What You Missed About Turkish Real Estate.

Türkiye has always attracted me with its magical atmosphere, where centuries-old traditions and the modern rhythm of life are intertwined. This country not only pleases the eye with its landscapes and climate, but also opens up wide opportunities for those who want to settle or invest here.

1. What happens to the property after the death of the foreign owner?

In Turkey, according to the inheritance law, in the event of the death of a foreign property owner and the absence of a will, the property is distributed among the heirs. The spouse of the deceased inherits 25% of the property, while the remaining 75% is divided equally among the children. In addition, children have an inalienable right to inheritance, which cannot be revoked even by a will. Regardless of who the property is bequeathed to, be it the spouse or a third party, the children always retain the share provided by law. Therefore, it is impossible to completely disinherit a child in Turkey.

2. In case of divorce of foreign owners, how is the division of property carried out in Turkey?

In the event that foreigners have married abroad, the divorce and division of property are carried out in accordance with the laws of the country where the marriage was registered. Once a decision is made by the court of that country, it will also be valid in Turkey for the division of property located in Turkey. It is important to note that in Turkey, the consent of the other spouse is not required to sell real estate registered to one of the spouses, even if they are in the process of divorce or the property has not yet been divided. This means that a spouse can sell the property without notifying and permission of the other spouse. In this regard, if there is a risk of selling real estate without the consent of one of the parties during the divorce process, it is recommended to seize the property. In Turkey, the seizure of property can be imposed through a Turkish lawyer, which will prevent the sale without the participation of both spouses.

3. Taxation for foreigners

Foreigners who have moved to Turkey and purchased real estate there often wonder what taxes they need to pay to avoid fines. It is important to know about several types of taxes:

Property tax

If you own a property in Turkey, you are charged a tax that ranges from 0.2% to 0.4% on the cadastral value of your property. The tax rate depends on the area in which the property is located and the type of property. This tax is split into two payments - at the beginning of the year and in May.

Transport tax

For car owners in Turkey, the tax is calculated based on the engine power and age of the car, and its amount is always indicated in each sale ad. This tax is also divided into two payments - at the beginning of the year and in May.

Taxes for entrepreneurs

If you open your own business in Turkey, you will be charged taxes on your profits. They are calculated on a progressive scale and range from 15 to 40%. It is worth noting that Turkey has concluded agreements with many countries, including Russia, which prevent double taxation. This means that if you officially work and pay taxes in another country, then additional taxes in Turkey will not be collected from you.

Tax on profit from sale of real estate or car

If you sell a property or a car less than 5 years after purchase, you will be charged a tax of 20% on your profit. This tax is calculated on the cadastral value of the property being sold or the document value of the car.

For a more accurate tax calculation and to avoid confusion, it is recommended to contact specialists. The company is ready to help you with all questions of interest. You can get more useful information on our YouTube channel: .

4. Documents required for purchasing real estate

To purchase real estate in Turkey, foreigners must provide the following documents:

• Foreign passport.
• Turkish Tax Number (TIN), which can be obtained online (a real estate agent will usually assist with this process).
• Photo for documents
• A photocopy of your international passport.

If the buyer personally participates in the transaction and signs the documents, and does not act under a power of attorney, then the original passport is required at the time of the transaction.

5. Documents required to purchase a car

To purchase a car in Turkey, foreigners must provide:

• International passport
• Turkish Tax Number
• Valid residence permit
• Photograph for documents
• A photocopy of your international passport.

6. How to import your car to Turkey?

To import a car into Turkey, foreigners must meet certain conditions and provide a number of documents. Foreigners who have lived abroad for at least 185 days in the last year can import their vehicles into the country. Pensioners are exempt from this requirement. The length of stay in Turkey can be checked on the official website e-devlet. In case of discrepancies or errors, you should contact passport control or a lawyer.

The documents required to import a car include:

• Certificate of ownership of the car.
• Vehicle insurance policy.
• The owner's passport with a residence permit (RP) and a driver's license.
• A document confirming reaching retirement age, translated into Turkish and certified by the consulate (for pensioners).
• Power of attorney if the car is imported not by the owner but by the spouse, and both must reside outside of Turkey for at least 185 days prior to import.
• If the car is registered to a legal entity, the driver must be a partner or employee of the company, which is confirmed by relevant documents certified by a notary in Turkish.

