How Foreigners Can Get Married in Turkey (2026)

Updated 8 July 2026 · By Bayraktar Attorneys

Quick answer: A foreigner can marry in Turkey by applying to a local civil registry office with a passport, birth certificate, a certificate of capacity to marry, photos and a health report. Foreign documents need an apostille and a sworn Turkish translation. Only the civil ceremony is legally binding.

Turkey is a popular place to marry, whether both partners are foreign or one is a Turkish citizen. The process is straightforward once you know the documents involved, but foreign paperwork has to be prepared correctly or the registry office will not proceed. This guide sets out what to expect from application to registration.

Who Can Marry in Turkey

Two foreign nationals can marry here, and so can a foreigner and a Turkish citizen. Both parties must be of legal age and free to marry, meaning not already married and not within prohibited degrees of kinship. If either of you was previously married, you will need proof that the earlier marriage has ended, and a foreign marriage or divorce may need to be recognized in Turkey first.

The Documents You Will Need

A valid passport, with a sworn Turkish translation.
A birth certificate.
A certificate of capacity to marry (an official statement that you are free to marry), from your consulate or home authorities.
Passport-size photographs.
A health report from an authorized institution.

Documents issued abroad usually need an apostille and a certified translation. We explain this in apostille and document legalization.

The Application and Ceremony

You apply together at the civil registry office of the district where you will marry. Once the office checks your documents and confirms you are both free to marry, it schedules the ceremony. The marriage is performed by an authorized officer before witnesses. At that point you are legally married and the marriage is entered in the records.

Civil vs Religious Marriage

In Turkey, only the civil marriage creates legal rights and duties. A religious ceremony may take place afterward, but it does not make you legally married on its own. We compare the two in civil vs religious marriage.

Key Points

Both foreigners, or a foreigner and a Turkish citizen, can marry in Turkey.
You need a certificate of capacity to marry plus a passport, birth certificate and health report.
Foreign documents require an apostille and a sworn Turkish translation.
Only the civil ceremony is legally binding.

After the Wedding: Status and Property

Marriage can lead to a family residence permit and, in time, to citizenship through marriage, though neither is automatic. It also affects property, so some couples sign a prenuptial agreement to set their own terms. If you plan to marry while visiting, read about getting married on a tourist visa.

Planning to marry in Turkey?

Bayraktar Attorneys helps foreign couples with documents, recognition and marriage matters, in English.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can two foreigners marry in Turkey?

Yes. Two foreign nationals can marry in Turkey, and so can a foreigner and a Turkish citizen. You apply to a local civil registry office and provide the required documents, including a certificate showing you are free to marry.

What documents does a foreigner need to marry in Turkey?

Typically a valid passport with a translation, a birth certificate, a certificate of capacity to marry from your home authorities, passport photos and a health report. Foreign documents usually need an apostille and a sworn Turkish translation.

Is a religious marriage legally valid in Turkey?

Only the civil marriage before an authorized officer creates legal effects in Turkey. A religious ceremony may follow but does not by itself make you legally married.

Does marrying a Turkish citizen give me residency or citizenship?

Marriage can open a path to a family residence permit and, after a qualifying period, to citizenship, but neither is automatic. Each has its own conditions and application.