Using Chinese Documents in Türkiye: An Apostille Guide

What does China's accession to the Apostille Convention mean for Chinese documents?

The essence of the Apostille Convention is to replace the long chain of consular legalization with a single standardized “apostille certificate.” Mainland China began applying the convention in November 2023; since Türkiye is also a party, official documents issued in China can generally be used directly in Türkiye once they carry an apostille. This has largely removed the need for separate legalization at Türkiye's embassy and consulates general in China. For Chinese companies and individuals setting up businesses, obtaining residence permits or handling legal matters in Türkiye, this means a much simpler and more predictable process.

One point should be noted here: the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions have applied the Apostille Convention for much longer, and documents issued there receive apostilles from their own competent authorities. In this article we mainly cover documents issued in mainland China. It should also be remembered that an apostille only certifies the authenticity of the signature and seal; it does not translate the document's content into Turkish. So once the document reaches Türkiye, it must be translated into Turkish so that Turkish institutions can review it, and in most cases it must also be notarized.

Step one: Which Chinese documents must be notarized first?

An apostille is issued for “public documents.” For certain documents issued directly by government bodies in China, the apostille application can be made directly. By contrast, for private documents such as powers of attorney, declarations, board resolutions and diploma copies, or documents not issued directly by an authority, a notary office in China 「公证处」 usually handles them first; the document is converted into a notarial certificate 「公证书」 and the apostille is placed on that notarial certificate. Which documents can receive an apostille directly is determined by the current practice of the competent authorities in China; we confirm this for you before you apply.

The intended use in Türkiye should already be considered at the notarization stage. For example, a power of attorney should clearly list the scope of authority for the transactions to be carried out in Türkiye, such as company formation, opening a bank account and tax office procedures. In company documents, the company name and the legal representative's name must match the passport and business license exactly. At Yeni İpekyolu, before notarization begins in China, we provide the expectations on the Turkish side as a checklist. That way, you avoid discovering after the document arrives in Türkiye that its content does not meet the requirement and having to start over.

Step two: Where is the apostille obtained in China?

In mainland China, apostilles are issued by the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by local foreign affairs offices authorized by the Ministry. Applicants usually choose the relevant authority based on the region where the document was issued or notarized; some regions also offer online appointments or applications through an agency. The apostille is usually attached to the document, carries a number and can be verified online through official channels. The scope of application, required documents and procedure are set by the competent authority's current regulations.

Clients based in Türkiye for whom traveling to China is impractical can have notarization and apostille handled through relatives in China or a professional agency. In this case, correctly preparing the authorization to be given in China and the document list is very important. At Yeni İpekyolu, we work in coordination with our partners in China, clarify document requirements, track the processing timeline and start the translation and notarization as soon as the document reaches Türkiye. This way, the process between the two countries moves forward as a single, uninterrupted flow, and you only need to focus on the result.

Step three: Sworn translation and notarization in Türkiye

Once the apostilled document reaches Türkiye, the next step is a complete translation into Turkish by a sworn Chinese–Turkish translator. This translation must cover the text of the notarial certificate, the seals, the signature notes and the apostille itself. After the translator signs the translation, a notary certifies the translator's signature. The resulting set of “original document + apostille + notarized Turkish translation” is then generally ready to be submitted to trade registry offices, tax offices, Göç İdaresi (the Presidency of Migration Management), banks or courts. This is the most commonly followed route for using Chinese documents in Türkiye.

Some institutions may have additional expectations about the translation format or the attachments: for example, they may want a copy of the original document attached behind the translation, or certain documents issued within a specific date range. The expectation of recency is particularly important for documents such as criminal record certificates. These details vary by institution and purpose of use, and may be updated over time. At Yeni İpekyolu, before starting the translation, we confirm the current rule of the institution where you will apply, aiming for your file to be accepted the first time.

The most commonly used Chinese documents in Türkiye and their apostille needs

Below you will find the documents Chinese companies and individuals most often use in Türkiye and their typical uses. Each document has a different notarization route, apostille requirement and purpose of use in Türkiye. For example, a company document is used at the trade registry, while a birth certificate is used for procedures at Göç İdaresi or the civil registry office. Preparing all documents at once, within the same plan, therefore offers a major advantage in both time and shipping costs. After reviewing the list against your own case, we can clarify together which documents are needed.

• Business license and articles of association: for setting up a company, branch or liaison office in Türkiye
• General assembly or board resolution: for appointing a manager to the Turkish company and for capital decisions
• Power of attorney: for the representative in Türkiye to handle company formation, banking and tax procedures
• Diplomas and degree certificates: for work permit and equivalence applications
• Birth and marriage certificates: for family residence permits and children's school enrollment
• Criminal record certificate: for certain residence, work and other applications

Key points to watch in the apostille process for Chinese documents

First, pay attention to the document's issue date and validity. Some Turkish institutions care about the issue date, especially for documents such as criminal record certificates and certificates of good standing, so these should not be obtained too early. Second, keep the spelling of names and company names consistent: the Latin-script spelling of Chinese names must be identical to the passport. Third, preserve the integrity of the document. The binding of multi-page documents must not be removed, and the apostille must not be separated from the main document; otherwise the validity of the certification may be questioned and the process may have to be repeated.

Fourth, find out in advance whether the receiving institution in Türkiye requires any additional step. In most cases an apostille plus a notarized Turkish translation is sufficient, but some institutions may have specific expectations. Fifth, take high-resolution scans of all pages before sending the originals to Türkiye. With these scans, our translator can start translating while the document is in transit, leaving only the comparison and notarization when the original arrives. This shortens the overall timeline and prevents a possible courier delay from stalling the project. Always send the originals with a reliable, tracked courier.

Yeni İpekyolu support for using Chinese documents in Türkiye

At Yeni İpekyolu, we coordinate the entire process for Chinese companies and individuals from a single point, from notarization and apostille in China to sworn translation and notarization in Türkiye. Before starting, we confirm the current rule of the relevant institution in Türkiye, draw up the list of documents to be prepared on the Chinese side and, once the document reaches Türkiye, quickly complete the Chinese–Turkish translation and notarization. You do not need to deal with different institutions separately or worry about steps getting out of order. You have a single point of contact throughout the process.

If your documents will be used for company formation, a residence permit or a work permit application, our team can support you in those subsequent applications as well, so the entire project is completed in full under a single plan. Contact us with any questions about using Chinese documents in Türkiye. Share your document type and purpose of use, and the Yeni İpekyolu team will immediately map out the fastest and safest route for you. With the right plan, your documents are prepared to be accepted in Türkiye the first time. In the first meeting, we draw up your document list together and present all steps in a single timeline.