Tapu / Title Deed

TAPU is an 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 the property.

What does TAPU mean?

Tapu is issued by the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre Services 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 reflects:

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

Types of Tapu

A TAPU (tax on property) can be used to determine whether a plot has a development permit, its intended purpose, and whether it is suitable for agricultural use. In Turkey, there are two types of TAPU (tax on property) for residential properties, depending on the current stage of the property's registration.

Construction easement (Kat İrtifakı)This document is issued for properties that are not yet completed or under construction. It is a preliminary registration in the housing stock, when the developer has divided the project into individual units and registered them with the Land Registry. After construction is completed, the developer applies to reclassify the property as a "Kat Mülkiyeti" (Landed Property). Sometimes a project may be completed but fail to obtain permits from the authorities and remains in the "Kat İrtifakı" (Landed Property) category. It is important to understand why this happens even if the building is ready for occupancy. It is possible that obligations to the housing authorities have not been fulfilled.

Condominium (Cat Property)This document is issued for completed buildings and complexes. It confirms that the project was approved by the municipality and built in accordance with regulations. This is confirmed by the presence of a technical passport (iskan in Turkish) from the municipality. A TAPU with Kat Mülkiyeti status contains information such as area, number, floor, and owner information. It is issued for properties such as apartments, houses, offices, warehouses, and shops.

Why do you need a TAPU?

TAPU is required for:

• confirmation of ownership;
• sale or donation of real estate;
• obtaining a residence permit or citizenship of Turkey;
• connection of utilities;
• transfer of real estate by inheritance;
• obtaining a mortgage or installment plan.

How and when is TAPU issued?

The TAPU is drawn up at the Cadastral Office with the participation of the seller and the buyer (or their representatives by power of attorney).
The document is issued on the day of the transaction after full payment of the property and registration tax.

Important to know

• without TAPU you are not the owner of the property;
• all settlements during the transaction must be official;
• When purchasing, it is important to check that the property complies with the data in the TAPU;
• TAPU can also be issued remotely by power of attorney.