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For many foreigners, marrying in Turkey is a dream come true because the nation provides numerous picturesque landscapes, beaches, mountains, resorts, and wonderful cities to choose from, depending on your choices for wedding locations. And the good news is that you may begin your honeymoon soon after your wedding, saving time by choosing a private trip to avoid the crowds or a gulet cruise down the Aegean coast. Remember that for the marriage of foreigners in Turkey, the marriage license and conditions are subject to the national law of each spouse at the time of marriage.
A Turkish native and a foreigner, or two foreigners of different nationalities, can marry in Turkey, but only by the appropriate Turkish authorities, according to Turkish marriage legislation and regulations. In Turkey, two foreigners of the same nationality can marry in their own country’s embassy or consulate offices or in Turkish marriage offices administered by the local government. Religious weddings are not recognized by the state; instead, a civil wedding is required.
Whether they are between foreigners or Turks, all weddings in Turkey must be conducted by Turkish authorities and must follow the Turkish civil code and its accompanying rules. Foreigners who want to marry in Turkey must provide their marriage permits from their home country’s appropriate Civil Status Register and show that they are not previously married. Otherwise, these weddings will not be performed by Turkish officials. This implies that under Turkish law, married couples cannot remarry in Turkey.
If you are a foreigner looking to marry in Turkey, our legal firm in Turkey can help you with the entire process and documentation.
The Marriage of Foreigners in Turkey
In Turkey, the law which will apply to transactions involving foreign elements and relations regarding private law was organized by the International Private Law (“IPL”), No. 5718. Thus, two foreigners can marry in Turkey. For the marriage of foreigners in Turkey, the marriage license and conditions are subject to the national law of each spouse at the time of marriage. Each spouse depends on his/her own national law. For instance, the capacity to act as a German citizen who wants to marry in Turkey will be determined according to German law.
Marriage Application Process For Foreigners in Turkey
According to IPL, the form of marriage is subjected to the law of the country where the marriage is made. Two foreigners wishing to marry in Turkey must provide preconditions primarily. The application process can be carried out by a proxy. However, there is a need for a special authority on the subject in the power of attorney.
Paperwork needed to complete the foreigners who want to marry in Turkey are as follows;
● Passport and its should notarized translation in Turkey,
● Visa photo which was taken within the last six months,
● Health status report,
● Marriage License Certificate, Certificate of Celibacy, and Birth Certificate.
The passport should not have expired and should include the wedding day. The documents required for the marriage of foreigners are valid for six months from the date they are received from the relevant institutions.
Marriage Ceremony For Foreigners in Turkey
After the application phase is completed, the marriage ceremony should take place in front of the marriage officer and two witnesses who have the capacity to act. If foreign citizens do not speak Turkish, during the marriage ceremony they should have an interpreter (translator) with them. After the marriage takes place in front of the Turkish authority, they must notify their country representative offices.
People can also get married in front of the consulate. Marriages in consulates are not subject to the country law of the consulate but are subject to the law of the country to which the consulate is affiliated.
The provisions and consequences of marriage’s personal and financial nature are subject to the common national law of spouses. If the spouses have separate nationalities, the common habitual residence law of spouses will apply. If they don’t have a common national law or habitual residence law, then Turkish law will be enforced accordingly.
What Are The Conditions For Foreigners Getting Married in Turkey?
Foreigners who desire to marry in Turkey should be aware that only civil marriages are recognized by the Turkish government. Furthermore, any foreign or local resident can only have a religious ceremony if he or she so desires. A foreigner who is not legally permitted to marry in his or her home country is also not permitted to marry in Turkey. If two foreigners of the same nationality wish to marry in Turkey, they will do so in front of officials from their country’s embassy or consulate in Turkey, or Turkish officials who are authorized to perform civil weddings.
Also, you’ll need documentation that you’re legally authorized to marry. This document can be obtained through the authorities in your home country or the Turkish consulate. Foreigners with two different nationalities must also be married by a Turkish authority in Turkey. Marriages between a foreign national and a Turkish national follow the same protocol.
What Are The Necessary Documents For The Marriage of Foreigners in Turkey?
● The marriage petition. To begin operations, the groom and bride must go to the municipality and file a marriage petition in person.
● Passports and/or birth certificates must be translated into Turkish by the appropriate authorities. This might be the Turkish Embassy in your own nation or a notary in Turkey.
● A health certificate must be obtained from a state medical institution in Turkey in Turkish. Private hospitals or clinics will not be allowed to submit reports.
● Six passport size recently taken photos belonging to the bride and groom.
● A Certificate of Capacity to Marry (Certificate of Celibacy) identifies whether a person is unmarried, divorced, or widowed. This has to be taken from his or her home country’s official Civil Status Register. If the certificate is to be issued in the foreigner’s home country, it must be certified by the Turkish consulate or embassy there, or an apostil must be obtained. It should also be translated into Turkish and notarized, otherwise, it will not be valid. The Certificate of Celibacy can also be granted by the consulate of the foreigner’s nation in Turkey, which must be approved by the governor of the province, or by the embassy of the foreigner’s country, which must be certified by the Turkish Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
● Documentation on lodging (accommodation document). If both partners are foreigners, the hotel (or place of residence) should write a note stating that they are staying there. The length of stay and departure date must be indicated in this letter.
Related Article: Divorce of Foreigners in Turkey.
