Where and How Do You Get an Apostille?

The competent authority, by document type

The authority follows the document’s nature. For administrative documents — diploma, transcript, birth certificate, civil registry extracts — the governorships (valilik) and district governorships (kaymakamlık) are generally competent. For judicial and court documents, the authorised units at the courthouses (the heavy penal court presidencies / justice commissions) issue the apostille; notarised documents have their own designated authorities. Before setting out, then, establish which category your document falls into and which authority it goes to. The right authority first time speeds the procedure and spares the runaround — matching document type to authority is the first step of the whole process.

Apostilling educational documents

For students, the documents that matter most are the diploma and transcript. They count as administrative and are generally apostilled through the governorship or district governorship — but educational documents usually need a preliminary step first: certification by the relevant educational authority (the university, or the education ministry’s relevant unit), or being put into official e-signed/wet-signed form. Only after that preliminary certification is the apostille issued. So before taking your diploma and transcript for apostille, make sure the document is apostille-ready (officially certified). The exact procedure varies a little with your university and the local authorities; learning the current steps in advance pays.

The process, step by step

The general flow: first put the document into official, certified form (obtaining certification from the relevant institution where needed); then apply to the authority matching the document’s type (governorship/district governorship, or the courthouse); the authority confirms the signature and seal and adds the apostille endorsement. In some places it completes the same day; in others it takes a few days. Bring the original document and your ID. The procedure is relatively simple, but arriving at the right authority with the right document matters — learn the steps and prepare the documents beforehand, and the apostille completes in a single, clean pass.

The e-apostille option

Turkey also offers an electronic apostille (e-apostille) for certain document types, allowing the procedure to run online. Where it applies, the e-apostille can speed things up and remove the need for a physical visit. Which documents fall within its scope, and how to apply, depends on the current state of the official systems — so research in advance whether your educational documents qualify; it can save real time. Not every document type is e-apostille-eligible, so check your document’s position. Where available, it is a genuinely useful way to make the process more practical.

Notes for Turkish students

The key is the right document at the right authority. For the diploma and transcript, secure the officially certified form first, then apostille through the governorship or district governorship. Put the procedure at the very start of your document preparation — the sworn translation and degree recognition both hang off it. After the apostilles, plan the sworn translations; you can see the translation price in advance. Which documents need apostilling is covered on the dedicated page, and confirming the current procedures with official sources keeps the process clean.

From another city, or abroad

Living far from the city where your document was issued — or outside Turkey — takes a little more planning. The apostille generally comes from the competent authority where the document was issued or certified, so you may need to travel there or act through a proxy: in some cases a relative can run the procedure on your behalf under a notarised power of attorney. Where the e-apostille applies, distance stops mattering. If you’re remote, plan early and budget for the proxy process if needed — good planning keeps geography from delaying the apostille.

Fee and timing

A small charge generally applies, and the procedure completes relatively quickly — same day in some places, a few days in others. The exact fee and timing depend on the authority and the document type. Apostilling several documents? Take them all in one visit and save the trips. Before going, check the authority’s current hours and requirements. Knowing fee and timing in advance keeps budget and calendar straight; the apostille is a simple procedure, but informed is smooth.

Practical tips

• Establish the document type and competent authority in advance
• For the diploma/transcript, secure the officially certified form first
• Apostille several documents in a single visit
• If remote, weigh the proxy or e-apostille options
• Bring the original document and your ID

The step after the apostille

After the apostille, the next step is usually the sworn translation. Italian authorities want the document in Italian (sometimes English), so the apostilled document goes to sworn translation — and since the apostille endorsement may need including, translating after the apostille matters. With the translation done, your document is both valid and intelligible in Italy; then, where needed, comes the degree-recognition application (CIMEA/DoV). For the translation side, see our sworn translation section — and plan the apostille-to-translation handover properly, so the document preparation keeps moving.

Working from accurate information

Because the process varies with document type and local authority, reaching current, accurate information before acting matters. Learn the current working procedures of the relevant governorship, district governorship or courthouse, the required papers, and any online (e-apostille) options — trusting official sources and the authorities’ current guidance, not stale information circulating online. The right authority for your document type, approached with the full file, completes the apostille in one clean pass; accurate information prevents both the runaround and the repeat visit, and keeps the process fast.

Frequently asked questions