Introduction

Foreign nationals frequently need to complete legal transactions in Turkey without being physically present in the country.

A foreign property owner may live in London but need to sell an apartment in Istanbul.

An overseas heir may need to complete inheritance proceedings in Turkey.

A foreign spouse may need Turkish legal representation in divorce proceedings.

An international investor may need someone to establish or manage a Turkish company.

A victim of fraud may need a lawyer to file and follow criminal and civil proceedings.

A foreign creditor may need enforcement proceedings against a Turkish debtor.

A person facing deportation or an immigration dispute may need immediate representation while living outside Turkey.

In many such situations, the practical solution is a power of attorney — vekâletname.

A power of attorney allows another person, frequently a Turkish lawyer, to carry out specified legal acts on behalf of the person granting the authority.

However, international powers of attorney are not as simple as signing an English document stating:

“I authorize my lawyer to act for me in Turkey.”

Whether a foreign power of attorney can actually be used in Turkey can depend upon:

• the country where it was issued;
• whether that country is party to the Hague Apostille Convention;
• who notarized it;
• whether an apostille is required;
• whether Turkish consular legalization is required;
• whether a Turkish translation has been prepared;
• whether the document contains the necessary special powers;
• whether the principal was properly identified;
• whether a photograph is required;
• and the particular transaction for which the document will be used.

These distinctions become especially important in:

• real estate transactions;
• court proceedings;
• settlements;
• divorce;
• inheritance;
• banking;
• company transactions;
• and transactions involving high-value assets.

Turkish law also distinguishes between general authority and powers that must be expressly and specifically granted.

Under Article 504 of the Turkish Code of Obligations, an agent cannot perform certain important acts without specific authority, including bringing legal proceedings, settling, referring matters to arbitration, making gifts, becoming a guarantor, transferring real estate or placing rights or restrictions over real estate.

For litigation, Article 74 of the Turkish Code of Civil Procedure contains an additional and detailed list of matters requiring express authority, including settlement, waiver, acceptance, lifting attachments, appointing another attorney, arbitration-related acts and various dispositions over the litigation itself.

This means that the safest power of attorney is not necessarily the longest document.

It is the document that gives the correct powers for the intended transaction while avoiding unnecessary authority.

What Is a Power of Attorney in Turkey?

A power of attorney is a document evidencing the authority granted by one person to another person to act on their behalf.

The person granting the authority is commonly referred to as the:

principal — vekâlet veren

and the authorized person as the:

agent or attorney — vekil.

Where the representative is a licensed Turkish lawyer, the document enables the lawyer to perform procedural and legal acts within the authority granted.

The legal scope of the mandate is significant.

Article 504 of the Turkish Code of Obligations provides that where the scope has not been expressly defined, it is determined according to the nature of the task undertaken. The mandate also includes legal acts necessary for performance of that task, but certain major acts still require express special authorization.

A power of attorney should therefore be drafted according to its purpose rather than copied blindly from an unrelated template.

Does a Foreigner Need to Be in Turkey to Give a Power of Attorney?

No.

A foreign national can generally give a power of attorney either:

1. while physically present in Turkey, or
2. while abroad.

The procedure differs depending upon where the principal is located.

If the foreigner is in Turkey, the document will generally be arranged through a Turkish notary.

If the person is abroad, there are two main practical routes:

• arranging the power of attorney through a Turkish embassy or consulate; or
• executing it before an authorized foreign notary or comparable authority and completing the necessary apostille or legalization procedure.

The correct option often depends on the country and the intended transaction.

Option 1: Giving Power of Attorney Before a Turkish Notary

A foreigner physically present in Turkey may normally arrange the power of attorney through a Turkish notary.

The person should ordinarily expect to present a valid passport or other accepted identification.

Where the foreigner does not understand Turkish sufficiently for the notarial transaction, interpretation requirements become important.

Foreigners should not sign a Turkish power of attorney without understanding what powers are being granted.

The document can contain broad authority affecting:

• lawsuits;
• money;
• bank accounts;
• property;
• settlement;
• enforcement;
• and other valuable legal rights.

A translator may therefore participate in the notarial procedure where required.

The precise documentation can depend upon the nature of the transaction and the notary’s legal requirements.

Option 2: Power of Attorney Through a Turkish Embassy or Consulate

For many foreign clients living abroad, using a Turkish embassy or consulate can be one of the cleanest methods.

