Last updated: 2 November 2026 · Legal review: Av. Gökhan Vural, İzmir Bar Association (Reg. No. 15813)
A Turkish birth certificate is, in practice, an extract from Türkiye’s population register: the Nüfus Kayıt Örneği in Turkish, or the multilingual Formula A extract made for use abroad. This guide explains which one to ask for, how to get it in minutes on e-Devlet or at a consulate, and when you also need an apostille or a sworn translation. Written by a practising Turkish lawyer and sworn translator.
Turkish Birth Certificate in Brief
- Türkiye does not issue a stand-alone birth certificate booklet. Birth details come from the central population register (MERNİS).
- For use abroad, ask for Formula A (Çok Dilli Doğum Kayıt Örneği). It is multilingual, so it often needs no translation.
- You can get it on e-Devlet, at any population directorate or at a Turkish consulate. No fee is charged.
- Foreigners appear in the register only if they live in Türkiye for at least six months.
- The apostille is free, so add it whenever the document can be apostilled.
Which Turkish Birth Certificate Do You Need?
| Document | Language | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Nüfus Kayıt Örneği (population register extract) | Turkish | Files in Türkiye: citizenship, residence, courts. Abroad only with a translation |
| Formula A (Çok Dilli Doğum Kayıt Örneği) | Multilingual | Marriage, immigration, citizenship and civil registration abroad |
| Doğum Bildirimi (hospital birth notification) | Turkish | Only to register a new birth, not as a certificate later |
The population register extract comes in two versions: with family events such as marriages, divorces and name changes (vukuatlı) or without them (vukuatsız). On e-Devlet you choose which one to create. Citizenship and family-status files usually need the version with family events.
How to Get a Turkish Birth Certificate
| Route | How it works | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| e-Devlet (turkiye.gov.tr) | Log in and open Nüfus Kayıt Örneği or Formula A. Download the barcoded PDF. Foreigners can log in with their foreigner identification number | Free |
| Population directorate (nüfus müdürlüğü) | Any directorate in Türkiye, with your ID card or passport. Your spouse, parents, guardian, children or grandchildren, or a representative with a power of attorney can also apply | Free |
| Turkish consulate | Book an appointment online. Consulates issue both the extract and Formula A (konsolosluk.gov.tr) | No fee, e.g. Milan Consulate General |
How to get a Turkish birth certificate on e-Devlet
- Log in to e-Devlet (turkiye.gov.tr) with your e-Devlet password, e-signature, mobile signature or internet banking.
- Open the Nüfus Kayıt Örneği service for the Turkish extract, or the Formula A service for the multilingual one.
- For the Turkish extract, choose the version with or without family events.
- Create the document and download the barcoded PDF.
Under Turkish rules on electronic documents, the barcoded e-Devlet PDF must be treated the same as a wet-signed copy. You do not need to collect a signed copy from a population directorate.
Formula A: The Multilingual Turkish Birth Certificate
Formula A is issued under the International Commission on Civil Status (ICCS) Convention No. 16 on multilingual extracts from civil status records. Countries that are party to the Convention should accept it without legalisation. In practice, officials do not always apply this consistently, so we recommend adding an apostille wherever it can be obtained.
The same Convention also covers Formula B, the multilingual marriage extract (Çok Dilli Evlenme Kayıt Örneği). It is obtained the same way, on e-Devlet or at a population directorate, and is the document to use when a foreign authority asks for a Turkish marriage certificate. Our guide to getting married in Turkey explains the marriage itself.
Turkish Birth Certificate Apostille and Translation
- Apostille: a Turkish birth certificate apostille is needed in countries that are party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, if they do not accept the document as it is. In Türkiye it is issued by governorates (valilik) and district governorates (kaymakamlık), free of charge. Other countries follow the certification route set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Sworn translation: a Turkish birth certificate translation is needed when the receiving authority wants the document in its own language, usually for the Turkish-only extract. A sworn translator translates it and a notary certifies the translation. Our sworn translator in Turkey does this between Turkish and English for 600 TL per page; the notary fee is charged separately.
Born Abroad or Applying by Descent?
The birth of every child of a Turkish mother or father must be registered; births abroad are registered at the consulate responsible for the place of birth. If a birth was never registered, there is no extract to issue until it is. For Turkish citizenship by descent, the extract of your Turkish parent or grandparent is often the key document. Blue Card (Mavi Kart) holders use a separate e-Devlet service.
Contact us or message us on WhatsApp at +90 530 949 29 91 with the document you need and the country it is for.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements can change, so check with the issuing and receiving authorities before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there birth certificates in Turkey?
Not as a stand-alone booklet. Türkiye issues birth details as extracts from the population register: the Nüfus Kayıt Örneği in Turkish and the multilingual Formula A for use abroad.
Can I get my Turkish birth certificate online?
Yes. Log in to e-Devlet and download the population register extract or Formula A as a barcoded PDF. It is free and has the same standing as a wet-signed copy.
Can a foreigner get a Turkish birth certificate?
Yes, if the foreigner lives in Türkiye for at least six months and is therefore in the foreigners’ register. The extract shows that the person is not a Turkish citizen and expires if it is not used within six months.