The Turkish tapu, explained: signed at the registry, not a notary.
// Short answer
The tapu senedi is the Turkish title deed. It is issued by the land registry office (tapu müdürlüğü), part of TKGM, after the buyer and seller sign the official deed of sale before the registry officer. There is no notary step. For an apartment, the tapu shows whether you hold full condominium ownership or a construction-stage right.
Rules and rates as of September 2026. Turkish tax thresholds and fines are revalued every year and the citizenship rules have changed before, so check the dated items again before you sign. Every figure links to its source.
On this page
What is a tapu in Turkey?
The tapu senedi is the title deed. The land register (tapu sicili) is kept by TKGM, the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre, through district land registry offices. In a foreign buyer's sale, the official deed is signed at the office and the tapu is then handed to the owner or their representative.
TKGM has been part of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change since 8 July 2011.
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What is the difference between kat mülkiyeti and kat irtifakı?
Both are ways an apartment is registered under the Condominium Law No. 634. Kat mülkiyeti is full condominium ownership of a completed unit. Kat irtifakı is a construction servitude, registered before completion. The tapu says which one you hold.
For the citizenship route, the property must be one of these two, or a registered plot with a building that holds an occupancy permit (yapı kullanma izin belgesi).
How do you check a Turkish property before buying?
On TKGM's systems. The parcel query service shows a parcel's details, and Web Tapu, linked to e-Devlet, shows encumbrances such as mortgages and annotations. For a foreign buyer, the register entry also shows whether the property sits in a military zone.
Check the parcel before any deposit, and check that the seller on the register is the person you are paying.
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What documents does a foreigner bring to the tapu office?
A passport or national ID, translated into Turkish if not in Latin script; a signed identity declaration with a photo; a power of attorney if represented; the municipal property-tax declared value; the currency certificate (DAB); the compulsory earthquake insurance policy; and a sworn translator if a party does not speak Turkish.
Appointments are made in person, through randevu.tkgm.gov.tr, or through the Alo 181 call centre. Transactions can also be handled through TKGM's representation at the Berlin Consulate General.
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Does a foreigner still need a valuation report in Turkey?
Not for an ordinary purchase, according to TKGM. Its foreigners page says the valuation report requirement has been abolished, reported as by a June 2024 circular. For a purchase made to obtain citizenship, an amount confirmation certificate (TTB) based on a GEDAŞ valuation is required instead.
The TTB is ordered through Web Tapu, is valid for six months and cannot be handed in on paper. Some guides, and an older step still shown on the same TKGM page, describe the valuation report as mandatory for every foreign buyer; TKGM's own FAQ answers "not mandatory".
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// Buying in Turkey?
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See the $499 report, page by pageFrequently Asked Questions
Who issues the tapu in Turkey?
Is a notary needed to transfer a tapu?
What does kat irtifakı on a tapu mean?
Can I sign for a Turkish tapu from abroad?
Can I check a Turkish title deed online?
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