Power of Attorney (Vekaletname) in Türkiye (2026): Remote Guide

Foreign investors, property owners, heirs, and litigants frequently need to execute legal transactions in Alanya, Antalya, or Istanbul without traveling to Türkiye in person. Under the Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098 (TBK), the Turkish Notary Law No. 1512, and the Turkish Code of Civil Procedure No. 6100 (HMK), almost every legal, administrative, and judicial procedure in Türkiye — including buying or selling real estate at the Land Registry (Tapu), forming a company, probating an estate, or litigating in court — can be completed remotely through a properly drafted Power of Attorney (Vekaletname) granted to a registered Turkish attorney (Avukat).

However, Turkish Land Registry offices, courts, and banks apply strict formal validity rules in 2026. A generic power of attorney template drafted under foreign law is routinely rejected if it lacks specific statutory faculties, a biometric photograph, or proper legalisation under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.

1. Three Legal Ways to Issue a Turkish Power of Attorney (Vekaletname) in 2026

Depending on whether you are currently visiting Alanya or residing abroad in Europe, the UK, Ukraine, or North America, there are three legally valid procedures for executing a Vekaletname:

Before a Public Notary in Türkiye (e.g., Alanya Notaries): If you are physically in Türkiye, the fastest method (taking approximately 30 to 45 minutes) is appearing before a Turkish Notary (Noter) with your original passport, Turkish tax number (Vergi Numarası), two biometric passport photographs (mandatory for real estate and divorce POAs), and a certified sworn interpreter (Yeminli Tercüman) registered with that notary office. Once signed, the POA is immediately uploaded into the national notary and Land Registry electronic network (TÜNBİS / TAKBİS).
At a Turkish Embassy or Consulate Abroad: Turkish Consulates abroad act as official Turkish notaries. You may schedule an appointment at the nearest Turkish Consulate, present your passport and photographs, and execute the Vekaletname directly in Turkish (with a consular-registered sworn translator if you do not speak Turkish). Because a consular POA is already a domestic Turkish public deed, it does not require an Apostille or further translation in Türkiye — you simply courier the original paper deed to your lawyer in Alanya.
Before a Foreign Notary + 1961 Hague Apostille: In any state party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention (including all EU member states, the UK, the USA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Germany, and Ukraine), you can sign a bilingual or local-language Power of Attorney drafted by your Turkish lawyer before a local notary public. To be valid for Tapu transactions in Türkiye, the foreign notary must verify your identity from your passport, attach your photograph to the document under official seal, and certify your signature. Thereafter, the competent state authority affixes an Apostille certificate. Once the original document arrives in Alanya, it is translated into Turkish by a sworn translator and notarised by a Turkish notary.

2. Specific Faculties (Özel Yetki) Required for Real Estate, Divorce, and Inheritance

Under Article 74 of the Code of Civil Procedure (HMK) and Article 504 of the Code of Obligations (TBK), a general litigation power of attorney (Genel Dava Vekaletnamesi) is not sufficient for certain high-stakes legal acts unless express special powers (Özel Yetki) are written into the text:

Real Estate Purchase, Sale & Tapu Annotations (Düzenleme Şeklinde Taşınmaz Vekaletnamesi): Under Article 89 of the Notary Law No. 1512, any Power of Attorney used to sell property, buy property with encumbrances, sign a notarised off-plan Preliminary Sales Contract, or enter a 3-year citizenship no-sale annotation (3 Yıl Satılamaz Şerhi) at the Tapu Müdürlüğü must be executed in official “arrangement form” (Düzenleme Şeklinde) and bear the principal’s sealed photograph. It must also explicitly authorize the attorney to obtain the Central Bank Foreign Currency Purchase Certificate (Döviz Alım Belgesi — DAB), sign the official deed (Resmi Senet), and register water/electricity utility subscriptions (ASAT / CK Akdeniz).
Divorce & Recognition of Foreign Judgments (Fotoğraflı Özel Boşanma Vekaletnamesi): Filing or defending a divorce lawsuit (Boşanma Davası) or an action for the recognition and enforcement of a foreign divorce decree (Tanıma ve Tenfiz Davası) before a Turkish Family Court requires a special divorce POA containing the client’s photograph and explicit details of the marriage.
Inheritance & Estate Administration (Miras İntikal Vekaletnamesi): To obtain a Turkish Certificate of Inheritance (Veraset İlamı / Mirasçılık Belgesi) from the Civil Court of Peace (Sulh Hukuk Mahkemesi), file Inheritance and Transfer Tax returns (Veraset ve İntikal Vergisi), and transfer inherited real estate or bank funds, the POA must explicitly enumerate succession, tax clearance, and Tapu intikal powers.

3. Essential Safeguards: Principle of Fiduciary Accountability & Revocation (Azilname)

Foreign clients should never grant a broad Power of Attorney to an unlicensed real estate agent, developer employee, or intermediary. Under the Turkish Advocacy Law No. 1136, a licensed attorney (Avukat) is bound by strict statutory fiduciary duties, professional indemnity rules, and disciplinary oversight by the Bar Association.

Transaction-Specific Drafting: When buying or selling a specific apartment in Alanya, we draft the Vekaletname with strict limitations — specifying the exact district, island/parcel (Ada/Parsel), and independent unit number (Bağımsız Bölüm), and excluding any authority to borrow money or incur personal debt.
Instant Revocation (Azilname): Under Turkish law, a principal may revoke a Power of Attorney at any time via any Turkish Notary or Turkish Consulate by issuing a formal Notice of Revocation (Azilname), which is immediately transmitted electronically to the Land Registry (TAKBİS) and national notary system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Power of Attorney (Vekaletname) in Türkiye

Can I buy or sell property in Alanya remotely using an Apostilled Power of Attorney?

Yes. Provided the Power of Attorney is drafted in compliance with Turkish Land Registry rules (including your passport details, a photograph affixed and sealed by the notary, and express property purchase/sale and DAB currency exchange faculties) and carries a 1961 Hague Apostille, your Turkish lawyer can complete the entire Tapu transaction in Alanya without your physical presence.

Why is a photograph mandatory on a Turkish Real Estate or Divorce Power of Attorney?

Under Article 89 of the Turkish Notary Law No. 1512 and Land Registry Directorate regulations, Powers of Attorney authorizing the transfer or acquisition of real estate (Tapu) or representation in divorce proceedings must carry the principal’s photograph affixed and sealed by the certifying notary or consulate. Without a sealed photo, the Tapu office or Family Court will reject the document.

Does a Power of Attorney have an automatic expiration date in Türkiye?

Unless a specific expiration date is written into the text of the Power of Attorney (which we frequently recommend for single real estate transactions), a Turkish Vekaletname remains valid until the mandate is completed or until it is formally revoked via a notarised Azilname.

Can my Turkish lawyer open a bank account or collect rent on my behalf with a Power of Attorney?

A Turkish lawyer can execute Foreign Currency Purchase Certificates (DAB), pay property taxes, sign long-term lease agreements, and enforce unpaid rent or eviction claims via Power of Attorney. For initial personal retail bank account opening, most Turkish banks require either in-person KYC verification or specific corporate/investment banking compliance procedures.

To request a custom-drafted bilingual Power of Attorney template for real estate, inheritance, corporate, or litigation matters in Alanya, Antalya, or Istanbul, explore our Alanya Legal Services or contact Lawyer Enes Nergiz.

Disclaimer: This guide was prepared by Attorney Enes Nergiz (Antalya Bar Association Registration No. 6281) for general informational purposes in accordance with Turkish Bar Association regulations and does not constitute formal legal advice.

Notice: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The legal assessment depends on the specific facts.