Turkish consulates perform notarial functions abroad.

The Land Registry and Cadastre Directorate’s official guidance states that a notarial act executed by a Turkish consulate abroad is valid without requiring a further approval by another authority.

This is particularly useful because it can remove uncertainty concerning whether:

• the foreign notary was competent;
• the apostille is correct;
• the legalization chain is complete; or
• the document meets Turkish form requirements.

Current Turkish diplomatic mission guidance also confirms that foreign nationals may obtain specified powers of attorney through Turkish missions.

For example, the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo’s February 2026 guidance expressly lists powers of attorney for property sales and divorce among notarial procedures available to foreign individuals. It requires personal attendance, passport documentation, information concerning the authorized person and a sworn translator where the applicant does not speak Turkish at the required level.

Similarly, Türkiye’s Embassy in New Delhi provides a procedure for foreign individuals giving powers of attorney for purposes including buying real estate and hiring Turkish lawyers, requiring personal attendance, passport documents, attorney details and interpreter assistance where necessary.

Requirements can differ between missions.

A client should therefore verify the particular embassy or consulate’s current notarial practice before attending.

What Information About the Turkish Lawyer May Be Required?

Where a foreigner is appointing a Turkish lawyer through a consular procedure, the diplomatic mission may request identifying professional details.

These can include:

• full name;
• Turkish identification number;
• bar association;
• bar registration number;
• professional registration information;
• and office address.

For example, the New Delhi Embassy currently publishes a list of professional information required where the power is given to a Turkish lawyer.

The foreign client should therefore obtain the exact attorney information and proposed wording before attending the appointment.

Do Foreigners Need an Interpreter at the Turkish Consulate?

Where the foreigner does not understand Turkish adequately, interpreter assistance may be required.

The purpose is not merely administrative convenience.

A power of attorney may authorize very significant acts.

The principal must understand what is being authorized.

The Tokyo Embassy’s current 2026 guidance requires an accredited/sworn translator to accompany an applicant unless the applicant speaks Turkish at a native-level standard for the relevant procedure.

The New Delhi Embassy likewise instructs persons who do not speak Turkish to attend with an accredited translator for notarial transactions.

Mission-specific procedures can vary, so appointment requirements should be checked in advance.

Option 3: Foreign Notary + Apostille

A foreigner does not always need to travel to a Turkish consulate.

Where the power of attorney is issued in a country participating in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, a locally notarized document can often be prepared and then authenticated through an apostille issued by the competent authority in that country.

Türkiye is a contracting state to the Apostille Convention, which entered into force for Türkiye on 29 September 1985.

The Turkish Land Registry’s guidance specifically distinguishes powers of attorney issued:

• by Turkish consulates;
• in Hague Apostille Convention countries; and
• in non-Hague countries.

For land-registry purposes, a power of attorney executed before an authorized authority in another contracting state must contain the appropriate apostille.

What Does an Apostille Actually Do?

An apostille authenticates the official origin of a public document for international use under the Hague system.

It primarily confirms matters such as:

• authenticity of the signature;
• capacity of the person signing the public document; and
• identity of the seal or stamp where relevant.

It does not mean that Turkish authorities have approved the legal content of the power of attorney.

The Hague Conference itself emphasizes that apostilles are issued by designated competent authorities of contracting states.

Therefore:

A perfectly apostilled power of attorney can still be unusable in Turkey if it does not contain the authority required for the intended transaction.

Apostille solves an authentication problem.

It does not solve a drafting problem.

Does Every Country Use Apostille?

No.

Whether the apostille procedure applies depends upon the relationship between Türkiye and the country where the document was issued.

The official Hague Conference status table identifies the contracting states to the Apostille Convention.

If the document originates from a country where the Hague Apostille Convention applies in relation to Türkiye, the normal legalization chain is replaced by the apostille procedure.

If it does not, consular legalization may instead be necessary unless another treaty creates an exemption.

This should be checked before the document is prepared.

What Happens If the Country Is Not Party to the Hague Apostille Convention?

For documents issued in non-Hague countries, the process is generally more complicated.

The Turkish Land Registry guidance explains that, for foreign notarized powers of attorney falling outside the Hague Apostille system, the signature and seal of the foreign issuing authority must proceed through the applicable legalization chain and ultimately be authenticated by the Turkish consular authority in that country.

