Key Summary
- StandardTurkey is a signatory to the Apostille Convention, so it processes Apostille without embassy authentication.
- TargetApostille is required for export contracts, sales authorization letters, and product registration documents.
- CautionWhen translation is required, authentication is often required for both the original and the translated notarized document.
There are frequently asked questions. “I’m exporting to Türkiye, but they ask me to get an Apostille on the document. Türkiye is the Middle East, so isn’t it an embassy certification?”
Turkey is a signatory to the Apostille Convention. Although it is geographically close to the Middle East, it has joined the convention, so when Korean documents are submitted to Turkey, they are processed through Apostille without embassy authentication. I mentioned earlier that authentication methods vary depending on the country when dealing with Middle Eastern documents, but Turkey uses Apostille.
In this article, we will summarize the situations in which an Apostille is required for export and import from Türkiye, what documents are covered, and what to pay attention to when processing. This will be helpful if you are a company doing business with Türkiye.
Turkey is a signatory to the Apostille Convention
There is something to check first. Türkiye is a signatory to the Apostille Convention. So, when submitting documents issued or written in Korea to Türkiye, you only need to get an Apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There is no need to obtain separate authentication from the Turkish Embassy in Korea.
Because Turkey is adjacent to the Middle East, it is easy to think that it needs embassy authentication, but since it is a signatory to the convention, it only requires one step of Apostille. Even in the same region, the procedures are different from non-member countries such as the UAE or Iraq. Therefore, it is important to confirm exactly which country the submission is from.
Situation where Apostille is required for export and import to Türkiye
Turkey is a country with active trade due to its location connecting Europe and Asia. Let's see in what aspects of Turkish import and export an Apostille is required.
When a Korean company exports a product to Türkiye, the Turkish importer requires an export contract or a sales authorization letter. For these documents to have legal effect in Turkey, Apostille certification is required. Also, if the product needs to be registered in Turkey, documents with an Apostille are required at the registration stage.
There is a distinction here. Transactions between internal corporations within the same company often do not require an Apostille. Certification becomes necessary when dealing with different external companies, i.e. Korean exporters and Turkish importers. Checking which side my transaction is on will help you determine if you need an Apostille.
Product registration and certification documents
If you need to register a product in Türkiye, documents with an Apostille are required at the registration stage.
For example, products that require local registration, such as cosmetics or certain consumer goods, must submit documents such as a free sale certificate. This is a document confirming whether this product can be sold in Korea, and it must be accompanied by an Apostille certification for it to be accepted by the Turkish registration agency. Since the required documents differ depending on the product group, it is recommended to check in advance which documents are required for the export item.
Check translation certification
One thing to watch out for in Turkish documents is translation certification. Sometimes translation into Turkish is required, and requirements vary depending on the submission source.
When submitting a translation, an Apostille is often required for both the original and the translated notarized document. This is because, in principle, Apostille is a procedure to confirm the authenticity of the original document. There are cases where only the translation is certified and then rejected because the Turkish receiving agency cannot confirm the authenticity of the original, so it is recommended to check the submission requirements in advance.
Also check the document renewal cycle
In export transactions, including in Turkey, documents such as power of attorney sometimes have renewal cycles. A power of attorney for sales may need to be reissued and certified at regular intervals in accordance with local laws, so processing it once is not the end.
If you are a company that continues to do business with your clients, it is recommended to manage the renewal timing for each document. This is because if you miss the renewal date, local transactions may be disrupted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does Turkey need embassy authentication?
No. Türkiye is a signatory to the Apostille Convention, so the Apostille is processed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Certification from the Turkish Embassy in Korea is not required.
Q. Turkey is the Middle East, so why Apostille?
Although it is geographically close to the Middle East, Turkey has joined the convention, so it is processed by Apostille. Even in the same region, the procedures are different from non-member countries such as the UAE or Iraq.
Q. Which documents require an Apostille when exporting to Türkiye?
Apostille is often required for documents such as export contracts with local importers, sales authorization letters, and free sales certificates required for product registration. Just check the documents required by the importer or local registration agency.
Q. Is an Apostille required when sending to my company’s Turkish subsidiary?
Transactions between internal corporations of the same company often do not require an Apostille. Certification is required when dealing with different external companies, i.e. Korean exporters and Turkish importers.
Q. How do I certify the translation of Turkish documents?
When submitting a translation, authentication is often required for both the original and the translated notarized document. If only the translation is certified, it may be rejected because the authenticity of the original cannot be confirmed locally, so it is recommended to check the submission requirements.
Conclusion
Turkish import/export apostille is required to have contracts, power of attorney, and registration documents recognized during transactions with local importers and product registration processes. Since Turkey is a signatory to the convention, the process itself is simple with one step of Apostille, but it is important to accurately check the country of submission and not omit translation certification to avoid confusion with countries that have not joined the Middle East.
Nanum Global handles the submission requirements from translation to notarization and apostille of contracts, powers of attorney, and registration documents required for export and import to Turkey. We help you proceed without rejection by checking in advance which documents require authentication and how to authenticate the original and translation. If you are concerned about Turkish documents, please let us know the transaction type and document type. We will guide you through the necessary certifications and procedures. If you are a company with recurring transactions, we can also provide you with renewal management.
Türkiye import and export apostille, leave it to Nanum Global
If you tell us the transaction type and document type, we will guide you through the Apostille and translation notarization requirements.
