Yes. Property sales in Turkey can be completed through authorised notaries as an alternative to completing the sale directly through the Land Registry Directorate.
The system allowing notaries to prepare real estate sales contracts was introduced in 2023 and remains part of Turkey's property transaction framework in 2026.
This is particularly useful information for international buyers because the notary option is sometimes confused with ordinary notarisation of a private contract. A notary property sale under this system is much more significant: the transaction is connected to the official land registry system and results in registration of the ownership change in the land registry.
Anyone considering should therefore understand the difference between a private sales agreement, a notarial property sale and the official registration of ownership.
The legal framework expanded the authority of Turkish notaries to include real estate sales contracts, with the practical implementation beginning in 2023.
Before this change, property ownership transfers were primarily associated with transactions carried out through the Land Registry Directorates.
The new system did not eliminate the Land Registry. Instead, it created an additional authorised route through which a real estate sale can be processed.
For property buyers, the important point is that both the notary system and the land registry system ultimately interact with the official land registry records.
A property buyer in Turkey should not assume that the introduction of notary property sales means that the Tapu system has been replaced.
It has not.
The Land Registry remains the official system in which ownership of Turkish real estate is registered.
When an authorised notary processes a property sale, the notary carries out the required procedures and uses the relevant information systems connected with the land registry.
Once the necessary checks have been completed and there is no legal obstacle to the sale, the sales contract can be executed and the transaction information entered into the system so that the change of ownership can be registered.
Therefore, the key difference is primarily the route through which the transaction is processed, not the legal importance of registered ownership.
Our separate Title Deed in Turkey guide explains the Tapu and ownership system in greater detail.
A notary property transaction involves more than simply signing a document in front of a notary.
An application must first be made for the property sale transaction.
The relevant property records and documentation are then accessed and examined through the connected information systems. The notary must consider restrictions affecting the property and the legal rules applicable to the proposed sale.
If necessary information or documentation is missing, the required information can be requested through the system.
The transaction proceeds only after the authorised parties have been identified and it has been determined that there is no legal obstacle preventing the sale.
The property sales contract is then executed and registered through the relevant system, after which the change in ownership is reflected in the land registry.
This is why a notary property sale should not be confused with having signatures on an ordinary private sales agreement notarised.
One of the key responsibilities in the procedure is determining whether the proposed property sale can legally proceed.
This includes establishing the identity and authority of the parties and reviewing the relevant property records.
Restrictions or legal obstacles affecting the real estate can prevent the transaction from being completed.
For international buyers, however, the existence of these procedural checks should not be treated as a substitute for independent due diligence.
Before purchasing a property, buyers should still understand exactly what they are buying, who owns it, the legal status of the property and whether any transaction-specific issues require further investigation.
This is especially important when purchasing land, an off-plan development or a property involving unusual contractual arrangements.
The terms should not be used interchangeably.
Tapu is the commonly used name for the Turkish title deed and is associated with the official registration of ownership.
The notary's role under the property sale system is to process the authorised real estate sales transaction through the connected legal and information framework.
After the required procedure has been completed, the ownership change is registered in the land registry.
For a foreign purchaser, the most important objective is therefore not simply obtaining a signed contract. The buyer must ensure that the transaction results in the correct registration of legal ownership.
Foreign buyers should first establish whether they are legally eligible to acquire the particular property and whether any restrictions apply to the transaction.
Foreign ownership rules can involve nationality, location and property-specific considerations.
Language and documentation requirements may also need to be addressed during the transaction.
For this reason, international purchasers should not assume that the procedure will be identical in every case.
Our Can Foreigners Buy Property in Turkey guide explains the wider rules affecting international property purchasers.
The documentation required for a real estate transaction depends on the parties and the characteristics of the property.
Identification documents and information relating to the real estate will form part of the process, while additional documentation can be necessary depending on the transaction.
Foreign purchasers may have additional practical requirements concerning identity documents, translations, tax-related information or representation.
Because documentation requirements can change and individual transactions differ, buyers should confirm the current document list before attending the transaction rather than relying on an old online checklist.
International buyers do not always remain in Turkey throughout the entire purchasing process.
Depending on the transaction and the authority granted, a properly prepared Power of Attorney may allow an authorised representative to perform specified actions on behalf of the purchaser.
The exact wording and scope of the authority are important.
A Power of Attorney should grant the powers genuinely required for the intended transaction without unnecessarily broad authority.
International buyers considering representation should read our dedicated Power of Attorney in Turkey guide before arranging the document.
Property transaction costs should always be checked against the current official rules and the circumstances of the individual sale.
For 2026, Turkey's official notary fee tariff contains a specific provision for real estate sales contracts prepared by notaries. The notary fee is calculated according to the property's sale value and is subject to the limits specified in the applicable tariff.
Other costs connected with buying property can arise separately from the notary fee.
Buyers should therefore avoid calculating the total cost of purchasing a property solely from the notary charge.
Taxes, official transaction charges, professional services, insurance and other costs may also need to be considered depending on the transaction.
Our Property Buying Costs in Turkey guide explains the wider costs buyers should budget for.
No.
An official transaction procedure and buyer due diligence serve different purposes.
The notary must perform the checks required for the authorised transaction, but a purchaser still needs to decide whether the property itself is appropriate and whether its legal, physical and commercial characteristics meet the buyer's requirements.
For example, a buyer may need to consider the condition of a resale property, project documentation for an off-plan development, planning conditions affecting land or contractual obligations relating to a new development.
Independent professional advice may be appropriate where the transaction is complex.
International buyers frequently purchase property in Antalya and along the Turkish Riviera for permanent residence, holidays and investment.
The same principle applies regardless of whether a buyer is considering an apartment in Antalya or a villa in a resort destination such as Belek: understanding the ownership transfer process should form part of the property search from the beginning.
Buyers can explore Property For Sale In Antalya and Belek Property according to their preferred location and lifestyle while using the Buyer Guide to understand the legal and practical stages involved in completing a purchase.
For buyers interested in Belek because of its international golf environment, property selection and the legal purchase process should still be treated as separate decisions. A desirable location near Golf In Belek does not reduce the importance of proper property checks and ownership transfer.
The introduction of property sales through notaries gave buyers and sellers an additional authorised route for completing real estate transactions in Turkey.
The important principle for buyers is that the transaction must be properly processed and the ownership change registered in the official land registry.
A notary transaction should therefore be understood as one part of the wider Property Buying Process in Turkey, rather than as a shortcut that removes the need for proper preparation and due diligence.
International purchasers who are still learning how the complete transaction works should begin with our Buying Property in Turkey guide.
Once the legal and practical process is understood, buyers ready to compare available homes can continue to Property For Sale In Turkey and then explore individual regions and property types that match their requirements.
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