07.10.2026

Many people think buying an apartment abroad is complicated. In Turkey, it isn't. If you don't need a residence permit or citizenship and are simply buying property for yourself or to rent out, the whole deal takes a few weeks, and very few documents are required from you.

Just four items:

1. International passport: the original and a notarized copy with a Turkish translation.

2. Tax number. For this you need a Turkish phone number and your parents' names in Latin letters. It is issued in one day.

3. Contact details: phone number, email and a verified residential address.

4. Power of attorney for a lawyer - only if you are buying remotely, through a representative.

Yes, that's all. You do not have to be in Turkey in person: the deal can be completed entirely remotely by power of attorney.

Reservation. You pay a deposit, and the property is taken off the market. The price is locked in.

The contract. We review it together with a lawyer: deadlines, the payment schedule, developer penalties for delays, and refund terms.

Bank account and payment. The money goes through a Turkish bank. This protects you: every payment is backed by a document.

DAB certificate. Confirms that the foreign currency came into Turkey and was sold to a bank. It is needed for the TAPU, and later for a residence permit and citizenship.

TAPU. Registration at the Land Registry Office. From this moment you are the owner, and your right is protected by the state.

Before the Client pays any money, our lawyers check:

This is exactly what dishonest intermediaries cut corners on, and it is why people lose money.

In addition to the property price, budget for the TAPU tax of 0 to 4% and associated costs, usually $2,000-3,000. I covered the full list with amounts in a separate article, "Costs of Buying Real Estate in Turkey."

At DDA Real Estate Turkey, every deal follows a single checklist. The Client can always see what stage their purchase is at and which document comes next.