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What is the Turkish Title Deed - Also Known as Tapu?

It is a legal and official document that establishes a property's ownership rights. The document also includes information on the property and the owner.

The General Directorate of Land Register and Cadastre (Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü - TKGM) is in charge of the title deed registry and archive. Every city in Turkey has a title deed office run by TKGM. TKGM is a legacy institution of the Ottoman Empire to the fledgling Turkish Republic. 

Types of Title Deed (Tapu) in Turkey

Within the Turkish title deed, there are various kinds based on the nature of the real estate and ownership. It can be broken down into two categories:

1. Blue Tapu

This title deed is written with the land title and shared ownership in mind. Blue ones are issued in Turkey for real estate that does not fit within the urban planning scheme and is primarily used for agriculture. It can be further defined as follows:

Keep in mind that shared titleholders typically have less control over the property. It also restricts the owner's ability to make decisions about the property's sales, maintenance, and upkeep. Landlords with shared ownership titles are not allowed to take out a mortgage on the property.

2. Red Tapu

It's a freehold title that indicates individual ownership of the units listed on the Turkish title deed.

The term "kat mülkiyeti" or "kat irtifaki" refers to a freehold title that is commonly utilized for commercial or residential properties. On the form, there is a check box that indicates which category the purchased property belongs to.

• Kat İrtifakı: It's sometimes referred to as construction servitude. The title indicates that the property's development or building activity is still ongoing. A kat irtifakı title reflects the allotment of units in the "under-construction" phase, according to the resource consent.
• Kat Mülkiyeti: Once the development phase is concluded, the property is inspected by local municipality officials to confirm that the construction is complete. They give an Iskaan, or residence license, which allows a title to be translated to the next level, full ownership.
• Devre Mülk: This title allows you to buy a fractional or timeshare share. When a property has been owned for a particular amount of time, it is offered.

How Can I Get a Turkish Title Deed?

TERRA Real Estate company will lead your purchase process to the ownership of your property by obtaining a Turkish title deed (in the Cadastre and Registration Office). This procedure is a regular procedure for buying property in Turkey.

After choosing a property and signing the contract in the agency office, we apply for an appointment in the Tapu Office and handover all necessary documents. You may go through that process together with our sales expert but you may also provide us with Power of Attorney in the Notary Office which will allow us to proceed on your behalf. 

During the title deed transfer, both the seller and the buyer (or person designated by you on the Power of Attorney document) must be present. The sworn translator is always present in the Tapu Office.

What are the Documents Needed for the Title Deed Transfer Process?

After deciding on which property you want to buy and the purchase price, you can start the procedure of issuing your title deed. We can gladly assist you or you can simply follow these steps.

The following documents must be provided for title deed conveyance:

• Buyers Tax Number (Vergi Numarası)
• Passport photocopy and a translation
• Appraisal report
• Seller’s ID card or Passport
• Rayiç document

All these necessary documents are prepared by our sales expert and forwarded to the Tapu Office to issue the property title deed (TAPU). You can also prepare them yourself and attend your appointment at the Tapu office.

What are the Steps of Getting Tapu?

The procedure for obtaining a TAPU or Turkish title deed is as follows:

Step 1: Determine who will pay the title deed fee.

Step 2: Submit an application to the municipality and pay the property tax. 

Step 3: Schedule an appointment after submitting an application to the General Directorate of Land Registry.

Step 4: Pay the fee 

Step 5: Buyers and sellers must appear at the Land Registry at the agreed time.

Cost of Obtaining the Turkish Title Deed

Certain expenses related to title deed transfers are involved when buying or selling real estate in Turkey.

• The Turkish title deed transfer fee, often known as stamp duty tax, is 4% of the purchase price.
• When the title deed transfer or exchange is accomplished at the time of sale or purchase, this duty tax is due. In most cases, the seller specifies the sale price and the buyer pays the commission.

How Long does it Take to Get the Title Deed in Turkey?

The Tapu title deed transfer is completed within 3-5 days; the payments to the Tapu Office have to be made by the buyer on the last day of the process.

Once you receive your ownership of the property, we will help you with water and electricity subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Title Deed in Turkey

Q: Do I need a translator for the title deed procedure?
A: Because the paperwork is only prepared in Turkish, if one of the parties is a foreigner, a sworn translator must be present at the title deed office to explain the terms of the conveyance to the party. The title deed is printed by the officers and provided to the buyer when the seller and buyer sign the title deed conveyance agreement.

