Quick answer
Yes, foreigners can sell property in Turkey on the same terms as Turkish owners, in person or through a notarised power of attorney. Sellers usually pay a 2% share of the 4% title-deed fee, income tax on the gain if selling within five years of purchase, and the broker's fee. Proceeds can be transferred abroad through the banking system.
Key takeaways
- Foreign owners sell on the same terms as Turkish owners, by title-deed transfer at the land registry.
- The 4% title-deed fee is legally split 2% buyer, 2% seller; agree any other split in writing.
- Gains on sales within five years of purchase are generally taxable; after five years individuals are generally exempt.
- You can sell from abroad with a notarised power of attorney from a Turkish notary or consulate.
- A citizenship property carries a no-sale annotation and must be kept for at least three years.
- Proceeds can be sent abroad through the banking system; banks ask for the transaction documents.
Yes, a foreigner can sell property in Turkey in the same way as a Turkish owner: the sale is completed by transferring the title deed (tapu) at the land registry, in person or through a notarised power of attorney. As the seller you normally pay a 2% share of the title-deed transfer fee, possibly income tax on the gain if you sell within five years of buying, and your broker's fee. The proceeds can then be sent abroad through the banking system.
Rules and rates change, so confirm the details for your own case before you act.
How does selling property in Turkey work, step by step?
Most resales follow the same seven steps.
- Set the price. Price from recent sales of comparable properties in the same building or neighbourhood. Online asking prices show what sellers hope for, not what buyers pay. Floor, view, condition, parking, the building's age and its monthly service charge (aidat) all move the price.
- Get a valuation. When the buyer is a foreigner, an official valuation report from an appraiser licensed by the Capital Markets Board (SPK) must be obtained before the transfer. Ordering one early shows whether the official figure supports your asking price.
- List and market the property. Good photographs, a floor plan and an accurate description do most of the work. Online viewings and documents in English let buyers abroad decide without a trip to Istanbul.
- Agree the offer and deposit in writing. Negotiate the price, what is included, the transfer date and who pays which fees. Before any deposit is paid, record these terms, the payment method and what happens to the deposit if either side withdraws in a bilingual written agreement, and have an independent lawyer review it.
- Prepare the documents. While the buyer obtains a tax number, a bank account and the valuation, you gather your documents (listed below), clear utility and aidat debts and agree with your bank how any mortgage on the title deed will be released.
- Attend the land-registry appointment. Both parties, or their attorneys, attend the land registry office where the property is registered, with a translator if someone does not speak Turkish. The fees are paid, both sides sign and the title deed is issued in the buyer's name.
- Receive payment at the transfer. We recommend a bank transfer into your own account, confirmed on the day the deed is signed. Avoid cash: a bank record protects both sides and is what your bank will ask for when you send the money abroad.
In our experience as brokers, the most common cause of a last-minute delay is paperwork on the seller's side: an expired DASK policy, unpaid aidat or a power of attorney that does not cover the sale. Checking these in the first week avoids a rebooked appointment.
What documents do you need to sell property in Turkey?
We ask for the title deed, the DASK policy and a recent aidat statement at our first meeting, because together they answer most of a buyer's early questions. A seller normally needs:
- the title deed (tapu);
- a passport or Turkish ID card;
- a Turkish tax number, usually the one obtained when you bought;
- a valid DASK policy (compulsory earthquake insurance);
- an official valuation report where required, for example when the buyer is a foreigner;
- proof that utility bills and aidat are paid up, and any annual property tax due is settled;
- a notarised power of attorney, translated and apostilled as required, if someone signs for you.
The occupancy permit (iskan), a floor plan and recent bills are not always required but help buyers decide faster.
Can you sell property in Turkey from abroad?
Yes. A seller abroad can sign a notarised power of attorney at a Turkish notary or at a Turkish consulate, translated and apostilled as required, and the attorney then signs at the land registry on their behalf. With online viewings and digital documents, you can sell without travelling. To make the power of attorney work smoothly:
- Make it specific. Name the property by its title-deed details and limit the power to selling it and the related steps, such as paying fees and closing utility subscriptions.
- Control the money. Have the sale price paid into your own bank account, not your attorney's.
- Choose carefully. Appoint someone you trust, and consider stating the agreed or minimum price in the document.
- Check it early. Send us a copy well before the transfer date so we can confirm with the notary and the land registry that it covers what is needed. For an unusual case, ask a lawyer to word it.
What taxes and costs do you pay when selling property in Turkey?
Title-deed transfer fee
The fee is 4% of the declared value, legally split 2% for the buyer and 2% for the seller. In practice the split is often agreed differently, so put whatever you agree in writing. A small revolving-fund fee also applies. Declare the real agreed price: under-declaring to save on the fee creates risks for both sides, including on tax.
Income tax on the gain
If an individual sells within five years of buying, the gain is generally subject to income tax; after five years, sales by individuals are generally exempt (Income Tax Law No. 193). The calculation, including any inflation indexation, can change, so ask a tax adviser to work out your position and handle any declaration. Your country of residence may have its own rules too. Our guide to property taxes in Turkey gives the wider picture.
VAT
Second-hand sales between private individuals are generally not subject to VAT. However, if you bought new with the VAT exemption for non-resident foreign buyers (VAT Law No. 3065, Art. 13(i)), its conditions included not selling within a set period, so check where you stand before you list.
Brokerage fee
Our fee is 2% of the agreed sale price plus 20% VAT, the same for Turkish and foreign sellers. It is payable only on completion at the title-deed transfer; if the sale does not complete, there is no brokerage fee. On a USD 400,000 sale, that is USD 8,000 + VAT = USD 9,600. Details are on our fees page.
