I got divorced in Germany. How do I register my divorce with the Turkish civil registry through the consulate?

You can have a divorce decision from a German court entered in your family register in Turkey (nüfus kaydı) through the Turkish Consulate General in Berlin. The Berlin consulate only registers decisions from German courts.

Book an appointment at www.konsolosluk.gov.tr and go to the consulate in person on the day. The application can be made by you, your legal representative or a proxy with a notarised power of attorney.

Both partners apply. You can come together on the same day or on different days. If you come separately, there can be at most 90 days between the two applications, and you both have to complete the application at the same consulate. If your partner is a foreign national, holds a Blue Card (Mavi Kart) or has died, you can apply alone.

Required documents: application form (signed at the consulate), the original divorce decision with an apostille and its Turkish translation by a sworn translator, certified by a Turkish mission, and the originals of both partners' Turkish ID cards or passports. Have the translation done by sworn translators approved by the consulate (the list is on konsolosluk.gov.tr). Carefully check details in the decision such as names, dates and case number.

Note: If a recognition and enforcement case (tanıma-tenfiz) about this decision is ongoing in Turkey, you can't apply to the consulate. If a Turkish court has already refused recognition, the consulate can't register it.

The consulate only registers the divorce itself. For matters in the decision such as custody or maintenance, you need to open a separate case at the competent court in Turkey. If you have a child from this marriage, you also need to register the child with the Turkish civil registry.

For questions: konsulat.berlin@mfa.gov.tr. If your legal situation is complicated, ask a lawyer or a counselling centre.