Police Clearance Certificate from Turkey with Apostille
Order a Turkish police clearance certificate (Sabıka Kaydı) with apostille. We obtain it from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office by power of attorney, affix the apostille at the Governor's Office, and deliver worldwide. For residence permits, work, marriage abroad. 9+ years of experience.
Get ConsultationWhat Is a Turkish Police Clearance Certificate
A police clearance certificate from Turkey (official Turkish name: Sabıka Kaydı or Adli Sicil Kaydı) is an official document issued by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Turkey (Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı) confirming that no criminal cases have been initiated against a specific individual on the territory of Turkey, or containing information about existing criminal records and prosecutions under Turkish criminal law.
This document is one of the most frequently required when applying for visas, residence permits and citizenship in third countries for those who have previously lived in Turkey. Virtually every country in the world requires a police clearance certificate from each country where the applicant has lived for more than 6 months in the last 10 years — and Turkey is no exception here. The document is required for issuing a work visa, residence permit, permanent residency authorization, employment in certain sectors (education, healthcare, work with children), obtaining licenses and security clearances, as well as for acquiring citizenship, marriage abroad and adoption.
The certificate is issued by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office (Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı) at the applicant’s place of registration (ikametgah) or residence in Turkey. The procedure is governed by Turkish Law No. 5352 on the Criminal Registry (Adli Sicil Kanunu). Under the law, the service time is no more than 1 business day from the date the application is registered for in-person submission, and up to 3 business days for submission by power of attorney. For foreigners and Turkish citizens located outside Turkey, the process of obtaining the certificate is challenging: it requires a personal visit to the Prosecutor’s Office or execution of a Turkish power of attorney (vekaletname). This is where Global Docs Pro comes in — we obtain the certificate from the Prosecutor’s Office on the basis of your power of attorney, affix an apostille at the Governor’s Office and deliver the ready document to you by courier anywhere in the world.
Key advantage: We obtain the Turkish Sabıka Kaydı certificate from the Prosecutor’s Office by power of attorney, affix the apostille at the Governor’s Office (Valilik) and arrange sworn translation (yeminli tercüme) — all in one stop. You do not need to personally come to Turkey — we handle everything and deliver the apostilled document to any location worldwide.
Who Needs a Turkish Police Clearance Certificate
A police clearance certificate from Turkey is required in a wide range of situations — primarily when immigrating to third countries after residing in Turkey. Below are the most common cases where this document is needed, organized by country and purpose.
Residence Permit in Germany
The Ausländerbehörde requires a police clearance certificate from each country where the applicant has lived for more than 6 months in the last 10 years. If you lived in Turkey on an ikamet (residence permit) — a Turkish certificate with apostille and sworn translation into German (vereidigte/r Übersetzer/in) is required. Validity for Germany is 3 months from the date of issue, so the certificate should be ordered as close as possible to the submission date.
Residence Permit in Spain
The Oficina de Extranjería requires the certificate for residencia, student visas and family reunification visas. If the applicant’s history includes a period of residence in Turkey, a Turkish certificate with apostille and translation by a sworn translator (traductor jurado) into Spanish is required. Validity for Spain is 3 months.
Visa and Residence Permit in Italy
The Sportello unico per l’immigrazione requires the certificate for the permesso di soggiorno, work visas and family reunification visas. The document from Turkey must bear an apostille and be translated by a sworn translator (traduttore giurato) or certified by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (the Italian Prefettura does not apostille foreign documents — the apostille is affixed in the country of issue). Validity for Italy is 6 months.
Visa and Residence Permit in Israel
The Misrad HaPnim (Ministry of Interior of Israel) requires the certificate for visas, residence permits and repatriation (aliyah). If the applicant previously lived in Turkey, a Turkish certificate with apostille and translation into Hebrew or English is required. Validity for Israel is 6 months from the date of issue.
Work and Immigration to the USA
USCIS and the U.S. Department of State require a police clearance certificate from each country where the applicant has lived for more than 6 months since the age of 16. The Turkish certificate must bear an apostille and be translated by a certified translator. For U.S. immigration purposes, the certificate is valid for up to 2 years (since 15.06.2021, previously 1 year), under 9 FAM 504.4-4(A).
Visa, Residence and Employment in the UAE
The UAE Ministry of Interior, GDRFA and ICP require the certificate for resident visas, the Emirates ID and employment. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Convention, so consular legalization is required for the Turkish certificate: Turkish apostille → certification at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs → certification at the UAE Embassy in Ankara. Validity for the UAE is 3 months.
