Translation & Documents ·
By Yunus Emre · Rome Consultancy
Apostille for Italy: Using Turkish Documents in Italy
An apostille certifies the signature and seal on a public document. Turkey and Italy are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostilled Turkish document can be used in Italy without consular legalisation. In Turkey, apostilles are issued by governorships and district governorships.
Short answer: An apostille is an international certificate confirming that the signature and seal on a public document are genuine. Turkey and Italy are both parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostilled Turkish document is accepted in Italy without further consular legalisation. In Turkey, apostilles are issued by governorships (valilik) and district governorships (kaymakamlık).
Where do you get an apostille in Turkey?
| Document | Issuing authority |
|---|---|
| Administrative documents: civil registry records, diplomas, transcripts, notarised documents | Governorship (province) or district governorship |
| Judicial documents: criminal record certificates, court decisions | The justice commission of the first-instance court; criminal records and court decisions can also be apostilled online through e-Apostil |
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not certify apostilled documents again: the apostille alone is enough for Italy.
Apostille first, translation second
- Obtain the original document from the issuing authority.
- Have it apostilled at the governorship, district governorship or justice commission.
- Have the document translated into Italian, including the apostille.
- Have the translation certified in the way the Italian office requires.
How are translations certified for Italy?
- In Turkey: the Italian Consulate General in Istanbul issues a certificate of conformity for Italian translations of Turkish documents. Its published procedure table gives an ordinary processing time of 30 days.
- In Italy: the translator swears to the translation before a court clerk (asseverazione). See our sworn translation guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does an apostille expire?
The apostille itself has no expiry date, but the receiving office may require the document to be recent. Italian visa lists, for example, ask for parental consent forms no older than 3 months.
Can I get an apostille at a consulate?
No. Turkish documents are apostilled only by the competent Turkish authorities.
How do I use an Italian document in Turkey?
Have it apostilled in Italy, usually at the Prefettura for administrative documents or the Procura della Repubblica for court and notarial documents, then have it translated into Turkish by a sworn translator in Turkey.
Let us handle your documents
Rome Consultancy provides Italian, Turkish and English translation and plans the order in which your documents are certified. Send your request from our Translation & Interpreting page.
Last checked: 7 November 2026.