Recognition of a foreign divorce in Türkiye: civil registry or court?

Why recognition matters

If one of the spouses is a Turkish citizen, or the marriage is registered in Türkiye, a divorce granted abroad does not change the Turkish civil register by itself. Until it is recognised, the person still appears as married in Türkiye. This affects remarriage, inheritance, property transactions and the status of children.

Route one: registration without a court case

Since 2018, Article 27/A of the Civil Registration Services Law (No. 5490) allows certain foreign divorce decisions to be registered directly by the civil registry office or a Turkish consulate, without a lawsuit. The main conditions are that the decision is final, was given by a competent foreign authority, is not clearly contrary to Turkish public order, and that the spouses apply together.

This route is much faster and cheaper. It covers only the divorce itself. If the foreign decision also deals with custody, maintenance or property, those parts are not given effect through this route.

Route two: a recognition or enforcement case

If the spouses cannot apply together, if the other spouse cannot be reached, or if the decision contains orders that need to be enforced, a case is filed before the Turkish family court under Articles 50 to 59 of the Law on Private International and Procedural Law (No. 5718).

Recognition is enough to register the divorce. Enforcement (tenfiz) is needed for parts that require execution, such as maintenance payments. Reciprocity is not required for recognition, but it is for enforcement.

Documents

In both routes you will need the original decision or a certified copy, a document showing that it is final, an apostille or consular legalisation, and a certified Turkish translation. Missing finality documents are the most common reason for delay.