Six steps, in order — most of which can be completed remotely with a power of attorney if you can't be in Turkey in person.
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✔ Sourced & reviewed · updated 24 Sep 2026| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Get a Turkish tax number | Free, from any tax office (in person or by power of attorney); usually issued within a day or two — needed for everything that follows (S10, S13) |
| 2. Open a Turkish bank account | Requires your tax number, passport and proof of address; some banks ask for a minimum opening deposit (S10) |
| 3. Choose and pay a reservation deposit | Typically 1%-10% of the price depending on the source, to take the property off the market — have a lawyer review the reservation agreement first (S9, S13) |
| 4. Complete due diligence | Title, encumbrances, occupancy certificate and (for off-plan) developer standing — see due-diligence for the full checklist |
| 5. Sign the sales contract | After due diligence, not before; sets out the price, payment schedule and conditions (S9) |
| 6. Tapu transfer at the Land Registry | Both parties (or representatives under power of attorney) sign; the transfer fee is paid and ownership registers the same day (S9, S10) |
Sources describe the overall timeline as roughly 2-8 weeks for a straightforward resale once documents are ready, though estimates vary by source and by how quickly due diligence and any valuation report are completed (S9, S13).
A notarised power of attorney — arranged at a Turkish consulate abroad, or with a Turkish notary if you're already in the country — lets a lawyer or trusted representative complete every one of these steps on your behalf, including the Tapu signing itself. The document needs to specifically authorise a property purchase; a general power of attorney is often not sufficient for the Land Registry to accept it (S12). Choose the representative carefully, since they'll be signing binding documents in your name (S10).
Get a Turkish tax identification number (Vergi Kimlik Numarası). It's free, quick (often within a day or two), and required before you can open a bank account or complete a purchase (S10, S13).
Yes, in practice — it's used to document payment and is required for the tax number and purchase process to proceed smoothly; you'll need your passport, tax number and proof of address to open one (S10).
Sources cite a range roughly between 1% and 10% of the purchase price, depending on the property and seller — confirm the exact figure and terms before paying, and have a lawyer review the reservation agreement first (S9, S13).
After. Signing before due diligence — or paying a deposit before it — is the most commonly cited source of problems for foreign buyers in the guides we reviewed (S9). See due-diligence for the full checklist.
Buyer and seller (or their representatives under power of attorney) sign before the Land Registry officer, with a sworn translator present if either party doesn't speak Turkish; the transfer registers the same day and ownership passes (S9, S10, S12).
Yes — a notarised, property-specific power of attorney lets a representative handle every step, including the final signing (S12).
Roughly 2 to 8 weeks for a straightforward resale once documents are ready, according to the sources we reviewed — off-plan purchases follow a different timeline tied to construction and payment stages (S9, S13).
The payment and legal sequence follows the developer's own schedule rather than a single Tapu transfer at the end, and due diligence needs to additionally cover the developer's standing and delivery track record (S12).
A lawyer or representative you trust and who has specific, relevant experience with Turkish property transactions — the document authorises them to sign binding paperwork in your name, so this isn't a decision to make casually (S10).
Typically: registering for annual property tax at the local municipality, confirming DASK insurance is active, and transferring utilities into your name (S9).
Reviewed 24 Sep 2026. This page summarises rules and rates reported by the sources below as of that date for general orientation — it is not legal, tax or financial advice, and rules, rates and thresholds change. Where current sources disagreed with each other, this page says so rather than picking a side. Confirm anything specific to your situation with a licensed Turkish lawyer, notary or accountant before acting.
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