Getting Married when Living in Turkey

Summary: Complete advice and facts for anyone wanting to get married in Turkey whether you’re living in Turkey or not

As more and more Britons move to live in Turkey on a full-time basis to enjoy the stunning climate and fantastic way of life, some very interesting questions are coming to be asked.  One of the questions most frequently asked nowadays is if romance is in the air – and the question is - how exactly does a foreign national get married in Turkey?

When it comes to getting married when living in Turkey fear thee not - we have the answers – at least for British citizens, so read on!

If you’ve relocated to Turkey, fallen in love and want to get married while taking in the sights of the Hagia Sophia or Topkapi Palace for example, you’re going to have a few hoops to jump through.  While in real estate location, location and location are the buzzwords, for foreign national marriages, the mantra is paperwork, paperwork, paperwork!

There are two different sets of rules for getting married in Turkey.  One applies to those who wish to marry a Turkish citizen and the other is for a foreign national marrying another foreign national whilst living in Turkey or just visiting Turkey.

Rules for Marrying a Turkish Citizen

If you’re a British citizen and you fall in love with a Turkish national, you’re going to need to obtain a “certificate of no impediment” from a British local registrar.  You’re also going to need an official birth certificate, passport and divorce or death certificate for a former spouse if applicable.

With the paperwork in hand the next hurdle to jump involves visiting the British consulate in Turkey to apply for the marriage license.  You will also have to apply in person at a Turkish marriage office with your Turkish fiancé present.  Your Turkish sweetheart will have to go through some formalities as well, but he or she will be (or should be) aware of these and at least should have the Turkish language on their side which helps enormously of course!

Keep in mind - Turkish citizens must be married under standard Turkish procedures.  While it is possible for foreign nationals to marry within their proper consulates, this does not constitute a legal marriage for a Turkish citizen and so if you’re going to remain living in Turkey and you want your marriage to be legally recognized – do it the right way!

Once the marriage ceremony is performed, a proper notice must be delivered to your country’s consulate for registration.

When Two Foreign Nationals Marry in Turkey

If you and your intended spouse are both foreign nationals living in Turkey or on holiday and wishing to get married in Turkey you’ll find the paperwork involved for both of you is the same as for a British citizen marrying a Turkish citizen.  Passports, birth certificates and so on are all needed as are certificates of no impediment.

Once the paperwork is handled you’ll still need to take a trip to the local marriage office to submit your certificates and get the license application ball rolling for the ceremony.  If you’d like a Turkish ceremony, you might need an interpreter otherwise it is possible to marry at either of your respective consulates depending on your nationalities.  The rules of the road for nationals from other countries might differ and it’s best if the appropriate consulate is consulted directly before you make any firm plans for getting married in Turkey.

As more Britons and international citizens discover the ancient wonders and modern appeal of Turkey, love and marriage is becoming an issue worth exploring.  If getting married among the many sights of Istanbul or on the inimitably gorgeous Turkish Riviera is on your agenda, you’ll find it’s possible but do count on some serious paperwork and remember forewarned is forearmed so start your research into the given formalities well before your wedding day.

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