A power of attorney (POA) — vekaletname in Turkish — lets a trusted representative act on your behalf at the notary, bank, or tapu office. For foreign buyers, a limited property purchase POA is optional but practical when you cannot attend every step in person. It is not a substitute for due diligence: a POA authorises acts; it does not verify the property. This guide explains what to include, how to issue POA in Turkey or from abroad, and how to revoke it safely in 2026.
Under Turkish law, a POA is a notarised mandate (vekâlet sözleşmesi) under the Turkish Code of Obligations. For official property steps, tapu offices and banks accept only a noter or Turkish consulate vekaletname — not informal letters or agent authorisations. The grantor (müvekkil) names a representative (vekil) and lists specific powers in Turkish.
Practical example: you reserve an apartment in Antalya but return home before tapu day. Your lawyer holds a limited POA naming you, the property, and powers to sign the tapu act and complete the foreign-exchange certificate — so one trip is not required for every signature.
Why Foreign Buyers Use POA
POA is not legally required to buy property in Turkey. Many buyers attend tapu in person. POA helps when you:
Cannot travel for the tapu signing appointment
Need a lawyer to obtain your tax number (VKN) or coordinate documents
Want a representative at the notary for passport translation or signature certification before tapu
Must complete DAB (döviz alım belgesi) steps through a representative — only if the POA explicitly authorises it
POA saves time; it does not remove SPK valuation, DASK, or foreign-buyer eligibility checks. Those still apply whether you or your representative appears.
Limited vs General POA
General vekalet (genel vekaletname) grants broad authority across many subjects. Limited or special POA (özel vekaletname) lists only the acts you need — for example purchase and tapu registration for one defined property.
For property, always use a limited POA. A general POA can expose you to bank, litigation, or sale powers you never intended. Turkish practice and buyer guides consistently warn against broad POAs; courts and registries expect enumerated powers for immovable property.
Higher — may include sale, mortgage, or credit access
Typical use
One property purchase
Legacy family mandates; not recommended for foreign buyers
What a Property Purchase POA Should Include
Draft the POA with your property lawyer in Turkey before the notary appointment. For a purchase, the text should typically authorise:
Satın alma — purchase of the defined immovable property
Tapu işlemleri — signing before the land-registry officer and receiving the deed
Döviz alım belgesi (DAB) — only if the representative will sell foreign currency to the bank for tapu (see TCMB rules)
Property identifiers — province, district, block/parcel, and independent section if known
Representative details — full name and Turkish ID or foreign ID as required
Exclude sale, mortgage (ipotek), and general banking powers unless you deliberately need them. Purchase authority and sale authority are different — a POA for buying does not let the representative sell your property unless sale powers are explicitly written.
Practical example: your lawyer signs the tapu transfer act as your vekil while you remain abroad; the TAPU still registers in your name, not the lawyer’s.
POA for DAB, Tax Number and Bank Procedures
Foreign residential buyers must convert purchase funds through a bank and obtain a DAB sent to the tapu office under the TCMB Sermaye Hareketleri Genelgesi. The bank may accept a representative only if the POA explicitly authorises DAB / döviz işlemleri. Without that clause, the vekil cannot complete the certificate on your behalf.
A separate clause may authorise obtaining a tax identification number (VKN) or utility subscriptions. Keep bank-account opening powers separate unless truly needed — bank POA is a distinct mandate with its own risk profile.
POA From Abroad: Consulate, Apostille and Translation
You do not need to be in Turkey to grant a valid POA. Three routes are common:
Turkish consulate or embassy — POA prepared under Turkish authority; often no apostille required. Appointments and accepted subjects vary by post; foreigners are commonly limited to property purchase/sale and attorney matters at some consulates.
Local notary + Hague apostille — if your country is an apostille party, notarise locally, apostille, then use in Turkey with sworn Turkish translation.
Full legalisation chain — if no apostille convention applies, use foreign notary plus consular legalisation, then sworn Turkish translation.
Consular POAs have been recorded in the Türkiye Noterler Birliği database since MFA integration, so representatives can often obtain certified copies from any Turkish notary without waiting for physical post.
In Turkey, issue POA at any noter with your original passport, biometric photos, representative details, and VKN if available. Under the Noterlik Kanunu Yönetmeliği, a photograph must be affixed to vekaletnameler that relate to tapu transactions (Madde 93(b)).
If you do not understand Turkish, the notary arranges a yeminli tercüman (sworn translator). Informal translation is not sufficient for tapu-related acts. Sworn translation of foreign POAs is also required after apostille or legalisation.
