Short answer

You can sell property in Turkey from abroad by giving a power of attorney to a trusted person, who signs the title deed transfer at the land registry for you. The document must be drafted by a notary, carry your photo and come from a Turkish consulate or a local notary with an apostille and Turkish translation.

In this article
  1. Can you sell property in Turkey without travelling there?
  2. Which power of attorney does the land registry accept?
  3. What should the power of attorney say?
  4. How does the sale work step by step?
  5. What does it cost to sell, and is the gain taxed?

Many foreign owners decide to sell property in Turkey from abroad after moving back home, inheriting a flat or no longer using a holiday home. Türkiye (Turkey) does not require you to be present in person: the title deed transfer can be signed by your representative at the land registry office (tapu müdürlüğü). What makes or breaks the sale is a power of attorney (vekaletname) that the land registry accepts on the first attempt.

This guide covers the power of attorney, the sale steps, the costs and the tax point that sellers often overlook. For the wider legal framework, see the real estate law overview.

Can you sell property in Turkey without travelling there?

Yes. A sale of land or a flat is only valid in official form, which means the official deed (resmi senet) signed before the land registry official (Turkish Code of Obligations, Art. 237; Land Registry Law, Art. 26). A private sales contract signed at an estate agent's office does not transfer ownership, and a promise to sell is only valid if made before a notary.

The deed can be signed by the owner or by an attorney-in-fact (vekil). The land registry accepts powers of attorney issued abroad if they meet the form requirements set by the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (TKGM), which are explained in its guide on powers of attorney issued abroad.

Which power of attorney does the land registry accept?

Powers of attorney for land registry transactions must be drafted by the notary (düzenleme şeklinde), not just a signature certification (Notaries Law, Art. 89), and they must include your photograph. You have two ways to obtain one. The land registry accepts both, but the consulate route is generally the safest, and some Turkish consulates advise using it for land registry matters.

Two ways to give a power of attorney for a property sale in Türkiye
Turkish consulateLocal notary + apostille
WhereTurkish embassy or consulate in your country, by appointmentNotary public in your country
LanguageDrafted in Turkish; a sworn interpreter assists if you do not speak TurkishOfficial language of your country (a bilingual Turkish version is also accepted)
Extra stepsNone; the document can be used directly in TürkiyeApostille from the competent authority, then a sworn Turkish translation certified by a Turkish notary (or a translation approved by the Turkish consulate)
SuitsThe safest option; suits sellers who can reach a consulateSellers far from a consulate, provided every land registry condition is met

Türkiye has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 29.09.1985, as have the UK, the USA and all EU states (HCCH status table). If your country is not a party, the document needs legalisation by your country's authorities and then by the Turkish consulate instead of an apostille.

What should the power of attorney say?

Precise wording reduces the risk that the land registry, the buyer or the buyer's bank questions your representative's authority. A power of attorney for a sale usually covers:

  • the property: province, district, neighbourhood, block (ada), parcel (parsel) and unit number as shown on the title deed;
  • authority to sell to any buyer at a price the attorney decides, or at a minimum price you set;
  • authority to receive the price, sign the official deed, apply online through Web Tapu and pay fees and taxes;
  • authority to obtain the municipal value certificate, the compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK) and to close utility subscriptions;
  • if needed, authority to appoint a substitute, which Turkish practice treats as a separate power.

Choose the attorney with care, because the person can collect the sale money. Many sellers limit this risk by requiring that the price is paid by bank transfer into their own account.

How does the sale work step by step?

Selling Turkish property from abroad

  1. Check the title record

    Ask for a current title extract. Mortgages, seizures and annotations should be cleared before transfer unless the buyer expressly accepts them, and any unpaid property tax (emlak vergisi) should be settled to avoid delays.

  2. Sign the power of attorney

    Use a Turkish consulate or a local notary with an apostille. Send the original to Türkiye by courier; the land registry needs the original or a certified copy, not a scan.

  3. Translate and certify

    If the document is not in Turkish, a sworn translator translates it and a Turkish notary certifies the translation.

  4. Agree the terms with the buyer

    Fix the price, the payment method and the handover date in writing. If the buyer is a foreign national, the buyer brings their own documents, such as the foreign exchange purchase certificate.

  5. Apply and pay the fees

    Your attorney applies through Web Tapu or at the office. The land registry sends the fee amounts and the appointment time by SMS.

  6. Sign at the land registry

    The attorney and the buyer sign the official deed. A sworn interpreter must attend if a party does not speak Turkish. After completion, revoke the power of attorney before a notary.

What does it cost to sell, and is the gain taxed?

Main costs for the seller (as of 29.09.2026)
ItemRate or ruleLegal basis
Title deed fee (tapu harcı)2% of the declared price, which may not be lower than the property tax value; the buyer pays a separate 2%, although the parties may agree to share the total differentlyFees Law No. 492, Tariff 4, item 20(a)
Land registry service fee (döner sermaye)Set every year and shown in the SMS; in 2026, an extra TRY 20,868 per property applies to transfers with a foreign partyTKGM fee tariff 2026
Consulate or notary, apostille, translationDepends on the country and the length of the documentLocal tariffs
Capital gains taxGain may be taxable if you sell within five years of acquisition (not for inherited or gifted property)Income Tax Law, repeated Art. 80(6)

If you sell within five years of buying, the gain may be taxable in Türkiye under the Income Tax Law. Non-resident sellers should ask a Turkish tax adviser (mali müşavir) about filing, and check the tax treaty between Türkiye and their country of residence. For your specific situation, individual legal advice is recommended.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell my house in Turkey without going there?

Yes. You can sign a power of attorney at a Turkish consulate, which is the safest route, or before a local notary with an apostille, and your representative signs the title deed transfer at the land registry. The document must be drafted by the notary and carry your photo. Send the original to Türkiye; if it is not in Turkish, it needs a sworn translation certified by a Turkish notary.

Can I use a power of attorney from a UK or US notary in Turkey?

Yes, if it meets the land registry's conditions. It must be drafted by the notary rather than a simple signature certification, include your sealed photo and carry an apostille, because the UK, the USA and Türkiye are all parties to the Apostille Convention. In Türkiye it is translated by a sworn translator and the translation is certified by a Turkish notary.

Can my embassy in Turkey prepare a power of attorney for my Turkish property?

No. According to the Turkish land registry, powers of attorney issued by foreign consulates located in Türkiye cannot be used for property transactions, because consular notarial powers do not extend to real estate in the host country. Use a Turkish consulate in your country of residence or a notary there with an apostille.

Do foreigners pay capital gains tax when selling property in Turkey?

They may. Under the Income Tax Law, a gain from selling property within five years of acquiring it is taxable, whether the seller is Turkish or foreign; inherited or gifted property is excluded from this rule. Non-residents have specific filing duties, and a tax treaty may also apply, so a Turkish tax adviser should review the sale before completion.

How long is a power of attorney valid in Turkey?

Turkish law sets no fixed expiry date. A power of attorney ends when you revoke it, which you can do at any time, or on the death or loss of capacity of either party (Turkish Code of Obligations, Art. 512 and 513). You may also write an end date into the document. After the sale, revoke it before a notary and inform your attorney.

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