Power of Attorney in Turkey: A Guide for Foreign Property Buyers

Power of Attorney, known in Turkey as Vekaletname, is one of the most commonly used legal tools in Turkish real estate transactions. It allows a trusted representative to act on behalf of a property buyer, making the purchase process significantly more efficient for international investors and overseas buyers.

For many foreign purchasers, especially those buying Istanbul property remotely, Power of Attorney simplifies administrative procedures and reduces the need for repeated travel to Turkey during the transaction process.

When prepared correctly and granted to a trusted representative or lawyer, a limited Power of Attorney can allow property purchases, title deed transfers and related legal formalities to be completed smoothly and securely.

What Is Power of Attorney?

Power of Attorney is a legal document that grants another individual or organisation authority to act on your behalf for specific legal matters.

In the context of Turkish real estate, buyers commonly grant limited authority to a lawyer, legal representative or trusted consultant so that property transactions can continue without the buyer being physically present for every stage of the process.

The representative acting on behalf of the buyer is commonly referred to as the attorney-in-fact, proxy or authorised representative.

Why Foreign Buyers Use Power of Attorney in Turkey

Power of Attorney is extremely common among international buyers purchasing property in Istanbul and across Turkey.

Many foreign investors are unable to remain in Turkey throughout the full purchase process, especially when transactions involve title deed appointments, banking procedures, utility registrations or legal documentation.

Power of Attorney is also particularly useful where language barriers exist, as legal procedures and official property documentation in Turkey are generally conducted in Turkish.

Types of Power of Attorney in Turkey

There are different forms of Power of Attorney available under Turkish law. The scope of authority granted depends entirely on the wording of the document.

General Power of Attorney

A general Power of Attorney grants broad authority over legal and financial matters. This type of document is rarely recommended for standard property purchases because it provides very extensive powers to the representative.

Most foreign property buyers should avoid unnecessarily broad authority unless specifically advised by their lawyer.

Special Power of Attorney (Limited Authority)

The most common form used in Turkish property transactions is a limited or special Power of Attorney. This grants authority only for clearly defined tasks connected to the property purchase.

Examples of limited authority include:

• Purchasing or selling a specific property.
• Signing title deed documents.
• Completing Tapu registration procedures.
• Opening electricity, water and gas accounts.
• Handling property-related tax registrations.

Limiting the scope of authority is considered one of the most important safeguards when granting Power of Attorney in Turkey.

How to Grant Power of Attorney in Turkey

Power of Attorney documents in Turkey must be officially notarised to become legally valid.

Foreign buyers generally have two options:

• Grant Power of Attorney at a Turkish notary while physically in Turkey.
• Grant Power of Attorney through a Turkish consulate abroad.

The exact process can vary depending on nationality and location, but buyers will generally need:

• A valid passport.
• Passport translations where required.
• Passport photographs.
• A Turkish tax number in some cases.
• A sworn translator during notarisation if the buyer does not speak Turkish.

Some transactions may also require biometric identification, fingerprints or additional identity verification procedures.

Granting Power of Attorney Outside Turkey

Foreign buyers who are outside Turkey can usually issue Power of Attorney through a Turkish consulate in their country of residence.

In some jurisdictions, local notarisation and apostille procedures under the Hague Convention may also be accepted, although requirements vary depending on the country and the intended use of the document.

Because international notarisation procedures can differ significantly, buyers should always confirm the correct format with their lawyer before preparing documents abroad.

Risks and Safeguards

Power of Attorney is widely used and generally safe when structured correctly. However, buyers should still take sensible precautions before granting legal authority to another person.

Most risks associated with Power of Attorney arise when buyers grant excessively broad authority or use inexperienced or unverified representatives.

Foreign buyers should ideally work with established legal professionals familiar with Turkish real estate transactions and international clients.

Can You Buy Property in Turkey Remotely?

Yes. Many foreign buyers successfully purchase property in Turkey remotely using Power of Attorney.

This is particularly common for:

• International investors.
• Buyers living outside Turkey.
• Turkish expatriates abroad.
• Citizenship-by-investment applicants.
• Overseas buyers purchasing Istanbul apartments.

Remote purchases became especially common after the pandemic period and are now a standard part of many international Turkish property transactions.

Revoking a Power of Attorney in Turkey

A Power of Attorney can generally be cancelled or revoked by visiting a Turkish notary or Turkish consulate and issuing an official revocation document.

Relevant institutions and representatives should also be informed that the authority has been cancelled.

Where Power of Attorney has been used for title deed transfer procedures, the original document may already have been submitted to the Land Registry Office as part of the transaction process.

If no expiry date was included within the original document, buyers should still formally revoke the authority once the intended transaction has been completed.

Frequently Asked Questions