Short answer: If a foreign buyer or seller does not speak Turkish, the title deed (tapu) transfer cannot go ahead without a sworn interpreter who is on an official list. The buyer also needs a passport translation, and a power of attorney signed abroad needs an apostille or consular certification plus a notarized Turkish translation.
- The interpreter must be on the regional expert list (bilirkişi) or the courthouse sworn interpreter list. A friend or relative who is not on a list cannot interpret.
- The land registry office has the final say on the interpreter, so confirm with your office in advance.
- No interpreter is needed if you understand Turkish or act through a Turkish-speaking attorney.
Last updated: 1 October 2026 · Kenbil Translation, sworn translation bureau in Istanbul since 1992
Foreigners can buy property in Turkey under Article 35 of the Title Deed Law (Tapu Kanunu No. 2644), and the transfer is signed at the land registry office (tapu müdürlüğü). This guide covers the language side of the process: the interpreter at the signing and the documents that need translation. For the purchase itself, follow the official Your Key Türkiye guide and your lawyer or agent.
When is an interpreter required at the land registry?
The official guide states that a sworn interpreter is mandatory if a party to the transaction does not speak Turkish. The interpreter translates the deed and the officer’s questions to you at the signing, and signs the deed as well.
Under the land registry’s general announcements (2019), the interpreter must be on one of two official lists:
- the list of the regional expert board (Bilirkişilik Bölge Kurulu), or
- the sworn interpreter list of the courthouse justice commission (adalet komisyonu).
A translator who is sworn only at a notary, or a bilingual friend or relative, is not enough for the title deed office.
Who chooses the interpreter?
Practice differs between land registry offices. Some assign an interpreter from the list themselves; others accept an interpreter you bring, as long as they are on the list. Ask your office how they handle it when you book the appointment.
We provide title deed interpreters who are on the official lists, and we can accompany you to the land registry office on your appointment day.
Documents to translate
- Passport: a notarized Turkish translation of the identity page, with names spelled exactly as in the passport. See our passport translation service.
- Power of attorney signed abroad: needs an apostille (or consular certification) and a notarized Turkish translation.
- Inheritance documents: if the property is inherited, foreign certificates of inheritance, death and kinship need the same apostille and translation.
- Company documents: for a company buyer, the certificate of incorporation, signatory documents and similar papers.
Other items in the file, such as the valuation report, compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK) and a photo, are prepared in Turkey and need no translation. A foreign buyer also needs a tax number and a foreigner identification number, which the land registry office can issue if you do not have one.
Buying through a power of attorney from abroad
If you cannot be in Turkey for the signing, you can give a power of attorney to a representative. The Turkish consulates describe two options:
- Sign it at a Turkish consulate abroad. It is then issued in Turkish and can be used directly.
- Sign it before a local notary in your country, have it apostilled (or legalized if your country is not in the Apostille Convention), and have it translated into Turkish and notarized in Turkey.
For property, the power of attorney should contain the property’s registry details (province, district, block and parcel), not just the street address, and usually needs recent photos of the person giving it. Ask the consulate or your lawyer for the exact wording.
Our apostille guide explains the apostille rules in more detail.
How we can help
We translate passports, powers of attorney and inheritance documents in 72 languages, have them notarized at the notary next to our office, and provide listed interpreters for the title deed appointment. Our offices:
- Şirinevler (Bahçelievler): on the same floor as the 20th Notary
- Halkalı (Küçükçekmece): on the same floor as the 31st Notary
- Bağcılar Güneşli: on the same floor as the 47th Notary
- İkitelli: next door to the 29th Notary
Need a document translated? Send a photo of it on WhatsApp (+90 554 537 98 08) and we will tell you the price and the delivery time before we start. You can also request a quote online. Our four Istanbul offices are open on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00.
Living outside Istanbul? If you are in Antalya, Alanya, Fethiye, Bodrum or İzmir, send your document on WhatsApp; the notarized translation is couriered to you. See notarized translation anywhere in Turkey.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an interpreter if my agent speaks Turkish?
If you sign in person and do not speak Turkish, yes. If your agent signs on your behalf with a valid power of attorney and speaks Turkish, an interpreter is not needed.
Can one interpreter work for both the buyer and the seller?
The land registry office decides how many interpreters a signing needs. If the buyer and the seller speak different languages, ask the office in advance.
Is a translation of my passport made abroad accepted?
Turkish offices expect a Turkish translation certified by a Turkish notary. Have it done in Turkey.