Apostille & notarization
Get Chinese documents valid in Turkey, and Turkish documents valid in China, with every certification step clear from the start
The Apostille Convention has been in force for China since November 2023; Chinese official documents sent to Turkey usually receive an apostille in China, with no need for the old consular legalization. Once the document arrives in Turkey, sworn translation and notarization are usually required. Yeni İpekyolu determines which steps each document must go through and handles the translation and notary procedures in Turkey on your behalf.
The logic of document certification between China and Turkey
The apostille proves authenticity, the notarized translation proves readability
Since 7 November 2023, China has been a party to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, known as the Apostille Convention. Since Turkey has long been a party, Chinese official documents sent to Turkey usually need only an apostille in China; legalization by China's foreign affairs authorities followed by the Turkish consulate is no longer needed. This shortens the process considerably, but it does not mean the document can be used directly as soon as it arrives in Turkey.
The working language at Turkish institutions is Turkish; Chinese documents usually need a Turkish translation made by a sworn translator and certified by a notary. In other words, the apostille answers the question "is the document genuine?", while the notarized translation answers "can a Turkish official read and trust the document?". The two steps do not replace each other; this is the point most often missed by Chinese clients handling procedures for the first time.
Apostille or translation first? The right order
For Chinese documents, the usual order is: first, the original document or a notarial certificate is obtained in China, then the apostille is added, and finally translation and notarization are done in Turkey. Personally signed documents such as powers of attorney or declarations are usually first notarized in China, and only then can an apostille be obtained. If the translation was done before the apostille, a Turkish notary may ask for a new translation that includes the apostille.
The logic is the same in the other direction: if Turkish documents will be used in China, they are usually apostilled first at the relevant institution in Turkey and then translated into Chinese. Administrative documents are mostly apostilled at the District Governorship or Governorship, and court and notarial documents mostly at the Justice Commission; confirm current rules with the relevant institution. To keep documents from going back and forth between institutions, we clarify where each document must be submitted before starting.
Photocopies cannot be apostilled: names, validity and original documents
The most common problem is names written differently: if the romanized spelling in the passport, the characters in the Chinese document and the record in the Turkish system do not match, residence or company registration is affected. The second problem is document validity; for example, Turkish institutions may accept only a recently issued criminal record certificate. Some clients bring only photocopies, whereas an apostille can usually be added only to an original document or a notarial certificate.
In addition, Turkish notaries and public institutions usually work strictly according to their document lists; completing missing items later often means queuing all over again. Before coming to Turkey, we recommend sending us photos of your documents for a check and completing everything that can be done in China while you are there. This takes far less time than sending a document back to China after arriving in Turkey.
We tell you in advance which steps to complete in China
Yeni İpekyolu's job is to clarify the route and carry it out in Turkey: we determine the steps needed for each document, arrange sworn translation, follow up on the notary procedure, help with apostille applications for Turkish documents, and translate Turkish documents into Chinese. We are not the issuing authority; the acceptance decision always rests with the institution you apply to. Legal assessments, such as whether a court decision will be recognized in China, are made by a licensed lawyer; we handle translation and communication.
Before starting, prepare the original documents, the purpose of use and the institution's requirements list. If you are still in China, we tell you in advance which steps to complete there; if you are in Turkey, we take over from the translation and notary stage. The whole process is shared via WeChat, and delivery and shipping of original documents are planned in advance.
People whose documents travel between the two countries
People handling procedures in Turkey with Chinese documents
When birth, marriage, criminal record and diploma documents are used for residence, marriage or school enrollment, an apostille and notarized translation are usually required. If one of the steps is missing, Turkish institutions usually reject the application. We first check together whether your document is ready for use in Turkey.
Chinese companies setting up or making changes to a company in Turkey
The parent company's registration record, board resolution and power of attorney usually need to be certified before being submitted to the Trade Registry. These documents are often first notarized in China and then apostilled; if the order is mixed up, the formation process takes longer. Together with your lawyer or financial advisor in Turkey, we list each document's requirements in advance.
People who will use Turkish documents in China
If a marriage certificate, diploma, company document or court decision obtained in Turkey will be used in China, it is usually apostilled in Turkey and translated into Chinese. Institutions in China may have different expectations regarding translation format and translator authorization. We recommend finding out the Chinese institution's requirements before setting off; we prepare accordingly.
Apostille, sworn translation and notary: the work we take on
Certification route consulting
We explain whether an apostille, a notary or both are needed based on the document type and purpose, and in what order. Most problems come from the sequence; for example, a translation done before the apostille may become invalid. We clarify the entire route in writing before starting.
Translation and notarization of Chinese documents in Turkey
Apostilled Chinese documents are translated together with the apostille and notarized by a Turkish notary. The apostille is part of the document; failing to translate it is a common reason for rejection. After the sworn translator completes the translation, we handle submission to and collection from the notary.
