The procedures followed in Turkey for registering a marriage are included in the Population Services Law No. 5490 and the Marriage Regulation. Additionally, the Regulation on the Implementation of the Population Services Law No. 4721 also outlines the process of registering a marriage in the country.

Turkish couple wishes to get married in a foreign country that allows legal marriages, the couple can get married at a Turkish Foreign Representation Office. The condition to get married in a foreign country is that the country allows matrimonial unions. In case one of the marrying partners is a dual national, the couple will not be allowed to marry at the Foreign Representatives. However, they must get married in front of foreign local authorities and the marriage will not be banned by the Foreign Representatives.

Restrictions in Other Countries

The laws of the following countries are not aligned with the laws of Turkey; therefore, a marriage cannot take place at the Foreign Representative Offices. These countries are Austria, Argentina, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, England, the Republic of Ireland, Canada, Switzerland, Chile, and New Zealand. Even if both are Turkish citizens, they cannot be married in the Foreign Representative Offices of these countries.

Applying for Marriage

Any couple who wishes to get married needs to personally visit the Foreign Representative Office and sign the declaration form. Both the man and woman are required to do this together when applying for marriage. According to the article of the Marriage Regulation, the man or the woman is allowed to apply for marriage registration alone if a special power of attorney is prepared. The authority by the other party is essential for the marriage to be registered.

The information of all Turkish citizens is available and accessible to the Foreign Representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The database is accurate and contains all information about the marital status of the citizens. When a couple applies for marriage at the Foreign Representative Offices abroad, the status can be checked within minutes. The office then gives the couple date for when the marriage can take place. The citizens have to wait for a few days after they have applied for their marriage.

Documents Required

The couple requires the following documents:

• A signed petition by the couple at the Representation Offices.
• ID cards of the couple.
• ID cards of two witnesses.
• A medical report issued by a licensed doctor declaring that both the man and woman are mentally and physically fit to get married.
• Three coloured photographs of both the man and the woman.
• A declaration form by the woman stating that she wishes to keep her maiden surname along with her husband’s surname.
• In case the woman was previously married, her divorced certificate or the death certificate of her previous spouse.

Once all the necessary documents are ready, the couple will be required to visit the Foreign Representation Office on the allotted date and time. Witnesses should also be present or else the marriage cannot take place. Both the man and the woman have to express their free will to marry each other in front of witnesses and the officer in charge to perform the nuptials.

The Civil Code does not allow Turkish men to take the surname of their spouse; however, the women must take the surname of their husband. The wife is allowed to keep both her maiden surname and adopt her husband’s surname as well. There is a request form that allows her to do this legally by dully filling the form and submitting it to the officer who performed the wedding. If the wife does not do this during the marriage, she will need to sign a petition later on.

After the marriage takes place, the couple is given an international family wallet from the Foreign Representatives Office.

Terms and Conditions at London Consulate

The British legislation does not follow the same marriage laws as the Turkish laws so Turkish citizens cannot get married at the Consulate General in London. On the other hand, Turkish citizens who wish to marry each other while in the United Kingdom; need to get married before British authorities. In order to do this, they need to apply to the registry office of the Municipality in England.

Available Forms

The applicants can use two forms for their marriage procedures. They are:

• Request to use maiden surname along with husband name
• Marriage request form in foreign representation

Expenses

The total expense for the marriage procedure, when done at the Foreign Representative, will be about GBP 5. No other expenses are incurred unless the Turkish citizens need additional documents before the marriage can take place.