Introduction
Turkey frequently deals with Arabic-language documents due to its strong commercial ties with Middle Eastern countries and the increasing number of immigrants and foreign investors.
For Arabic documents to have official validity before Turkish courts, notaries, land registry offices, trade registry offices, and other public institutions, they must be translated into Turkish by a sworn translator and, in most cases, notarized.
1. Legal Basis
1.1 Constitution and Laws
- Article 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey: The official language is Turkish.
- Articles 222 and 224 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Law No. 6100): Foreign-language documents must be submitted with their Turkish translations in order to be accepted by the court.
- Notary Law (Law No. 1512): Validity of translations made by sworn translators and notarized.
- Article 25 of the Notification Law (Law No. 7201): Official translation is required for notifications to be translated into a foreign language.
1.2 International Regulations
- Hague Apostille Convention: Requires an apostille certificate for documents to be valid in Turkey.
- Bilateral judicial assistance and recognition–enforcement agreements between Turkey and certain Arab countries.
2. Which Arabic Documents Can Be Submitted in Turkey?
Arabic documents cannot be used directly in Turkey; they must first be translated into Turkish. Examples include:
- Commercial documents: Articles of association, invoices, customs documents
- Legal documents: Court judgments, powers of attorney, contracts
- Personal documents: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas
- Financial documents: Bank statements, financial reports, tax documents
3. Translation and Certification Process
3.1 Sworn Translator’s Translation
- The document must be translated by a notary-sworn Arabic–Turkish translator.
- Courts and public institutions generally require notarized translations.
3.2 Notary Certification
- The sworn translator signs the translation in the presence of the notary.
- The notary certifies the translator’s competence and the accuracy of the translation.
3.3 Apostille and Consular Certification
- For Arab countries that are parties to the Apostille Convention, an apostille can be affixed to the document.
- For non-member countries, the document must be legalized by the foreign ministry of the issuing country and the relevant Turkish consulate.
4. Arabic Documents in Judicial and Official Procedures
4.1 Court Proceedings
- Under Article 224 of the Code of Civil Procedure, an Arabic document cannot be accepted as evidence unless translated.
- Translation costs are borne by the party submitting the document.
4.2 Notary Transactions
- Arabic powers of attorney must be translated and notarized before being used in Turkey.
- Powers of attorney issued abroad must be apostilled or certified by a Turkish consulate.
4.3 Commercial and Land Registry Transactions
- For company incorporation, capital increase, or property transfer, notarized Turkish translations of Arabic documents are required.
- Trade registry offices and land registry offices will not accept untranslated documents.
5. Court of Cassation Practice
- Court of Cassation, 12th Civil Chamber, 2016/9813 E., 2017/5401 K.: “Foreign-language documents do not have legal effect unless translated and certified.”
- Court of Cassation, 11th Civil Chamber, 2014/11218 E., 2015/6725 K.: Emphasized that commercial documents without sworn and notarized translations are invalid in official proceedings.
6. Practical Recommendations
- Complete apostille or consular certification before bringing the document to Turkey.
- Work with a sworn translator to ensure compliance with official standards.
- Budget for translation and certification costs, especially for large-volume documents.
- Confirm in advance with the court or public institution which certifications are required.
Conclusion
In Turkey, Arabic documents require translation into Turkish and, in most cases, notarization for official validity.
These procedures safeguard the legal reliability of the documents and strengthen their evidentiary value before courts and public authorities.
For investment, trade, immigration, or personal matters, it is advisable to work with a lawyer experienced in international document legalization and translation procedures.
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