Explainers
Certified, notarised or apostilled: which do you need?
Certified, notarised and apostilled are three different things done by three different people. Which one you need depends on where the document is going, not on how important it feels.
Three words, three different acts
People often ask for a “notarised and apostilled certified translation” when the receiving body only needs one of the three. Each word describes a different person doing a different job:
- Certified: the translator or translation company attests in writing that the translation is true and accurate. This is what UK bodies mean when they ask for a certified translation.
- Notarised: a notary confirms that the person who signed the translation is who they say they are. In England and Wales the notary public does not check the translation. In Türkiye the noter certifies the signature of a translator who has sworn an oath before that notary, which is why a Turkish notarised translation carries more weight with Turkish bodies.
- Apostilled: a government office (the FCDO Legalisation Office in the UK; the valilik or kaymakamlık in Türkiye) attaches a certificate under the 1961 Hague Convention confirming that a public signature, stamp or seal is genuine, so that the document can be used in another convention country.
Comparison table
| Question | Certified translation | Notarised translation | Apostille |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who does it? | Translator or translation company | Notary public (UK) or noter (Türkiye) | FCDO (UK) or valilik / kaymakamlık (Türkiye) |
| What does it confirm? | The translation is true and accurate | The translator's identity and signature (Türkiye: translator sworn before the notary) | The signature or seal on a public document is genuine |
| Applies to | The translation | The translation | The original document, or a translation that has first been certified by a UK notary or solicitor |
| Turkish document for use in the UK | Yes: Home Office, HMPO, ENIC, GMC, NMC, courts | Rarely asked for | Rarely asked for by UK public bodies |
| UK document for use in Türkiye | Not enough on its own | Yes: done in Ankara (noter onaylı tercüme) or via a consulate-registered translator | Yes: FCDO apostille on the UK original, before translation |
| Typical cost with us | Included in the page price | Turkish notary tariff passed through plus a £5 service fee | Ankara: £15 service fee (no state fee). FCDO: £45 paper, £35 e-Apostille, paid to the FCDO |
| Time | 1–2 working days for short documents | Same day to 2 days in Ankara | Ankara 1–3 days; FCDO times vary, e-Apostille is usually quicker |
Turkish document, UK purpose: certified is normally enough
The Home Office, HM Passport Office, the General Register Office, UK ENIC, UCAS and the healthcare regulators all work from the GOV.UK certification wording. None of them asks for a notarised translation, and the Institute of Translation and Interpreting notes that UKVI does not require notarisation. Apostilles on Turkish documents are seldom asked for inside the UK; a solicitor handling a property or probate matter may request one, so check with them first. Read what a certified translation in the UK is for the wording itself.
UK document, Turkish purpose: apostille first, then a notarised translation
Turkish authorities (nüfus müdürlüğü, tapu, courts, YÖK, SGK, trade registries) expect a UK public document to carry an FCDO apostille and to be translated by a translator whose oath is recorded with a Turkish notary, or by a translator on the Turkish consulate's list with the consulate's tercüme tasdiki. A UK-style certified translation on its own is usually re-done in Türkiye. The Turkish Consulate in London also states that UK-issued documents must be apostilled first. Our route: you obtain the apostille (or we arrange it through a UK partner at cost), send us a scan, and we produce the notarised translation in Ankara, with a Turkish apostille on the notarised translation if the receiving office asks for one.
A quick rule of thumb
- Going to a UK body: certified translation.
- Going to a Turkish body: FCDO apostille on the original, then notarised translation in Türkiye.
- Going to a third country: ask that country's receiving body; the answer is usually apostille plus a translation certified in that country's system.
Still unsure? Use the legalisation route checker or send us the document and tell us who will receive it.
Frequently asked questions
Can a translation itself be apostilled in the UK?
Only after a UK notary public or solicitor has certified it. The FCDO apostille then authenticates that notary's or solicitor's signature, not the translation. For Turkish purposes this is rarely the best route; an Ankara notarised translation is accepted directly.
Does the Home Office need an apostille on my Turkish birth certificate?
No. UKVI's rules ask for a certified translation and the original document. Apostilles are not part of the supporting-document rules. If you already have a Turkish e-Apostil, include it; it does no harm.
I was told I need a sworn translation for the UK. Is that right?
The UK has no sworn translator system, so nobody in the UK can issue one. What the person probably means is a certified translation with the GOV.UK statement. If the document is going to Türkiye, then a notary-sworn translation in Türkiye is the correct request.
Do you notarise translations for UK use?
We can arrange notarisation in Ankara if a UK solicitor or bank specifically asks for it, but for public bodies it is unnecessary and we will tell you so rather than sell it.