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The title deed in Turkey is called "Tapu". It is an official and legal document to prove ownership rights of a property. It registers the location, owner, type, size information of the property.
The authority of the title deed registry and archive is the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü - TKGM). There are title deed offices of TKGM in every city in Turkey. TKGM is a heritage institution of the Ottoman Empire to the young Turkish Republic as one of the oldest corporate is established in 1847 as Defterhane-i Amire.
All properties are freehold in Turkey. Once you own a property in Turkey, you have full ownership rights on it and your family has the right of inheritance (succession) after your death.
There are 3 commonly used types of title deeds in Turkey. The title deed process depends on the current stage of the property. These title deeds are;
Easement Title Deed: This type of title deed is made with the owner and building constructor. They register each section of the property separately, in the sense that a suitable project is planned for construction on a designated piece of land, then the approval of the construction is taken.
Floor Easement (Kat İrtifakı) Title Deed: This is the title deed dividing the project is divided into separate sections. After 70% of the construction is complete, the land registry office briefly proofs that the entire building has been constructed in accordance with the Building Code.
The building contractors usually present the properties of the building to be sold to the buyer through this register, in a form in which the features are accurately indicated with details, and after the construction is completed, the contractor applies for full ownership for each title deed.
Ownership (Kat Mülkiyeti) Title Deed: After the construction is complete, this title deed registers the ownership and designates independent sections. Landlords receive it after obtaining housing approval from the municipality, to comply with the project to the Turkish standards and criteria for housing and residence, where the owners have no legal problem furthermore.
Title deed conveyance occurs at title deed offices regarding the seller’s application. Applications are accepted on weekdays until noontime. Buyers do not have to be present at the title deed office during the application.
Required documents for title deed conveyance are as follows:
• The translation and the original buyer’s passport,
• Buyer’s tax number,
• Statement of identity information form,
• Appraisal report,
• Current title deed,
• Seller’s ID
Seller takes the required documents to the title deed office while going for title deed conveyance application. Within the time frame between the application and the final signatures, title deed expenses must be paid. Expenses include title deed conveyance tax, stamp taxes, and circulating capital.
After preparing title deed conveyance documents, the title deed office invites both parties for final signatures by sending an SMS that clarifies the date and time of the appointment. The appointment date depends on the work volume at the title deed office, mostly the same day in the afternoon, within two days at the latest. If any of the parties is a foreigner, a sworn interpreter must be present at the title deed office to explain the terms of the conveyance to the party since the papers are prepared only in the Turkish language. After the seller and buyer sign the title deed conveyance agreement, the title deed is printed by the officers and given to the buyer.
Antalya Homes follows the title deed process for its customers as part of free after-sale services from preparing the necessary documents to the final signatures.
Q: How do I get the title deed (Tapu)?
A: If you purchase a property, the seller provides you with the property documents. Preparing the mandatory appraisal report takes generally 2 days. Meantime, if the buyer is a foreigner, the buyer's document translations are prepared. After preparing all documents in two days time, the seller should apply for title deed conveyance at Land Registry and Cadastre Office. Generally, the title deed office will invite buying and selling parties for final signatures in the afternoon.
Q: What is the right time for payment; "money first or title deed first?"
A: Money first! The final question before the signatures, title deed clerk asks the seller "Have you received your full payment for the property?". The answer should be "Yes!". Receiving the full payment and then title deed conveyance is the correct order and the customs in Turkey.
Q: What are the necessary documents for title deed conveyance?
A: Required documents for the title deed conveyance application are as follows:
• The translation and the original buyer’s passport,
• Buyer’s tax number,
• Statement of identity information form,
• Appraisal report,
• Current title deed,
• Seller’s ID
Q: Is property ownership leasehold or freehold in Turkey?
A: All title deeds in Turkey are freehold. There is not any leasehold property in Turkey.
Q: How long does the title deed conveyance process last?
