The main laws for purchasing properties in Turkey

Citizens of 183 countries can acquire properties in Turkey, and there are no restrictions in this regard except for Syrians among the Arab population. It is important to note that there is no significant difference between Turkish citizens and foreigners regarding the procedures and processes of purchasing properties.

The purchase of properties in Turkey is subject to strict procedural requirements. The sale can only be conducted at the “Land Registry Directorate” known as “Tapu Müdürlüğü” in Turkish, and it should be done on a predetermined date.

Basic copies of official documents are sufficient for identification documents issued in any alphabet other than the Latin alphabet. However, official translation is required exclusively through Turkish embassies or consulates or Turkish notaries.

4% of the total sale price should be paid to the Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre as official transaction fees. According to the main rules, these fees should be shared between the investor (buyer) and the seller. However, any agreement that specifies a different sharing arrangement will be valid.

There are some legal restrictions to consider when purchasing property in Turkey:

The total area of property that can be acquired by a foreign individual (not a company) throughout Turkey is a maximum of 30 hectares, and this area cannot be exceeded.
The total area of properties that can be acquired by a foreign individual should not exceed 10% of the area of the neighborhood in which the property is located.
If the property to be acquired is located within a “special security zone,” permission from the governor of the respective region where the property is situated is required.
If individuals of foreign origin (individual investors) purchase properties without buildings, such as land and fields, a construction project must be developed and submitted to the relevant ministry for approval within two years after the purchase. Otherwise, the properties will be expropriated by the authorities and sold by force.
Registered commercial companies in Turkey, which are not originally Turkish companies, can purchase properties according to the laws of their home countries if there are specific provisions allowing such purchases in the applicable laws. Some examples of such special laws include the Turkish Petroleum Law, Tourism Incentives Law, Industrial and Technological Development Zones Law, and Free Zones Law.
Companies established in Turkey can purchase properties regardless of whether their partners or capital owners are foreigners.
The restriction mentioned in item 4 does not apply to companies mentioned in items 5 and 6. This restriction is valid only for individual foreign investors