A1 – It is likely that you will feel the need to come over to Turkey in order to inspect the land, check out the buildıng process and of course to meet and get to know our company directly. This can be arranged via an inspection visit where we can arrange your flights, accommodation, collect you from the airport, help organise an itinerary for your stay, arrange viewings for the properties you are interested in and answer any questions you may have. For the duration of your visit our team will be on hand to help make your stay as enjoyable and informative as possible and at the end of your stay we will transfer you back to your departure airport. For further information please refer to Inspection Trips.
Can I change anything I didn’t like during construction?
A2 – Yes, within reason. As long as the changes don’t stray too far from the original plans and are in line with local planning rules then we will do our best to meet your requirements. There may be extra costs involved depending on the changes required and at what stage we are in the building process.
How long does it take to complete a property once bought?
A3 – If you have purchased a completed project then we estimate from the signing of the purchase contract that completion takes between 2-3 months. If you are purchasing an off plan project we estimate 6 months to completion.
Can I arrange finance in Turkey ?
A4 – Mortgages are now available to foreign investors and the process is relatively straıghtforward and offered for completed and off plan projects.
Are there any costs or fees I should be aware of ?
A5 – There are minimal extra costs involved total a maximum of £300 (excluding the purchase tax).
This covers:
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the passport translation required for purchase
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the property location checks at the local government office
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the power of attourney documentation required if you wish to appoint a person in Turkey to deal with the purchase on your behalf
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the verbal translation of the power of attorney documentation
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the fees for the paperwork involved with the mandatory security checks
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You will need 4 passport photos for the paperwork
Are there any local taxes / rates ?
A6 – There is an annual property tax in Turkey. The Fethiye area has one of the lowest rates – 0.3% for land and 0.1% for a house. This tax is payable to the municipality (i.e. local government). On newly built properties, within 3 months of construction finishing, the buyer must complete an affidavit and submit it to the municipality for these tax purposes. We can guide you through this process
How much are utilities in Turkey?
A7 – In Turkey you pay for what you use. Utilities in this area of Turkey are not expensive and £50 a month will easily cover everything.
How do I import a vehicle/car into Turkey?
A8 – If you are visiting Turkey as a tourist with your vehicle, you should have full documents and insurance for your vehicle. Details of your car will be registered in your passport on your arrival at the border. A foreign plated vehicle is permitted to remain in Turkey for a of maximum six months in any 12 month period.
What documents are required to sell my car?
A9 – You need a car sale transfer document issued by a British Consulate or Embassy. You should provide your and the buyer’s passport details together with the car registration booklet and appropriate fee. (£40 payable in Turkish lira)
What are death duties like in Turkey ?
A10 – Inheritance and Gift Tax (IGT) is a specific wealth tax and applies on the transfer of wealth belonging to Turkish nationals. The tax applies to transfers of movable or immovable property made on death and also to lifetime gifts, with some exemptions stipulated in law.
Liability to IGT depends on nationality. Where the transferee has Turkish nationality, IGT has no territorial limit and applies to assets wherever situated. Where the transferee is not a Turkish national, IGT applies where the assets transferred are situated in Turkey.
Turkish IGT is charged to the transferee on the entire value of the amount transferred, subject to exemptions and reliefs where appropriate. Status of the individual liability to IGT is limited by the nationality of the transferee.
Valuation of Assets:
Buildings and land are subject to the valuation rules of property tax. Property tax is levied annually on the market value of real estate. Market value is specifically determined by the municipality where the property is situated. The official value is normally greater than market value. Tax paid in a foreign country on inherited property is deducted from the taxable value of the asset.
Tax Rates
The rates of IGT vary between 4% and 30%. The tax is payable over five years in biannual instalments
Is it easy for a foreigner to buy property in Turkey ?
