Apostilled documents in Reading for use in Turkey

Reading apostille for Turkey is issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office (PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX) after you obtain a fresh certified copy from the Reading Register Office, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2LU, and pay the official fee.

Reading → Turkey

Hague Members

Destination Turkey

Destination status Hague Convention member

Issued by The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)

Standard turnaround Up to 25 working days, plus postage

Information validated 21 August 2026

Complete Guide

How to obtain a Reading apostille for documents used in Turkey

A clear guide to securing the correct certification for Reading‑issued records when they will be presented to Turkish authorities.

In this guide

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Turkey
Turkey's Hague status & what it means
The Reading → Turkey route step by step
Cost & timing for this route
Destination-specific requirements

Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Turkey

Turkey is a member of the Hague Convention, which means the receiving authorities recognise an apostille as the only proof needed that a public record has not been altered. An apostille for Turkey replaces the older embassy or consular legalisation route, eliminating the need to visit a diplomatic mission. The certificate you receive from the UK Legalisation Office confirms the signature and seal of the original issuing body, and Turkish officials treat that stamp as sufficient evidence of authenticity. Because the Convention removes the extra layer of embassy endorsement, you can focus on obtaining a correct apostille and avoid unnecessary paperwork. An apostille from United Kingdom to Turkey needs nothing more than that single certificate.

Turkey's Hague status & what it means

Turkey joined the Hague Convention in 2004, aligning its document‑acceptance rules with those of other member states. That accession means any public document that carries a valid apostille issued by the United Kingdom will be accepted by Turkish courts, ministries and other government offices without further certification. The apostille replaces the traditional diplomatic legalisation, so the document does not need a stamp from the Turkish embassy in London. This simplifies the route for anyone in Reading who needs a birth, marriage or death certificate to be used in Turkey, because the only step after the UK‑wide apostille is to satisfy any local language or formatting requirement.

The Reading → Turkey route step by step

First, obtain a fresh certified copy of the civil record you need. The Reading Register Office supplies certified copies of birth, marriage and death certificates and works only by post; you can request the copy to be sent directly to the office at "Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2LU". Using a certified copy protects the original, which stays with the Register Office. Next, prepare the copy for the apostille by ensuring it is signed and sealed by the Register Office; no further notarisation is required. Then send the certified copy to the FCDO Legalisation Office, which issues the apostille for documents originating in the United Kingdom. The office processes applications by post from "PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX" and does not have a public counter you can visit. Finally, once the apostille is affixed, you may have the document translated into Turkish if the receiving Turkish authority requires it, and then present the translated file together with the apostilled original to the relevant Turkish office.

Cost & timing for this route

The United Kingdom charges an official fee for each document that receives an apostille. The standard postal service fee is £45 per document, while a faster next‑day service for registered businesses costs £40 per document. Processing times vary according to the workload of the Legalisation Office, but the service is designed to handle routine requests quickly, especially when the paperwork is complete and correctly addressed. Because the apostille replaces embassy legalisation, there is no additional charge from a diplomatic mission, and the overall cost remains limited to the UK fee and any optional translation expenses you may incur for Turkish language requirements. This is document legalisation for Turkey at its simplest: one certificate, one fee, no embassy stage.

Destination-specific requirements

Understanding what you need for an apostille for Turkey helps you avoid delays. Apart from the certified copy and the apostille, a clear chain of custody is useful: keep a copy of the request receipt from the Reading Register Office and the tracking number from the FCDO Legalisation Office. If the Turkish side requests a literal translation, provide the translated text on separate sheets, each bearing the translator’s signature and seal, and attach the translator’s oath in front of a Turkish court. By following these steps, the document moves smoothly from Reading through the United Kingdom’s apostille system to the Turkish authority that will accept it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading → Turkey apostille FAQ

How does the Reading apostille for Turkey work?

The Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) adds an apostille to your paper, which is the certificate that Turkey accepts under the Hague Convention. This means Turkish officials can rely on the authenticity of the signature and seal without any further embassy legalisation. You must provide a fresh certified copy of the record to the FCDO Legalisation Office at PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX, and an official fee applies; the office works by post and has no public counter. A frequent error is to try to use the original civil‑register entry, which may be lost in transit, so you should instead order a new certified copy from the Reading Register Office ("Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2LU"). Once the apostille is attached you can forward the paper to the Turkish recipient and no further steps are needed.

Which types of records can I apostille from Reading for use in Turkey?

Any civil record that the Reading Register Office can issue as a certified copy – such as birth, marriage or death certificates – can receive an apostille. This allows the Turkish authority to treat the copy as if it were the original issued by a public office. You obtain the certified copy by requesting it from the Reading Register Office, which sends the paper by post; the copy must bear the official seal of the register. A common pitfall is to submit an uncertified printout, which the Legalisation Office will refuse because the seal is missing. After you have the certified copy, you send it to the FCDO Legalisation Office for the apostille and then forward the finished paper to Turkey.

Do I need a notarised statement before the apostille is added?

No notarised statement is required when the document already carries the signature of a public authority. This means that a birth, marriage or death certificate issued by the Reading Register Office is ready for the apostille without any extra oath. You simply forward the certified copy to the Legalisation Office, where the clerk checks the seal and attaches the apostille. Some people mistakenly visit a notary public, which adds an unnecessary step and extra cost. Skip the notary step and move directly to the apostille stage to keep the process smooth.

How long does it usually take to receive the apostille after I send my paper?

The Legalisation Office handles each document in the order it is received and then mails the apostilled paper back. Using the standard postal service usually results in a longer turnaround, while the next‑day option for registered businesses speeds the process. You should expect the standard route to require up to 25 working days, whereas the expedited route can be completed within a shorter period. A mistake many make is to assume the apostille will be returned the same day, which is not possible because the office must verify the seal first. Choose the service that matches your deadline and plan to send the paper early enough to meet any Turkish submission dates.

Are there any language or translation rules that Turkey imposes on the apostilled paper?

The apostille itself is accepted in any language, but Turkish authorities often require the accompanying record to be presented in Turkish. This means you may need to obtain a certified translation of the birth, marriage or death certificate after the apostille is attached. You can arrange the translation with a sworn translator, and the translator signs a statement of accuracy in front of a court before the translation is stamped. A frequent oversight is to send only the English version, which can cause the Turkish office to request a new translation and delay acceptance. Prepare a Turkish translation together with the apostilled copy to avoid any extra steps later in the receiving process.

How It Works

Four steps to your Turkey-ready apostille

No office visits, no queues. The entire process is handled remotely and you track every step in real time.

Prepare your document

Obtain the original document (or a certified copy) you need to use abroad, and check whether it must be notarised first.

Confirm the requirements

Verify the document is eligible for an apostille.

Submit to The Legalisation Office

The apostille is issued by The Legalisation Office, the competent authority. The government fee is £45 / document (standard postal); £40 / document next-day (registered businesses).

Receive your apostille

The authority attaches the apostille certificate, making the document valid abroad with no further embassy legalisation.

Where to go

Where Reading documents are certified and apostilled

These are two different offices doing two different jobs. The local register office issues the certified copy of a Reading birth, marriage or death record — check its current appointment rules before going. The apostille itself before use in Turkey comes from the FCDO Legalisation Office, the UK's single competent authority, which accepts documents by post rather than in person.

Reading Register Office

Certified copies of civil records (birth, marriage, death)

Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2LU

Directions →

FCDO Legalisation Office

Issues the apostille — UK-wide, by post

PO Box 6255, Milton Keynes MK10 1XX

Directions →

Document Types