Documents Needed to Enforce a Foreign Judgment in Türkiye

The usual document package includes a certified copy of the foreign judgment, proof that it is final, proof of service or defence opportunity where relevant, apostille or legalisation where required, sworn Turkish translations and party information. Missing documents can delay or defeat the application.

The document package is not a formality. It is the evidence that allows a Turkish court to test whether the foreign judgment satisfies the requirements of Law No. 5718. The foreign decision must be legally understandable and procedurally reliable for use in Türkiye.

Articles 50 to 59 of Law No. 5718 govern recognition and enforcement. The Civil Procedure Code and rules on foreign official documents, translation and service may also become relevant. Apostille issues depend on the Hague Apostille Convention and the state of origin.

Turkish courts often reject or delay applications where finality is unclear, translations are incomplete, names do not match, the operative part is ambiguous or service documents do not show that the defendant had an opportunity to defend the case. This section deliberately avoids invented case numbers. Where a case-specific filing relies on precedent, the relevant Court of Cassation, regional appellate court or Constitutional Court materials should be checked against the current file and date of publication.

The practical debate concerns how much proof is required for service and finality. The safe approach is not to submit the minimum that might pass. It is to submit a coherent package that answers likely objections before the debtor raises them.

The document package must show the judgment's origin, parties, date, operative part, finality and procedural reliability. Corporate parties should be identified by their legal names, not informal trade names.

Time should be calculated from finality, but procedural steps in Türkiye run from service of Turkish filings and decisions. If documents must be obtained from abroad, the creditor should start early because courts may not accept incomplete filings as a cure for delay.

The competent court under Law No. 5718 reviews the package. If enforcement is granted, the enforcement office will require the Turkish enforceable decision and related documents for execution.

The most important evidence is the foreign judgment itself, finality certificate, apostille or legalisation, sworn translation, service documents, corporate authority documents and, for later collection, asset information.

A foreign lawyer sending the file to Turkish counsel should provide the full court record relating to service and finality, not just the judgment PDF. Incomplete foreign litigation packets are a common cause of lost time.

Common mistakes include submitting machine translations, failing to apostille the right document, confusing entry of judgment with finality, omitting annexes and providing inconsistent names or addresses.

Is a certified copy necessary?

Usually the court expects an official or certified copy suitable for use abroad.

Can documents be translated after filing?

Sometimes defects can be cured, but filing properly from the start is safer.

Does apostille prove the judgment is enforceable?

No. Apostille authenticates the document; it does not prove all enforcement conditions.

Most avoidable enforcement problems are document problems. A careful document audit before filing is cheaper than correcting defects after the debtor has appeared and started objecting.

The correct legal route in these matters must be determined by reference to the date of the events, the legal position of the parties, the available evidence and the applicable statutory deadlines. Missing a deadline, applying to the wrong authority or presenting evidence in the wrong procedural form may cause loss of rights. You may contact Günser + Partners for an assessment of your matter under current Turkish legislation and court practice.