Title Deed Guide
Title Deed Sales and Fees in Turkey
Documents required for a sale at the Turkish land registry (tapu), title deed fees and the revolving fund fee, selling from another city, donations and forced sales.
Last updated: · RE/MAX İDA
In Turkey, the sale of a property becomes legally valid only when it is completed with an official deed at the land registry (tapu müdürlüğü). A promise-to-sell agreement signed at a notary binds the parties, but it does not transfer ownership; ownership changes hands only when it is registered in the land register.
Steps of the sale
- Preliminary check: The title deed record and any encumbrances on it (mortgage, attachment, annotations) are reviewed. Doing this before the sale prevents unpleasant surprises later.
- Application and appointment: The application is made through Web Tapu or in person at the land registry; the title deed fee and revolving fund fee are calculated at this stage.
- Payments: The title deed fee and the revolving fund fee (döner sermaye) are paid before the day of the transaction.
- Signature: The buyer and seller (or their attorneys) sign the official deed at the land registry at the appointed time, and the new title deed is issued in the buyer’s name.
How is the title deed fee calculated?
The title deed fee is charged on the declared sale price and, in general practice, is calculated separately for the buyer and the seller. The declared price cannot be lower than the property’s assessed value for property tax purposes. Declaring a sale price below the real value may lead to tax and penalty risks later.
Fee rates and revolving fund tariffs may be updated every year; we recommend confirming the current amounts with the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre before the transaction. Our consultants prepare an itemised cost breakdown for you in advance.
The information on this page is for general guidance only; please rely on official sources for current legislation and tariffs.
Frequently asked questions on this topic
Which documents are required for a sale? How much does it cost?
To sell a property at the land registry (tapu), the buyer and seller must present valid identity documents, the property’s compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK) policy, the declared property value certificate obtained from the municipality and, if the transaction is carried out by proxy, a power of attorney.
Title deed fees are charged on the declared sale price, plus a revolving fund fee (döner sermaye) set by the land registry. These fees are updated every year and may vary depending on the type of transaction.
My property is in Ankara, while the buyer and I are in Edirne. Can we complete the sale?
Land registry offices in Turkey are not limited to the location of the property. The parties can therefore complete the sale at any land registry office they choose, wherever the property is.
How is a sale completed when the parties are in different cities?
The buyer and seller can complete the transaction at the same land registry, simultaneously at different land registry offices, or through a power of attorney. People living abroad can carry out transactions through Turkish consulates.
How is the revolving fund fee determined?
The revolving fund fee charged during title deed transactions is set according to the relevant legislation and tariffs. The fee may vary depending on the type of transaction.
What is a forced sale? Which documents are used?
A forced sale means that a debtor’s property is sold compulsorily by order of a court or enforcement office. In such sales, the title deed procedures are carried out according to the relevant enforcement or court letters. Registration is completed with the buyer’s identity details, the official documents relating to the sale decision and payment of the required fees.
Which documents are needed for a donation and what does it cost?
For a donation (gift) transaction, the identity documents of the donor and recipient, the property’s DASK policy, the declared property value certificate from the municipality and, if applicable, a power of attorney are required. Title deed fees and the revolving fund fee are charged during the transaction. The fee rate for donations differs from that for sales.