Powers of attorney in Turkey: how to obtain one, how much it costs, and the risks faced by foreign nationals
Power of Attorney in Türkiye: How to Issue It, How Much It Costs, and Where Foreigners Face Risks
A power of attorney (POA) in Türkiye is commonly used when a person cannot personally attend a notary office, land registry, bank, or another authority. This situation is particularly common among foreigners. A property may have been purchased, the owner may have left the country, or there may be language barriers, while matters related to documents, transactions, or utilities still need to be handled.
A representative acting under a power of attorney can save significant time. However, the contents of the document should always be carefully reviewed before signing. If the POA concerns real estate, money, vehicles, banking transactions, or court proceedings, it grants another person legal authority to act on your behalf.
The main rule for foreigners is simple: a power of attorney must be precise. The document should clearly state exactly what the representative is authorized to do. The more valuable or significant the transaction, the more specific the wording should be. A Turkish legal document should never be signed unless every important clause is fully understood. A broad “authority for everything” should not be granted if the representative only needs to obtain a certificate, connect utilities, or submit a single application.
What Is a Power of Attorney in Türkiye?
A power of attorney gives a representative the right to act on behalf of another person.
The document is normally issued before a Turkish notary public. If the principal is outside Türkiye, the POA can be issued through a Turkish consulate or before a local notary in the country of residence. In such cases, apostille certification, legalization, and Turkish translation requirements must be considered.
The representative does not become the owner of the property, vehicle, or funds. The representative only receives authority to perform the actions specifically described in the document.
For example, a representative may:
Submit applications
Collect documents
Sign contracts
Apply to the Land Registry Office
Arrange utility connections
Turkish authorities rely on the exact wording of the POA. Verbal explanations do not replace the required legal language.
If the document only states “represent my interests,” this may not be sufficient for selling property, carrying out banking transactions, or registering ownership rights. If the necessary authority is not expressly stated, the authority does not exist.
For this reason, a power of attorney in Türkiye should never be viewed as a mere formality. It is a practical legal instrument whose effectiveness depends entirely on its wording.
When Does a Foreigner Need a Power of Attorney?
The most common use is for buying or selling real estate.
The buyer or seller may be abroad or may simply prefer not to personally handle procedures involving:
Notaries
Tax offices
Land Registry Offices
Banks
In such cases, a representative can submit documents, sign applications, and complete procedures on behalf of the principal.
Another common situation involves legal matters. Lawyers require a power of attorney to represent clients in:
Court proceedings
Inheritance matters
Enforcement actions
Disputes with developers
Without a POA, an attorney cannot fully represent a client where official authority is required.
A third category includes administrative and everyday matters such as:
Obtaining certificates
Submitting applications
Arranging utility connections
For these tasks, a broad power of attorney is unnecessary. The document should cover only the specific action required.
Residence permit procedures are another area where a representative may assist with documents and applications. However, a POA does not replace personal attendance where biometric data, signatures, interviews, or passport presentation are required.
How to Issue a Power of Attorney Before a Turkish Notary
If the principal is in Türkiye, they must personally attend a notary office.
The principal provides:
Passport
Representative's information
Purpose of the power of attorney
The notary prepares the document and certifies the signature.
If the foreigner does not understand Turkish, a sworn translator must participate. The translator's role is to explain the contents before the document is signed. This is a legal safeguard, not merely a procedural formality.
The representative is generally not required to be present. However, their information must be accurate. Errors in names, passport numbers, tax numbers, or Turkish identification numbers may render the POA unusable before banks, land registries, or other authorities.
After preparation:
The principal signs the document.
The translator confirms the translation.
The notary certifies the document.
Photographs of the principal are generally required.
Documents Required
For a standard power of attorney, a foreigner typically needs:
Passport
Turkish tax number (if available)
Foreign identification number (if available)
Representative's personal details
For real estate matters, it is advisable to prepare property information in advance, such as:
Copy of the title deed (Tapu)
Province
District
Neighborhood
Parcel information
Building and independent unit number
The more precisely the property is identified, the lower the risk of problems when using the POA.
If the POA is intended for selling property, payment arrangements should be addressed in advance. Will the representative only sign documents at the Land Registry Office, or will they also have authority to receive money and conduct banking transactions? These powers should never be left ambiguous.
For attorney powers of attorney, information regarding the lawyer is required, including:
Name and surname
Bar association
Registration number
The wording should match the intended legal matter.
The Role of the Translator
If the principal cannot read Turkish, a sworn translator is mandatory before a notary.
This is particularly important for Russian-speaking and other foreign nationals. Many people rely on a friend, agent, or informal explanation and sign documents they have never personally reviewed.
Verbal explanations are not a substitute for an official translation.