Seller costs at a glance
| Cost | Seller's usual share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title-deed transfer fee | 2% of the declared value | 4% in total, legally split 2%/2%; agree any other split in writing |
| Revolving-fund fee | Small fee | Paid at the land registry |
| Brokerage fee | 2% + 20% VAT | On the agreed price, payable only on completion |
| Income tax on the gain | Depends on the gain | Generally applies within five years of purchase; individuals generally exempt after five years |
| VAT | Generally none | Private second-hand sale; check any Art. 13(i) conditions |
| Valuation report | As agreed | Required when the buyer is a foreigner |
| Power of attorney, translation | Only if needed | When you sell through an attorney |
| Aidat, utilities, property tax | Amounts due | Clear before the transfer |
| DASK | Policy premium | Must be valid at the transfer |
Can you sell a property bought for Turkish citizenship?
A property used for Turkish citizenship by investment must be worth at least USD 400,000 by official valuation and kept for at least three years, and a no-sale annotation on the title deed records this.
- Within the three years. The holding period is a condition of the citizenship investment. Do not agree a sale, take a deposit or sign a sale agreement during this period without advice from an independent lawyer.
- After the three years. Before marketing, we check the land-registry record for the annotation's date and status and plan with you the steps needed before the transfer, rather than leaving them to the week of the sale.
If you also used the Art. 13(i) VAT exemption, check both conditions. A buyer planning their own citizenship application should confirm that the resale meets the requirements for their case. Our Turkish citizenship by investment guide explains the programme.
How do you transfer the money from a property sale out of Turkey?
Sale proceeds can be transferred abroad through the Turkish banking system. In practice:
- Have the buyer pay by bank transfer into a Turkish account in your name, so there is a clear record linked to the sale.
- State the payment currency and account details in the written sale agreement.
- Expect your bank to ask for the transaction documents, such as the title-deed transfer papers, the sale agreement and the valuation report. Keep your purchase records too, including proof of the money you originally brought into Turkey.
- Talk to your bank before the transfer date about its documents, currency conversion and timing, so the money is not held up.
If tax is due on the gain, settle it with your tax adviser alongside the transfer.
What mistakes should you avoid when selling property in Turkey?
- Pricing from online asking prices instead of recent sales, then cutting the price again and again.
- Taking a deposit on a handshake, without a written, bilingual agreement.
- Leaving the split of the 4% title-deed fee open until the day of the transfer.
- Under-declaring the price at the land registry.
- Forgetting the five-year rule on gains, the Art. 13(i) conditions or the citizenship annotation.
- Signing a broad power of attorney, or letting the attorney receive the money.
- Letting DASK lapse or leaving aidat and utility debts unpaid.
- Accepting cash, which leaves no bank trail when you move the money abroad.
- Not sharing the lease with buyers when the property is let, since a sitting tenant affects who will buy.
How Bosphorus Brokers can help you sell
Bosphorus Brokers is a licensed real-estate brokerage in Istanbul, authorised by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade (license no. 3408704). When you sell your property with us, we price it from recent sales, check the title-deed record, mortgages, annotations and occupancy permit, market it, run viewings in person and online, negotiate, prepare the sale paperwork with both parties, arrange the valuation report, translator, notary and land-registry appointment, and accompany you or your attorney at the transfer.
Our fee is 2% + VAT, paid only on completion. The company is founder-led: Burak Ünal, our Principal Broker (MSc in Finance, London School of Economics), advises personally in English, Turkish and French, and the team works with clients in English, Turkish, French, Russian, Chinese and Arabic. We are rated 5.0 on Google. Not ready to sell yet? We can also rent out your property in Istanbul. To start, contact us or message us on WhatsApp at +90 533 140 04 96.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a foreigner sell property in Turkey?
- Yes. Foreign owners sell on the same terms as Turkish owners, by transferring the title deed at the land registry office where the property is registered. You can attend in person or sign through a notarised power of attorney. If the buyer is also a foreigner, an official valuation report from an SPK-licensed appraiser is needed before the transfer.
- How can I sell my property in Turkey from abroad?
- Give a notarised power of attorney to someone you trust, signed at a Turkish notary or at a Turkish consulate abroad, and translated and apostilled as required. Your attorney then signs at the land registry on your behalf, while viewings and documents are handled online. Keep the power specific to the property and have the price paid into your own bank account.
- What taxes do I pay when selling property in Turkey?
- The seller's share of the title-deed transfer fee is legally 2% of the declared value, although the split is often agreed differently in practice. If you sell within five years of buying, the gain is generally subject to income tax; after five years, individuals are generally exempt. Ask a tax adviser to confirm your position, because the rules and indexation can change.
- Do I pay capital gains tax if I have owned the property for more than five years?
- Generally, no. Under Income Tax Law No. 193, a sale by an individual more than five years after purchase is generally exempt from income tax on the gain. The rules can change, so confirm your case with a tax adviser before you sell.
- Can I sell a property I bought for Turkish citizenship?
- A citizenship property must be kept for at least three years, and a no-sale annotation on the title deed records this. Do not agree a sale or take a deposit within that period without advice from an independent lawyer. After three years, check the annotation's status on the land-registry record and plan the steps before the transfer.
- How do I transfer the money from a property sale out of Turkey?
- Have the buyer pay into your Turkish bank account by bank transfer, then send the money abroad through the banking system. Banks ask for the transaction documents, such as the title-deed transfer papers, the sale agreement and the valuation report. Speak to your bank before the transfer date so the money is not held up after completion.
Sources and legal basis
- Income Tax Law No. 193 (tax on property sale gains and rental income)
- Fees Law No. 492 (title deed transfer fee)
- General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (title deeds)
- Regulation on Real Estate Trade (broker licensing and maximum fees)
- Revenue Administration (taxes)
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so check the current position for your case with an independent lawyer or tax adviser before you act.