Apostilles for Turkish documents
Administrative documents are usually apostilled at the District Governorship (Kaymakamlık) or Governorship (Valilik), and judicial documents usually at the Justice Commission (Adalet Komisyonu); the relevant authority determines the exact competence. Notarial documents also mostly go to the Justice Commission. We first confirm the right institution and then help you with the application.
Chinese translation of Turkish documents
Apostilled Turkish documents are translated into Chinese for use at institutions in China. We keep names of people, places and institutions consistent with your passport and Chinese documents. If the institution in China requires the stamp of a local translation company, we tell you in advance.
Process tracking
We update you via WeChat as each step is completed and remind you what is needed for the next one. We clearly share who holds the original document, at which institution, and when it will be collected. That way, you do not have to visit different institutions one by one to ask about the status.
Service summary and requirements
| Legal basis | Apostille Convention (for China since November 2023) |
|---|---|
| Direction | China → Turkey / Turkey → China |
| Fees | Translation separate · notary and official fees at actual cost |
| Service languages | Chinese · Turkish · English |
| Cities served | Mainly Istanbul; also Ankara, Izmir and other cities |
The final price and timeline depend on your documents and scope; we send a clear quote within 2 hours.
What you need to provide
- The original document or a certified copy (photocopies usually cannot be certified)
- The country and institution where the document will be used
- For Chinese documents, the apostille obtained in China
- A copy of your passport (may be needed for follow-up procedures)
- A power of attorney if someone else will handle it (additional certification may be needed if issued abroad)
Five steps from describing the document to delivering the originals
- 1
Tell us about the document and purpose
Send a photo of the document and tell us in which country and at which institution it will be used. If the institution gave you a written list, share that too. The clearer the purpose, the more accurate the route plan.
- 2
Certification plan
We set out the required steps in order: apostille in China or Turkey, then translation and notary. We also indicate which steps require you in person and which can be done through a proxy. We start after your approval.
- 3
Apostille procedure
For Chinese documents, you obtain the apostille in China; for Turkish documents, we help you at the relevant institution. In China, apostilles are usually issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the local foreign affairs offices it authorizes. Confirm the current rules on where to apply and which documents are needed with the relevant institution.
- 4
Translation and notary
A sworn translator translates and the translation goes to the notary, or the Turkish document is translated into Chinese. Once the translation is done, we first submit critical details such as names and dates for your review. It goes to the notary after your approval, preventing errors from surfacing after notarization and the procedure having to be repeated.
- 5
Delivery of original documents
Certified documents are handed to you in person or sent to the address you specify. Before delivery, we check that seals and pages are complete. If you wish, we also keep a scanned copy in case it is needed later.
Frequently asked questions
If there is an apostille, is a separate notarization needed in Turkey?
The apostille shows the validity of the Chinese document itself; when used in Turkey, a sworn translation and notarization of the translation are usually also required. The two serve different needs: one verifies the document's origin, the other the reliability of the translation. The institution sets the exact requirement.
Are documents with consular legalization from before 2023 still valid?
Many institutions may still accept them; however, documents such as criminal records may have a validity period. Some institutions prefer to accept only recently issued documents. We recommend asking the institution before applying and, if necessary, renewing the document and obtaining an apostille.
Where are Turkish documents apostilled?
In general, administrative documents are apostilled at the District Governorship or Governorship, and court and notarial documents at the Justice Commission. There may be differences depending on the document and city. We confirm together in advance so you do not make a wasted trip.
I'm not in Turkey; can you handle the whole process?
We can handle the translation and notary procedures, but the original documents need to be sent; some apostille or notary procedures must be done in person or through a proxy, and we tell you this in advance. A power of attorney issued abroad may also need to be certified. We plan the details together before starting.
Does the same process apply to documents from Hong Kong and Macau?
Hong Kong and Macau were covered by the Apostille Convention even before mainland China; their own competent authorities issue the apostille. When used in Turkey, translation and notarization are usually still required. Confirm the current rules on the competent authority with the relevant institution.
How long do an apostille and notarized translation usually take?
The time depends on the number of documents, the page count and the workload at the institution, so giving a single timeframe would not be accurate. The translation and notary procedure on the Turkish side is usually quick for common one-page documents, while the apostille time in China is set by the institution there. We state the approximate time for each step in the route plan so you can plan ahead.
Can a notarized translation made in Turkey be used directly in China?
It depends on the requirements of the institution in China. Some institutions accept the document apostilled in Turkey together with its Chinese translation, while others require an authorized translation agency in China to retranslate or stamp it. We recommend asking the institution in China in advance; we prepare the translation in the required format.
For multi-page documents, is each page certified separately?
Turkish notaries usually certify the translation as a whole; multi-page documents are bound together and the pages are sealed, though practice may vary by notary. The notary fee is mostly based on the number of pages and copies. If only part of the document is needed, you can first confirm with the institution whether only the relevant pages can be submitted.
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