Can foreigners get divorced in Turkey? Yes. Divorce in Turkey for foreigners is possible whenever a Turkish court has jurisdiction, even if neither spouse is a Turkish citizen. The key questions are which court is competent, which country’s law the judge will apply, and how the decision will later be recognised in your home country. This guide explains divorce in Turkey for foreign nationals and mixed couples step by step, based on current Turkish divorce law and our practice as an Istanbul divorce lawyer.
Can You Get a Divorce in Turkey as a Foreigner?
Many expats ask us: can you get a divorce in Turkey if you married abroad or hold a foreign passport? Nationality is not an obstacle. Under Article 168 of the Turkish Civil Code, a divorce case may be filed at the family court of the place where either spouse resides, or where the spouses last lived together for at least six months. So if you or your spouse live in Turkey, or you last lived together here, the Turkish courts can hear your case.
A Turkish citizen living abroad may also file in Turkey under Article 41 of Law No. 5718 on International Private and Procedural Law: at the court of their registered residence in Turkey or, if they have none, in Ankara, Istanbul or Izmir. Where the marriage was concluded abroad and never registered in Turkey, it may first need to be registered with the Turkish civil registry before a Turkish court can decide the case, a common issue in divorce Turkey cases involving expats.
Turkey Divorce Law: Which Country’s Law Applies?
Once jurisdiction is established, the judge determines the applicable law. Turkey divorce laws for cases with a foreign element are set out in Article 14 of Law No. 5718, which uses a step-by-step system:
- the common national law of the spouses,
- if they have none, the law of their common habitual residence,
- if there is neither, Turkish law.
The same rule applies to the grounds and consequences of the divorce, to alimony between the spouses (Article 14/2) and, under Article 14/3, to custody and related matters decided in the divorce. Interim measures during the case are always governed by Turkish law (Article 14/4).
The judge applies the foreign law ex officio and may ask the parties for help in establishing its content. If the content of the foreign law cannot be determined despite all efforts, or if its application would be manifestly contrary to Turkish public order, Turkish law is applied.
Example: Two Russian citizens living in Istanbul file for divorce. Because they share Russian nationality, the Turkish court applies Russian family law. If one spouse were Russian and the other Ukrainian, they would have no common national law; as they both live in Istanbul, the court would apply Turkish law as the law of their common habitual residence. Understanding these divorce laws in Turkey at the outset is essential, because the applicable law determines the grounds you must prove and the claims you can bring.
Divorce Between a Foreigner and a Turkish Citizen
When one spouse is a Turkish citizen and the other is a foreign national, the spouses have no common national law. Under Article 14 of Law No. 5718, the court then applies the law of the spouses’ common habitual residence; if they have none, Turkish law applies. In practice, where the couple lives or last lived in Turkey, the divorce is decided under Turkish law.
Turkish courts have jurisdiction if either spouse lives in Turkey or the couple last lived together in Turkey for at least six months. A foreign spouse living abroad can be represented by a lawyer under a power of attorney. In an uncontested divorce, however, both spouses must appear before the judge in person.
How to Get a Divorce from a Turkish Man or Woman
If you are a foreign national married to a Turkish citizen, the practical route is usually the same: Turkish law applies, the case is filed at the family court of the place where either of you lives, and you can choose between an uncontested and a contested procedure. If your spouse lives in Turkey and you live abroad, you can still file and follow the case through a Turkish divorce lawyer without travelling, unless you opt for an uncontested divorce.
How to Divorce in Turkey: Step by Step
If you are wondering how to divorce in Turkey, the process for foreign nationals follows these steps:
- Check jurisdiction: confirm that a Turkish court is competent (residence of either spouse or last common residence in Turkey).
- Choose the procedure: uncontested (agreed) or contested divorce.
- Prepare the documents: passports, marriage certificate, residence records and, for foreign documents, apostille and sworn translation.
- File the case and serve the spouse: service on a spouse living abroad goes through international channels and is often the step that takes longest.
- Hearing and judgment: the family court hears the parties and decides on the divorce, custody, alimony and compensation.
- Finality and registration: after the judgment becomes final, it is registered in the Turkish civil registry and, if needed, recognised in your home country.
Uncontested vs Contested Divorce for Foreigners
Uncontested divorce: Under Article 166/3 of the Turkish Civil Code, an agreed divorce is possible if the marriage has lasted at least one year, both spouses apply together (or one accepts the other’s case) and the judge approves a signed settlement protocol covering custody, child support, alimony and property. The judge must hear both spouses in person, so both must attend the hearing. When the documents are in order, an uncontested case is often concluded at the first hearing. Requirements, the protocol and 2026 costs are explained in detail in our guide on uncontested divorce in Turkey.
Contested divorce: If there is no agreement, the claimant must prove a legal ground such as irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, adultery, abandonment or attempt on life. Contested cases involve witnesses and evidence and usually take one to two years at first instance, plus time for appeals. A lawyer can represent you throughout without your personal attendance at every hearing.
A contested case follows these stages: the petition setting out the grounds and evidence is filed at the competent family court; the court issues a procedural order and serves the petition on the other spouse; both sides exchange written pleadings; the court holds a preliminary hearing to identify the disputed issues; and the investigation phase follows, with witnesses, documents and, where needed, expert reports, before the judgment is given. Preparing the petition carefully matters, because new grounds and evidence cannot be freely added later.