A11 – Yes. Buying a property in Turkey is a lot easier than in many other European countries. Foreigners may purchase land and property in Turkey in their own names provided that properties are located in areas with an official municipality and the property must be situated within the boundaries of that municipality or borough.In order to acquire the title of a property, an application has to be submitted to the local Land Registry Office in which the property is situated. After carrying out necessary searches and checks for the above-mentioned requirements, the transfer of the title is done by the Land Registry Office. In Turkey, it is legally compulsory for both sides (the seller and the buyer) to be present at the entry in the property register. During the transaction, the proofs or the documents concerning the transfer of the full purchase price into Turkey must be presented to the Land Registry Office. A purchase tax of 3% is collected from the purchaser during the transaction
Is buying a property in Turkey a good investment ?
A12 – Yes, considering the fact that Turkey is on the verge of becoming a member of the EU and has one of the fastest growing emerging markets in the world. In addition, the demand for private property in the Fethiye area has grown dramatically over the last 3-4 years. Due to such demand and the fact that there are limits on the amount of land available for building private accommodation in the Fethiye area, the value of existing homes in the area is set to rise substantially in the near future
Do I have to pay all at once ?
A13 – We generally ask the buyer for a 10% deposit, with the outstanding balance payable by the agreed completion date as detailed in the contract. We are happy to discuss and agree a payment plan with you when drawing up the contract.
A14 – Payments are required in cash in sterling. This is standard practise when buying property in Turkey.
Do I need to register the fact that I have bought the property?
A15 – Yes. Once the property ‘searches’ and property location checks have been carried out and approval has been received, the buyer and seller must register the sale/purchase of the property at the Land Registry Office and pay the 3% purchase tax.
Will I need planning permission to make any modifications to my property?
A16 – Ttere are planning restrictions in place stating that a person can only build on a maximum of 10% of any land they own and that any building can not exceed a height of 6.5 metres. We make maximum use of these allowances and ensure planning pemissions are obtained and any alterations permitted.
How can I bring my household goods into Turkey?
A17 – You need a residence permit valid for a minimum of one year in order to import your household goods. We strongly advise you to contact the Turkish Consulate in London for this information or if you are already in Turkey, please contact the Turkish Customs Administration Office in Ankara on 444 8 482 or check their official website http://vatandas.gtb.gov.tr/www.gumruk.gov.tr
What sort of prices can the properties be let for?
A18 – As luxury holiday accommodation, our villas can realistically be let for £500- £700 per week in high season.
Is it easy to sell up and transfer the proceeds out of Turkey?
A19 – Yes. Any acquired property may be resold or rented out and the proceeds transferred out of Turkey.
Does owning a property in Turkey entitle a person to residency?
A20 – No. However, it does make applying for a residence permit a lot easier because you can prove you have already invested in Turkey
How can I obtain a residence permit for Turkey?
A21 – If you wish to apply for a resident permit in Turkey, you should apply to The Police Headquarters, Aliens Department in the province where you reside.
Documents Required:
Long Term Residential Status
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4 application forms, which can be obtained from the Aliens Department.
a) forms should be completed in typeset not hand-written.
b) one photograph should be attached on each form. -
Passport
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4 recent photographs
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The residence declaration form duly completed.
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The appropriate valid visa obtained from the Turkish Embassy abroad.
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The appropriate fee
First time applicants may be granted up to two years resident permit. Thereafter, it may be renewed for five years. Resident permit applications will be processed and issued in one day.
Marriage to a Turkish National
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4 application forms, which can be obtained from the Aliens Department.
a) forms should be completed in typeset not hand-written.
b) one photograph should be attached to each form. -
Passport
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4 recently taken photographs.
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The residence declaration form duly completed.
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A certified copy of your marriage certificate (translated into Turkish if appropriate).
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Registration certificate which proves you are the spouse of a Turkish national and that it was registered
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The appropriate fee.
A man or a woman married to a Turkish citizen will be issued with a resident permit valid for three years on first application. Thereafter it may be renewed for up to five years.
