Every year, September marks an important turning point for the translation profession in Turkey: it is the month when the announcement and application period begins for the court-sworn translator (expert translator) lists that determine who may serve at the courthouses. The lists of these translators—who work in many official settings, from interpreting testimony in court to handling land registry transactions involving foreign parties—are drawn up from scratch every year. As of the date this article was published, the announcement season for the 2027 lists is open; below, we explain step by step how the process works, both for those wishing to work as translators and for citizens with official business to conduct.
This topic does not concern professionals alone. Anyone who will send documents abroad, need an interpreter in court, or complete a transaction at the land registry should understand the different types covered by the term "sworn translator," so as not to waste time knocking on the wrong door. Below, we clarify both the application timeline and the differences between a court-sworn translator and a notary-sworn translator.
Who is a court-sworn translator, and which legislation applies?
The legal basis of the court translation system is the Code of Criminal Procedure. The relevant regulation was drawn up on the basis of Article 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure No. 5271, dated 4 December 2004, and the Regulation on the Preparation of Translator Lists under the Code of Criminal Procedure, prepared by the Ministry of Justice, entered into force upon publication in the Official Gazette No. 28578 of 5 March 2013. The purpose of the regulation is to set out the procedures and principles governing the translator lists to be established so that the statements of victims, witnesses, suspects, or defendants who do not speak Turkish well enough to express themselves during the investigation or prosecution phase, or who have a disability, as well as the oral defence a defendant declares they can deliver more effectively in another language, can be translated into Turkish.
One noteworthy detail: the scope is not limited to spoken languages. The regulation defines sign language as "a visual language formed through hand and body movements and facial expressions for the purpose of expressing emotions, thoughts, wishes, and needs," and describes the translator as a natural person who translates statements from another language or from sign language into Turkish. In other words, the judicial lists also include translators providing sign language translation—a matter of great importance for the right to a fair trial of citizens with hearing impairments.
From September to December: How does the process work, step by step?
The first step in the calendar is the commissions' announcement. Under the regulation, the provincial judicial justice commissions of the courts of first instance launch the announcement process in the provinces and districts within their jurisdiction by 15 September of each year at the latest. Applications are accepted between the dates set by the provincial judicial justice commission presidencies each year, from late September through October; the application process generally takes 3–4 weeks and is completed by the end of October.
The overall flow can be summarised as follows:
- September: The commissions issue their announcements; the application requirements and date range are published on the courthouses' official websites.
- October: Candidates apply with their documents. Applications are submitted in person to the provincial judicial justice commission presidencies of the courts of first instance, with the application form and language declaration forms completed in full, together with the other required documents.
- November–December: The assessment and oath-taking stage follows. Oaths are taken in December, generally within the first two weeks; first-time applicants and those who voluntarily left the list must take the oath.
- Year-end: The list of sworn translators is published on the official website of the relevant courthouse by the end of December each year.
The most critical feature of this timeline is its recurring nature: the lists are drawn up anew each year in accordance with the provisions of the regulation. Getting on the list once is therefore not enough; a translator who wishes to continue serving must renew their registration every year. Since dates can vary by province, it is essential to follow the courthouse announcements of the province where you intend to apply for the exact dates valid as of the date this article was published.
Who can apply? Requirements and required documents
Citizenship is the first of the application requirements. With the 2018 amendment to the regulation, the option of holding a Blue Card issued under Article 28 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 was added alongside the requirement of being a citizen of the Republic of Turkey. In addition, being at least 18 years of age as of the application date and having a clean criminal record—that is, no prior convictions—are among the basic requirements. The security dimension is also monitored throughout the process: if a public prosecution is opened against a person for certain offences, their name is suspended from the list; in the event of acquittal, the suspension is lifted.
The application file generally requires the following documents:
- The application form and the language declaration form (the current format in the announcement text must be used),
- A photocopy of an official document showing the Turkish ID number (national ID card, driving licence, or passport), an address-based civil registry extract and a certificate of residence, together with the original or a commission-certified copy of documents such as diplomas, licences, or certificates relating to the language or languages in which translation will be provided, including sign language,
- The applicant's bank IBAN number in the application petition; applications are accepted only within the announced date range.
Keep in mind: if the documents are incomplete or incorrect, the application is deemed invalid. The oath stage is also a formal requirement; the applications of translators who do not attend the oath ceremony are rejected, whereas those who were on the previous year's list and are renewing their registration do not take the oath again.
Are a court-sworn translator and a notary-sworn translator the same thing?
No—and this distinction is among the topics readers most frequently confuse. A notary-sworn translator is one who signs an oath deed before a notary public, works under that notary office, and signs written document translations; where required, these translations are then notarised to gain official status. A court-sworn translator (expert translator), on the other hand, is registered on the judicial justice commission's list and primarily provides oral interpretation in judicial proceedings. The certified translation service at Ziya Tercüme falls under the first category for document translations, while courtroom and government office interpreting falls under the second.
The key differences between the two statuses can be compared as follows:
| Criterion | Court-sworn translator (expert translator) | Notary-sworn translator |
|---|---|---|
| Oath-taking authority | Provincial judicial justice commission | Notary public (oath deed) |
| Typical field of duty | Oral official proceedings such as hearings, testimony, and land registry transactions | Written documents such as diplomas, contracts, and powers of attorney |
| Period of validity | One year; applications are collected anew each year and the list is renewed | Continues as long as the oath deed remains valid |
| Form of publication | Official courthouse websites | Not published; kept in notary records |
A similar distinction applies on the document certification side: the sworn translator's stamp and signature and notary certification are two separate procedures. Some institutions accept the sworn translator's certification as sufficient, while others additionally require a notary-approved translation. The apostille annotation is an entirely different stage; neither a translation agency nor a notary can issue an apostille—this annotation is issued only by governorships/district governorships (for administrative documents) or judicial authorities (for judicial documents).
