Marriage procedures in Türkiye are regulated by the Turkish Civil Code and the Marriage Regulation.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR MARRIAGE

1. Couples wishing to marry must apply to the marriage office together and in person. Individual applications are not accepted. During the application, both parties must present their photo ID cards. The Marriage Officer will verify identities by checking the ID cards. Applications without valid identification documents will not be accepted. (Marriage Regulation Art.16)
2. Photocopies of identity cards.
3. Certificates of residence
   (It is sufficient for one of the applicants to reside within the borders of any province or district.)
4. Applicants must submit the original copies of their photo ID cards showing their latest marital status. Driver’s licenses and institutional identity cards are not accepted. Identity cards older than 10 years or heavily damaged will not be accepted during application. (Art.18 – Art.21)
5. Five passport-sized photographs for both the bride and groom
   (Photographs must be colored, front-facing, taken within the last 6 months, and must not be photocopied.) Art.20
6. Health report for marriage procedures obtained from Family Health Centers
   (The report is valid for 6 months from the date of issue.) Art.20
7. Certificate of Marriage Eligibility
   (This document is issued by our institution during the joint application of the couple.)
8. If one of the applicants cannot attend during the application, the absent party must provide a notarized power of attorney authorizing marriage procedures.

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UNDERAGE APPLICANTS

Couples under the age of 18 may marry with the consent of their parents (calculated by exact date of birth).

• If one parent is deceased, the death must be documented with a civil registry record.
• Individuals under the age of 17 may marry only with a court decision.

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DIVORCED OR WIDOWED APPLICANTS

1. Divorced or widowed women cannot remarry before 10 months (300 days) have passed from the registration date of divorce or death in the civil registry.

Those who do not wish to wait for the completion of this period must obtain a court decision from the Family Court removing the waiting period (“iddet period”). The document must also include a finalization annotation.

1. The latest marital status must be recorded on the applicants’ identity cards.

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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR MARRIAGE WITH FOREIGN NATIONALS

If one spouse is a Turkish citizen, applications may be made to the population directorate where residence is registered, consulates, or provincial/district marriage offices.

Foreign nationals must apply with a Certificate of Celibacy / Certificate of Marriage Eligibility.

Citizens of countries whose consulates are located in Istanbul must have their marriage documents certified by the Istanbul Governorship (Directorate of Legal Affairs).

Citizens of countries without a consulate in Istanbul must obtain their marriage eligibility certificate from their embassies in Ankara and have it certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign applicants must have their passports translated by sworn translators and notarized.
(Applicants with expired visas will not be accepted.)

Documents issued by honorary consulates are not accepted.

If a foreign national who does not speak Turkish is getting married, a translator/interpreter must be present during the marriage ceremony.

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USING A MAIDEN NAME AFTER MARRIAGE

Women who wish to continue using their maiden surname after marriage must complete the required application forms and sign them before the marriage officer.

Applicants who do not request this during the marriage application process may also apply later through the Civil Registry Office.