Is electronic signature legal in Turkey?
Yes, with limits. Under Electronic Signature Law No. 5070, a secure electronic signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature, while other e-signatures are weighed as ordinary evidence. Transactions that need an official form or special ceremony, and guarantee agreements other than bank letters of guarantee and surety bonds issued by insurance companies established in Turkey, cannot be signed with a secure e-signature.
Last reviewed October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
E-signature law in Turkey at a glance
- Status
- Legal, with limits
- Main law
Electronic Signature Law No. 5070 (Elektronik İmza Kanunu) (2004)
- Approach
- Two-tier: basic and secure (often certificate-based) signatures
Types of electronic signature in Turkey
Electronic signature
Any electronic data used for authentication. It is valid for contracts without a form requirement, but it does not meet written form and its weight is assessed as evidence.
Secure electronic signature (güvenli elektronik imza)
Based on a qualified electronic certificate from a provider authorised by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK). Under article 5 it has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature.
What you can sign electronically in Turkey
- Commercial contracts without a form requirement
- Contracts that require written form, if signed with a secure electronic signature
- Employment contracts that must be in writing, if signed with a secure electronic signature
- Bank letters of guarantee and surety bonds issued by insurance companies established in Turkey
Documents that need a handwritten signature or extra formalities
- Legal transactions that the law subjects to an official form or a special ceremony, such as real estate sales at the land registry and notarised acts (Law 5070, article 5)
- Guarantee agreements other than bank letters of guarantee and surety bonds issued by insurance companies established in Turkey, including suretyship contracts (Law 5070, article 5, as amended in 2021)
Contracts that must be “in writing”
Article 5 of Law No. 5070 says data signed with a secure electronic signature has the same legal effect as data signed by hand, so it meets written form. Simple electronic signatures do not.
E-signatures in Turkey: frequently asked questions
Are e-signed employment contracts valid in Turkey?
Yes, if a secure electronic signature is used where the contract must be in writing. A simple e-signature does not meet a written form requirement.
Can a guarantee be signed electronically in Turkey?
Generally no. Article 5 of Law No. 5070 excludes guarantee agreements from secure electronic signatures, except bank letters of guarantee and surety bonds issued by insurance companies established in Turkey.
Who can issue a secure electronic signature in Turkey?
Electronic certificate service providers that have notified and are supervised by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK).
Sources
This page is general information about e-signature law in Turkey, not legal advice. It was last reviewed in October 2026, and laws change. Check the official sources above or ask a lawyer in Turkey before you rely on an electronic signature for an important document. See also whether electronic signatures are legal.
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