Frequently asked questions

Yes. Meetings, correspondence and updates on your file can be in English or Turkish. Proceedings before Turkish courts and authorities are conducted in Turkish, so documents in a foreign language that will be submitted to them must be translated by a sworn translator in Turkey and, where required, carry an apostille or consular legalisation.

In many matters, no. A power of attorney allows a lawyer in Turkey to represent you before courts, enforcement offices, the land registry and other authorities. The power of attorney can be issued at a Turkish consulate abroad or before a local notary and then apostilled if the country is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Some steps, such as giving biometric data for certain applications or attending a hearing in person when the court requires it, may still need your presence.

There are two common ways: having the power of attorney drawn up at the Turkish consulate in your country, or before a local notary and then obtaining an apostille if your country is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. A power of attorney in a foreign language must be translated into Turkish by a sworn translator and notarised in Turkey. The specific powers (for example, selling property, filing a lawsuit or collecting money) must be stated expressly, and for land registry transactions the document must include your photograph. Requirements change from time to time, so check the current rules before signing.

Yes. For clients abroad or outside Istanbul, the first consultation and later meetings can be held by video call. Please indicate your time zone in your message; office hours are Monday to Saturday, 09:00–18:00 Istanbul time (UTC+3).

Significant developments, such as hearing dates, interim decisions, expert reports and the final judgment, are reported to you by email or phone in English. Court files in Turkey are kept on the electronic judicial network UYAP; holders of Turkish e-Government (e-Devlet) access can also view their files online.

Usually two: a power of attorney before a notary (or a consulate abroad), which authorises the lawyer to represent you, and a written attorney fee agreement setting out the scope of the work and the fee. Under Article 163 of the Attorneys Act, a fee agreement can only be proven in writing.

Under Articles 163 and 164 of the Turkish Attorneys Act (No. 1136), the fee is agreed in a written fee agreement between the lawyer and the client. The agreed fee cannot be lower than the amounts in the Minimum Attorney Fee Tariff published each year by the Union of Turkish Bar Associations. Court fees, expert fees and other litigation costs are separate from the attorney's fee.

Lawyers in Turkey are prohibited from advertising to attract clients (Article 55 of the Attorneys Act and the rules of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations). For this reason, the website does not contain testimonials, client lists, success rates or similar promotional content. Its purpose is to provide information about the firm and about Turkish law.

No. The five-year residence requirement of the general route does not apply to the investment route. A residence permit is obtained as part of the process, but you are not required to live in Turkey before or after the application. Some steps may require you to be present in person, for example to give biometric data.

The minimum amounts for each investment type (property, bank deposits, government bonds, fixed capital and others) are set by Presidential decision and have changed several times. Because outdated figures can lead to costly mistakes, this guide does not state amounts. Please check the current thresholds before committing to any investment.

A title deed annotation is entered stating that the property will not be sold for three years. Selling before the end of that period is not possible while the annotation is in place. After the three-year period, the property can be sold. The specific consequences of selling should be checked against the regulation in force at the time.

Yes. Foreign individuals can buy property under Article 35 of the Land Registry Law, provided their nationality is among the countries permitted by the President, the area limits are not exceeded, and the property is not in a military or security zone. A valuation report is required for sales to foreigners.

No. Ownership of real estate passes only through an official deed signed at the land registry office and registration in the land register. A private contract or simply paying the price does not make you the owner. A promise-to-sell contract signed before a notary gives you a right to demand the transfer, but does not transfer ownership itself.

Not necessarily. The purchase can be completed by a representative holding a power of attorney issued at a Turkish consulate or before a notary abroad with an apostille. The power of attorney must include your photograph and state the powers expressly, and it must be translated into Turkish.

With a visa or visa exemption, the permitted stay is generally a total of 90 days within any 180-day period, although this varies by nationality. To stay longer, you must apply for a residence permit before your permitted stay ends. Overstaying can lead to a fine, deportation and an entry ban.

Property ownership can be the basis of a short-term residence permit application, but the permit is not automatic. The type and value of the property are considered, and some neighbourhoods are closed to new residence registrations of foreigners. Check the current rules before buying.

As a rule, within the 60 days before your current permit expires, and in any case before it expires. A timely renewal application allows you to remain in Turkey lawfully until a decision is made.

On renewal, the increase cannot exceed the 12-month average change in the CPI for the previous lease year (Code of Obligations, Art. 344). After five years, the rent can be reset equitably by the court based on comparable rents.

Not on that ground alone. If you do not give notice, a fixed-term residential lease renews for one year. The landlord can only evict on legal grounds such as genuine need, reconstruction, a written undertaking or two justified warnings.

No. A new owner who wants to evict for need must notify you in writing within one month of acquisition and can file suit only six months after acquisition (Art. 351).

Yes. Turkish courts can generally hear a divorce where one of the spouses is domiciled in Turkey. The law applied depends on the spouses' nationalities and habitual residence under Law No. 5718; for couples of different nationalities living in Turkey, Turkish law usually applies.

