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Useful Information

Useful Information for Property in Turkey

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Signing the Sale and Purchase Agreement
A sale contract is signed between the seller and the buyer in two languages — Turkish and the buyer’s native language. The agreement includes full details of both parties, complete information about the selected property in Turkey, the purchase price, deposit amount, payment schedule, transaction terms, timelines for property registration in Turkey, and other agreed conditions.

Obtaining a Tax Identification Number (TIN)
A Tax Identification Number is required to register property in Turkey, pay real estate taxes and state fees, and use banking services. The TIN issuance process is simple, free of charge, and takes approximately 5–10 minutes.

Submitting Documents to the Cadastral Office for TAPU Registration
All required documents are submitted to the Land Registry and Cadastre Office for ownership registration. Under current regulations, the registration process and issuance of the TAPU typically take between 3 and 7 working days from the date of submission.

Costs Associated with Property Registration in Turkey

When registering real estate in Turkey, the following expenses apply:

  • A one-time property purchase tax of 4% of the cadastral value, which is generally lower than the market value
  • State TAPU registration fees, as well as municipal and cartographic charges determined by local authorities
  • Certified translation services

Issuance of TAPU (Title Deed)

Once approvals are obtained from the relevant state authorities, the TAPU (Title Deed) is issued at the Cadastral Office in the presence of the seller, buyer, and a sworn translator. By this stage, full payment between the parties must be completed, and all taxes and state fees must be paid.

The TAPU is the only legally recognized document confirming property ownership in Turkey. It grants full and permanent ownership rights and cannot be challenged, including through court proceedings.

Information Included in the TAPU

The Turkish Title Deed contains the following details:

  • Address of the land on which the property in Turkey is located
  • Land registration records held by the Cadastral Office
  • Official land description according to cadastral data
  • Land share and area owned by the new property owner
  • Type and status of ownership
  • Cadastral value of the property
  • Information about the previous owner or owners
  • Information about the new owner or owners
  • Date the previous owner acquired the property
  • Title deed number of the previous owner
  • Details of the newly issued TAPU
  • Date of acquisition by the new owner
  • Signature of the authorized cadastral officer and official stamp

This structured process ensures a secure, transparent, and legally protected property purchase in Turkey, making it a reliable choice for international buyers and investors.

After purchasing property in Turkey, many buyers naturally want to understand the ongoing maintenance and ownership costs of an apartment or villa. Below is a clear, native-level, SEO-optimized overview of the main expenses associated with owning real estate in Turkey.

One-Time Expenses When Buying Property in Turkey

When purchasing real estate in Turkey, the following one-time costs apply:

  • A property purchase tax of 4% of the cadastral value stated in the TAPU. In practice, the cadastral value is usually lower than the market price.
  • TAPU registration fees, including state charges, municipal fees, and cartographic taxes, based on tariffs set by local authorities.
  • Certified translation services required during the transaction.
  • After ownership registration and issuance of the TAPU, utility subscriptions for water and electricity must be arranged. For resale properties, existing subscriptions are simply transferred to the new owner.
  • Mandatory DASK insurance — compulsory earthquake insurance for all residential properties in Turkey.

Ongoing Property Maintenance Costs in Turkey

In addition to one-time expenses, property owners in Turkey should plan for the following regular annual and monthly costs:

Annual DASK Insurance
All property owners are required to renew DASK earthquake insurance annually to protect the property against earthquakes and natural disasters.

Annual Property Tax
The annual property tax in Turkey is approximately 0.02% of the property value declared in the TAPU. This tax is calculated based on the official cadastral value rather than the market price.

Residential Complex Maintenance Fee (Aidat)
If you purchase an apartment or villa in a residential complex with developed infrastructure—such as a swimming pool, children’s playground, landscaped gardens, parking, sauna, fitness center, tennis court, security, or elevators—you are required to pay a monthly maintenance fee (Aidat). The amount of Aidat depends on the level of infrastructure and the range of services provided within the complex. These services are typically managed by a professional management company or by a homeowners’ association formed by residents of the complex.