Q: Does my spouse have ownership rights to my home?
A: Though you purchase a property after you marry, your spouse has the same rights as you, even if his or her name is not included on the title document, according to Turkish civil law.

Q: Can my minor children acquire title deeds on their names if they are under the age of 18?
A: Yes. In this instance, an apostille is necessary on the child's birth certificate.

Q: What happens to my belongings once I die?
A: Because the properties you acquire in Turkey are freehold, your family members will be able to inherit them after you pass away.

Q: How many individuals may a title deed be shared by?
A: The number of people whose names can be written on the same title deed is unlimited.

Q: What are the costs of the Turkish Title Deed?
A: Title deed fees are as follows: 

• The Tax in Turkey is 4% of the Taxation Value. The actual value is obtained from the local municipality.
• Title deed office circulating capital 
• Appraisal Report Fee

Q: I have lost my original title deed; can it be reprinted for me?
A: Yes. It's simple to reprint a title deed. The Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre protects your original registration as a hard and software copy with exceptional security.

Q: Can I sell my house without title deeds?
A: No. You must have the original deeds to sell your property. With only a photocopy of the Certificate of Title, you cannot complete the transfer of title of a property via sale.

Q: How can you tell if title deeds are fake?
A: Tapu is a fully insured and legal document. It includes the owner's name, an image, and extensive information on the property. The Tapu must be sealed with a stamp in the centre of the document at the bottom. The Tapu and Cadastro General Directorate has provided this official document as well as an archive. This directorate registers and archives the Tapu conveyance. You can always get a piece of advice from the lawyer to make sure about the safeness of the purchase.

Q: How do I get my deeds when the mortgage is paid off?
A: A hypothec is an obligation, right, or security provided to a creditor by contract or by operation of law over the debtor's property without the creditor gaining possession or title. When buyers owe money to sellers in Turkey, they use a Hypothec on the title deed. When the debt is paid, it is removed from the title document. The process of removing a hypothec from a title deed is straightforward. The owner applies for the hypothec removal in the morning, and signatures are taken shortly, just as the title deed transfer process.

Q: What do I do if I have no title deeds?
A: If the title deeds have been lost or destroyed, you can apply for the registration office.

Q: How do I change my name on Tapu?
A: Changing the name on the tapu is possible as a transfer process. A tapu transfer process is possible after you've signed all of the sales and transfer agreements. The procedure for transferring a title deed is as followed:

• preparation of all of the documentation required for the property transfer registration is done
• information is forwarded to the Title Deeds Registry Office
• the buyer pays the entire price on the day of transfer, and the office receives the title of the property

Q: Is there anything more I need to know?
A: Foreign investors who spend $250K or more on a property in Turkey are entitled to a Turkish passport within three months. When a real estate buyer applies for Turkish citizenship through an investment program, an amount is placed on the title deed that bans the sale of a Turkish title deed for at least three years. Read more about Turkish Citizenship by Investment on our page.

More Important Information About Turkish Tapu

We have prepared some vocabulary translation from Turkish into English present on the title deed:

İl - Province
İlçe - District
Mahalle / Köy - Neighbourhood/Village
Ada - Plot
Parsel - Parcel
Yüzölçümü - A total size of the land plot
Bağımsız Bölüm - An independent section
Arsa Payı - The share of the piece of land
Blok / Giriş / Kat No - Block / Entrance / Floor number
Cilt/Sayfa No - Volume / Page no
Malik bilgileri - Information about owners of the property
Adı Soyadı / Baba Adı - Name(s) of the current owner(s) / Fathers name. 
Hisse - Share
Taşınmaz Tipi / No - Property type/Number 
Edinme Sebebi - Reason for acquisition
Konum Bilgisi - Property address information (QR Code)
Tescil Tarihi / Yevmiye No - Registration date and number

Get Started with TERRA Real Estate Today!

Getting your TAPU is an easy process after choosing your new Turkish property. Our property list in Turkey includes a wide variety of real estate types in different cities and along the Mediterranean coast. TERRA agency also offers sea view properties for sale, Turkey homes with rental income, holiday homes, apartments for sale in Alanya, Antalya, Istanbul, Kemer, Fethiye and Bodrum. 

For further details and support please contact us:

• Call us at +90 242 512 25 00
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