Residence Permit and Citizenship in Russia
The Russian Main Directorate for Migration (GUVM MVD) requires a police clearance certificate from Turkey for issuing a Russian residence permit to those who have previously lived in Turkey for more than 6 months. The document must bear an apostille and be translated into Russian with notarial certification. Validity for a Russian residence permit is 3 months from the date of issue. Russian citizenship applications also require a certificate from each country of residence.
Work and Residence in China
The Chinese Entry-Exit Administration requires the certificate for work visas (Z), work permits (Foreigner’s Work Permit) and residence permits. China joined the Hague Convention on 7 November 2023 — now an apostille is sufficient for China, and consular legalization is no longer required. The document must be translated into Chinese and notarially certified.
Marriage Abroad and Adoption
Many countries require a police clearance certificate from each country of residence when registering a marriage with a foreigner, as well as for child adoption. If one of the spouses previously lived in Turkey, a Turkish certificate with apostille and translation is required. The same applies to adoption proceedings — guardianship authorities of the destination country request certificates from all countries of residence over the past 5-10 years.
How We Obtain the Turkish Police Clearance Certificate
The process of obtaining a Turkish police clearance certificate with apostille consists of seven stages. We go through all stages for you — you do not need to be in Turkey or personally visit any government office. The entire process is managed remotely through a power of attorney and digital communication.
1. Free consultation and order. Contact us via WhatsApp or Telegram. Tell us which country you need the certificate for — this determines whether an apostille, consular legalization and translation are required, as well as the target language for translation. We will advise on the exact requirements of the destination country, calculate the cost and provide the timeline.
2. Power of attorney preparation (vekaletname). To obtain the certificate from the Turkish Prosecutor’s Office on your behalf, a Turkish notarized power of attorney is required. We coordinate the text of the power of attorney with a Turkish notary (noter) in advance — listing the powers to obtain the Sabıka Kaydı certificate from the Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı, the apostille at the Valilik/Kaymakamlık, and translation if required. The power of attorney is executed at a Turkish notary through our partner in Turkey (you only need to send a copy of your passport) or at a Turkish consulate in your country.
3. Submission to the Prosecutor’s Office. Our representative submits the request to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office (Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı) with the power of attorney, a copy of the passport and the required documents. The Prosecutor’s Office verifies the information against the UYAP database (National Judicial Network System of Turkey) and issues the Sabıka Kaydı certificate with the official seal. The processing time is 1-3 business days.
4. Apostille affixation. After receiving the certificate from the Prosecutor’s Office, we forward it for apostille affixation to the Governor’s Office (Valilik) or District Governor’s Office (Kaymakamlık) — these are the competent authorities in Turkey for apostilles on official documents. Turkey has been a party to the Hague Convention since 29 September 1985, so the Turkish apostille is recognized in all member states (over 125 states). The apostille is affixed within 2-5 business days.
5. Sworn translation (yeminli tercüme). Depending on the destination country, the apostilled certificate may require translation into the local language. For Germany — sworn translation into German (vereidigte/r ÜD), for Spain — by a sworn translator (traductor jurado), for Italy — traduttore giurato, for Israel — into Hebrew or English, for Russia — notarized translation into Russian, for other countries — sworn translation (yeminli tercüme) in Turkey with notarial certification.
6. Photos and verification. We photograph the completed certificate with the apostille (and translation, if ordered) and send the photos to you for verification. You confirm that your details are correct — full name in Latin script as in the passport, date of birth, passport number, T.C. Kimlik (if any) — and that the apostille has been properly affixed.
7. Courier delivery. The documents are shipped via an international courier service (DHL, FedEx or similar) with full tracking at every stage and insurance for the full document value. Average delivery time is 3-7 business days depending on the country and city.
Apostille or Consular Legalization — What Your Certificate Needs
Like any official document from Turkey, a police clearance certificate requires legalization for use abroad. The type of legalization depends on the country where you will present the certificate.
For countries that are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Israel, the USA, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Canada (since 11 Jan 2024), Russia, China (since 7 Nov 2023) and over 125 other states), an apostille is sufficient. Turkey is one of the first parties to the Hague Convention — it joined on 29 September 1985. The apostille on a Turkish police clearance certificate is placed by the Governor’s Office (Valilik) or District Governor’s Office (Kaymakamlık) — this is a standard procedure that we perform regularly. The full list of countries is in our article Hague Convention Countries 2026.
For countries that have not signed the Hague Convention (the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq and others), consular legalization is required — a multi-step process: Turkish apostille → certification at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs → certification at the embassy of the destination country in Ankara. This process takes longer and costs more, but we have extensive experience completing it for all countries on this list. For details, see our Consular Legalization page.
