Article 7: The Title Deed Process – Step by Step, Explained Simply

“How long does buying property in Turkey take?”, “Do I need to be there in person?”, “How does the tapu work?” — these are forum favourites. This article walks through the 2026 process step by step, leaving no ambiguity.

7a. Can you buy without being in turkey?

Yes. Foreign buyers who are not in Turkey can manage the entire purchase remotely by issuing a notarised power of attorney to a trusted representative — A lawyer, agent, or other person — authorising them to handle everything from document submission to signing at the Land Registry. The power of attorney can be prepared at the Turkish consulate in your home country and must be apostilled with a certified Turkish translation.

7b. Step 1 — Obtain a turkish tax id number

Every foreign buyer must have a Turkish tax identification number (vergi numarası). Without it, no property transaction can be completed. It is obtained at any tax office with a passport — same day, free of charge. If you are not in Turkey, your authorised representative can obtain it on your behalf.

7c. Step 2 — Open a turkish bank account

Opening a Turkish bank account is strongly recommended. Documentary proof of a foreign currency transfer from an overseas account is required to claim the VAT exemption on new-build purchases and is important for the title deed process more broadly.

7d. Step 3 — Due diligence

Before signing anything, the legal status of the property must be verified. A Turkish lawyer can obtain an official title record extract (tapu kayıt örneği) from the Land Registry. This shows: the current registered owner, any mortgages or liens, court annotations, and zoning and building compliance. Never rely on verbal assurances or photocopies — The official extract is non-negotiable.

7e. Step 4 — Mandatory valuation report

An independent valuation report from a CMB (SPK)-licensed appraiser is mandatory for all foreign purchases. This report is submitted at the Land Registry appointment.

7f. Step 5 — Sales contract

A sales contract (satış vaadi sözleşmesi) is signed between the parties, setting out the purchase price, payment terms, and the title deed transfer date. Your lawyer should review this before you sign.

7g. Step 6 — Book a webtapu appointment

The title deed transfer appointment is booked via the WebTapu system (webtapu.tkgm.gov.tr). In popular areas like Alanya, appointments may need to be booked several weeks in advance.

7h. Step 7 — Payments and title deed transfer

Before attending the Land Registry, the following must be settled: title deed tax (4%), döner sermaye fee (~€790), and a valid DASK policy. A sworn interpreter must be present for non-Turkish speakers. Once all documents and payments are confirmed, the Land Registry issues the new tapu in your name — The moment legal ownership transfers to you. A sales contract or payment receipt is not proof of ownership under Turkish law.

7i. Step 8 — Post-purchase obligations

After receiving the tapu: transfer utility subscriptions into your name, notify the municipality for annual property tax registration, plan DASK renewal, and if you plan rental income, register as a taxpayer with the Revenue Administration.

Sources: T.C. Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü — tkgm.gov.tr | WebTapu — webtapu.tkgm.gov.tr | 2644 Sayılı Tapu Kanunu — mevzuat.gov.tr

Questions buyers ask

Reddit r/expats: “Can I buy Turkish property without ever visiting Turkey?”

Yes — with a properly executed Power of Attorney (PoA). A Turkish notary in your country (or a Turkish consulate) can notarise a PoA authorising a lawyer in Turkey to complete the purchase on your behalf, including attending the Land Registry transfer. However, buying without visiting carries real risks: you have not seen the property in person, you cannot verify the complex management, the neighbourhood, or the actual condition of the apartment. The PoA also creates a point of trust — ensure it is granted to your own independent lawyer, not to the agent or developer’s recommended contact. Remote purchases are done successfully, but they require more due diligence, not less.

Quora: “How long does the tapu (title deed) transfer process take in Turkey?”

Once all documents are prepared and the WebTapu appointment is booked, the actual transfer at the Land Registry takes 1 to 3 hours on the day. The preparation phase — obtaining tax number, bank account, valuation report, paying tapu tax — typically takes 3 to 10 working days if you are in Turkey and organised. The WebTapu appointment waiting time is the main variable: in Alanya in 2026, waiting times of 2 to 4 weeks are common. Total process from “I want to buy” to “title deed in my name”: typically 4 to 8 weeks if everything is in order.

Facebook expat group: “The developer says I don’t need a separate WebTapu appointment — they handle everything. Is that normal?”

Partially. Developers who have a volume relationship with the Land Registry sometimes manage the appointment booking as part of their service — this is legitimate. What is not legitimate is the developer suggesting their in-house lawyer or the agent handles the legal due diligence on your behalf. The appointment booking is administrative. The legal review of the title deed, the contract, and the permit status must be done by a lawyer working for you, not for the developer. These are two different things. Accept the developer’s help with the appointment; insist on your own lawyer for everything else.

EXPERT ADVICE: Property rights in Turkey exist only through tapu registration — A sales contract or payment receipt is not legal proof of ownership. Never skip due diligence. Book your WebTapu appointment early. You do not need to be physically present — A power of attorney allows the entire process to be managed remotely.
Sources: Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Mudurlugu — https://www.tkgm.gov.tr | WebTapu — https://www.webtapu.tkgm.gov.tr | Mevzuat Tapu Kanunu 2644 — https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr

P.S. — The title deed process itself is largely the same for foreign buyers and Turkish citizens — if your documents are in order, it is a straightforward procedure. But there is one thing I want to say clearly, and I want you to remember it: before the title deed is signed and in your hands, do not pay more than two to three percent of the property value as a deposit — to anyone. Not to the estate agency, not to the construction company, not to anyone. I have seen people hand over twenty, thirty, forty percent upfront based on nothing more than a promise and a handshake. Some of those stories ended well. Some did not. The title deed is your only real protection. Until it is in your name, keep your money in your account. And if someone is pushing you to pay more upfront — negotiate hard. Keep your deposit as low as possible before title deed transfer. Two to three percent to reserve the property is reasonable. Everything above that is a risk you are taking voluntarily. Never let enthusiasm — or pressure — make that number bigger than it needs to be.