Buying Property in Turkey by Power of Attorney: How to Buy Without Travelling

In short

You can buy property in Turkey without being present, by appointing someone you trust or a lawyer through an official special power of attorney. The easiest way to issue it is at the Turkish consulate in your country; the alternative is a local notary with an apostille, followed by a sworn translation in Turkey. Keep the power of attorney specific to the purchase and limited to a property or city and a period of time, and make sure it carries your photo, because the land registry requires it.

Written by Abdulhadi Bukhari, Real estate consultant

Last reviewed October 7, 2026

Not every buyer can travel to Turkey two or three times during a purchase. Some of our clients view the property by video, make their choice, send an official power of attorney and receive the title deed in their own name without leaving their country. This is legally possible and common, provided the power of attorney is drafted correctly and you stay informed at every step.

What power of attorney is required?

An official special power of attorney (Özel Vekaletname) authorising a specific person to carry out the purchase procedures on your behalf before the land registry office and other authorities. The key word is “special”: limited to what you want, not a general power of attorney over all your assets.

Two ways to issue it

1. The Turkish consulate in your country (the easiest)

The consulate issues the power of attorney directly in Turkish and in the format the land registry accepts, so you need neither an apostille nor a translation. Bring your passport and photos, along with the name and details of your representative.

2. A notary in your country with an apostille

If the consulate is not an option, the power of attorney is drawn up by a local notary, then certified with an apostille in countries party to the Hague Convention, or through consular legalisation elsewhere. Once it reaches Turkey, it is given a sworn translation and the translation is certified by a Turkish notary.

What goes into the power of attorney?

We draft it for our clients so that it covers only what is needed:

Purchase of a specific property by its address or by block and parcel number (ada/parsel) if possible, or purchase of a property in a specific city.
Signing at the land registry and paying the fees and taxes related to the purchase.
Obtaining a tax number in your name if you do not have one. See the tax number guide.
Issuing the earthquake insurance policy and opening the water and electricity subscriptions.
A specific period of validity, such as six months or a year.

Do not include powers to sell, mortgage or borrow in your name, unless they are needed for a clear purpose.

The photo requirement

Land registry offices require powers of attorney for buying and selling property to carry the grantor's photo. Make sure the issuing authority attaches your photo, otherwise it may be rejected at the land registry appointment.

Whom should you appoint?

A lawyer licensed in Turkey: the most protective option, especially for large transactions or citizenship files.
A relative or friend you trust: common, provided they are in Turkey and available for the appointments.
An employee of the real estate agency: possible, but we recommend that the representative be independent of the seller and that the power of attorney be very limited.

How do you follow along from afar?

Ask for every document before signing: a copy of the title deed, the encumbrance record, the valuation report and the draft contract.
Pay directly into the seller's account from your own account, not through your representative. Details in the guide to transferring the property price.
Follow the land registry appointment by video if possible, and ask for a photo of the title deed as soon as it is issued.
Check the title deed via e-Devlet or ask your representative to show you the land registry record in your name.

After the purchase

If you no longer need the power of attorney, revoke it at a notary or at the consulate. If you keep it to manage subscriptions or rentals, limit its powers to just that.

In short

Buying by power of attorney saves you the travel, and it stays safe when the power of attorney is special and time-limited, the representative is trustworthy, and the money moves directly from your account to the seller's. We usually complete a video viewing before the power of attorney, as described in the step-by-step buying guide for foreigners.

We help our clients draft the power of attorney text in Arabic and Turkish before they go to the consulate. Contact us and we will send you the template.