Formalities of Marriage in Turkey

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Marriage in Turkey - Formalities
According to Turkish Marriage regulations, a Turkish national and a foreigner or two foreigners with different nationalities can be married by Turkish authorities.

Two foreigners of the same nationality can be married either by the offices of their own Country's Embassy or Consulate or by the Turkish authorities.

All marriages done by the Turkish authorities are subject to the relavant articles of the Turkish Civil Code and related regulations.

Whether they are Turkish or foreigners, Turkish relevant authorities do not conduct these marriages, unless the petitioners can provide their marriage licences issued by the proper Civil Status Registrars of his or her own Country, that they hold the nationality of, respectively.

Conditions for a legal Marriage

1- Capacity to marry: Only those persons who are of sound mental capacity to make fair judgments are allowed to marry. Mental illness is, therefore, a bar to marriage. In addition, a person must have reached the minimum age of 18 to marry.

2- Absence of consanguinity: Marriage between close relatives is prohibited.

3- Already existing marriage: Monogamy is one of the essential principles of Turkish family law. A second marriage can not be entered into unless the first is terminated.

4- Waiting period: Married women whose marriage has been dissolved cannot marry before the expiration of three hundred days from the date of dissolution. The divorce decree may also state a waiting period due to which a ex-spouse may not remarry.

5- Sickness: Certain medical conditions also constitute a bar to marriage.

Only civil marriages performed by authorized marriage officers are legally binding in Turkey.

Necessary documents for marriage:

1- Petition of the marriage. To start an action the groom and bride must file a petition of the marriage. "Evlenme Beyannamesi"

2- Passport, Identification card, birth certificate,

3- Health certificate.

4- 4 pictures belong to bride and groom.

5- Certificate of Capacity to Marry. (Single, divorce, widow or widowed.)

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Foreign nationals wishing to marry in Turkey need to visit their nearest Consulate in person once they are in Turkey to make an application to initiate the formalities.

The Certificate of No Impediment and certificate of identity and nationality need to be obtained from the relevant consulate and authenticated by the local Governor office in Turkey.

The marriage application needs to be made in person at the local marriage office in order to give notice of marriage, submit the certificates, complete necessary forms and fix a date for the marriage ceremony.