Using Chinese Documents in Turkey: Apostille Guide

Since 7 November 2023, a public document from mainland China no longer needs legalisation by a Turkish embassy or consulate before you use it in Turkey. Instead it needs an apostille from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorised local foreign affairs office, and most civil documents first need a notarial certificate from a Chinese notary office. In Turkey, a sworn translator then translates the whole document into Turkish and a Turkish notary certifies the translation.

What changed, and what stayed the same

China deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 8 March 2023, and the Convention entered into force for mainland China on 7 November 2023. Sources: the Hague Conference status table and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Turkey has applied the Convention since 1985, and the Convention applies between Turkey and China.

• No more consular legalisation. The Turkish Consulate General in Guangzhou says that since 7 November 2023 it no longer certifies signatures and seals on Chinese documents. A document apostilled by the competent Chinese authority can be used directly in Turkey.
• Hong Kong and Macao. The Convention applied to both Special Administrative Regions before 2023 and still does. They issue their own apostilles: in Hong Kong the High Court Registry and in Macao the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ), not the Ministry in Beijing.
• What an apostille proves. It confirms the signature and seal, not the content. The Turkish office still decides whether the document meets its requirements.

Who issues apostilles for mainland documents

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Consular Affairs (Beijing): can apostille documents issued anywhere in mainland China.
• Authorised foreign affairs offices: the offices of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and some city offices, can apostille documents issued in their own area only. A notarial certificate from a Shanghai notary office goes to the Shanghai office or to the Ministry, not to another province. The current list is on the Ministry's apostille page.

At the Ministry the fee is 50 yuan per civil document and 100 yuan per commercial document, plus 50 yuan per document for express service. A standard application is ready on the fourth working day and an express one on the second, counting the day the documents are accepted. Local offices set their own times. You need the paper original: the electronic apostille pilot that began on 18 June 2025 covers only certificates of origin issued by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). Individuals can book an appointment, or apply by post, through the "领事服务中心" mini programme in Alipay.

The usual steps

1. Get the source document in China, for example the marriage certificate (结婚证), the no-criminal-record certificate from the public security bureau, a degree certificate or a business licence.
2. Notarisation. The Ministry's guidance says documents issued in China must first be notarised by a notary office (公证处) or certified by a competent body before they can get an apostille. For most civil documents this means a notarial certificate for use abroad (涉外公证书). Diplomas and transcripts cannot get an apostille directly. Commercial documents can also be certified by the CCPIT.
3. Apostille at the Ministry or at the foreign affairs office of the province where the notary office is.
4. Sworn translation and notarisation in Turkey (see below).
5. Submit the originals with your application, plus any copies the office asks for.

If you live in Turkey, you can apply to the notary office yourself or authorise someone in China to apply. The Ministry states that Chinese embassies and consulates abroad cannot notarise a no-criminal-record certificate issued in China (Ministry FAQ).

Typical documents

What happens in Turkey

Turkish offices work in Turkish. Once the apostilled originals are in Turkey, a sworn translator (yeminli tercüman) translates the full document into Turkish and a Turkish notary certifies the translation (noter onaylı tercüme). Have every page translated, including the notarial certificate and the apostille, and check that names match the pinyin in the passport.

• Residence permits: the e-İkamet document lists of the Presidency of Migration Management say documents obtained abroad must carry an apostille and a notarised Turkish translation. See our residence permit page.
• Marriage: under the Marriage Regulation, a foreigner needs a document from the competent authority showing that nothing prevents the marriage, duly certified. Ask the marriage office (evlendirme dairesi) which Chinese document it accepts before you order it.
• Company: when a Chinese company becomes a shareholder, the trade registry asks for its registry certificate with an apostille and a notarised Turkish translation, under Article 32 of the Trade Registry Regulation (Istanbul Chamber of Commerce).
• Citizenship: civil documents such as birth and marriage certificates follow the same route. See our Turkish citizenship page.

For the Turkish side of the process in more detail, read our guide to apostilling, translating and notarising documents in Turkey.

Does Turkey ask for anything extra?

For an apostilled mainland document, you need neither Turkish consular legalisation nor legalisation by the Chinese Embassy in Ankara. Because some Turkish offices still asked for Chinese Embassy legalisation, the Ministry of Interior's General Directorate of Provincial Administration sent letter no. 120708 of 10 December 2025 to institutions, reminding them that duly apostilled Chinese documents need no embassy legalisation and that apostilles can be checked at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VERIFY. The letter was published by the Union of Turkish Bar Associations. The Chinese Ministry's country notes also say that, for Turkey, powers of attorney and other authorisation documents must be issued as notarial certificates. Otherwise, each office sets its own checklist.

Timing and validity

• Documents that can change must be recent. The Chinese Ministry says notarial certificates on marital status, criminal record and health are generally valid for six months, and the certification is valid for the same period. Many Turkish marriage offices also ask for documents issued within the last six months. No single Turkish rule covers every file, so ask the receiving office how recent a criminal record certificate must be, and order it shortly before you apply.
• Allow time for every step: notarisation, apostille, courier, translation and notary, plus public holidays in China.
• Need originals for several offices? You can order several original notarial certificates and have each one apostilled.

Turkey Residence Agency can help you check your document list and arrange sworn translation and notarisation in Turkey through independent translators and notaries. We provide advisory services only; contact us if you need help.

Frequently asked questions

Do I still need a Turkish embassy or consulate in China to legalise my documents?

No. Since 7 November 2023, the Chinese apostille replaces consular legalisation.

Can a foreign affairs office in another province apostille my document?

No. A local office handles only documents from its own area; the Ministry in Beijing handles documents from anywhere in mainland China.

Can the Turkish translation be done in China?

The usual route is a sworn translator and a notary in Turkey. A translation into another language attached by a Chinese notary office, such as English, does not replace it. If you want to translate elsewhere, ask the Turkish office first.

My documents were issued in Hong Kong or Macao. What changes?

The apostille comes from the Hong Kong High Court Registry or the Macao Legal Affairs Bureau, not from the Ministry in Beijing. The Turkish translation and notarisation work the same way.

How can a Turkish office check a Chinese apostille?

On the Ministry's verification site, consular.mfa.gov.cn/VERIFY, using the details on the apostille.

Rules checked in October 2026. They change, so confirm them with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish office that will receive your documents before you act.