Getting Married in Turkey as a Refugee, Asylum Seeker, or Stateless Person

🔹 1. Legal Framework (Yasal Çerçeve)

According to Turkish Civil Law, the right to marry is considered a fundamental civil right and applies to all individuals, regardless of their nationality or immigration status — including refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons.

The legal basis comes from:

• Turkish Civil Code (Law No. 4721)
  • Regulates the conditions of a valid marriage, such as age, consent, and absence of legal impediments.
• Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Law No. 6458)
  • Defines the legal statuses and residency rights of foreigners, including those under international or temporary protection.
  • Provides the administrative framework for the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM), which plays a key role in issuing identity documents to refugees and others under protection.

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🔹 2. Key Conditions for Marriage

To get married in Turkey, all individuals (regardless of nationality or immigration status) must meet the general legal requirements:

• ✅ Minimum Age:
  The individual must be at least 18 years old.
  • Exceptionally, those aged 17 can marry with parental consent.
  • Those aged 16 need both parental consent and a court order.
• ✅ Mental Capacity:
  Must be mentally competent and capable of giving free and informed consent.
• ❌ Not Already Married:
  Polygamy is prohibited in Turkey. Marriage is only possible if both parties are legally single, divorced, or widowed.
• ❌ No Close Kinship:
  Marriages between close blood relatives (siblings, parents, uncles/aunts, nephews/nieces) are strictly forbidden.

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🔹 3. Required Documents

To legally register a marriage in Turkey, the following documents are generally required for refugees, asylum seekers, or stateless persons:

1. Identity or Registration Card
   • Issued by the Directorate General of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi).
   • Should reflect the individual’s current legal status (international protection, temporary protection, or stateless person).
2. Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (Evlenme Ehliyet Belgesi)
   • This document confirms that the individual is not currently married and legally permitted to marry.
   • Normally issued by the foreign national’s home country consulate.
   • For refugees/stateless persons, this is often unobtainable, in which case a court decision in Turkey can replace it.
3. Health Report
   • Must be obtained from a government/state hospital in Turkey.
   • Confirms that neither party carries contagious or marriage-prohibiting diseases.
4. Photos and Declarations
   • Passport-sized photos (usually 4–6 copies).
   • Written declaration of intent to marry.
5. Document Translation and Notarization
   • All documents in a foreign language must be officially translated into Turkish and notarized.
   • In some cases, documents may require Apostille certification (if applicable under the Hague Convention).

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🔹 4. Additional Notes and Practical Considerations

• ⚖️ Court Approval for Stateless or Undocumented Individuals
  • If an individual lacks any legal identity document or cannot obtain a certificate of no impediment, they may need to apply to a civil court in Turkey.
  • The court may issue a judicial permission to marry after verifying the person’s eligibility.
• 🏛️ Municipality Discretion
  • Civil marriages are registered by municipal marriage offices (evlendirme daireleri).
  • Each municipality may have specific administrative requirements or ask for additional documentation, especially in cases involving refugees or stateless persons.
• 🔍 Verification Process
  • The marriage office may carry out identity and document checks to ensure the authenticity of the marriage and rule out marriage fraud (e.g., for immigration benefits).
• 🚫 Risk of Rejection or Delay
  • Lack of valid documentation or incomplete paperwork can delay or prevent the marriage registration.
  • It’s advisable to contact the local municipality in advance to confirm requirements.

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🔹 5. Why Legal Assistance is Recommended

Marriage involving foreign nationals with complex immigration statuses can be legally sensitive and may require:

• Navigating Turkish administrative procedures,
• Preparing or legalizing foreign documents,
• Addressing legal incapacity or documentation issues.

✅ Therefore, it is highly recommended that individuals in such situations consult a qualified lawyer in Turkey to avoid legal complications and ensure their marriage is properly registered.

Legal Framework:

• Under Turkish law, everyone has the right to marry, including refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless individuals, provided they meet certain legal requirements.
• Governed primarily by:
  • Turkish Civil Code (Law No. 4721) – Marriage conditions.
  • Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Law No. 6458) – Legal status of refugees/asylum seekers/stateless persons.

Key Requirements:

• Must be over 18 and mentally competent.
• Must not be already married (bigamy is illegal).
• Must not be closely related to the spouse.

Required Documents:

• Identity or registration card issued by the Directorate General of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi).
• Certificate of no impediment to marriage (can be replaced with a court decision if unobtainable).
• Health report from a state hospital in Turkey.
• Translations of documents into Turkish, with notarization.

Notes:

• Stateless or undocumented individuals may need to seek a court ruling allowing them to marry.
• Local municipalities may require additional verification.