Important: A police clearance certificate from Turkey has a limited validity period. In most countries it is accepted within 3-6 months from the date of issue. Keep this in mind when planning — it is better to order the certificate closer to the date you submit documents to the authority of the destination country.
What Information Does the Turkish Certificate Contain
The Sabıka Kaydı certificate issued by the Turkish Prosecutor’s Office contains the following information:
- Last name and first name of the applicant (in Latin script, exactly matching the passport);
- Date and place of birth;
- Passport series and number, citizenship;
- T.C. Kimlik Numarası — for those who have a Turkish identification number;
- Ikametgah — the registration address in Turkey at the time of issue;
- Information on the presence or absence of criminal records in Turkey;
- Information on the presence or absence of criminal prosecution;
- Information on the termination of criminal prosecution (if applicable);
- Date of issue of the certificate and the name of the issuing authority (Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı) with the official seal.
If no information about criminal records or prosecution exists for the individual, the certificate contains the following wording: “Üzerine kayıtlı adli sicil kaydı bulunmamaktadır” — which translates as “no registered entries in the criminal registry.” This wording is the confirmation of no criminal record in Turkey.
Processing Time and Cost
The total time for obtaining a Turkish police clearance certificate with apostille consists of several stages. The Turkish Prosecutor’s Office (Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı) processes the request within 1-3 business days from submission by power of attorney — this is faster than in most other countries. The apostille at the Governor’s Office (Valilik) is affixed within 2-5 business days. Sworn translation — 2-3 business days. Courier delivery — 3-7 business days.
Estimated timeframes:
- Power of attorney preparation (vekaletname) — 3-7 days;
- Certificate issuance by the Prosecutor’s Office — 1-3 business days;
- Apostille affixation at Valilik/Kaymakamlık — 2-5 business days;
- Sworn translation (if required) — 2-3 business days;
- Courier delivery — 3-7 business days.
Total time: from 2 to 4 weeks depending on the need for translation and the destination country. We provide an individual timeline estimate after receiving your request.
Cost: calculated individually after analyzing your request — no hidden fees. The cost includes: execution of the power of attorney at a Turkish notary, obtaining the certificate from the Prosecutor’s Office, apostille at the Governor’s Office, sworn translation (if required), insured courier delivery, full support. Write to us on WhatsApp or Telegram for a free consultation and cost calculation within 15 minutes.
Why Choose Global Docs Pro
- Over 9 years of experience obtaining police clearance certificates for clients worldwide;
- Direct contacts with the Prosecutor’s Office (Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı) and the Governor’s Office (Valilik) in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Antalya;
- Turkish partners — notaries (noter) and sworn translators (yeminli mütercim) on the ground;
- Apostille and consular legalization in one stop — no need to visit multiple offices in Turkey;
- Sworn translations into all major languages: Russian, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese;
- Over 300 documents per month — a proven, reliable process;
- Transparent pricing — full cost upfront, no hidden fees;
- Photos of completed documents before shipping — you verify the data yourself;
- Insured courier delivery with tracking;
- Risk minimization: we verify all data before submission to the Prosecutor’s Office.
Delivery to Any Country
We deliver Turkish police clearance certificates with apostille to any location worldwide through international courier services. Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Israel, the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the UAE, China, Russia and any other country — without restrictions. Every shipment is insured for the full document value, and you receive a tracking number to monitor your parcel in real time.
Related Services
- Police Clearance Certificate from Russia with Apostille — Russian certificate for those who lived in Russia
- Apostille of Documents — apostille on the original, copy or translation of the certificate
- Consular Legalization — for countries outside the Hague Convention (UAE, Qatar, Egypt)
- Notarial Translation of Documents — translation of the certificate with notary certification
- International Document Delivery — courier delivery to any country
Useful Articles
- Hague Convention Countries 2026 — Full List
- Criminal Record Certificate Abroad: How to Obtain from Outside
- Apostille on Police Clearance Certificate: Detailed Guide
Sources and References
- Turkish Law No. 5352 of 23.02.2005 (Adli Sicil Kanunu — Criminal Registry Law): mevzuat.gov.tr
- Türk Ceza Kanunu (Turkish Criminal Code) No. 5237 of 26.09.2004: mevzuat.gov.tr
- HCCH — Status Table of the 1961 Apostille Convention (Turkey — party since 29.09.1985): hcch.net
- Official e-Devlet portal of Turkey (Sabıka Kaydı online): turkiye.gov.tr
- Website of the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of Turkey (Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı): uyap.gov.tr
- GDPR / FZ-152 — Personal Data Protection: reference for international data handling standards
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