2026 notary tariffs are set in Resmî Gazete — the general minimum notary fee is 58,82 TL per act and sworn translation is 667,67 TL per page under the 2026 tariff; confirm on the Ministry of Justice (HIGM) site before your appointment. See property purchase costs in Turkey for wider budgeting.
You may revoke a POA at any time by azil. The standard route is an azilname at any Turkish notary, which ends the vekil’s authority under the Turkish Code of Obligations. For tapu-related vekaletnameler, TKGM’s Türkiye Azil Sistemi and Web Tapu allow azil registration so all tapu offices see the revocation — especially for vekaletnameler issued from 1 January 2023 onward. Older POAs may still need physical follow-up at a tapu müdürlüğü.
Check existing POAs on e-Devlet — Kişi Vekaletnameleri Sorgulama (POAs from the electronic notary scope since 1 March 2016). Revocation is not effective by informal email alone for tapu security — use noter azilname and, where available, the digital azil channel.
Practical example: after tapu completes, you azil the purchase POA at a notary so the representative cannot sign further acts in your name.
Common POA Risks to Avoid
General POA to a consultant or agent with sale, mortgage, or bank powers
Missing DAB clause when the representative must handle foreign-exchange certificate steps
Missing tapu / satın alma powers — tapu office rejects the vekaletname
No photograph on a tapu-related POA
Foreign POA without apostille and sworn Turkish translation
Skipping sworn translator when you do not speak Turkish at the notary
Assuming POA replaces lawyer due diligence — the vekil executes; the lawyer reviews
Stale POA — confirm azil status on e-Devlet before a representative acts
Under TKGM practice, a vekaletname remains usable beyond ten years unless terminated — validity does not mean you should keep broad POAs active longer than needed. Revoke when the purchase completes.
When to Use a Lawyer
A POA should be drafted or reviewed by a property lawyer before you sign at the notary or consulate. The lawyer checks registry status, contract terms, and POA wording — and should be named as vekil only when appropriate. Avoid granting broad authority to a real estate consultant who is not a regulated legal representative for tapu acts.
Do I need POA to buy property in Turkey? No. Many foreign buyers attend tapu in person. POA is optional but useful when you cannot travel for notary or tapu steps and want a lawyer or trusted representative to sign on your behalf within defined powers.
Can I buy property in Turkey without being present? You can complete much of the process remotely if you issue a valid limited POA and your representative handles notary, DAB (if authorised), and tapu signing. Due diligence, payment structure, and final registry rules still apply — see our property buying process guide.
What powers should a property POA include? Typically satın alma (purchase), tapu işlemleri (land-registry signing), property identifiers, and DAB/döviz authority only if the representative will handle the foreign-exchange certificate. Exclude sale and mortgage powers unless explicitly intended.
Can my representative complete the DAB process? Only if the POA explicitly authorises döviz alım belgesi or related bank/TCMB steps. The TCMB Sermaye Hareketleri Genelgesi allows buyers, sellers, or their authorised representatives to complete the bank sale — the POA must say so.
Can I give POA from abroad? Yes — at a Turkish consulate, or before a local notary with apostille (Hague countries) or full legalisation, plus sworn Turkish translation for use at tapu.
Does a POA need apostille? Consular POAs issued by Turkish missions generally do not. POAs from a foreign notary in an apostille country need an apostille before sworn translation in Turkey.
Does a POA need sworn translation? Foreign-language POAs must be translated by a yeminli tercüman (sworn translator) for Turkish authorities. At a Turkish notary, a sworn translator attends if you do not understand Turkish.
Should I give general POA or limited POA? Limited POA for property. General POA grants wide powers and is unsuitable for most foreign buyers purchasing a single home or investment unit.
How do I cancel a POA in Turkey? Execute an azilname at any Turkish notary. For tapu-related POAs, register azil through Web Tapu / Türkiye Azil Sistemi where available, and verify on e-Devlet Kişi Vekaletnameleri Sorgulama.
Can a POA be used to sell my property? Only if sale powers are explicitly written. A purchase POA does not authorise sale — sale and purchase are separate powers.
Does POA continue after death? Under TBK Art. 513, vekâlet generally ends on the grantor’s death unless the parties agreed otherwise. If termination would harm the grantor’s interests, limited continuation duties may apply until affairs can be wound up.
Should I give POA to a lawyer or consultant? Prefer a regulated property lawyer who drafts the POA and conducts due diligence. Do not give broad POA to a sales consultant for tapu or bank acts.
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