Can You Add a Co-Owner to a TAPU in Turkey, and How?

This situation can develop in two ways. Let's look at both.

1. A TAPU (title deed) is issued after a property purchase once the sale contract has been signed. We explain what a TAPU is and what information it contains in a separate article. At this stage, you need to decide how many owners the property will be registered to. Under Turkish law, several owners can be listed on a TAPU.
Co-owners can be: relatives or people completely unrelated to each other; individuals or legal entities; adults or children.

The buyers themselves decide how many owners there will be and how the shares are divided, equally or unequally. Each co-owner then has the right to dispose of their share as they see fit: resell it, give it away or pass it on by inheritance. Under shared ownership (paylı mülkiyet), the consent of the other co-owners is not required, but if a share is sold to an outsider, they have a pre-emption right to buy it. Consent of everyone is required only under joint ownership (elbirliği mülkiyeti), for example among heirs before the estate is divided. We explain how property inheritance works for foreigners in a separate article. The owners listed in the sale contract must be present in person when the document is issued and signed, or give a power of attorney to a representative.

2. Now let's look at the other situation. For example, a TAPU was registered to one person, and later it became necessary to add one or more owners. In this case, a new sale contract has to be drawn up and a new title deed issued listing all the owners. The second legal option is to gift a share (hibe): then, instead of paying under a contract, the new co-owner pays gift tax (more on this below).

Each time a sale contract is drawn up, you will need to pay land registry charges and the title deed transfer fee (tapu harcı), which is 4% of the value of the property or of the share. By law, it is split equally: the seller of the share pays 2% and the buyer 2%. The value used for the calculation cannot be lower than the property's tax value, and for a transaction with a foreign national it is confirmed by a mandatory valuation report. Separately, the land registry charges a foreign buyer a processing fee of TRY 20,870 in 2026.

How the fee is calculated.

The calculation is based on the value of the property.

For example, it is TRY 6,000,000 (about €108,700 at the Central Bank of Turkey exchange rate on October 6, 2026, €1 = TRY 55.19; this is close to the average price of an apartment in Alanya).

The value is divided by the number of people listed on the TAPU.

Suppose 5 people will be listed on the TAPU, including one owner, the person who signed the sale contract, and 4 co-owners.

Then: TRY 6,000,000 / 5 = TRY 1,200,000

The result is multiplied by the number of co-owners, excluding the owner.

In our case, this is 4.

The fee is: 1,200,000 × 4 = 4,800,000 × 4% = TRY 192,000 (about €3,479)

In addition to the signed purchase contract, the following documents are needed to obtain the TAPU:

• a tax identification number;
• copies of passports;
• a power of attorney for a person representing the owner, if the owner cannot attend;
• an apostilled birth certificate, if a minor child is to be added, and consent signed by both parents;
• a valuation report on the property from a licensed company, which is mandatory for transactions with foreign nationals;
• a compulsory earthquake insurance policy (DASK).

All documents must be translated into Turkish and certified by a notary. If a foreign buyer or co-owner does not speak Turkish, a sworn translator is required for the signing at the land registry office.

Contents:

• Selling or gifting a share: which is more cost-effective
• Who joint registration on a TAPU is not right for
• Frequently asked questions

Selling or gifting a share: which is more cost-effective

There are two ways to add a co-owner, and their costs differ. Example: the owner of an apartment worth TRY 6,000,000 transfers half of it, TRY 3,000,000, to their spouse.

These gift tax rates apply in 2026. The tax return is due within a month of the transfer, and the tax can be paid in 6 equal installments over 3 years. The TAPU cannot be re-registered until the tax is paid.

"Most often, a co-owner is added right at the time of purchase: it is cheaper and simpler than transferring a share later. If a family is still choosing an apartment, we advise deciding in advance whose name it will be in and in what shares," says a sales manager at Yekta Homes.

Who joint registration on a TAPU is not right for

• Unrelated people without an agreement. Each of them can sell their share, and if there is a dispute, a court division takes time. It is better to sign an agreement on use and sale in advance.
• Co-owners including a child, if the apartment will soon be sold. A minor's share can only be sold with a court's permission.
• A property bought for citizenship. It cannot be sold for 3 years, and any re-registration during this period should be agreed with a lawyer.

Each of these situations can be foreseen, so it is best to discuss who will be on the title before signing the contract.

Frequently asked questions

Can a co-owner be added to a TAPU after the purchase?

Yes, by selling or gifting a share. A new TAPU is issued at the land registry office, listing all owners.

Do I need the other co-owners' consent to sell my share?

Under shared ownership, no, but they have a pre-emption right to buy that share.

How much does it cost to transfer a share?

For a sale, 4% of the share's value, 2% from each side. For a gift, gift tax at 2026 rates, halved for spouses and children.

Can a child be listed on a TAPU?

Yes. You will need an apostilled birth certificate and the consent of both parents. Later, a child's share can only be sold with a court's permission.