Recognition of Marriages Conducted Before ForeignAuthorities

For a marriage conducted abroad to be legally recognized inTurkey, it must comply with Turkish legal provisions and public orderregulations. Any marriage that contradicts Turkish law, such as one involvingindividuals below the legally defined marriage age, will not be recognized inTurkey under any circumstances.

Notification of Marriage Conducted Before ForeignAuthorities

According to Article 11 of the Marriage Regulation No. 2169,a marriage performed before the competent authorities of a foreign country isvalid in Turkey as long as it does not violate Turkish legal provisions.However, such marriages must be officially reported to Turkish authorities tobe legally recognized.

Timeframe for Notification

A marriage conducted before foreign authorities must bereported to Turkish authorities within 30 days from the date of the marriage.

Is the 30-Day Notification Period a Mandatory Deadline?

The 30-day period stipulated in the Marriage Regulation isnot a mandatory deadline. If this period expires, the marriage can still bereported; however, failure to notify within this timeframe may result in anadministrative fine.

Consequences of Delayed Notification

Turkish citizens who fail to report their foreign marriageswithin the 30-day period may be subject to administrative fines imposed by theauthorities.

Recognition of Foreign Marriages Through CourtProceedings

Reporting the marriage to Turkish authorities is not theonly way to ensure its legal recognition in Turkey. A marriage conducted beforeforeign authorities between a Turkish citizen and a foreign national—or betweentwo foreign nationals—can also be recognized in Turkey through a recognitionlawsuit (Tanıma Davası).

Without this formal recognition, the marriage will have nolegal effect in Turkey. For instance, if a Turkish citizen marries a Germannational in Germany but fails to notify Turkish authorities within 30 days ordoes not initiate a recognition lawsuit, they will still be considered legallysingle in Turkey.

Competent Court for Recognition Lawsuits

The competent court for a recognition lawsuit is the courtof the defendant’s domicile in Turkey. If the defendant has no domicile inTurkey, the case can be filed in the court of their last known residence. Inthe absence of both, the courts of Ankara, Istanbul, or Izmir areauthorized to handle such cases.

Is Personal Presence in Turkey Required for the Lawsuit?

It is not mandatory for the parties to be physically presentin Turkey to file a recognition lawsuit. Instead, they can appoint a lawyerregistered with the Turkish Bar Association to represent them in courtproceedings.

If you need assistance with the recognition of your foreignmarriage or any other legal matters related to family law, our experiencedlegal team is ready to guide you through the process efficiently andeffectively.

For personalized legal assistance, feel free to contact SARDAGLaw & Consultancy.