law from beginning to end.