Tapu / Title Deed

TAPU is the official document certifying ownership of real estate in Turkey.
It confirms that you are the legal owner of the property and contains all the key details about it.

What does TAPU mean?

The TAPU is issued by the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre of Turkey (Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü) and is the only legally valid document certifying ownership.

What information is specified in the TAPU?

The document sets out:

• the owner's first and last name;
• the type of property (apartment, villa, plot of land, etc.);
• the exact address and cadastral data;
• the area of the property;
• the share of ownership (if there are several owners);
• the type of ownership;
• the date of registration.

Types of TAPU

The TAPU also shows whether a plot has a development permit, what its designated use is, and whether it is suitable for agricultural purposes. In Turkey there are two types of TAPU for residential properties, depending on the current stage of the property's registration.

Construction servitude (Kat İrtifakı)
This document is issued for properties that are still under construction or not yet completed. It is a preliminary registration, made once the developer has divided the project into individual units and registered them with the Land Registry. After construction is completed, the developer applies to have the property reclassified as Kat Mülkiyeti (condominium ownership). Occasionally a project is finished but fails to obtain the necessary permits from the authorities and therefore remains in the Kat İrtifakı category. It is important to understand why this has happened, even if the building appears ready for occupancy — it may be that the developer's obligations towards the authorities have not been fulfilled.

Condominium ownership (Kat Mülkiyeti)
This document is issued for completed buildings and complexes. It confirms that the project was approved by the municipality and built in accordance with the regulations. This is evidenced by the occupancy permit (İskân in Turkish) issued by the municipality. A TAPU with Kat Mülkiyeti status contains details such as the area, unit number, floor, and owner information. It is issued for properties such as apartments, houses, offices, warehouses, and shops.

Why do you need a TAPU?

The TAPU is required for:

• confirming ownership;
• selling or gifting real estate;
• obtaining a residence permit or Turkish citizenship;
• connecting utilities;
• transferring real estate by inheritance;
• obtaining a mortgage or an instalment plan.

How and when is the TAPU issued?

The TAPU is drawn up at the Land Registry Office with the participation of the seller and the buyer (or their representatives acting under power of attorney).
The document is issued on the day of the transaction, once the property has been paid for in full and the registration fee has been settled.

Important to know

• without a TAPU you are not the owner of the property;
• all payments made during the transaction must go through official channels;
• when purchasing, it is important to check that the property matches the data in the TAPU;
• a TAPU can also be obtained remotely under power of attorney.