Turkish Citizenship Property Sale After 3 Years: Complete Legal Guide
Many investors who obtain Turkish Citizenship by Investment through real estate in Turkey ask the same question:
What happens to my property after 3 years? Can I sell it easily?
Under the Turkish Citizenship by Investment Program, investors who purchase real estate in Turkey must keep the property for at least 3 years.
During this period, a non-sale restriction (3-year annotation) is placed on the title deed by the Land Registry.
After the three-year commitment, confirm removal of the citizenship restriction and any other title limitations before arranging a sale.
However, the Turkish Citizenship Property Sale After 3 Years process involves several legal and administrative steps.
Below is a complete guide.
1. Issuing a New Power of Attorney
After obtaining Turkish citizenship, investors receive a Turkish ID number and citizenship status.
In most cases, a new Power of Attorney (PoA) must be issued for the property sale process.
This new PoA includes:
Turkish ID number
Updated name and surname
Since the original PoA was typically issued using foreign passport information, it may not be sufficient for property sale procedures.
Remote Power of Attorney Service
IGA Law Firm provides remote Power of Attorney services, allowing investors to complete the process without travelling to Turkey.
A power of attorney issued abroad needs the appropriate consular or notarisation/legalisation route; apostille availability depends on the issuing country and document.
This allows the entire property sale process to be completed efficiently and legally from abroad.
2. Updating Title Deed Records
After citizenship, investors may have:
a new Turkish name
a different surname
updated nationality status
Before selling the property, these changes must be updated in the Land Registry records in Turkey.
The following information is corrected:
name / surname
nationality status
Turkish ID number
Without this update, the title deed sale application cannot proceed.
3. Removal of the 3-Year Restriction
Properties purchased under the citizenship program include a 3-year non-sale annotation on the title deed.
Once the holding period is completed, an application is submitted to the Land Registry Office in Turkey to remove this restriction.
Only after the annotation is removed can the property be legally sold.
4. Checking Municipality Taxes
Before the property sale, all municipality taxes must be cleared, including:
Property Tax
Environmental Cleaning Tax
Confirm outstanding taxes and any liens with the municipality and Land Registry. Their effect on transfer depends on the debt and restriction involved.
IGA Law Firm conducts these checks before initiating the sale process.
5. Signing a Sale Agreement
Once a buyer is found, the parties typically sign a property sale agreement.
This document defines:
sale price
payment terms
title transfer date
legal responsibilities of the parties
A properly drafted agreement protects the investor during the transaction.
6. Title Deed Sale Application
After the agreement is signed, a formal sale application is submitted to the Land Registry Office in Turkey.
The application includes:
buyer and seller information
property details
agreed sale price
The Land Registry then schedules the official title deed transfer appointment.
7. Secure Payment Through Turkish Banks
In Turkey, property transactions are typically completed through bank transfers to the seller’s Turkish bank account.
Agree a documented payment and title-transfer sequence with the parties and bank.
Before signing, confirm receipt of payment or the agreed secure settlement arrangement; do not assume that the registry guarantees payment.
The process typically works as follows:
1️⃣ Buyer transfers funds to the seller’s bank account
2️⃣ Payment confirmation is received
3️⃣ Title deed transfer is signed at the Land Registry
4️⃣ Ownership officially transfers to the buyer
These checks help manage payment risk; they do not eliminate all transaction risks.
Why Work With IGA Law Firm?
Selling property after obtaining Turkish citizenship requires professional legal management.
IGA Law Firm provides comprehensive services including:
✔ Remote Power of Attorney preparation
✔ Land Registry record updates
✔ Removal of the 3-year restriction
✔ Municipality tax checks
✔ Drafting property sale agreements
✔ Managing title deed sale applications
✔ Secure payment supervision
✔ Legal guidance for international investors
Based in Istanbul, Turkey, IGA Law Firm has assisted hundreds of international investors since 2018 in the Turkish Citizenship by Investment program.
We support our clients not only during the purchase stage, but also during the exit and property liquidation stage. Our legal assistance for Turkish citizenship investors also explain how post-investment legal work can be discussed within an agreed scope.
