This overview is for adults (18+) who wish to acquire Turkish citizenship because one or both parents are Turkish citizens, and who will apply through the Turkish Consulate General in Los Angeles. Always confirm the latest requirements with the Consulate and request the leaflet titled “18 YAŞINI TAMAMLADIKTAN SONRA TÜRK VATANDAŞLIĞINA GİRİŞ BAŞVURUSU” before you start.
Basic eligibility
To use this route, in most cases:
- At least one of your parents must currently be a Turkish citizen with an active registration in the Turkish civil registry.
- Your parents’ marriage must be registered in Türkiye (evlilik tescili) if they were married.
- You cannot apply based only on a Turkish grandparent’s status; the link must be through a Turkish parent.
Your application may be more complex for late-registered birth, out-of-wedlock birth, adoption, or parents who naturalized/renounced.
Core documents needing translation and apostille
In addition to the Consulate’s own application forms, most adult-by-descent cases require the following U.S. documents to be translated into Turkish and legally approved (translation affidavit, notarization, and apostille).
- Birth certificate (long form, showing both parents), plus Turkish translation and apostille.
- Passport bio page (current passport), plus Turkish translation and apostille.
- Marital status evidence, plus Turkish translation and apostille:
- If single:
- A Single Status / No Marriage Record / Certificate of No Impediment from the county clerk; naming conventions vary by county.
- In some cases, a sworn “Affidavit of Single Status” may be accepted, but only if the Consulate officer confirms in advance that this is sufficient for your file. The affidavit text goes something like this:
Affidavit of Single Status
I, YOUR NAME, was born in XXXX on 01 Jan 1970 in Los Angeles, CA. I’m a U.S. citizen by birth. My U.S. passport number is P XXX 123456. I have not been married since my
divorce on in 01 Jan 2000 and I’m currently single. I declare that the statements above are true and correct.
YOUR NAME
Bekar Medeni Hal Beyanı
Ben, YOUR NAME, 01 Jan 1970 in tarihinde Los Angeles, CA ABD’de doğdum, doğumla ABD
vatandaşıyım. ABD pasaport numaram P XXX 123456.’dır. 01 Ocak 2000 tarihinde boşandığımdan beri evlenmedim ve bekarım. Yukarıdaki beyanlarımın doğru ve gerçek olduğuna dair yemin ederim.
YOUR NAME
- If single:
Examples of A Single Status / No Marriage Record / Certificate of No Impediment from various county clerks:
- If married:
- Marriage certificate with Turkish translation and apostille.
- If divorced:
- Final divorce decree and a current single-status certificate, both translated and apostilled.
- If widowed:
Where your legal name or personal data differ across documents (for example, you kept a married surname after divorce or changed your name by court order), the Consulate may ask for additional court orders or official records to prove continuity of identity.
What “legal approvals” usually mean
For U.S.-issued documents used in a Turkish citizenship file, “legal approvals” generally include:
- Certified or original document from the competent U.S. authority (vital records office, county clerk, court, etc.).
- Sworn Turkish translation plus translator’s affidavit of accuracy.
- Notarial certification of the translator’s signature.
- Apostille from the relevant Secretary of State, confirming the notary’s authority, in line with the Hague Apostille Convention.
These steps are NOT optional; the Los Angeles Consulate typically will NOT accept untranslated or non-apostilled foreign documents for citizenship procedures.
We can assist you in the entire process. Contact us for a non-obligatory price and delivery time estimate.
Other consular requirements
Beyond translations and apostilles, the Consulate will also require:
- Appointment booked through www.konsolosluk.gov.tr (applications by mail are generally not accepted for over-18 ID/citizenship procedures).
- Completed citizenship and population registry forms (provided by the Consulate or downloaded from their site).
- Biometric photos that meet current Turkish standards.
- Turkish IDs or passports of your Turkish parent(s) and any other documents the officer lists on your individualized checklist.
Because each case is slightly different, the Consulate may ask for extra documentation (for example, older Turkish population records or proof of paternity), so it is important to review your situation with an officer before you finalize translations and apostilles. Turkish citizenship application usually receives an answer within 8-12 months after your application file is accepted by the Turkish Consulate.
How WE can help YOU!
We’re experts at legal document translation and legal approvals. WE can help with the translation of your required documents, including but not limited to, your birth certificate, your valid passport and your marital status certificate.
If managing forms, appointments, and international paperwork feels overwhelming, support can cover, for example:
- Setting up or retrieving your e-Devlet (e-government) credentials via the channels the Consulate currently supports.
- Reviewing your eligibility and document set against the Los Angeles Consulate’s current leaflet and online instructions.
- Managing translations, notarizations, and apostilles for your U.S. documents.
- Completing and organizing your consular application forms.
- Coordinating with the Consulate, helping schedule your appointment, and accompanying you on the day of your citizenship application if desired.
After approval, guiding you through:
Türkçe Konuşuyoruz!