Short-Term Rental Permit in Turkey: Airbnb Rules and Fines

Many foreign owners in Türkiye (Turkey) let their holiday flat through booking platforms for the weeks they are away. Since Law No. 7464 took effect on 1 January 2024, that requires a short-term rental permit in Turkey (turizm amaçlı kiralama izin belgesi) issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı). Without it, the owner, intermediaries and even the platform can be fined.

This guide covers who needs the permit, the conditions, the application for foreign owners and the fines. For related property rules, see the real estate law overview.

Do you need a permit to rent your home to tourists?

Yes, if a single rental lasts 100 days or less, whatever the purpose of the guest's stay (Law No. 7464, Art. 1–3). The permit must be obtained before the rental contract, and a plaque issued by the Ministry must be displayed at the entrance of the home. Rentals of more than 100 days at a time fall outside the law, but renting the same home more than four times within a year under such contracts triggers a separate fine.

The permit is issued to the owner, or to the holder of a usufruct or superficies right. If anyone other than that person runs the lettings, this may only be done through an A-group travel agency. A tenant may not sublet the home to tourists, and guests may not re-let it (Art. 3/7).

Which conditions must your property meet?

• Residential use: the unit must be registered as a dwelling in the land registry, or have a residential building registration certificate.
• Neighbours' consent: a unanimous decision of the flat owners in your building approving the short-term rental (Law, Art. 3/3), submitted as a notarised copy signed by the owners of all residential units (Regulation, Art. 5). In a complex with several buildings, only your building's owners decide, and a copy of the permit goes to the site management.
• Co-owners: for a flat held in shares, co-owners forming a majority of both the shares and the owners must consent in writing; for joint ownership, such as an undivided inheritance, all owners must consent (Regulation, Art. 5/2(ç)).
• Concentration limit: in buildings with more than three units, one owner may hold permits for at most 25% of them; above five units in the same building, a workplace licence and, in a complex, a site-wide unanimous decision are also required (Law, Art. 3/4).
• Exceptions: serviced high-end residences whose management plan allows short stays (Law, Art. 3/10), timeshare units and detached houses are exempt from the unanimous consent and 25% rules (Regulation, Art. 5/4).

How do foreign owners apply?

Permit holders also pay a tourism share of 0.5% of their net sales and rental income (Law No. 7183, Art. 6) and must declare the rental income for income tax. Letting individual rooms under separate contracts is not allowed.

What are the fines for renting without a permit?

What else should foreign owners consider?

First, read your building's management plan: it may restrict short stays, and neighbours who refuse consent cannot be outvoted. Second, if you hold a residence permit based on property ownership, the Presidency of Migration Management requires the home to be used as your residence and not rented out for income (required documents list). Short-term letting can therefore put that permit at risk.

The permit is personal. If you sell the flat, the change of owner must be reported within 30 days and the new owner must apply to take over the permit; if the permit holder dies, the permit lapses unless the heirs apply within three months (Law, Art. 3/6 and 4/2). A permit can also be cancelled if the home is used against public order or no longer meets the required standards (Art. 5).

Finally, check every guest's passport: renting to foreigners without valid travel or residence documents can be fined separately under Article 102 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection. For your specific situation, individual legal advice is recommended.