Explainers
Formül A/B multilingual extracts: do they need translating?
Turkish multilingual civil-status extracts (Formül A birth, Formül B marriage, Formül C death) are designed to be used abroad without translation, but only between countries that signed the 1976 Vienna convention. The UK did not, so UK bodies still need an English translation.
What Formül A, B and C are
Türkiye is a party to CIEC Convention No. 16 on the issue of multilingual extracts from civil-status records, signed in Vienna in 1976. Under it, the nüfus müdürlüğü can issue a birth extract (Formül A), a marriage extract (Formül B) or a death extract (Formül C) on a standard form. The field headings are printed in several languages and a coded key explains the entries, so that a registrar in another member state can read the extract without a translator. Since December 2023 these extracts can also be obtained through e-Devlet with an e-Apostil.
They are useful documents. A Formül A is often accepted in Germany, France, the Netherlands and other member states as a birth certificate in its own right, with neither translation nor apostille.
Why the UK is different
The United Kingdom is not a party to Convention No. 16. UK registrars, the Home Office, HM Passport Office and the General Register Office are therefore under no obligation to read the form, and their rules simply say that any document not in English or Welsh must come with a translation. In practice a UK caseworker sees a document whose entries (place names, annotations, the issuing office, the stamp, any remarks) are in Turkish, with headings in a mix of languages, and treats it as a foreign-language document. The multilingual headings help a caseworker, but they do not replace the certification statement GOV.UK asks for.
Our advice for UK use: obtain the Formül A or B if it is convenient (it is compact and standardised), and have it translated and certified like any other document. Alternatively, use the full nüfus kayıt örneği, which contains more information and is what spouse-visa caseworkers most often want to see. See Turkish birth certificate translation and nüfus kayıt örneği translation.
What we translate on a Formül A/B
- The headings, once, in English, so the layout is preserved.
- Every entry: names exactly as printed, places, dates in the Turkish day-month-year order, sex, parents' details.
- The coded key and any codes used in the entries, expanded into plain English.
- The issuing office, signature block, stamp and any annotation (şerh) on the reverse.
- The e-Apostil or paper apostille if one is attached.
The result is a one- or two-page certified translation, typically one page at £10.00.
Going the other way: UK certificates for Türkiye
The UK issues no multilingual extracts, so a UK birth, marriage or death certificate for use in Türkiye follows the ordinary route: FCDO apostille on the certificate, then a notarised translation in Türkiye. The Turkish Consulate in London handles UK passports, birth and marriage certificates itself for its own registrations and asks for no outside translation for them, but Turkish authorities inside Türkiye do. The consulate's marriage-registration note also mentions Formül A for a third-country spouse's birth certificate: if your non-British, non-Turkish spouse's country is a member state, their Formül A saves an apostille and translation.
Quick reference
| Where the Formül A/B is going | Apostille? | Translation? |
|---|---|---|
| CIEC member state (Germany, France, Netherlands, etc.) | No | No, in most cases |
| UK public body | Not required | Yes, certified English translation |
| UK private body (bank, solicitor) | Ask them | Yes |
| Turkish Consulate in the UK | No | No, it is a Turkish document |
More on the wider convention picture: Formül A / Formül B in the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Formül A better than a nüfus kayıt örneği for a UK spouse visa?
The nüfus kayıt örneği shows the full family record, including previous marriages and children, which is what caseworkers check. A Formül A shows one birth. For spouse and partner visas we usually recommend the nüfus kayıt örneği, with a Formül A as a supplement if you already have one.
Can I get a Formül A from the UK?
Yes, through e-Devlet, and since December 2023 with an e-Apostil attached. If you cannot access e-Devlet, the Turkish consulates can issue civil-status extracts for citizens registered with them.
The headings are already in English. Why pay for a translation?
Because the UK is not a convention state, the receiving body needs a certified translation to satisfy its own rule. The entries, stamps and annotations are in Turkish regardless of the headings. A one-page certified translation is the simplest way to remove the question.
Does a Formül B prove I am currently married?
It is an extract of the marriage record on the date it was issued and shows annotations such as divorce if they have been recorded. A UK body may still ask for a recent nüfus kayıt örneği to confirm current status.