An uncontested divorce is often concluded at a single hearing once the protocol is ready, and the judgment becomes final after the appeal period if neither party appeals. The overall time depends on the court's workload and the hearing date given.

Yes, as a rule. The law requires the judge to hear both spouses in person to confirm that they agree freely. A spouse living abroad should plan to be in Turkey on the hearing date.

Succession is generally governed by the deceased's national law, but immovable property in Turkey is always subject to Turkish law (Law No. 5718, Art. 20). This means the Turkish property passes according to Turkish rules on heirs and shares, even if other assets follow a foreign law.

Where there is a foreign element, the certificate is issued by a civil court of peace rather than a notary. The application is supported by the death certificate and documents proving the family relationship, apostilled and translated into Turkish. A lawyer can file the application under a power of attorney.

Generally yes, if it complies with the formal requirements of the place where it was made or another law recognised under Turkish rules; Turkey is a party to the 1961 Hague Convention on the form of wills. The will must be opened by a Turkish court, and its content is still subject to Turkish reserved share rules for property in Turkey.

Yes. Under the Foreign Direct Investment Law, foreign investors are treated equally with Turkish investors unless a specific law provides otherwise. A foreign individual or company can be the sole shareholder of a limited liability or joint stock company. Certain regulated sectors may have special requirements.

Not necessarily. The formation can be completed through a representative holding a notarised power of attorney, apostilled and translated into Turkish. Some steps, such as opening a bank account, may in practice require personal attendance depending on the bank.

A limited liability company is simpler and common for small and medium-sized businesses, but share transfers require notarisation and general assembly approval. A joint stock company allows freer share transfers and is better suited to outside investment, but has a higher minimum capital. The choice depends on your plans.

Yes, as a rule. Unless the law requires a specific form, oral contracts are valid. However, contracts such as the sale of real estate and personal guarantees are invalid without the required form, and proving an oral contract above a certain value can be difficult because documentary evidence is generally required.

In contracts with a foreign element, the parties can generally choose the governing law under the Private International Law No. 5718. Some mandatory Turkish rules may still apply, for example to real estate in Turkey, consumer contracts and employment contracts. The choice of law and forum should be stated expressly.

Once the debtor is in default, you can, after giving a reasonable additional period where required, claim performance with damages for delay, claim damages instead of performance, or withdraw from the contract and claim damages (TBK, Art. 125). The right choice depends on the circumstances.

As a rule, no, unless you resign for just cause under Article 24 of the Labour Law (for example unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, harassment or health reasons), or for one of the other reasons listed in the law such as retirement or, for women, within one year of marriage. The reason should be stated clearly in the resignation notice.

Severance pay equals 30 days' gross wages, including regular benefits, for each full year of service, with a proportional amount for part years. It is capped at a statutory ceiling that is updated periodically.

If you are covered by job security, you must apply to a mediator within one month of being notified of the termination. If mediation fails, the reinstatement lawsuit must be filed within two weeks of the final mediation record. Claims for severance and notice pay are subject to a five-year limitation period, but mediation is also required before filing them.

As a rule, yes. Foreign nationals working in Turkey under a work permit are insured in the same way as Turkish employees. An employee temporarily posted from a country with which Turkey has a social security agreement may remain insured at home, depending on the agreement.

They may. Turkish citizens and Blue Card holders can buy back periods abroad under Law No. 3201, and periods in countries with which Turkey has a social security agreement can be taken into account under that agreement. The better option depends on your situation.

Review the reason and your service record. You can object to the Institution and, if unsuccessful, file an action in the labour court. Missing periods may be completed through a service determination action or buy-back.

No. Trademark protection is territorial, so a mark must be registered in Turkey, either by a national application with TÜRKPATENT or by designating Turkey in an international application under the Madrid Protocol.

If there are no oppositions or grounds for refusal, registration is usually completed within a few months, including the two-month opposition period. Oppositions extend the process.

You can oppose it at TÜRKPATENT within two months of publication. If the deadline is missed, the only remedy after registration is an invalidation action.

Start with a direct removal request to the platform or website and keep a record of it. If that fails, depending on the type of violation, an access ban for privacy violations under Article 9/A of Law No. 5651, or a civil court action with an interim injunction for defamation, may be available. Since Article 9 was annulled, check the current legislation first.

No. An access ban blocks access to the content from Turkey, but the content may remain online at its source and be visible from other countries. Complete removal requires the content provider to delete it.

Possibly, under the right to be forgotten. The age of the content, whether it still has news value, your public role and the harm caused are weighed. Applications can be made to search engines and news sites, and if necessary to the courts.

If your company processes personal data in connection with Turkey, for example through a Turkish subsidiary or branch, or by processing the data of people in Turkey, the KVKK is likely to be relevant. Controllers resident abroad that are subject to VERBİS registration must appoint a representative in Turkey. The specific obligations depend on the processing involved.

