Apostile

[Jonnie]

I have got a character letter from the police station and have been told it needs an Apostile from the Turkish Embassy.

Has anyone ever had to have one done?

Thanks in advance

[Dalartokat]

What is the Police character reference for? Who told you the character reference needs to be Apostilled by the Turkish Embassy? Was it the UK Police?

[tomsteel]

If this helps. We sold a house in Spain and appointed a local solicitor to act on our behalf. She told us we would need to have her letter of approval annotated with an apostille from the Turkish Embassy here. Spoke to our local and well-established notary in Girne who said, non-Turkish Cypriots or Turkish nationals cannot get such a document endorsement (Apostille) from the Turkish Embassy in Lefkoşa. That legal document cannot be endorsed for expatriates of any nation. We ended up travelling to Spain for a week and selling the house ourselves with our Spanish solicitor in attendance.

We also needed a character reference letter from the TRNC Police. Took our advocate to Girne Police HQ, filled in a form, copies of passports, money, photos - come back in a week. Hey presto, all done and a smiling, very good English speaking Inspector, wished us well.

[Jonnie]

The purpose of he letter is immaterial but it is for use in an Apostille convention country.

This is what I did.

I took two TRNC sized pasport photos to Girne police with stamps totalling 25tl. 2 days later I collected said letter. This letter I then took to the internal affairs ministry office (where you go for residency in TRNC) where I was directed to the first floor to a Mr Bullent he duly stamps the form to confirm the police officers name position and stamp. I then took this letter to the Turkish Embassy and went to the visa desk, the lady duly stamped it and asked me to go and get a photocopy then come back, I duly did this she then fastened the two pieces of paper together with a paper clip ( I queued for that) and instructed me to go to the cashiers desk who relieved me of 36tl and i then went back to the lady at the counter. After a further waiting period this document was further signed by someone a the Embassy stating that it was in face Mr bullent who signed and stamped the document.

Whilst not technically being an apostille it is I am told a document which will stand in its place.

[tomsteel]

Good for you jonnie. It was not, however, legal enough for our case, as confirmed by our Spanish solicitor. Our notary here signed everything and got Girne Court to countersign - still no good - it had to be the official apostille for Spain. Hey ho, you are done.