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Criminal Record Certificates in Türkiye: Obtaining and Using an Adli Sicil Belgesi
1. What does the certificate show?
An adli sicil belgesi is an official certificate reporting the criminal-record information held for you in the Turkish system. It is often called a criminal record or police-clearance certificate. It does not necessarily replace a certificate from your country of nationality or another country where you lived.
2. When might it be requested?
Employers, licensing bodies, educational institutions and authorities handling immigration or other official applications may ask for it where their rules require a criminal-record check. Requirements vary by the institution and application; it is not a universal document for every residence, university or notarial procedure.
3. How to obtain it
Online: If the service is available to your account and identity record, sign in to e-Devlet and open Adli Sicil Kaydı Sorgulama. Complete the requested purpose and recipient details, generate the certificate and download the PDF. Check your name, identifying number and the scope of the record before using it.
In person: If online access is unavailable, ask the criminal-record unit at the competent prosecutor's office about the documents needed, normally your accepted identity document and identifying information. Foreign nationals who have been in Türkiye can also enquire through Turkish diplomatic missions when applying from abroad. Confirm the mission's application procedure before attending.
4. Translation requirements
For use in Türkiye, a Turkish certificate is normally appropriate. For use abroad, ask the receiving institution which language it accepts. Official criminal-record results can be issued in foreign languages through the Ministry of Justice's available services; a separate sworn translation is therefore not always necessary. If a translation is required, check whether it must be certified or notarised.
5. Does it need an apostille?
This depends on the destination country, any applicable treaty and the receiving authority. Ask whether it requires an apostille, another legalisation process, or a verifiable electronic certificate. The competent apostille authority depends on the document; judicial documents are handled through the competent judicial authority rather than assuming every document goes to a district governor.
6. How recent must it be?
There is no single acceptance period for every use. A receiving institution may require a certificate issued within the last 30, 60 or 90 days, or another period. These are examples of possible requirements, not a universal Turkish validity rule. Obtain the current requirement before ordering translations or certification.
7. Check before submitting
- The name and identifying details are correct.
- The certificate is recent enough and covers the record requested.
- The language and authentication meet the recipient's requirements.
- The barcode and document are clear and verifiable.
Official references