News and updates
Turkish Consulate holiday closures
The UK missions close on both British bank holidays and Turkish public holidays. The religious holidays move each year with the lunar calendar, which is what catches people who plan an appointment months ahead.
Two calendars, one closed door
A Turkish consulate in the UK observes the public holidays of both countries. That means the British bank holidays — New Year, Easter, the two May holidays, late August, Christmas and Boxing Day — and the Turkish national days and religious holidays. In a bad week the two overlap and a post is shut for longer than either calendar alone would suggest.The current figures are published on the official page linked from this update; check them there, because they change without notice.
Why the bayram dates move
Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı follow the lunar calendar, so they fall roughly eleven days earlier each year and cannot be looked up from last year's list. The half-day before a bayram is often treated as a closure too. Anyone booking a consular appointment several months out should re-check the mission's announcements a fortnight before travelling.
What it means for a document deadline
The closures do not only stop appointments. Notary offices and the kaymakamlık and valilik apostille counters in Türkiye close for the same Turkish holidays, so a notarised or apostilled file stops moving even though the translation is finished. Plain certified translation for a UK body is unaffected, because that is our own work. If you have a court date or a visa deadline in a bayram week, tell us when you order. Read turnaround and urgent options, or ask us through the contact page.