Working for a Private Company in Turkey
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4 application forms, which can be obtained from the Aliens Department.
a) forms should be completed in typeset not hand-written.
b) one photograph should be attached to each form. -
2 completed work position declaration forms obtained from the Aliens Department.
Your passport, which should contain a working visa issued by the Turkish Embassy abroad.
4 recent photographs.
The residence declaration form duly completed.
A letter from your employer in Turkey.
The Ministry’s permission granted to the company.
The appropriate fee
If a working visa has been obtained from the Turkish Embassy abroad, on first application in Turkey a two-year resident permit will be issued. Thereafter three and five year resident permits may be issued.
Pending Applications: If you wish to leave the country and your application has not been resolved the Aliens Department will endorse your resident permit on one occasion only, giving right of residency for 15 days. Production of this endorsement upon departure from Turkey to immigration police should avoid a fine being levied.
A22 – According to the Turkish regulations, foreigners are only issued with work permits for jobs such as teaching English and in the tourism sector. Work permits are issued by the Turkish Undersecretariat of Treasury in Ankara. We strongly advise those wishing to take up employment in Turkey to contact the Turkish Embassy in London and/or their prospective employer in Turkey about the correct procedure to obtain a Work Permit, well before their departure from the UK.
In order to be able to work and reside in Turkey, all non-residents must first obtain a work permit from General Directorate of Foreign Investments and parallel with this permit, a residence permit from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
For further information please see: www.investinginturkey.gov.tr/employmentregulations.html
Do I need medical insurance in Turkey?
A23 – Although it is not compulsory to have medical insurance in Turkey we strongly advise you to have full travel insurance, as private medical treatment can be expensive in Turkey. If you are resident in Turkey you may arrange medical insurance from a local insurance company.N.B. Local insurance companies generally do not provide cover for persons over the age of sixty.
A24 – You can apply at any British Mission in Turkey with the following documents Required documents to renew a British passport are as follows:
- C1 Passport Application form
- 2 Photographs
- Previous passport
- Appropriate fee
- If your previous passport has been lost or stolen, a Turkish police report is required
How do I get married in Turkey?
A25 – To marry in Turkey a Certificate of No Impediment is required. You may apply to the local Registrar in the town where you reside, well before travelling to Turkey or alternatively, you may post your Notice of Marriage at the British Embassy in Ankara, the British Consulate in Izmir or Istanbul, or the British Vice-Consulate in Antalya.
Please be Aware of the Following.
1.If you post your Notice of Marriage at a British Mission in Turkey, you should be resident in the country for twenty-one days before the Notice can be accepted.
2.You are then required to wait a further twenty-one days after posting the Notice of Marriage, before your Certificate of Non Impediment can be issued. You should also make a standard declaration confirming your marital status i.e. single, married, divorced, spinster or widow. In addition you should produce your passport/identification and that of your fiancée/fiancé. If applicable, your divorce or spouse’s deaths certificate.
3.Turkish law requires that divorced woman, regardless of nationality, must wait for 300 days from the date of their decree absolute before applying to re-marry. However, you may apply to the local court in the town, where you intend to marry to have this period reduced or waived. Certain criteria must be met before a successful ruling from the court, including a negative pregnancy test from the local Turkish State hospital. If you bring your Certificate of No Impediment from the UK, we will reproduce it in the local language, within one working day. You should also make a declaration and provide identification details as in (2) above.
4.Your Certificate must then be legalised by the Turkish Authorities, either by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara or the Governor in Istanbul, Izmir or Antalya.
Upon completion of the above you have fulfilled the criteria for a British National to marry in Turkey. Details of Fees for these services are given below.
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Notice of Marriage – £35.
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Declaration – £ 30
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Certificate of Non-Impediment – £35.
Note: All fees are paid in local currency at the current Consular Rate of Exchange.
Will I lose my British nationality if I take Turkish nationality through marriage?
A26 – No, both countries accept dual nationality. For detailed information please see page three of your UK passport
