When Cupid's arrow strikes, we often don't think of the bureaucratic and legal implications of marrying on foreign soil. Many single expats who have lived in Turkey for some time often find love either with another expat or with one of the locals and choose to hold their wedding ceremony in Turkey. We take a look at what red tape is in store for those who want to marry in Turkey.Marrying Your Turkish Dream Guy or Girl
If you have met a Turkish version of Ms or Mr Right and want to marry in Turkey, you will need to produce a certificate of no impediment from the local registrar of marriages in the UK, your birth certificates and passports and any divorce or death certificates of previous spouses if you were married before. You must present these documents to and an application form to the consulate that is responsible for your home country in Turkey to initiate the formalities for example you must apply to the British consulate in Turkey if you are a British citizen.
The consulate will obtain the certificate of no impediment and certificate of identity and nationality from the appropriate registry office in your home country and will get it approved by the relevant consulate in Turkey who will have it translated into Turkish. A certificate of no-impediment is legal for six months or three months if it is obtained from Scotland. Additionally, you will have to make a sworn declaration regarding your present marital status, which confirms that you are free to marry.You must then both make an application in person to the local marriage office in your area to give notice of the marriage, present the certificates and complete the appropriate forms as well as setting a date for the marriage ceremony to take place. When the marriage has taken place you should send your marriage certificate to the consulate who will register the marriage in your home country. The legal age for marriage in Turkey is 18, but there are special circumstances where marriages are permitted for minors as long as they have the permission of their parents, legal guardians or the relevant court.
Marrying Your Expat Fiancée
If you have met another foreign national who lives or was holidaying in Turkey or even someone you met on the internet, you might decide to get married in Turkey. You will need to produce a certificate of no impediment from the local registrar of marriages in the UK, your birth certificates and passports and any divorce or death certificates of previous spouses if you were married before. You must present these documents to and an application form to the consulate that is responsible for your home country in Turkey to initiate the formalities for example you must apply to the British consulate in Turkey if you are a British citizen. The consulate will obtain the certificate of no impediment and certificate of identity and nationality from the appropriate registry office in your home country and will get it approved by the relevant consulate in Turkey. A certificate of no-impediment is legal for six months. You must then both make an application in person to the local marriage office in your area to give notice of the marriage, present the certificates and complete the appropriate forms as well as setting a date for the marriage ceremony to take place. The ceremony will be performed in Turkish and you will need a translator to interpret for you – this is a legal requirement when you do not speak the language fluently. When the marriage has taken place you should send your marriage certificate to the consulate who will register the marriage in your home country. The legal age for marriage in Turkey is 18, but there are special circumstances where marriages are permitted for minors as long as they have the permission of their parents, legal guardians or the relevant court. You may be able to get married at your respective consulates providing your national law recognises this, but if you are marrying a Turkish citizen this option is not possible. Marrying Your Turkish Partner in the UK
If you have met the Turkish man or woman of your dreams, you may want to marry in your home country so that your family and friends can attend your wedding. If you are a British citizen the procedure is as follows: You need to apply to the registrar of marriages in the county where you intend to marry. Your Turkish partner must obtain a certificate of no impediment from their local registration office in Turkey and then apply to the British Consulate in Turkey and present all of their ID papers, details of their parents name and their nationality and religion. When permission is granted in the UK, the place and date of the wedding can be set and once it has taken place, your Turkish partner needs to inform their Consulate General of the marriage within one month of it taking place. Failure to do so within this time restraint will result in a fine.
If you marry a Turkish man you can apply for Turkish citizenship after three years of marriage if you intend to live in Turkey and you may also hold dual citizenship in accordance with British law.
More information for British citizens is available from the British Embassy in Turkey at http://ukinturkey.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/marrying-in-turkey
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