How to Sell Your Property in Turkey While Living Abroad: Complete 2026 Guide

How to Sell Your Property in Turkey While Living Abroad: Complete 2026 Guide

You bought an apartment in Istanbul, held it through the citizenship holding period, and now you live in Dubai, London, or Karachi. Selling from abroad sounds complicated — but with a notarised power of attorney, a remote sale is a routine process that SimplyTR completes for clients every month.

This guide covers the full remote sale process: power of attorney, price determination, capital gains tax, currency transfer out of Turkey, and the mistakes that cost sellers money.

Step 1: Notarised Power of Attorney (Vekaletname)

A power of attorney is the single document that makes remote selling possible. Your trusted representative — a lawyer or a licensed agent — can handle the entire process on your behalf.

How to Obtain It

• At a Turkish consulate in your country (recommended — no translation needed)
• At a Turkish notary (noter) if you are in Turkey
• In some cases, an apostilled foreign POA accepted after translation

What the POA Should Cover

• Selling the specific property (or all your properties)
• Determining and agreeing the sale price
• Signing the sales contract and title deed transfer at the Land Registry (Tapu)
• Collecting the sale proceeds on your behalf
• Paying taxes and clearing utility debts
• Dealing with the notary, banks, and government offices

Pro tip: Use a POA that authorises sale at a specific maximum/minimum price range. A general "sell at any price" POA can be dangerous if you lose trust in your representative.

Step 2: Prepare the Property for Sale

• Clear utility accounts — unpaid electricity or water bills block the sale
• Confirm the title deed — check for mortgages, liens (şerh), or the 3-year citizenship annotation
• Get a current appraisal — buyers and banks rely on licensed valuations
• Check the sale restriction — if you bought for citizenship, the 3-year no-transfer annotation must have expired
• Gather the paperwork — Tapu, tax number certificate, DASK policy

Step 3: Find a Buyer and Agree the Price

Your representative can list the property, negotiate, and sign a pre-sale contract (satış vaadi sözleşmesi) with the buyer. This protects both parties before the official transfer. Price negotiation is often faster when the seller is responsive — your representative acts as your local voice.

Step 4: Title Deed Transfer (Tapu)

On transfer day, your representative appears at the Land Registry with the buyer, presents the POA, and completes the deed transfer. Both parties pay their share of the title deed fee (2.2% typically split). The process takes a few hours.

Step 5: Capital Gains Tax (Değer Artış Kazancı)

As a non-resident seller, your capital gain may be taxable in Turkey. The key exemption: if you have held the property for more than 5 years, the gain is exempt from capital gains tax. If you sell before 5 years, the gain is taxed at progressive income tax rates (15-40%) after an inflation adjustment (PPI-indexed acquisition cost).

Your representative or accountant should file the annual tax return (Yıllık Gelir Vergisi Beyannamesi) by the relevant deadline and ensure the tax is paid before proceeds are transferred.

Step 6: Transferring Sale Proceeds Abroad

After the sale, funds can be transferred out of Turkey through the banking system. Key points:

• Transfers must be made via a Turkish bank to a foreign account
• You need your Turkish tax number and bank account in good standing
• Large transfers may require documentation of the sale (sale contract, Tapu record)
• Banks report transactions; ensure taxes are settled first to avoid frozen funds

Common Mistakes Remote Sellers Make

• Selling before the 5-year exemption kicks in — waiting a few months can save 15-40% tax
• Using a general POA with an unvetted representative — price abuse or unauthorised sales
• Ignoring unpaid utility or aidat (condominium) fees — these block or complicate the transfer
• Not settling capital gains tax before transferring funds — bank can freeze proceeds
• Forgetting the DASK policy — buyers and notaries often require a current policy at transfer

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell without visiting Turkey?
Yes — with a notarised power of attorney, the entire process is handled remotely.

How long does a remote sale take?
Typically 2-6 weeks from listing to transfer, depending on buyer and bank timelines.

Do I need a Turkish bank account to receive funds?
Not strictly — funds can go to your foreign account, but a Turkish account simplifies the transfer process.

Can my representative receive the sale proceeds?
Yes, if the POA authorises it. Funds are then transferred to you. Use a trusted, licensed representative.

What happens to the 3-year citizenship annotation?
It must have expired before the sale. If not, the sale is blocked or the annotation must be removed through the proper channel.

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Sell Your Turkish Property Remotely with SimplyTR

SimplyTR manages remote sales end-to-end: POA coordination, valuation, listing, legal review, Tapu transfer, capital gains tax filing, and secure fund transfer to your account abroad.

Contact SimplyTR to start your remote sale →

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This guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax rules may change — consult a qualified advisor for your specific situation.

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