The sale of real estate owned by foreigners in Turkey: Required documents and application procedure

Sale of real estate owned by foreigners with a residence permit (via electronic government services)

In order for foreigners with a residence permit to sell their real estate in Turkey, they must first apply to the PTT for a password to use the electronic government services. After receiving the password, they must log into the Webtapu system to check the registration status of the property. If the property does not appear in the system as owned by the foreigner, an ‘application for assignment to the property’ must be submitted. This application provides proof that the property is owned by the foreigner. It is advisable to upload the documents submitted when purchasing the property to the system again. The most important document is a copy of the title deed, which should be attached to the Webtapu application. In addition, a document with the foreign identification number beginning with 99 should be uploaded to the system.

After the application has been submitted, the land registry offices can process the application via the system. In this case, the foreigner concerned will be notified, so it is advisable to provide a telephone number that works in Turkey. Once the application has been processed, the property will be added to the ‘My Properties’ list. Since the amendment to the law came into force in July 2024, foreign nationals are no longer required to submit an expert opinion to the land registry office.

The sale transaction is processed via one of the following options:

1) from a foreigner to a Turkish citizen or

2) from a foreigner to a foreigner.

During the sale application, all necessary information, such as information about the buyer, the authorised representative, the sale price and the market price of the property, must be entered in full.

Real estate sales by foreigners without a residence permit (no access to electronic government services)

Difficulties in selling real estate may arise for foreigners without a residence permit if they have not received a password from the PTT to use the electronic government services. To resolve this issue, they should register in the ‘For Foreigners’ section at www.webtapu.tkgm.gov.tr. If the foreigner identification number is not known, it can be requested at www.tckimlik.nvi.gov.tr. If these steps are unsuccessful, information can be requested from the land registry office.

Once the registration process is complete, you must submit an ‘application for assignment to the property’. When submitting this application, you must upload the documents proving ownership of the property to the system and check the application at regular intervals. Once the property has been assigned, you can submit a sale application. Since the amendment to the law came into force in July 2024, foreign nationals are no longer required to submit an expert opinion to the land registry office. In some cases, however, the land registry office may not have access to the foreigner's information. In this case, the land registry office may try to contact the foreigner by telephone, or the application will be rejected and the transfer will be cancelled. If the identity details in the system do not match the documents submitted with the application, it may be necessary to contact the land registry office.

Another option is for a Turkish citizen to purchase the property on behalf of the foreigner. In this case, a citizen of the Republic of Turkey can sell the foreign property to a Turkish citizen through their own Webtapu system. In this case, the application can be completed by following the steps above.

Legal advice and assistance in the sale of foreign-owned property in Turkey

At ALN Law Office, we offer comprehensive legal advice and assistance to foreigners who own property in Turkey in the handling of real estate transactions. Regardless of whether they have a residence permit or not, we carry out all procedures on behalf of our foreign clients within the legal framework.

We represent our clients at every stage of the process, including the transfer of the title deed, obtaining valuation reports, applying for the allocation of the property and carrying out land transfers via the Webtapu system. We help you sell your property quickly and securely.