Title Deed Guide
ID and Power of Attorney for Title Deed Transactions
Which IDs are valid at the Turkish land registry, is a driving licence accepted, does a power of attorney need a photo and when does it end? Notes for elderly sellers and owners living abroad.
Last updated: · RE/MAX İDA
Identity checks are carried out carefully in title deed transactions. Not having the right documents with you on the day may cause the appointment to be postponed.
Valid identity documents
The Turkish ID card, the old identity card and passports are accepted. A driving licence is not accepted as an identity document for title deed transactions. For foreign nationals, if the passport details are in a non-Latin script, a Turkish translation by a sworn translator may be requested.
Selling by power of attorney
If the seller or buyer cannot attend in person, the transaction can be carried out with a power of attorney drawn up by a notary that explicitly authorises the sale of real estate. A power of attorney granted by an individual must include the grantor’s photograph. People living abroad can have the power of attorney drawn up at Turkish embassies or consulates.
When a power of attorney ends
A power of attorney ends in cases such as the death or loss of capacity of the grantor or the attorney, revocation or resignation. Before using an old power of attorney, its validity should be confirmed.
The information on this page is for general guidance only.
Frequently asked questions on this topic
My 80-year-old father is selling a property. Is a medical report required?
Age alone does not prevent a title deed transaction. It is sufficient for the person to have the capacity to make decisions. If land registry officials have doubts, they may ask for a medical report.
Is a driving licence accepted as ID for the transaction?
For identity checks in title deed transactions, the old identity card, the Turkish ID card or a passport are accepted. A driving licence is not accepted as a valid identity document. You must therefore present valid ID on the day of the transaction.
Does my passport need to be translated?
Transactions can be carried out with a passport. However, if the passport details are written in a non-Latin script, the land registry may request a Turkish translation, which must be made by a sworn translator. Passports in the Latin alphabet usually do not require translation.
Does a power of attorney need a photograph?
A power of attorney granted by an individual must include a photograph of the person granting it. This is mandatory so that identity can be verified reliably. No photograph is required for legal entities.
I will act on behalf of the seller by proxy; is a photo of the seller required?
The practice of taking separate photographs of the parties during transactions at land registries has been abolished. If the power of attorney meets the necessary requirements, the seller does not need to provide a separate photograph.
When does a power of attorney end?
A power of attorney loses its validity in cases such as the death, disappearance, loss of capacity or bankruptcy of the grantor or the attorney, the resignation of the attorney, revocation by the grantor or the expiry of its term. Once any of these occurs, no transaction can be made under it.
Can I reuse the power of attorney or inheritance certificate from one transaction for another?
For new transactions at the same land registry, it may not be necessary to submit the previously presented power of attorney or inheritance certificate again. However, if the transaction is at a different land registry, the document must be presented again.