Turkish Labor Law
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Make it your priority to fully understand the legal requirements for getting married in Turkey.
Residency Requirements
There are no minimum residency requirements, providing that you obtain a Certificate of No Impediment from the relevant authority in your country of residence.If you have not obtained this document then you will be required to be resident in Turkey for 21 days prior to applying for a Certificate of No Impediment, and a further 21 days for the relevant documentation to be issued.
Therefore, you will need to allow a minimum of 42 days from the time you apply for the necessary documentation to the day of your wedding ceremony.
Required Documentation
All documentation must be original or certified copies, and your Certificate of No Impediment must not be older than 6 months.
· Certificate of No Impediment, not issued more than three months prior to the wedding day.
· Full ten year passport with minimum validity of six months.
· Full Birth Certificate.
· Passport
· 8 passport sized recent colour photographs.
· If you are divorced – a Decree Absolute
· If you have changed your name – Deed Poll
· If you are adopted – Adoption Certificate.
· If you are under 18 – letter of consent from a parent or guardian.
Marriage Application
You will need to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment, which is the document required by the Turkish Authorities for the marriage to take place.
Note: Although the English certificates of No Impediment don’t have an expiry date as such, I would advise placing your applications approximately three months prior to visiting the Consulate in Turkey.
Marriage Procedure
· Foreign nationals wishing to marry in Turkey need to visit their nearest Consulate in person once they are in Turkey to make an application to initiate the formalities.
· The Certificate of No Impediment and certificate of identity and nationality need to be obtained from the relevant consulate and authenticated by the local Governor office in Turkey.
· The marriage application needs to be made in person at the local marriage office in order to give notice of marriage, submit the certificates, complete necessary forms and fix a date for the marriage ceremony.
· Solemnization of marriage (if the marrying parties do not speak Turkish, they are advised to arrange for an interpreter to be present during the ceremony).
· 2 Witnesses must be present at marriage ceremony (Please note that immediate family members cannot be witnesses).
· Notice needs to be given to your relevant consulate to have your marriage registered in your country of residence.
Medical Examination
You will be required under Turkish Law to have a medical examination and you may also be required to take a blood test.
Conditions for a Valid Marriage
· Capacity to marry
Only those persons who have sufficient mental capacity to make fair judgments are allowed to marry. Mental illness is, therefore, a bar to marriage. In addition, a person must have reached the minimum age of 18 to marry.
· Absence of consanguinity
Marriage between close relatives is prohibited.
· Already existing marriage
Monogamy is one of the essential principles of Turkish family law. A second marriage can not be entered into unless the first is terminated.
· Waiting period
Married women whose marriage has been dissolved cannot marry before the expiration of three hundred days from the date of dissolution.
· Sickness
Certain sicknesses, such as epilepsy, hysteria etc., constitute a bar to marriage.
Only civil marriages performed by authorized marriage officers are allowed in Turkey.
