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 refugeesasylum 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.

🔹 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.

🔹 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).

🔹 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.

🔹 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.

Categories:

Yanıt yok

Bir yanıt yazın

E-posta adresiniz yayınlanmayacak. Gerekli alanlar * ile işaretlenmişlerdir

Our Client

We provide a wide range of Turkish legal services to businesses and individuals throughout the world. Our services include comprehensive, updated legal information, professional legal consultation and representation

Our Team

.Our team includes business and trial lawyers experienced in a wide range of legal services across a broad spectrum of industries.

Why Choose Us

We will hold your hand. We will make every effort to ensure that you understand and are comfortable with each step of the legal process.

Open chat
1
Hello Can İ Help you?
Hello
Can i help you?
Call Now Button