Utility Costs
Water and electricity are paid according to individual meters installed in every property. Final utility tariffs are determined by local municipalities.

Сitizenship and residence permit

  • Your wife/husband and children under 18 years old can acquire citizenship together with you at the same time.
  • When you apply for citizenship, you are not required to declare your assets or income that you currently have in other countries.
  • You can travel to many countries without the need to follow a cumbersome visa application process.
  • Many of these countries allow Turkish citizens to stay 30 to 90 days without any visa requirement and also some countries grant visas upon arrival or issue electronic visas upon online application.

The ways for obtaining Turkish citizenship

  • Citizenship by Investment: In 2018, the Turkish government introduced the possibility of obtaining Turkish citizenship in the shortest possible time. Anyone who has bought property worth $ 400,000 or deposited $ 500,000 in Turkish banks can apply. At the same time, the applicant is not entitled to either sell this property or withdraw money from the account for 3 years. Also, those who have made investments in the Turkish economy in the amount of at least US $ 500,000 and those who have created 50 jobs for Turkish citizens can apply for citizenship in an accelerated mode.
  • Turquoise Card System: Since 2017, the Turquoise Card System allows people with outstanding achievements in the field of technology, science, economy, sports, culture and art, to apply for a special type of citizenship, which guarantees almost the same rights as ordinary Turkish citizenship. Entrepreneurs and investors can also apply for the Turquoise Card.
  • Property and Residence Permit Holders: Any owner of property in Turkey after 5 years of permanent residence may apply for citizenship on condition that he remained in Turkey for at least 5 years during this period. Article 11 of Law No. 5901 lists the requirements for a permanent residence permit.
  • Birth: The easiest way to obtain Turkish citizenship is to be born into a Turkish family. According to Article 1 of the Law on Turkish Citizenship # 403, a child born to a Turkish family or in a family where the mother or father is a citizen of Turkey, gets citizenship automatically. Alternatively, if any of the parents receives the status of a Turkish citizen, then their child will also be subject to this right. Anyone who has lost Turkish citizenship can reapply for it.
  • Marriage: Many foreigners obtain citizenship after three years of marriage to a citizen of Turkey. But it is necessary to fulfill several conditions: to live together, not put their marriage in question and does not pose a threat to national security and public order.

Residence Permit in Turkey Based on Property Ownership

As of October 16, 2023, to obtain a Turkish residence permit (ikamet) through property ownership, the cadastral value stated in the TAPU must be at least USD 200,000, calculated in Turkish lira at the Central Bank rate on the transaction date. Only residential property registered to a foreigner qualifies; land and commercial real estate are excluded. Residence permits are usually issued for 1–2 years with the option to renew. Important: Even if the property value exceeds USD 200,000, a residence permit cannot be obtained if the property is located in a closed district for foreigners, such as Avsallar, Kestel, Mahmutlar, or Kargicak. Properties in these areas may be purchased for investment purposes, but initial residence permits based on TAPU are not granted.

For registration of residence permit you must provide the following documents:

  1. International passport (original).
  2. International passport (a copy of the page with photo and the page with the date of the last entry).
  3. Tax Number (issued free of charge in the local tax office for 5-10 minutes).
  4. Color photos 3×4 – 4 pcs.
  5. Health insurance for the whole stay in Turkey (cost depends on age).
  6. The completed application form for a residence permit (issued by the local Police Department for Foreigners).
  7. A copy of the Title Deed (the original must be in possession).
  8. Certificate of the Cadastral Office confirming the relevance of TAPU.
  9. Proof of address
  10. Receipt for payment of state duties and registration card.

For today the process of obtaining the residence permit takes from one to three months. Ready documents will be sent to you by registered letter to the postal address specified in the application form.

If a foreigner has a property in Turkey and residence permit, his family members can also get a residence permit: wife (husband) if the marriage is officially registered, parents under the tutelage and children under the age of 18 years.