Where do court-sworn translators serve?
The first field that comes to mind is, of course, criminal proceedings: translators registered on the list may provide official interpretation at hearings, translate testimony, and ensure that the records are conveyed accurately; every translation made when a foreign national's statement is taken or their defence is interpreted is considered the foundation of a fair trial. For this reason, a court translator must have a command not only of the language but also of legal terminology and courtroom practice; in this respect, the work requires professional interpretation service experience.
Outside the judiciary, one of the busiest fields is land registry transactions. If one of the parties to a land registry purchase-sale transaction does not speak Turkish, a court-sworn translator must be present; land registry officers will not process transactions with persons not registered on the list. The geographical flexibility is also noteworthy: a person who is a court-sworn translator in any province may serve as an expert translator anywhere in Turkey that year. In cities such as Istanbul, where foreign investors are concentrated, demand for these translators continues year-round.
What does this mean for document holders? Choosing the right door
Let us work through a concrete scenario: a family living in Istanbul needs both to send a diploma translation to a university abroad and to accompany a relative who does not speak Turkish through a land registry transfer. For the diploma, the correct path is a written translation by a sworn translator, followed—depending on the target institution's requirements—by notary certification and apostille stages. For the land registry appointment, however, an expert translator registered on the courthouse list must be present at the moment of the transaction; a written translation prepared at an office does not meet this need.
For texts such as court rulings, statements of claim, or powers of attorney, terminology errors can directly lead to a loss of rights, so it is important that the translation is carried out by a team experienced in this field; legal translation is a specialisation designed precisely for this need. Since the chain of certifications required for each transaction (sworn translator's stamp, notary certification, apostille, or consular legalisation) varies according to the document and the target institution, the soundest approach is to confirm the target institution's current requirements before starting and to map out a route based on the nature of your document. If you would like to know the exact cost for your documents, which varies according to factors such as language, page count, and urgency, you can reach us via our free quote form.
Common mistakes and pitfalls to watch out for
On the application side, the most common mistake is missing the calendar. Since applications are accepted only within the announced window, a translator who misses the October window is forced to wait until the following year. The second common mistake is applying with a simple photocopy instead of the original or a certified copy of the documents proving language proficiency (diploma, certificate, etc.); incomplete paperwork invalidates the application. It is also frequently overlooked that first-time applicants must attend the oath ceremony in person.
For document holders, the pitfalls are different. Assuming "sworn translator" refers to a single status and going to the land registry with a notary-sworn translator can cause the transaction to be postponed. Another common misconception is thinking that a translation agency can issue an apostille; the agency can coordinate the process, but only the authorised official authority can affix the annotation. Finally, it should be known that court translator fees work differently from the open market: for courthouse assignments, the expert witness fee tariff is generally applied, and the fee varies according to the type of court, the length of the assignment, and the judge's decision. For written translation services, on the other hand, the amount is determined by the language pair, document length, whether notarisation is required, and urgency.
A window of opportunity for translators: What does getting on the list bring?
Registration on the judicial list gives a translator the opportunity to receive regular assignments throughout the year from courts, prosecutors' offices, and land registry directorates. Particularly in high-demand languages such as Arabic, Persian, and Russian, as well as sign language, these assignments generate a substantial volume of work. Being on the official list is also a credential that boosts a translator's professional visibility and credibility.
For freelance translators, registration on the judicial list and being part of a translation agency's staff or partner pool are not mutually exclusive; on the contrary, the two together ensure a balanced flow of work throughout the year. At Ziya Tercüme, we would be delighted to hear from experienced colleagues interested in working with us on written and oral projects across different language pairs via our translator application page. The September–October period is the most productive window of the year for applying both to the courthouse list and to professional agency networks.
Conclusion: Follow the calendar, choose the right status
In summary, as of the date this article was published, the judicial justice commissions' annual translator list cycle is underway: announcements in September, applications in October, oaths in December, and publication of the lists at year-end. For translators, this is an annual opportunity not to be missed; for document holders, it is a system that requires knowing which translator status and which chain of certifications each transaction demands.
Since dates and required documents can vary by province, it is necessary to follow the courthouse announcements of the province where you intend to apply for definitive information. If you need a roadmap for the translation of your documents, notary certification, and pre-apostille preparation, you can explore all the solutions we offer on our services page and get in touch with our team with any questions.
Sources
- Official Gazette — Regulation on the Preparation of Translator Lists under the Code of Criminal Procedure (No. 28578, 05.03.2013)
- Ministry of Justice, General Directorate of Criminal Affairs — Regulation on the Preparation of Translator Lists under the Code of Criminal Procedure (full text)
- Ministry of Family and Social Services, EYHGM — Regulation on the Preparation of Translator Lists under the Code of Criminal Procedure
- Istanbul Bar Association — Regulation on the Preparation of Translator Lists under the CCP Published in the Official Gazette
- Alomaliye — Regulation Amending the Regulation on the Preparation of Translator Lists under the Code of Criminal Procedure (2018)