For land-registry powers, TKGM describes a two-stage approach in which the foreign notary’s signature is authenticated through the competent local authority and that authority’s signature/seal is then authenticated by the Turkish consulate.

The precise chain depends on local law.

A foreign client should therefore avoid preparing a power of attorney independently and asking only after completion:

“Can this be used in Turkey?”

It is much safer to determine the Turkish requirements before the foreign notarial appointment.

Is a Turkish Translation Required?

Usually, foreign-language powers of attorney intended for use before Turkish authorities will require Turkish translation.

The form of translation can depend upon the institution receiving the document.

The Turkish Embassy in Tokyo’s 2026 guidance requires Turkish translations for apostilled foreign notarial documents under its stated procedure.

The New Delhi Embassy likewise notes that foreign documents can be translated in Turkey by sworn translators and that Turkish authorities accept translations prepared within the relevant sworn-translation framework.

For land-registry transactions, the TKGM guidance is particularly strict regarding the document’s language and notarized Turkish translation.

The foreign client should therefore preserve:

• original power of attorney;
• apostille/legalization;
• and the legally acceptable Turkish translation

as one complete documentary package.

Does an Apostille Need to Be Translated?

In practice, the Turkish authority may require the entire foreign document package, including authentication elements, to be translated appropriately.

This is especially important because the apostille forms part of the proof that the foreign document is authentic.

A translation that covers only the substantive POA text while ignoring the notarial and authentication sections can create unnecessary objections.

The translation strategy should therefore be confirmed with the receiving institution.

Electronic Apostille — E-Apostille

Some countries now issue apostilles electronically.

The Turkish Land Registry’s official guidance recognizes e-apostille documents where the electronic apostille and the underlying power of attorney can be properly connected and verified electronically.

TKGM specifically notes that where the legal link between the e-apostille and the underlying document cannot be verified through the relevant digital system, the document may not be accepted for a land-registry transaction.

Accordingly, merely presenting a PDF file containing the word “apostille” is not necessarily enough.

Verification must be possible.

A General Power of Attorney Does Not Cover Every Transaction

This is perhaps the most important substantive issue.

Many foreign clients ask:

“Can I just give my lawyer a general power of attorney and use it for everything?”

Not necessarily.

Turkish law requires special authority for several important transactions.

Article 504 of the Turkish Code of Obligations states that unless specifically authorized, the agent cannot perform acts including:

• bringing an action;
• settling;
• referring a matter to arbitration;
• seeking bankruptcy or composition proceedings;
• undertaking negotiable-instrument liabilities;
• making gifts;
• acting as guarantor;
• transferring real estate; or
• restricting real property with a right.

Accordingly, the authority should be drafted for the intended purpose.

Special Powers in Litigation

Court representation has its own additional rules.

Article 74 of the Turkish Code of Civil Procedure requires express authority for numerous acts that can materially affect the client’s substantive or procedural rights.

Without express authority, an attorney cannot perform certain acts such as:

• settlement;
• rejection of the judge;
• complete amendment of the action;
• certain oath-related acts;
• delegation to another lawyer;
• removal of an attachment;
• waiver of the case or legal remedies;
• release of the opposing party;
• acceptance of the opposing claim;
• certain arbitration and alternative dispute-resolution acts; and
• specified proceedings involving strictly personal rights.

For this reason, litigation powers of attorney used by Turkish lawyers commonly contain detailed special-authority language.

Power of Attorney for Real Estate in Turkey

Real estate is one of the areas where drafting requirements are particularly strict.

A foreign owner can appoint someone to perform Turkish land-registry transactions.

However, Turkish law requires special authority for transferring immovable property.

Article 504 expressly provides that an agent cannot transfer a property or place a right over it without special authority.

The Land Registry’s guidance also explains that powers of attorney for transactions requiring action at the land registry must comply with the formal requirements applicable to such authority.

A real-estate power of attorney can potentially authorize acts such as:

• purchasing property;
• selling property;
• receiving the purchase price;
• applying before the Land Registry;
• signing official deeds;
• establishing or releasing mortgages;
• completing inheritance transfer;
• obtaining documents;
• and dealing with related administrative matters.

The actual wording should correspond with the intended transaction.

Is a Photograph Required for a Property Power of Attorney?

For land-registry powers, this is an important technical issue.

