How to Sell Property in Turkey as a Foreigner: Taxes, Documents and Transfers
What foreign owners need to know before selling an apartment in Turkey: valuation and price, listing and EİDS, documents, tax within 5 years, the land registry and moving money out.
Buying an apartment in Turkey is fairly simple for a foreigner. Selling it can be harder: you need to set the right price, find a buyer, gather documents, work out the taxes and understand how to take the money out of the country. Especially if you do not live in Turkey.
Here is the sale step by step, from valuation to the moment the money reaches your account.
Step 1. Check whether you can sell right now
Before listing the apartment, check three restrictions:
Citizenship through property. If you obtained Turkish citizenship by buying a home, the tapu carries an annotation that the property cannot be sold for three years. Before that, a sale is blocked.
VAT exemption. If you bought a new build VAT-free as a non-resident, you cannot sell for three years without paying the VAT plus interest. We wrote about this exemption in our article "New build or resale in Turkey".
Encumbrances. A mortgage, seizure or other entries on the tapu must be cleared before the sale.
Step 2. Set the price
Price is the main reason apartments sit for months without calls. Look at what similar apartments in your building and area actually sell for, not just what they are listed at. A good starting point is a report from a licensed valuer. If the buyer is a foreigner, you will need such a report for the sale anyway.
Keep seasonality in mind: on the coast there are more buyers in spring and autumn, when people come to view properties.
Step 3. Prepare the apartment
Do small repairs: touch up the walls, fix taps, replace dead bulbs.
Clear the clutter. The less personal stuff, the easier it is for a buyer to imagine themselves there.
If the apartment is rented out, agree viewings with the tenant. Remember that the new owner takes over the property together with the existing lease.
Take good photos in daylight and a short video: most foreign buyers first view properties remotely.
Step 4. List the property
Since 2026, sale listings for homes on Turkish portals, like rental listings, are verified through the EİDS system via e-Devlet. The owner confirms the listing themselves, and an agent must hold a property trading authorization and a contract with the owner.
Agency commission on a sale is capped by law: usually 2% of the price from both the seller and the buyer, plus VAT. If you work with an agent, sign a written agreement stating the exact commission and term.
If your likely buyer is a foreigner, list where foreigners will see it and in their languages. Be sure to state the type of tapu, whether there is an iskân, the year of construction, the aidat and whether the apartment is suitable for a residence permit or citizenship.
Step 5. Gather the documents
the tapu and an ID card or passport;
a tax number;
a valid DASK policy;
proof that property tax has been paid;
a valuation report if the buyer is a foreigner;
a statement that there are no aidat debts, which you can ask the building manager for;
a sworn translator if you or the buyer do not speak Turkish: the signing at the land registry will not go ahead without one.
Step 6. The transfer at the land registry
Ownership passes at the land registry office (tapu müdürlüğü). The application is submitted in advance, and on the appointed day the seller and buyer sign the documents and pay the fees.
The title deed fee (tapu harcı) is legally 4% of the sale price: 2% paid by the seller and 2% by the buyer. The price on the tapu should not be below the property tax value and, if the buyer is a foreigner, not below the appraised value. Declaring less than the real amount is risky for both sides.
It is best to receive the money by bank transfer on the day of the sale, not in cash and not "later". Many banks help arrange the settlement so that the transfer and the registration happen at the same time.
If you are not in Turkey
You can sell an apartment through a power of attorney. It is drawn up at a Turkish consulate or by a local notary with an apostille and a Turkish translation. It must expressly give the right to sell the specific property and to receive the money. Give it only to someone you trust completely, ideally a lawyer with a clear agreement.
Tax on the sale
If you sell the apartment less than five years after buying it, you have to pay capital gains tax (değer artış kazancı vergisi) on the profit. How it works:
the gain is the difference between the sale price and the purchase price, minus the costs of the transaction;
if producer prices (Yİ-ÜFE) rose by 10% or more while you owned the property, the purchase price is indexed and the taxable gain shrinks;
for gains made in 2026 there is a tax-free amount of 150,000 lira;
the rest is taxed at progressive rates from 15% to 40%, with the return filed in March of the following year.
If you have owned the apartment for more than five years, this tax does not apply. It applies to foreigners too, and double tax treaties can change the picture, so it is best to work it out with an accountant before the sale.
How to transfer the money abroad
Non-residents can generally transfer the proceeds of a property sale abroad through a Turkish bank. The bank may ask for documents on the sale and on how the money for the purchase came into Turkey. So keep the transfer records from when you bought: they will make it easier to take the money out when you sell.
Watch the exchange rate: if the deal is in lira, the rate can change between signing and transfer. Agree with the buyer which currency the price is fixed in.
FAQ
How much does it cost to sell an apartment in Turkey?
The seller usually pays 2% title deed fee, the agent's commission if one is involved, valuation costs and, if selling within five years, tax on the gain.
Can I sell an apartment with a tenant in it?
Yes. The lease continues after the sale, and the new owner becomes the landlord.
Do I need a residence permit to sell?
No, a passport and a tax number are enough. If you are not in Turkey, you can sell through a power of attorney.
How long does a sale take?
Finding a buyer takes from a few weeks to several months, depending on price and location. The registration itself, once the documents are ready, usually takes a few days.
Sell your apartment through Homeviona
Homeviona is a platform for people looking for homes in Turkey and other Mediterranean countries, in five languages. Post a sale listing, add photos, a video and all the details about the documents, and buyers will message you directly.
To gauge the competition, look at similar offers in the Buy section. And if you have not yet decided whether to sell or rent out, read our guide on renting out an apartment in Turkey long-term.
In short
Check that a sale is not blocked by citizenship rules or a VAT exemption.
Set the price based on real sales, not other people's listings.
The title deed fee is 2% each for seller and buyer, and agent commission is usually 2% plus VAT.
Selling within five years means capital gains tax; in 2026 the first 150,000 lira of gain is tax-free.
Get paid by transfer on the day of the sale and keep the documents for moving the money abroad.