These documents must be presented when entering and leaving the country. Foreign vehicles can be in Turkey for 730 days (24 months), provided that the owner has a residence permit. The car can be used by the owner's spouse, children, parents, and in emergency situations - other persons, provided that the owner is in the car. When the owner temporarily leaves Turkey, the car with foreign license plates must be left under the supervision of customs authorities or used by authorized persons. It is not possible to resell the car in Turkey.

7. Subtleties related to driving licenses

There are a number of nuances regarding the driver's license and its use in Turkey.

Can I use a foreign driving license in Turkey?

The validity of driving licenses from other countries in Turkey is regulated by local legislation. Thus, documents are considered valid for a specific period of time - its duration depends on the country in which you received your driving license. For example, for citizens of Russia this period is 90 days from the moment of crossing the Turkish border, for citizens of Ukraine - 6 months. If the driver continues to use his document after this period, he will be fined. Thus, if you plan to stay in the country for a long time or are going to obtain resident status, you need to replace your license with a Turkish one.

What steps need to be taken to replace a driving license with a Turkish one?

To obtain a Turkish driver's license, you will need to prepare the relevant documents and make an appointment at your local office of the Population and Citizenship Authority. This can be done online or by calling. Russian citizens do not need to pass any exams to exchange their license.

To renew your driver's license, you will need the following package of documents:

• A valid international passport and its copy;
• A medical certificate confirming the absence of contraindications to driving a vehicle, including an eye examination by an ophthalmologist and an indication of the blood type. Such a certificate can be obtained from a family doctor or a private clinic;
• Temporary residence permit;
• A driver's license issued by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of Russia;
• Official confirmation of residential address;
• Photographs of the established sample;
• Proof of payment of the state fee (in 2024 it is 3945 Turkish lira);
• A notarized translation of an educational document that confirms the driver’s level of literacy and education;
• Notarized translation of the driver's license into Turkish;
• Certificate of completion of the fingerprinting procedure.

In total, this process takes several months, and the timeframes may vary in different regions. While the application is under consideration, the driver will receive a temporary license. When the procedure is completed, the driver will receive the finished documents by mail or courier delivery.

Is an International Driving Permit required to drive in Turkey?

An international driving permit allows you to drive a vehicle in foreign countries and serves as a supplement to your national license. This document is recognized in many countries and makes driving abroad easier.

Issued on the basis of a domestic license, an international license is a translation of the license into other languages and does not replace, but only supplements, the main document. If you are driving in Turkey, you must have both a national and an international license. The validity of an international license is limited, and for a long stay in the country, you will need to obtain a local driver's license.

What steps need to be taken to obtain a driving license in Turkey?

If you do not have a driving license initially, you can get a driver's license in Turkey. To do this, you will need to undergo a medical examination, learn driving theory, take lessons with an instructor, and pass theory and practice exams. Driving a passenger car in Turkey is allowed for people who have reached the age of 18. In large tourist cities - Alanya, Antalya, Mersin, Istanbul, there are many driving schools with Russian-speaking instructors. In addition, you can pass the exam with an interpreter, whose services are paid for separately.

In preparation for the driving test, you will need to collect the following documents:

• The original and a duplicate of your international passport;
• A medical report containing information about your vision, blood type and Rh factor;
• Standard photographs for documents;
• Official certificate of no criminal record;
• A document confirming your right to reside in the country.

To pass the theoretical exam, you need to score at least 70 points out of 100 possible. You have 4 attempts to pass the practical exam - in case of failure, you will need to pay for training and take it again. The training process, including exams, takes two to four months. The cost starts from 8,000 lira. The amount depends on the region, the reputation of the driving school, the included services, and the category of the license (there are 17 categories in Turkey). After successfully passing the exams, you need to submit documents to the local transport department to obtain a driver's license and pay a fee.

After issuing a license, the driver receives the status of "beginner". According to Turkish law, a driver with this status, having got into a serious accident, loses his driver's license. Serious accidents include those that result in death or significant damage. You can also lose your driver's license for drunk driving. To get a new license, you will need to re-take training and pass exams.

The agency will provide you with more useful information and will advise you on all questions of interest to you. Current news and offers can always be found in our Telegram channel. You can contact us by phone +905495287051 or by email info@uptrendhomes.ru.