In Türkiye the apostille is issued through two separate doors, and which door to go to depends on the nature of the document. The originals of judicial documents such as court decisions and criminal record certificates belong to the justice commission presidency. A notarised translation, by contrast, is a notarial act and goes not by this route but to a governor's office (valilik) or a district governor's office (kaymakamlık); that is why this route is used less often in corporate files than is commonly assumed.
Definition
The justice commission route is the verification route followed for the originals of judicial documents. The power lies with the commission presidency. The route depends on the type of document.
Which documents fall under it
Court decisions, criminal record certificates and letters from the public prosecutor's office are in this group. Notarial acts do not fall into this group. Classification is done first.
The position of notarial acts
A notarised translation is a notarial act and does not take the commission route; its apostille is issued by a governor's office or a district governor's office. The same applies to the notarised translation of a judicial document. The rule is frequently confused.
How common it is in corporate files
In corporate files this route comes up only in jobs that involve judicial documents, such as litigation, debt enforcement and the enforcement of foreign judgments (tenfiz). Certified translations themselves do not pass through this route. The information is practical.
How it differs from administrative documents
Administrative documents such as civil registry, health and education documents take a different route. The two routes are not confused. The distinction is decisive.
Mixed files
A file may contain both types of document. The documents are separated by type. Grouping is mandatory.
Where to apply
The application is made to the justice commission presidency at the courthouse. Which courthouse to go to may vary with the court that issued the document. The information is obtained in advance.
Territorial limits
Commissions may deal with the documents of courts within their own judicial district. A commission in another province may not process the document. The constraint affects planning.
Documents notarised in another province
Even if the notarisation was carried out in another province, its apostille can be obtained from the governor's office or district governor's office of any province or district; the location requirement was removed in 2024. This convenience does not apply to the originals of judicial documents. The plan is drawn up accordingly.
Who applies
The document holder or an authorised person applies. A certificate of authority may be required. The requirement is asked about.
Documents required
The original of the document and proof of identity are required on application. An application with missing papers is turned back. The list is prepared in advance.
Time
In most places the procedure is quick, but workload has an effect. The time is added to the plan. Expectations are set realistically.
Official fee
The procedure has its own fee, which is separate from the translation fee. The item is shown separately. Transparency is maintained.
Attaching the certificate to the document
The verification certificate is attached to the document and is not separated from it. The attachment is preserved. Integrity is looked for.
Procedures with several copies
A separate certificate is needed for each copy. The number of copies is determined at the outset. Repetition is avoided.
Grounds for rejection
A missing signature or an unsuitable copy halts the procedure. The defect is remedied and the application is made again. A preliminary check is carried out.
Preliminary checklist
Before applying, the document, the signature and the copy are checked. The list saves a round. The method is simple.
Effect on corporate planning
In files that contain judicial documents, two separate doors are planned: the justice commission for the original of the document, and a governor's office or district governor's office for its notarised translation. The order and duration of the two steps are written into the schedule at the outset. The decision is taken at the outset.
Note on variability
The details of practice may vary with the commission and over time; the current requirements are confirmed with the relevant unit before applying. Nobody sets out without confirmation. The warning is permanent.
Common mistake
The most common mistake is going to a single door for all documents; when the administrative documents and notarial acts in a mixed file are not separated out, that group comes back and the file sets out again split in two. Grouping is done at the outset. The loss of a round is avoided.