They are similar, and the 2024 amendments brought them closer, but they are not identical. Differences include VERBİS registration, the separation of privacy notices and consent texts, and the notification of standard contracts within five business days.

Yes, but it is a transfer abroad under Article 9. Unless there is an adequacy decision, an appropriate safeguard such as the Board's standard contract or approved binding corporate rules must be used, and a standard contract must be notified to the Authority within five business days. Explicit consent is not a sufficient basis for regular transfers.

Yes, but only after a Turkish court grants enforcement. The court checks that the judgment is final, that there is reciprocity with the country concerned, that it does not conflict with Turkish public policy and that the defendant's right of defence was respected (Law No. 5718, Art. 54). It does not re-examine the merits.

Yes. Foreign arbitral awards are enforced in Turkey under the 1958 New York Convention and Articles 60–63 of Law No. 5718. Turkey applies the Convention on a reciprocity basis and to disputes regarded as commercial under Turkish law.

Yes. If the dispute falls within a category subject to mandatory mediation, such as a commercial claim for payment of money, the requirement applies regardless of the parties' nationality. Meetings can be held remotely.

Note the date of service and act immediately. In general enforcement you have 7 days to object at the enforcement office; in proceedings based on cheques or promissory notes, 5 days to object to the enforcement court. If the signature on a note is not yours, deny it expressly in the objection.

Yes. In Turkey, general enforcement without a judgment can be started on the basis of any claim for money. If the debtor objects, the creditor must then have the objection set aside or annulled.

The proceedings become final and the creditor can request attachment of your assets, including bank accounts, vehicles, real estate and salary. You can then only use more difficult remedies such as a negative declaratory action.

Yes, as a rule, within 14 days of delivery without giving a reason. Notify the seller within the period and return the goods, generally within ten days of the notice. Exceptions apply, for example to goods made to your specifications, perishable goods and opened hygiene products.

You can choose between withdrawal from the contract (refund), a price reduction, free repair or replacement. The seller must fulfil your choice; repair or replacement must generally be completed within 30 working days.

During the warranty period, the maximum repair time is 20 working days from delivery to the service centre. If it is exceeded, you can ask for replacement or a refund. The time spent on repairs is added to the warranty period.

Two years from learning of the damage and the liable person, and in any case ten years from the accident; if the accident is also a crime, the longer criminal limitation period applies (Traffic Law, Art. 109).

Yes. Claims against the Turkish insurer, the operator and the driver can generally be pursued through a lawyer acting under a power of attorney. Keep all medical records, including treatment in your home country, as they will need sworn Turkish translations.

No. For claims under compulsory traffic insurance, a written application to the insurer is mandatory; if it does not respond within 15 days or a dispute remains, you can sue or go to arbitration.

Note the date of service. Within 30 days you can file a lawsuit before the tax court, apply for settlement of the penalties, or apply for the statutory penalty reduction in exchange for not suing. Each option has different consequences, and choosing one can close the others, so the audit report and evidence should be assessed first.

No. Since 2 August 2024 (Law No. 7524), settlement covers only tax loss penalties and certain irregularity penalties. The tax itself and late payment interest cannot be settled; to dispute them, a lawsuit before the tax court is required.

Generally yes. When a lawsuit is filed against a tax and penalty notice within the time limit, collection of the disputed amounts is generally suspended until the case is decided. A lawsuit against a payment order follows different rules.

As a rule, 60 days from written notification of the decision before administrative courts, and 30 days from service before tax courts. Special laws may provide shorter periods, for example in tender and some zoning matters. Time limits are strict and a late case is dismissed.

No, not automatically. You must request a stay of execution, which is granted only if implementing the decision would cause irreparable harm and the decision is manifestly unlawful.

Yes, through a full remedy action. If the damage results from an administrative action rather than a decision, you must first apply to the administration within one year of learning of it and in any case within five years; if rejected or not answered within 30 days, you can then sue.

Every suspect has the right to have a lawyer present when giving a statement, and a statement given to the police without a lawyer cannot be the basis of a judgment unless confirmed before a judge. Taking legal advice before the statement is recommended.

Yes. A suspect, defendant or victim who does not speak sufficient Turkish is provided with an interpreter free of charge (Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 202). Do not sign a statement you have not understood.

You may ask for your consulate to be informed. Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, consular officers may then communicate with and visit you.

Not necessarily. Liability requires a breach of medical standards and a causal link to the harm. An adverse outcome that occurred despite proper care, and of which you had been warned, is a complication. The distinction is made through an expert examination of the medical records.

Yes, in most cases. A claim against a clinic or doctor based in Turkey can generally be brought before the Turkish courts, and you can be represented by a lawyer under a power of attorney without living in Turkey. Records from your home country must be translated into Turkish by a sworn translator, and time limits run regardless of where you live.

No. A doctor working at a public hospital cannot be sued directly for harm caused in the course of their duties. You must first apply to the administration and then file a full remedy action against the administration in the administrative court.