A: After your application with all the required documents, it takes generally one or two days depending on the work volume at Land Registry and Cadastre office.
Q: Is there a special process for title deed if I buy a property for Turkish citizenship?
A: Because all properties are freehold in Turkey, normally you can buy and sell properties at your free will. However, when you buy a property for Turkish citizenship by investment, you can not sell the property within three years and this must be stated on the title deed papers.
Q: What is hypothec?
A: Hypothec is an obligation, right or security given by contract or by operation of law to a creditor over property of the debtor without transfer of possession or title to the creditor. In Turkey, Hypothec on title deed is used when buyers owe an amount of money to sellers. It is removed from the title deed when the debt is paid.
Q: How is the hypothec removed?
A: Removing a hypothec from a title deed is a simple transaction. Just like the title deed transfer process, the owner applies for the hypothec removal in the morning and signatures are taken the same day in the afternoon.
Q: Can my children under the age of 18 have title deeds on their names?
A: Yes. In this case, the child’s birth certificate with an apostille is required.
Q: How many people can share a title deed?
A: There is no limit for the number of people whose names can be written on the same title deed.
Q: Can I share a title deed with other people?
A: Yes, you can buy it with several people together. Depending on your share amount, you have ownership rights of the property. There isn't any limit to shareholders of a property.
Q: Does my spouse have the rights on my property?
A: According to the Turkish civil code, if you purchase the property after your marriage, your spouse has the same rights as you even if your spouse's name is not written on the title deed.
Q: What happens to my property when I die?
A: Since the properties you buy in Turkey are freehold, your family members have the right of succession after your death.
Q: What are the title deed costs?
A: Title deed conveyance costs are;
• Buyer pays 2%, the seller pays 2% as conveyance tax according to the law. If you do not negotiate before purchasing the property, it is expected that the buyer pays all conveyance tax as Turkish customs.
• Appraisal Report Fee
• Title deed office circulating capital
You can visit our up-to-date expenses page for detailed information.
Q: I lost my original title deed, can I have it reprinted?
A: No problem! Reprinting a title deed is a simple task. Your original registration is protected as hard and software copy with high security at The Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre.
Q: What is Title Deed Escrow (Tapu Takas)?
A: Title deed escrow is a way of online safe payment for property purchase, where the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre stands between buyer and seller. Money is paid to the title deed office bank account (Takasbank) and after the registration, the title deed office transfer the money to the seller within seconds.
Q: What are the communication channels for the Title Deed Office?
A: You can contact the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre using the channels listed below.
Website: https://www.yourkeyturkey.gov.tr
E-Mail: bilgiedinme@tkgm.gov.tr
Phone: +90 312 413 60 00
Call Center: 181
Taşınmaz bilgileri – Property Information: Information about the address of the property Property Information: Information about the address of the property
İl - City
İlçe - Town
Mahalle/Köy - District/Village
Ada - Plot / block
Parsel - Parcel
Yüzölçümü - Area/size of the land
Niteliği - Whether it is a building, vacant or cultivated land
Bağımsız Bölüm - Independent Section: Information about the independent unit such as a flat, house, etc.
Arsa Payı - Land share (what proportion of the land belongs to the independent unit.)
Proje m² - Project area
Blok/Giriş/Kat No - Block/Entrance/Floor number
Bağımsız Bölüm No - Independent unit Number
Cilt/Sayfa No - Volume/Page no
Malik bilgileri - Owner Information: Information about owners of the property
Adı Soyadı/Baba Adı - Name(s) of the current owner(s) and his/her father. More than one owner can appear on title deeds in Turkey
Hissesi - Share
Tescile ilişkin bilgiler - Registration information: Information about location, price and type of property
Taşınmaz Tipi/No - Property Type/No
Edinme Sebebi - Reason for purchase and from who to whom the property has been sold
İşlem Bedeli - Purchase price of the property
Konum Bilgisi - Adress information (QR Code)
Tescil Tarihi/Yevmiye No - Registration on date