The Turkish Land Registry’s official guidance states that powers of attorney concerning transactions that must be performed at the Land Registry should contain the principal’s photograph. The photograph must also be authenticated in a manner showing that it forms part of the original notarized instrument.

The Tokyo Embassy’s current procedure for specified notarial transactions, including property-sale powers of attorney, also requires photographs from the applicant.

A foreign property owner should therefore tell the local notary that the power of attorney is intended for a Turkish real-estate transaction before signing.

Passport Details in Property Powers of Attorney

For foreign natural persons, identification used in land-registry powers is also important.

TKGM guidance states that a foreign person’s power of attorney should be based on an identity document or passport issued by the country of nationality, and the underlying identification must be valid at the relevant time.

Names should be checked particularly carefully.

Differences such as:

MOHAMMED / MUHAMMAD / MOHAMED

or differences in multiple surnames can create practical identity problems across:

• passport;
• tax number;
• title deed;
• marriage certificate;
• and power of attorney.

International documents should therefore use consistent identifying information wherever possible.

Power of Attorney for Buying Property

A foreign buyer does not necessarily have to come to Turkey personally to purchase property.

A properly authorized representative can potentially complete the acquisition.

However, the POA should be drafted for acquisition rather than merely containing general representation language.

Depending upon the transaction, it may need authority concerning:

• purchase;
• Land Registry signature;
• declarations;
• title transfer;
• tax matters;
• payments;
• utility procedures;
• and receipt of official documents.

If the transaction is linked to Turkish citizenship by investment, additional specific wording may also be required for investment-related declarations and administrative processes.

The exact current requirements should be checked before execution.

Power of Attorney for Selling Property

Selling creates even greater financial risk.

A property-sale power may allow the agent to transfer an asset worth hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

The principal should therefore decide whether the agent should also be allowed to:

• determine the sale price;
• receive the purchase money;
• receive money in cash;
• use a bank account;
• release mortgages;
• execute undertakings;
• or delegate authority to another person.

A narrow POA limited to one identified property can sometimes be safer than an unrestricted authority covering all present and future property.

Power of Attorney for Divorce in Turkey

Foreign spouses can also appoint Turkish lawyers for family-law proceedings.

However, family-law representation may involve strictly personal rights, and Turkish procedural law requires specific authority where the lawyer is expected to commence and follow certain proceedings concerning such rights. Article 74 expressly addresses this category of special authorization.

Turkish diplomatic missions themselves recognize divorce-related powers of attorney as a distinct notarial category; the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo’s 2026 guidance expressly lists a POA for divorce procedures.

A divorce POA should therefore be prepared specifically for the intended matrimonial proceedings rather than relying on a generic business POA.

Power of Attorney for Inheritance Matters

Foreign heirs often need Turkish representation for matters such as:

• obtaining an inheritance certificate;
• identifying estate assets;
• dealing with Turkish banks;
• transferring inherited real estate;
• tax procedures;
• estate litigation;
• and distribution of assets.

A general litigation POA may be sufficient for some steps but not all.

If inherited real estate will later be sold, the document should contain the necessary real-estate sale authority.

If the representative will conclude a settlement among heirs, special settlement authority should also be considered.

The inheritance strategy should therefore be determined before the document is executed.

Power of Attorney for Companies and Corporate Transactions

Foreign shareholders and directors may also need powers of attorney in connection with Turkish companies.

Potential uses include:

• company formation;
• Trade Registry applications;
• tax registration;
• obtaining documents;
• shareholder procedures;
• bank-account applications;
• commercial contracts;
• litigation;
• and corporate representation.

The person granting the authority must actually possess the corporate capacity necessary to authorize the act.

A personal shareholder POA is not automatically the same thing as a corporate power of attorney issued by the company.

This distinction is essential.

A foreign legal entity may also face different consular procedures from a foreign individual.

For example, the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo’s current 2026 direct notarial procedure for its listed POA categories is expressly limited to individual applicants, while other notarization routes are described separately for legal entities.

Company powers should therefore be planned with the company’s local corporate documentation and signature authority.

Power of Attorney for Banks

Banks apply their own operational and compliance requirements in addition to general agency rules.

A document authorizing a lawyer to litigate does not necessarily mean a bank must treat that lawyer as having authority to:

• open an account;
• close an account;
• withdraw cash;
• make transfers;
• obtain internet banking;
• take loans;
• or change banking instructions.

