Documents Needed to Buy Property in Turkey

Turkish law (Law No. 5444 of January 7, 2006) allows foreign nationals and commercial companies to buy property in Turkey, with some restrictions. Today, the conditions of purchase are set by Article 35 of the Land Registry Law No. 2644 as amended by Law No. 6302 of 2012: citizens of 183 countries can buy property, and the Land Registry Office checks all the restrictions itself.

Documents for individuals:

1. A passport valid for at least 6 months.

2. A national ID card of your home country. It is not needed for the transaction in Turkey: the Land Registry only requires your passport.

3. 4 color photos, 3.4 × 3.5 cm (the Land Registry specifies the exact number and format when you book the transaction)

4. A tax number obtained from the local tax office.

5. A valuation report from an SPK-licensed company: mandatory for foreigners and valid for 3 months.

6. An earthquake insurance (DASK) policy, for a completed home.

7. Receipts for payment of the title deed transfer fee (4% of the price, by law split equally with the seller) and the Land Registry fee (TRY 20,870 in 2026).

8. A power of attorney with an apostille and translation, if a representative carries out the transaction.

If the buyer does not speak Turkish, a sworn translator takes part in the transaction.

Documents for legal entities:

1. Companies established in Turkey with foreign capital must submit:

• a Council of Ministers permit confirming the right to acquire real estate; today, such a purchase is approved by the provincial governorship (valilik) after checking military and security zones;
• specimen signatures of the authorized persons;
• a power of attorney, if the buyer is represented by an authorized person.

2. Foreign companies established outside Turkey must submit documents confirming their right to acquire real estate. In practice, such companies can buy property in Turkey only in cases expressly provided for by special laws, so investors usually register a company in Turkey.

Contents:

• The buying procedure step by step
• Where to get each document
• Who will need additional documents
• Frequently asked questions

The buying procedure step by step

1. Signing the sale agreement.

2. Obtaining a tax number.

3. Opening a bank account.

4. Submitting documents for a loan (according to the terms of the agreement). We have described the whole buying procedure in detail, from choosing a property to registration, in our article on the buying procedure for property in Turkey.

5. A permit to acquire property from the Military Authority and the General Directorate of Land Registry (for properties that were checked and approved by the Izmir Military Authority before May 2011, a repeat check is not required). Today, the buyer does not need to obtain a separate permit: the Land Registry checks military and security zones itself when the transaction is booked. However, before the transaction you need to order a valuation report from a licensed valuation company: without it, the Land Registry will not register a purchase by a foreigner.

6. Issue of the TAPU (certificate of ownership) and insurance, which is only done once the property has been paid for in full. The transaction itself at the Land Registry takes one visit. We have explained separately how receiving the TAPU works and how to read this document.

7. The ISKAN, the act of putting the building into operation in Turkey. The Iskan is just as important a document when buying property in Turkey as the TAPU (certificate of ownership). You can buy property in Turkey without an Iskan, especially when buying at the construction stage, but the sale agreement must state that there is no occupancy permit, as well as the approximate date for obtaining it and the developer's liability if this deadline is missed. Bear in mind that banks usually grant mortgages only on buildings with an iskan.

8. Registering water and electricity meters.

At the client's request:

9. Obtaining a residence permit.

A residence permit in Turkey is issued for 1 year and gives the right to unlimited entry and exit while it is valid. Today, a short-term residence permit is issued for up to 2 years, and based on property only for a home (konut) with a TAPU price of $200,000 or more in a neighborhood open to residence permits for foreigners. With the adoption of the new law on foreigners in Turkey, which came into force on April 11, 2014, the procedure for property owners to obtain a residence permit changed. The residence permit is a plastic card and is delivered within 90 days of submitting the documents. The card itself costs TRY 964 in 2026.

10. Insurance.

Health insurance is a prerequisite for a residence permit and a reliable guarantee of your protection while in Turkey. State and private insurance companies offer a wide range of insurance products, from which you can choose the most suitable in terms of cost and conditions. Foreigners under 18 and over 65 are exempt from mandatory insurance when applying for a short-term residence permit; travel insurance is not accepted for a residence permit.

Health insurance for a residence permit covers:

• inpatient care;
• outpatient care;
• medicines;
• medical supplies;

11. Making a will. It is best to make a will at a Turkish notary: Turkish inheritance law applies to property in Turkey.

Where to get each document

"The most common delays are opening a bank account and the valuation report. We advise dealing with them right after signing the agreement: a tax number takes a day, but the bank and the valuer can take a week or more," says a sales manager at Yekta Homes.

Who will need additional documents

• Those buying remotely. You need a power of attorney issued at a Turkish consulate or by a notary with an apostille and translation.
• Those buying for citizenship. You will need a bank's foreign exchange purchase certificate (döviz alım belgesi) and a certificate of conformity from the Land Registry; the property cannot be sold for 3 years.
• Those buying through a company. You will need the founding documents, the directors' signatures and the governorship's approval.

Each of these cases is visible in advance, and the documents are prepared before paying a deposit so as not to delay the transaction date.

Frequently asked questions

What documents does a foreigner need to buy an apartment in Turkey?

A passport, a Turkish tax number, photos, a valuation report and, for a completed home, a DASK policy. If the buyer does not speak Turkish, a sworn translator is needed.

Is a military permit required?

No. The Land Registry checks military and security zones itself.

Do you need a residence permit to buy property?

No. A residence permit is applied for after the purchase if you plan to live in Turkey; based on property, only for a home worth $200,000 or more.

How much does the registration cost?

The title deed transfer fee is 4% of the price (by law split equally with the seller), the Land Registry fee in 2026 is TRY 20,870, plus a valuation report, DASK insurance and a translator.