Certified Turkish Translation for a UK Spouse Visa
Applying for a UK spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner visa with documents from Türkiye? Every document not in English must come with a certified translation, and a spouse visa usually involves more Turkish paperwork than any other route: proof of the relationship, proof that earlier marriages have ended, and financial evidence. I am Ali Yildirim, a native Turkish Chartered Linguist, and I translate and certify the whole set myself, so names, dates and spellings match across every document.
Why a UK-based Chartered Linguist? Every certified translation is done and signed by me personally — no subcontracting — with free correction if a UK authority rejects it over a translation issue, and signed copies posted anywhere in the UK. Find out why it matters.
Turkish documents for a spouse or partner visa
Exactly what you need depends on your circumstances and the evidence you choose to rely on, so treat this as a checklist to compare against the Home Office guidance for your application, not a substitute for it.
Your relationship
- Marriage certificate — the family record book (aile cüzdanı), a marriage record extract (evlenme kayıt örneği) or the multilingual extract from the marriage record (Formül B). See Turkish marriage certificate translation for which pages of the aile cüzdanı are translated and how they are priced.
- Full civil registry extract (tam vukuatlı nüfus kayıt örneği) — shows marital status and every recorded marriage, divorce and birth in one document.
- For unmarried partners — evidence of living together, such as a tenancy agreement (kira sözleşmesi), a residence certificate (yerleşim yeri belgesi) or utility bills addressed to you both in Türkiye.
Previous relationships
- Divorce decree (boşanma kararı) with its certificate of finality (kesinleşme şerhi), for any previous marriage of either partner. See Turkish divorce certificate translation.
- Death record extract (ölüm kayıt örneği), if a previous spouse has died. See Turkish death certificate translation.
Children
- Birth record extracts or the multilingual extract from the birth record (Formül A) for any children included in the application. See Turkish birth certificate translation.
Financial requirement
- Bank statements (hesap dökümü) from Turkish banks
- Payslips (maaş bordrosu) and an employment letter (çalışma belgesi) from a Turkish employer
- Social security service record (SGK hizmet dökümü), showing employment history
- Title deeds (tapu senedi) or tenancy agreements, where property or rental income is part of the evidence
Why one translator for the whole set matters
Turkish names are spelled with ç, ğ, ı, ö, ş and ü, and the same name can turn up in different forms across a passport, an aile cüzdanı and a bank statement. When different people translate different documents, small inconsistencies creep in — “Şükrü” in one, “Sukru” in another — and a caseworker has to stop and work out whether they are the same person. I translate the full set together, keep names exactly as they appear in your passport unless you ask otherwise, and flag any genuine discrepancies between your Turkish documents before you submit.
What the Home Office requires
Home Office guidance asks for a full translation that can be independently verified, including the translator’s confirmation that it is accurate, the date of the translation, and the translator’s full name, signature and contact details. Every translation I provide carries all of these on a signed certificate of translation, with my CIOL and ITI memberships. Because most spouse visa applications are made online, a digital certified translation is normally all you need. For more on other visa routes, see UK visa and Home Office translations.
What’s included
- A full translation that mirrors the layout of your document, including stamps, seals, barcodes and reference numbers
- A signed and dated certificate of translation confirming accuracy
- My Chartered Linguist (CIOL) and ITI membership details, so the recipient can check who I am
- Digital delivery (PDF with digital stamp) as standard; a posted hard copy with embossed stamp and wet signature on request (+£15 per order), sent by Royal Mail First Class 24 Hour Tracked and Signed For Delivery
Turnaround and pricing
- From £30 per short, one-page document such as a birth record extract, civil registry extract or criminal record certificate
- Marriage certificates (aile cüzdanı) are priced separately because they run to several pages — see the marriage certificate page
- Bank statements, payslips and longer documents priced at £0.10 per word
- One fixed quote for the whole set — send everything together and I’ll price it as one order, with one hard-copy charge (+£15) if you need paper
- 1–2 business days for one-page documents; larger sets are scheduled to your submission date
How it works
- Send a clear scan or photo of the documents you plan to submit through the contact form, by email or on WhatsApp, and tell me where it will be submitted
- Receive a fixed quote and delivery date, usually within a few hours during working hours
- Get your certified translation as a PDF, with a posted hard copy if the recipient needs paper
Frequently asked questions
Do bank statements really need translating?
Yes, if they are in Turkish. Every supporting document not in English or Welsh needs a full translation. For long statements, tell me which months you are submitting so only the pages you need are translated.
Can I translate the documents myself, or ask a relative?
It is not a good idea. The Home Office expects an independently verifiable translation, and translations by the applicant, the sponsor or a family member are likely to be rejected, which can delay the application.
My name is spelled differently on my passport and my Turkish documents. What should I do?
Tell me when you send the documents. I translate the name exactly as it appears in each document and can note the passport spelling, so the caseworker can see they refer to the same person.
Do I need an apostille on my Turkish documents?
Not normally for a UK visa application. A Turkish document with a certified translation is usually enough. If a specific recipient asks for an apostille, get it in Türkiye before the translation is made.
I need everything for an appointment next week. Can you help?
Usually, yes. Tell me your appointment or submission date when you ask for a quote and I will confirm whether it can be met.
Do I need a hard copy?
Most spouse visa applications are uploaded online, so a digital certified translation is normally enough. If you are asked to post documents or bring paper copies, choose the hard copy for an additional £15 per order.
Why should I use a qualified translator for my certified translation?
In the UK, anyone can call themselves a certified translator. If the organisation receiving your document can’t verify who translated it, they may reject it — which can mean delays and paying twice. Choosing a translator who belongs to a recognised body such as the CIOL or ITI gives your translation credentials that anyone can check.
How can I check your credentials?
I’m a Chartered Linguist and member of the CIOL (no. 42759) and a qualified member of the ITI (no. 8695). You can look me up in both bodies’ public directories, and my membership details appear on every certificate of translation I issue.
Get a quote for your spouse visa translations — send scans of everything you plan to submit and I’ll come back with one fixed price and a delivery date.
See also: Turkish marriage certificate translation · Turkish divorce certificate translation · Turkish birth certificate translation · Turkish criminal record certificate translation
