Giving a power of attorney from the UK for use in Türkiye

Most matters in Türkiye — a court case, an inheritance, the sale of a flat — can be handled without travelling, if someone in Türkiye holds a power of attorney (vekâletname) for you. From the UK there are two routes.

Route 1: at a Turkish consulate

The notary section of the Turkish Consulate General in London draws up powers of attorney. It works by appointment only, and one appointment covers one notarial transaction. You bring an original identity document. For a power of attorney covering title-deed (tapu) transactions, the consulate requires the new-type Turkish identity card.

The result is a Turkish notarial document: it is used in Türkiye as it is, with no apostille and no translation.

Route 2: before a UK notary, then an apostille

You sign the power of attorney before a UK notary public. The FCDO Legalisation Office then attaches an apostille, on paper or electronically, which confirms the notary’s signature and seal (GOV.UK). The apostille is accepted in Türkiye because both countries are parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention: the United Kingdom since 24 January 1965, Türkiye since 29 September 1985 (HCCH).

In Türkiye, a sworn translator then translates the document into Turkish and a notary certifies the translation before it is used.

What the document should say

• Exactly what the attorney may do: for example, sell a named property, accept or refuse an inheritance, or represent you in a particular case. Ask the lawyer or notary in Türkiye for the wording they need before you sign.
• The attorney’s full name and identity number.
• A power of attorney can be revoked later by a notarial revocation (azilname), which the consulate also issues.

Which route?

If you hold a Turkish identity card, the consulate route avoids the apostille and the translation. Fees, appointment availability and the documents asked for change; check the consulate’s and GOV.UK’s current pages before you book.