Enforcing a foreign arbitration award in Turkey
Procedure, documents, refusal grounds, court fees and duration under the New York Convention.
A foreign arbitral award is enforced in Turkey through an enforcement action in the commercial court under the New York Convention, which Turkey has applied since 30 September 1992. The court checks a closed list of refusal grounds and does not review the merits. First instance takes around twelve months. Assets can be frozen in the meantime by interim attachment.
What is the procedure?
Pending lawyer reviewPrepare the file
Certified copies of the arbitration agreement and the final award, certified Turkish translations, apostille or consular legalisation, power of attorney.Optional: interim attachment
Freeze the debtor's assets on the basis of the award. Security of about 15%.File the enforcement action
At the commercial court agreed by the parties, otherwise where the debtor is domiciled or has assets. Mandatory mediation does not apply.Court review
Limited to the refusal grounds. No review of the merits.Collect
Once the decision is final, the award is executed like a Turkish judgment through the enforcement office.On what grounds can a Turkish court refuse?
Pending lawyer review- The arbitration agreement is invalid, or a party lacked capacity
- The losing party was not properly notified or could not present its case
- The award goes beyond the arbitration agreement or the claims
- The tribunal or the procedure did not follow the agreement
- The award is not yet binding, or was set aside where it was made
- The dispute cannot be settled by arbitration under Turkish law
- Enforcement would be contrary to Turkish public policy
Public policy has been read narrowly since a 2012 unification decision of the Court of Cassation. Awards have been enforced despite compound interest or a large penalty clause. They have been refused where the award was served on a lawyer without a valid power of attorney, ignored an earlier final judgment, or granted more than was claimed.
What does it cost?
Pending lawyer review| Cost | Amount, 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Court fee, leading view | TRY 732 | Fixed fee, following a 2019 decision of the Court of Cassation General Assembly |
| Court fee, risk | 6.831% of the award | Some chambers have applied the proportional fee. One quarter is paid at filing |
| Security for costs | 15% to 20% | For foreign applicants, unless a treaty exempts them. Returned at the end |
| Security for interim attachment | About 15% | At the court's discretion |
Translation is a real cost item for long awards: the official notary tariff for translation is TRY 667.67 per page in 2026.
What about awards made in Turkey?
Pending lawyer reviewAn award from an arbitration seated in Turkey does not need an enforcement action. The court issues a certificate of enforceability once the time for a set-aside action has passed or such an action has been finally rejected. For smaller disputes the Istanbul Arbitration Centre offers fast-track arbitration for claims up to TRY 5,000,000 with an award within three months.
Arbitral award or court judgment?
Awards travel better. A foreign court judgment needs reciprocity between Turkey and the country of origin, which is uncertain for some countries. An arbitral award needs only the New York Convention. Check your position with the enforcement checker.
Common questions
Pending lawyer reviewCan a foreign arbitration award be enforced in Turkey?
Yes. Turkey has applied the New York Convention since 30 September 1992. A Turkish commercial court declares the award enforceable unless one of the limited refusal grounds applies. The court does not re-examine the merits.
Which documents are needed?
The original or a certified copy of the arbitration agreement and of the final award, each with a certified Turkish translation, and an apostille or consular legalisation.
How long does enforcement of an arbitral award take in Turkey?
Practitioners report around twelve months at first instance. Appeals add time: regional courts averaged 371 days and the Court of Cassation 185 days for civil cases in 2025.
What does it cost?
The court fee is unsettled. The leading 2019 decision applies a fixed fee, TRY 732 in 2026, but some chambers have applied the proportional fee of 6.831% of the award. Budget for the fixed fee and treat the proportional fee as a risk.
Can assets be frozen before enforcement is final?
Yes. Turkish courts accept a foreign award as the basis for an interim attachment, usually against security of about 15% of the claim.
Related pages
Foreign judgment enforcement checker
Free tool: first check of whether your foreign court judgment or arbitral award can be enforced in Turkey, with duration, fees and security.
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