Portuguese sworn translation in Turkey covers two kinds of file. You may hold a document from Portugal or Brazil that has to be presented in Turkish, or you may need a Turkish document in Portuguese for use abroad. Ziya Translation assigns a sworn translator who translates and signs the document, and the notary and apostille steps are planned around your file. Papers reach us by WhatsApp, by email or at any of our four Istanbul branches.
Portuguese documents for use in Turkey
Brazilian and Portuguese citizens living here usually need a Turkish version of these papers:
- birth and marriage certificates (certidão de nascimento, certidão de casamento) for residence permit files
- papers for a wedding in Turkey, where the marriage office gives you the current list
- diplomas and transcripts for recognition through YÖK, the higher education council
- powers of attorney (procuração) for property or company matters
- company papers such as a contrato social, and commercial contracts
Apostilles are issued where the document was issued, so arrange yours before you travel. Residence permit files need both an apostille and a notarized Turkish translation, according to the migration authority (Göç İdaresi). Bring the original too, because no Turkish notary can issue a certified copy of a foreign authority's paper. Our Turkish translation page covers this route institution by institution.
Portugal and Brazil: same language, different paperwork
The two countries share a language but not an official vocabulary. Spelling, office names and legal terms differ, so the first thing we ask is where the translation will be used, or where the source document comes from.
| Item | Portugal | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| Civil registry | registo civil | registro civil |
| Tax number | NIF | CPF (person), CNPJ (company) |
| ID card | Cartão de Cidadão | RG |
| Limited company | Lda. | Ltda. |
| Everyday spelling | equipa, facto | equipe, fato |
One example of why this matters: in Brazil, civil records and notarial work both sit with an office called a cartório, while in Portugal civil records are kept by the conservatória. A Turkish document going abroad gets the spelling and office names of its destination.
Apostille status for Portugal and Brazil
As of 7 November 2026, the HCCH status table shows both countries as parties to the Apostille Convention. It has been in force in Portugal since 4 February 1969 and in Brazil since 14 August 2016. Turkey belongs to the Convention as well, which makes the apostille the general route, with no embassy or consulate step added on top. Bilateral agreements do not appear in that table, so ask the institution receiving your document to confirm. Our apostille translation page explains the procedure.
For other Portuguese-speaking countries such as Angola and Mozambique, check the HCCH table first. If the country is not a party, a Turkish document goes through the governorship or district governorship, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that country's mission, as described under official document authentication.
Turkish documents going to Portugal or Brazil
In Turkey the signature on the translation belongs to the sworn translator. The notary's approval covers that signature and the oath record, not the content. Whether the apostille is attached to the original document or to the notarized translation is up to the receiving institution.
For Portugal, visa and residence files may call for a passport, birth and marriage certificates, a criminal record certificate and income documents, so ask the authority handling your application for its current list. In Brazil, some institutions may want the translation done by a local sworn translator (tradutor público). In that case an apostilled original may be all you need from Turkey, so ask first and avoid paying twice.
Names and numbers
Portuguese names often carry several surnames linked by de, da or dos. Turkish forms expect a single surname field, so we follow your passport and shorten nothing on our own. Letters such as ã, õ and ç stay as written. If your surname changed on marriage, add the document that links the old and new names. Dates run day, month, year as in Turkish, but the month is often spelled out (7 de novembro de 2026). CPF, CNPJ and NIF numbers are copied exactly.
Interpreters
If you need a Portuguese interpreter for a notary appointment, a wedding or a meeting, send us the date, city, length and topic. Availability depends on the request and is confirmed in your quote. If you do not speak Turkish, the notary will need a sworn interpreter in the room.
Cost and turnaround
Length, the target country, the density of technical terms and the approval steps all count. A text prepared for both Portugal and Brazil may mean two adaptations. Faster delivery can be discussed, subject to document type, language and approvals, and your quote confirms the details once we have seen the document.
Ordering from our Portuguese Turkish translation office
- Tell us which country and institution will receive the document.
- Send a scan or photo by WhatsApp or email, or visit a branch.
- Ask whether the institution requires a local translator, then approve the quote.
- Compare the translation with your passport and check names and numbers.
- When the notary and apostille steps are finished, collect it from a branch or have it couriered.
Ready to start? Request a quote.