Required Documents and Turkey Divorce Papers
The Turkey divorce papers usually required for a foreign national are:
- valid passport (and residence permit, if any),
- marriage certificate, apostilled or legalised and translated into Turkish by a sworn translator,
- birth certificates of the children, if any,
- documents showing residence in Turkey (residence permit, address registration, lease),
- the settlement protocol (for an uncontested divorce),
- a power of attorney for your lawyer, issued before a Turkish notary or a Turkish consulate, or before a foreign notary with an apostille.
Foreign public documents must carry an apostille if issued in a Hague Apostille Convention country; otherwise they need consular legalisation.
Child Custody, Child Support and Alimony
Custody is decided in the best interests of the child, taking into account the child’s age, needs, relationship with each parent and, where appropriate, the child’s own wishes. Under Article 14/3 of Law No. 5718, custody decided in a divorce follows the same applicable-law rule as the divorce itself.
Turkey is also a party to the 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention (in force for Turkey since 2017). Where the child’s habitual residence is in Turkey, the Turkish court may apply Turkish law to custody measures under that Convention, which takes precedence over national conflict rules. Turkey is also a party to the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention, which matters if a parent takes a child abroad without consent.
Alimony after divorce (poverty alimony), child support and compensation for material and moral damage are decided together with the divorce. Matrimonial property is governed by Article 15 of Law No. 5718: the law the spouses chose, otherwise their common national law, otherwise their common habitual residence law; immovable property in Turkey is subject to specific rules.
Recognition of a Foreign Divorce in Turkey
If you were divorced abroad and need the decision to be valid in Turkey (for example to remarry, or to update the Turkish civil registry), the foreign judgment must be recognised by a Turkish court under Articles 50–59 of Law No. 5718. The court checks, among other things, that the decision is final, that the defendant’s right to be heard was respected and that the decision is not manifestly contrary to Turkish public order. Since 2017, a foreign divorce decision may also be registered directly by the civil registry or a Turkish consulate if both spouses apply jointly and the legal conditions are met.
Turkey Divorce Certificate
After a Turkish divorce judgment becomes final, the court issues the judgment with a finality annotation. This document serves as your Turkey divorce certificate. To use it abroad, it is apostilled and translated by a sworn translator. Your divorce is then recorded in the Turkish civil registry, and you can request a registry extract (nüfus kayıt örneği) showing your status as divorced.
Divorce Rate in Turkey and Istanbul
According to TurkStat’s 2025 Marriage and Divorce Statistics, 193,813 couples divorced in Turkey in 2025 and the crude Turkey divorce rate was 2.26 per thousand population. İzmir had the highest provincial rate (3.28 per thousand) and 34% of divorces occurred within the first five years of marriage. The divorce rate of Turkey has risen in recent years, and international marriages form a growing share: in 2025, 5.2% of brides and 1.0% of grooms were foreign nationals.
As the country’s largest city, Istanbul records the highest number of divorce cases in absolute terms, which is why the Istanbul divorce rate and the volume of cases at the Istanbul family courts are frequently followed. The divorce rate in Istanbul is published annually by TurkStat together with the other provinces.
Turkish Divorce Lawyer in Istanbul
Choosing an experienced divorce lawyer in Istanbul is the most effective way to protect your rights in a cross-border case. Many people search for a Turkish divorce lawyer near me because they need someone who can attend the hearings locally and communicate with them in English. Our office in Bakırköy, Istanbul represents foreign nationals and Turkish citizens living abroad in uncontested and contested divorces, custody and alimony claims and the recognition of foreign judgments, in person or online. If you live abroad, we can handle your case under a power of attorney. Related areas: Family and Divorce Law and Immigration Law.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can foreigners file for divorce in Turkey?
Yes. A foreign national can file for divorce in Turkey if either spouse lives in Turkey or the spouses last lived together in Turkey. Nationality is not a barrier; the court then decides which country’s law applies.
2. Which law applies to the divorce of two foreigners in Turkey?
Under Article 14 of Law No. 5718, the court applies the spouses’ common national law; if they have none, the law of their common habitual residence; and otherwise Turkish law.
3. Do I have to be in Turkey for the divorce?
In a contested divorce, your lawyer can represent you under a power of attorney and you do not have to attend every hearing. In an uncontested divorce, both spouses must appear before the judge in person.
4. How long does a divorce take in Turkey?
An uncontested divorce is often concluded at the first hearing, usually within a few months of filing. A contested divorce typically takes one to two years at first instance; service abroad and appeals can extend this.
5. Can I get an uncontested divorce if we married less than a year ago?
No. An uncontested divorce requires the marriage to have lasted at least one year. Before that, the case must proceed as a contested divorce.
6. Will my Turkish divorce be recognised in my home country?
Recognition depends on the law of your home country. In most cases, the final Turkish judgment with a finality annotation, apostille and sworn translation is submitted to the competent authority there. We can prepare these documents for you.
7. How can I get a foreign divorce recognised in Turkey?
By filing a recognition case before the Turkish family court, or, where both spouses apply jointly and the conditions are met, by applying to the civil registry or a Turkish consulate.
8. How much does a divorce lawyer in Turkey cost?
Fees depend on whether the divorce is uncontested or contested, the claims involved and the work required for foreign documents. They cannot be lower than the minimum fee tariff of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations. We provide a written fee proposal after reviewing your situation.