A POA may contain clauses that appear harmless but grant significant authority, including:
Selling property
Receiving funds
Accessing bank accounts
Waiving legal rights
Delegating authority to third parties
The text should be reviewed before signing. Any unwanted powers should be removed immediately.
Power of Attorney for Real Estate Transactions
Property in Türkiye can be bought or sold through a representative.
The representative may:
Apply to the Land Registry Office
Sign registration documents
Pay fees
Receive the title deed
However, they may only perform actions expressly authorized in the POA.
For land registry transactions, both the form and wording of the document are critical. Officials examine the written powers rather than verbal explanations.
If a POA authorizes the purchase of property but does not authorize signing registration documents, the transaction may be blocked.
Purchasing Property
If the property has not yet been selected, the authority may be broader, although it should still be limited to purchasing real estate rather than granting unrestricted control over all assets.
If a specific property has already been chosen, the title deed details should be included.
Selling Property
The wording should be even more restrictive.
If the owner intends to sell one apartment, the POA should not grant authority over all real estate owned in Türkiye.
Receiving Payment
The document should clearly specify whether the representative may:
Receive payment
Sign settlement documents
Conduct banking transactions
Such authority is not granted automatically and must be stated explicitly.
Delegation of Authority
The right to delegate authority to another person should usually be excluded unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, the representative may transfer authority to someone else, reducing the principal's control.
Costs of a Power of Attorney
The total cost depends on:
Notary fees
Number of pages
Translation requirements
Number of copies
Additional procedures
According to the 2026 tariff:
Notarial text fee: 80.68 TL per page
Minimum notarial action fee: 58.82 TL
Translation fee: 667.67 TL per page
These figures are components of the calculation rather than the final cost.
A complex real estate POA will generally cost more than a simple POA for obtaining a certificate because the document is longer and requires translation services.
Power of Attorney for Lawyers
A lawyer's power of attorney is required for:
Litigation
Inheritance matters
Enforcement proceedings
Claims and disputes
Representation before government authorities
Without a POA, an attorney's ability to act is limited.
Special attention should be given to provisions allowing the attorney to:
Settle disputes
Withdraw claims
Accept claims
Receive money
Delegate authority
A properly drafted attorney POA should address the specific legal matter without granting unnecessary control over unrelated affairs.
Residence Permit and Immigration Procedures
A POA can assist with certain residence permit procedures by allowing a representative to:
Obtain documents
Arrange translations
Visit notaries
Contact relevant authorities
However, it cannot replace personal attendance where:
Biometrics are required
Signatures are required
Interviews are required
Original passports must be presented
For residence permit matters, a narrowly drafted POA is usually preferable.
Utilities, Taxes, and Everyday Administrative Matters
A narrowly drafted POA can be very useful for routine tasks such as:
Connecting water services
Connecting electricity services
Arranging internet services
Obtaining municipal documents
Submitting local applications
Such a document should not include powers related to:
Selling property
Banking transactions
Receiving funds
Delegation of authority
The duration should also be limited to what is reasonably necessary.
Issuing a Power of Attorney Outside Türkiye
If the principal is abroad, there are two common options.
Turkish Consulate
A POA issued through a Turkish consulate is generally easier to use in Türkiye because it is prepared within the Turkish legal system.
Personal attendance is required.
Local Notary in Another Country
A POA may also be issued before a local notary or another authorized official.
The document must then be adapted for use in Türkiye through:
Apostille certification or consular legalization
Turkish translation
Notarized translation certification (if required)
This applies to documents issued in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, European countries, and elsewhere.
The document must be valid not only in the issuing country but also acceptable to Turkish authorities.
For real estate transactions, requirements are stricter. The Land Registry Office examines:
The issuing authority
Apostille or legalization
Photograph requirements
Translation quality
Scope of authority
A standard local template may be legally valid in its country of origin yet still be rejected in Türkiye.
For this reason, it is advisable to have the draft reviewed in advance by the Turkish authority that will receive it.
Revoking a Power of Attorney
A power of attorney may be revoked at any time.
To do so, the principal must execute a formal revocation document (Azilname) before a notary.
Merely deciding that the representative should no longer act is insufficient.
After revocation, the principal should notify:
The representative
Banks
Lawyers
The Land Registry Office
Contract counterparties
Property management companies
The cost of revocation is often higher than that of a simple POA because it may involve additional notarial actions, translations, and notifications.
Once a transaction has been completed, it is generally advisable to revoke any broad power of attorney. Even an honest representative may lose the document, and an old POA containing extensive powers can create unexpected risks months later.
If a conflict has already arisen with the representative, revocation should be completed immediately and all relevant parties should be notified to ensure the document can no longer be used.
