Tapu in Turkey: what it is and how the transfer works

• Kat mülkiyeti — full ownership of a flat in a completed building with an occupancy permit (iskan).
• Kat irtifakı — a right to a future flat in a building under construction; after completion and the iskan it is converted to kat mülkiyeti.
• Hisseli tapu — a share in a common plot or property without a designated flat. This is a more complicated purchase, and shares bought after 1 February 2023 do not count towards citizenship.
• Plot title (arsa) — for land, including building plots.

• who the owner is and whether they may sell — or the authority of the developer's representative;
• mortgages, seizures and annotations (şerh), such as a sale restriction;
• the registered use: residential — this matters for a residence permit;
• the floor area and flat number — whether they match the contract;
• for a new build — the type of tapu and whether there is an iskan.

We check the registry before any deposit is paid.

1. The transaction is booked via the Web Tapu system (webtapu.tkgm.gov.tr) or at the land registry office, which sets a date and time.
2. The fee and the service charge are paid before signing.
3. Signing at the land registry office (Tapu Müdürlüğü): the parties or their attorneys attend; if anyone does not speak Turkish, a sworn interpreter is required.
4. After signing, the right is registered and the buyer receives the tapu.

What a foreign buyer usually needs:

• a passport and its Turkish translation;
• a Turkish tax number;
• a DASK policy in the buyer's name;
• a DAB certificate — the bank's document confirming the currency sale;
• a valuation report — if the transaction requires one;
• a power of attorney — if a representative acts for you.

The exact list depends on the transaction, so we confirm it with the land registry office in advance.

The report is prepared by an appraisal firm licensed by the Capital Markets Board (SPK). For transactions involving foreigners, the valuation procedure is governed by TKGM circular No. 2024/2, last updated on 28 September 2026, so we confirm the requirements for each transaction. For citizenship the report is mandatory and must show a value of at least $400,000.

The report is an independent estimate of market value. If it comes in well below the contract price, that is a reason to re-check the deal.

Compulsory earthquake insurance (Zorunlu Deprem Sigortası) is run by the state institution DASK. The land registry office checks the policy during the transfer, and water and electricity providers will not open an account without one.

Since 5 September 2026 the seller's policy ends on the day the sale is registered, so the buyer takes out their own policy in advance. The premium is based on the floor area and the building's construction type; cover is capped at a maximum amount, and you can insure above it voluntarily.

Transfer the electricity and water contracts into your name and keep the tapu and payment records — you will need them for a residence permit, a resale and taxes. The annual property tax is assessed by the municipality — see the taxes guide.