In Turkey, an individual’s criminal record (police clearance certificate) can only be accessed by the Attorney General’s Office or the individual themselves after five years from the conviction date. This follows the right against self-incrimination, as outlined in Article 76 of the Turkish Constitution.

How to Apply for a Criminal Record Check in Turkey?

To request a criminal record check in Turkey, an individual can:

• Apply in person at the Attorney General’s Office.
• Authorize a registered attorney with the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (Bar Association Website) to apply on their behalf. A list of attorneys in Istanbul is available on the Istanbul Bar Association website (Find an Attorney).

Criminal Record Check for Foreigners in Turkey

Foreigners requesting a Turkish police clearance certificate must ensure that:

• Their request is supported with a Turkish Residence ID Card or ID number. This helps avoid issues with Arabic or long names that may not be recognized in Turkey’s digital criminal record system.
• The document is issued only in Turkish.
• If their country is part of the Apostille Agreement, the document will be valid internationally after an apostille stamp. It can then be translated into their local language if necessary.
• If their country is not part of the Apostille Agreement, the certificate must be authenticated by the Turkish Consulate in their country to ensure validity.

How Long Does It Take?

The criminal record certificate can typically be obtained from the Attorney General’s Office within a few hours.