A child born in Türkiye or to a Turkish parent: registration, the birth-certificate chain and what each parent's nationality changes
Under article 7 of Law 5901 a child born to a Turkish mother or father, in Türkiye or abroad, is a Turkish citizen by birth; under article 8 a child born in Türkiye who acquires no citizenship from either parent is Turkish by birth as well. Citizenship by descent is not applied for — it is registered. The hospital's birth report goes to the Nüfus Müdürlüğü within 30 days (Law 5490 art. 15), the child is entered in the family register, and from that record you obtain the Turkish birth extract and the multilingual Formül A used abroad. A child of two foreign parents born in Türkiye is not Turkish; the birth is still recorded, and the parents register the child at their consulate and obtain a residence permit for the child within the period set by Law 6458. We prepare the chain for either case, with translations and apostilles where a foreign authority will read the documents.
Price — one child
State fees and the notarial tariff are paid by you directly to the state or to the notary. We are not a notary and receive no remuneration from any notary, bank or lawyer.
Last verified: 24.10.2026 · source: Law 5901 arts. 7–8 — mevzuat.gov.tr; Law 5490 art. 15 (birth notification) — nvi.gov.tr; Law 6458 (residence permit for children born in Türkiye) — goc.gov.trPilot price, valid until 31.12.2026, incl. KDV. Bank fees, state fees and the notarial tariff are separate and paid by you to them.
Three situations, three chains
| Situation | Child's status | Chain |
|---|---|---|
| One parent Turkish, marriage registered in Türkiye | Turkish by birth (art. 7) | Hospital birth report → Nüfus Müdürlüğü within 30 days → family register entry → identity card; Formül A for use abroad; the foreign parent's consulate for the second nationality if that country allows |
| Turkish mother or father, marriage abroad or not registered, or parents unmarried | Turkish by birth through the mother; through the father on establishment of paternity (recognition or court) — art. 7 | Marriage registration in Türkiye first where applicable; recognition at the Nüfus or notary; then as above. Legal questions to a lawyer |
| Both parents foreign, child born in Türkiye | Not Turkish (unless stateless otherwise — art. 8); nationality of the parents | Birth report → Nüfus record in the foreigners' register → consulate registration and passport → residence permit for the child through e-ikamet within the period set by Law 6458 (currently counted from the birth date — check goc.gov.tr) |
Documents issued in Türkiye for use abroad: Formül A (multilingual extract under the CIEC convention) needs no translation in member states; other documents need apostille at the kaymakamlık and translation at destination. Parents' foreign documents used here: apostille in the issuing country, then sworn translation.
How it works
Case map before the birth, if possible
Parents' nationalities, where and when the marriage was registered, where you live. You receive the chain for your case with deadlines (30 days for notification; the residence-permit period for a foreign child) and the documents to have ready at the hospital.
Birth report and Nüfus
The hospital issues the birth report; we accompany you to the Nüfus Müdürlüğü with an interpreter to register the birth and, for a Turkish child, order the identity card and extracts. Parents' foreign documents are translated beforehand.
Extracts, Formül A, apostille
We obtain the Turkish birth extract and the Formül A, and apostille what your country's consulate or authorities require for registration or a passport abroad.
Consulate and, if needed, residence permit
You receive the consular registration checklist for your country. For a foreign child we prepare the e-ikamet residence-permit file you submit as the parent; see our first-application guidance.
Typical cases
- Turkish father, Russian mother, married in İstanbul: child Turkish by birth; registration, identity card and Formül A for the Russian consulate.
- Two Iraqi parents with residence permits: child not Turkish; birth record, consular passport, then a residence permit for the baby within the period.
- Turkish mother, marriage celebrated abroad and never registered here: register the marriage first, or the child is registered through the mother alone until it is.
- Unmarried parents, Turkish father: recognition of paternity is the step that makes the child Turkish through the father; a lawyer advises, we prepare the documents.
- Child born abroad to a Turkish parent: notification to the consulate within the period in Law 5490 and registration in the family register; the foreign birth certificate apostilled and translated.
What can go wrong
- Missing the 30-day notification. Late notification is possible but adds steps and, beyond the periods in the law, an administrative fine.
- Marriage not registered in Türkiye. The father's name may not be entered until it is; fix the marriage record first.
- Foreign child without a residence permit. The child's lawful stay has its own deadline; an overdue application creates an irregular-stay record for a baby.
- Name spelling that differs between passport and Nüfus record. Transliteration must match across documents; decide the Latin spelling before registration.
- Asking the Nüfus office a legal question. Officers register; they do not advise on paternity, custody or dual nationality. A lawyer does.
Questions
Is a child born in Türkiye automatically Turkish?
No. Türkiye follows descent (jus sanguinis): a child is Turkish if a parent is Turkish, wherever born. Birth in Türkiye gives citizenship only to a child who would otherwise be stateless (art. 8).
Can the child hold both nationalities?
Turkish law does not require renunciation; whether the other country allows dual nationality is that country's rule. We prepare the consular registration checklist; the consulate decides on its own law.
What is Formül A?
The multilingual birth extract issued under the CIEC Convention No. 16, accepted without translation in member states. For non-member countries the Turkish extract is apostilled and translated at destination.
How quickly is the identity card issued?
After registration the card is produced centrally and posted to your registered address, usually within a couple of weeks; the Nüfus office gives the current expectation. Extracts and Formül A are issued at the counter.
Related: family documents · first residence-permit guidance · apostille errand · guide: newborn registration and birth certificate · back to citizenship
Tell us the parents' nationalities and the due date
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