Apostille for a Turkish criminal record (adli sicil) + English translation
Uğur Arı — sworn translator, Kartal 12th and Gebze 19th Notary Offices · Updated October 27, 2026
A Turkish criminal record (adli sicil) is a judicial document, so its paper apostille is issued by the Justice Commission Presidency (Adalet Komisyonu Başkanlığı) at the courthouse; for eligible documents, where the conditions are met, an e-Apostille may also be possible, depending on the competent authority's system; processing time and any fee depend on the office's current practice, so check before you plan your timeline. The usual order is: obtain the record from e-Devlet, apostille the original, then have it sworn-translated into English so the apostille annotation is translated as well — unless the receiving institution asks for a different order. If you have no criminal record, e-Devlet can issue the certificate in English directly (Ministry of Justice, since 17 September 2018); some institutions accept that barcoded English version without any translation, others still require a sworn translation of the Turkish original — ask them first. Validity is short (often under three months), so obtain it shortly before you need it.
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If your authority asks for a certified English translation of your Turkish criminal record, send it for an exact quote — and I tell you if the English e-Devlet version is enough. No upfront payment is required to request a quote.
Send Your Document on WhatsApp ↗Where the apostille is issued
Because the criminal record is a judicial document, its paper apostille is affixed by the Justice Commission Presidency (Adalet Komisyonu Başkanlığı) at the courthouse in Turkey — not by the translator or the notary. Processing time and any fee depend on the office's current practice; check before you plan your timeline. Court decisions follow the same route; for eligible documents, where the conditions are met, an e-Apostille may also be possible, depending on the competent authority's system.
Order: usually apostille first, then translate
The general rule is to apostille the original record first, then have it sworn-translated — because the apostille stamp must also appear in the translation. Some receiving institutions additionally require the translation to be notarized and apostilled. Whether that extra step is needed depends entirely on the country and institution you will submit to, so check the application text before you start.
Step-by-step process
- 1Obtain the record
Get the adli sicil from e-Devlet or the courthouse. Obtain it shortly before you need it so it stays within validity.
- 2Apostille the original
Apply for the e-Apostille online with your e-Devlet login at eapostil.gov.tr, or take the record to the Justice Commission Presidency (Adalet Komisyonu Başkanlığı) at the courthouse; processing time depends on the office.
- 3Sworn English translation
Send the apostilled record on WhatsApp. I make the Turkish → English sworn translation, including the apostille annotation; it is notarized if required.
- 4Apostille the translation if asked
The notarized translation is apostilled as well only if the receiving institution requires it.
Which countries require the apostille
The apostille is valid between countries party to the Hague Apostille Convention — nearly all of Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom and many others. For non-member countries, consular legalization is required instead of an apostille, which is a longer process handled through that country's representation in Turkey.
e.g. passport, ID card, birth record, driving licence, criminal record, marriage certificate
Multi-page documents are quoted in writing after review. Prices are the same Turkish lira tariff as for clients in Türkiye; foreign-currency figures are approximate. Notarisation, apostille, courier and other extra steps are not included and are listed separately in your written quote. Foreign-currency figures are calculated from the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye buying rate of 9 October 2026 (NZD: ECB cross rate) and rounded up to .99.
Is the barcoded e-Devlet criminal record enough on its own?
Sometimes. The barcoded e-Devlet document is verifiable online and accepted directly by some institutions; others require a signed, apostilled and translated version. Check what the receiving institution asks for.
How long is a Turkish criminal record valid?
It is often required to be less than three months old. Obtain it shortly before the procedure so it does not expire during apostille and translation.
- Ministry of Justice — criminal record certificate available in English and 5 other languages via e-Devlet (announcement) →
- HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (official list) →
- e-Devlet — Criminal record (adli sicil) service →
Public official sources; procedures can change — verify the current version before you apply.
Requirements and acceptance are ultimately set by the receiving institution, notary office or authority; practices vary and cannot be guaranteed. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Send Your Document First. Pay After Reviewing Your Quote.
Certified translation requirements can vary by document and receiving authority. Send your document via WhatsApp, talk to me directly, and get a written quote covering the translation, any required certification and delivery options before making payment.
- Send your document. A photo or PDF by WhatsApp, and tell me where it will be used.
- I review it. The document, its language pair, the purpose and the service you need — including whether notarisation, an apostille, a signed paper copy or international delivery is needed.
- You receive a written quote. Translation, any required certification, delivery and turnaround, before you pay.
- I prepare your translation. No upfront payment is required for the translation.
- You see it first. Once your translation is completed, I share a watermarked preview showing a suitable part of the document. The preview does not expose unnecessary personal data and does not replace the signed and stamped official document.
- Then you pay. After your payment is confirmed, I deliver the final, watermark-free translation with the translator’s statement, signature and stamp in the agreed format.
See that your translation is ready before you pay. No upfront payment is required, either to request a quote or for the translation. I cannot guarantee that a foreign authority will accept a document; where its requirements are unclear, I tell you to confirm them with the receiving authority before you pay.
I accept credit and debit cards. After you accept the written quote, you can pay by card, by bank transfer to my IBAN, or by Western Union where delivery to a bank account is available from your location; cash is possible in person in Türkiye. Card payments are made through a secure payment link in US dollars (USD); card charges, if any, are stated in your quote.
Send Your Document on WhatsApp ↗Ask a sworn translator about your document before paying.
Who provides this: İngilizce Yeminli Çeviri — Uğur Arı, sworn translator registered at the Kartal 12th (Tuzla, Istanbul) and Gebze 19th Notary Offices. Turkish ↔ English sworn translation, online, with the same Turkish lira prices worldwide.