A marriage registered in Turkey is recognised in India if valid under Turkish law, and the international marriage certificate can be apostilled and used in India. A religious or destination wedding ceremony without civil registration in Turkey may not be a legal marriage, so many Indian couples register in India as well. After two years of a registered marriage, a Turkish spouse can usually apply for OCI.
- Document route
- Turkish notary and apostille, or Indian mission attestation
- Time difference
- IST is 2h30 ahead of Turkey all year
- Hindu marriages
- Section 8, Hindu Marriage Act 1955
- Civil marriage
- Special Marriage Act 1954
Marriage Registration from Turkey: how it works
For a Turkish civil marriage, we arrange the apostille and translation and present the certificate to the Indian authority. For Indian couples who had a destination wedding in Turkey, we register a Hindu marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act or advise on a Special Marriage Act registration in India.
For Indian and Turkish couples marrying in India, we prepare the notice and documents and arrange the solemnisation.
We also advise on name changes, visas and OCI.
Turkish marriage offices (evlendirme dairesi) can marry foreigners with the right documents, including a certificate of no impediment; we prepare the Indian partner's documents in advance.
What clients in Turkey should know
- A destination wedding ceremony may not be a legal marriage on its own.
- Use identical name spellings.
- Keep the apostilled certificate safe.
Step by step from Turkey
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits Turkey, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in Turkey
Turkish notary and apostille, or Indian mission attestation
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in Turkey where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in Turkey. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Marriage Registration, or see all services for clients in Turkey and the Cross-Border Family Law practice area.
Questions from clients in Turkey
Is our wedding in Turkey legally valid?
Only if registered under Turkish law or registered in India afterwards.
Can we register our Turkish destination wedding in India?
Often yes, under the Hindu Marriage Act or Special Marriage Act.
When can my Turkish spouse get OCI?
Once the registered marriage has lasted two years.
Can foreigners marry at a Turkish marriage office?
Yes, with a passport, proof of single status and translated documents.