Banking authority should therefore be expressly drafted where it is genuinely required.

The principal should also consider whether granting broad withdrawal authority is necessary.

A lawyer may need authority to obtain bank information for litigation without needing unrestricted power to move the client’s money.

Power of Attorney for Criminal Cases

Criminal procedure differs from ordinary civil representation.

A Turkish defence lawyer can perform certain defence functions without the same ordinary civil POA requirements at every stage, particularly when representing a suspect or detained person.

However, foreign complainants, victims and persons requiring broader representation may still need an appropriate power of attorney for particular procedural acts and access to files.

The criminal-law POA should be prepared according to whether the person is:

• suspect;
• defendant;
• complainant;
• victim;
• or another interested party.

A generic corporate POA may not be appropriate.

Can a Power of Attorney Be Limited?

Yes, and limitation can be highly advisable.

The principal can limit authority according to:

• a particular lawsuit;
• one property;
• one company;
• one bank;
• one transaction;
• one administrative file;
• or a defined legal objective.

For example:

Instead of:

“I authorize my agent to sell all of my movable and immovable property.”

the document may provide authority only for:

“The sale and Land Registry transfer of the apartment identified by the specified district, block and parcel information.”

Limiting unnecessary authority reduces risk.

Should the Lawyer Be Allowed to Delegate the Power?

This is another important drafting question.

Article 74 of the Turkish Code of Civil Procedure identifies delegation to another representative among matters requiring express authority in litigation.

Law firms sometimes require authority to appoint another lawyer because:

• another attorney may attend a hearing;
• a local attorney may perform an act in another city;
• or representation may continue if the original attorney is unavailable.

However, the principal should understand whether the POA permits substitution before granting that authority.

Should Settlement Authority Be Included?

Settlement is one of the clearest examples of special authority.

Both Article 504 of the Turkish Code of Obligations and Article 74 of the Code of Civil Procedure recognize that significant compromise acts require express authorization.

If settlement authority is granted, a lawyer may be able to enter into a binding compromise within the legal scope of the POA.

The foreign client should therefore discuss whether they want:

• full settlement authority;
• no settlement authority; or
• settlement only with separate client approval as a matter of professional instruction.

The formal legal authority and the lawyer-client contractual instruction should be kept conceptually separate.

Can a Power of Attorney Be Revoked?

Yes.

A principal who no longer wishes the agent to act can terminate the mandate.

Article 512 of the Turkish Code of Obligations provides that both the principal and the agent may terminate the mandate unilaterally at any time, although termination at an inappropriate time can create liability for resulting damage.

From a practical perspective, simply sending a private email saying:

“I cancel the POA.”

may not be enough to protect the principal against third parties who have no knowledge of the revocation.

A formal revocation procedure should therefore normally be completed and relevant authorities informed.

How Is a Power of Attorney Revoked From Abroad?

The revocation itself may be formalized through:

• a Turkish consular notarial procedure; or
• an appropriately notarized and authenticated foreign document

depending upon the case.

The Turkish Consulate General in Miami, for example, specifically lists revocation of an existing power of attorney among its notarial/legalization materials.

Where the original authority concerned:

• real estate;
• bank accounts;
• litigation;
• company operations;
• or other important rights,

the relevant institutions should be informed promptly after revocation.

Does a Power of Attorney Automatically Expire?

Not necessarily.

Some powers of attorney contain an express expiration date.

Others remain effective until:

• revocation;
• completion of the relevant mandate;
• another termination event;
• or a circumstance provided by law.

Therefore, a foreign client should not assume that a POA signed several years earlier is automatically ineffective merely because time has passed.

If an old authority should no longer be used, formal revocation may be necessary.

Is the Original Document Needed in Turkey?

The receiving institution may require the original notarized and authenticated instrument rather than an ordinary scanned copy.

This is particularly important with foreign-issued documents.

Where an e-apostille or digital verification system applies, electronic verification may alter the practical procedure, but the institution must still be able to establish authenticity.

For land-registry e-apostille documents, TKGM requires that the relationship between the electronic apostille and underlying POA be verifiable.

Foreign clients should therefore avoid mailing away the only original document without retaining a complete digital copy.

Common Mistakes Foreigners Make With Turkish Powers of Attorney

Using an Internet Template

A generic online form may not contain the special powers needed under Turkish law.

Obtaining Apostille Before the Document Is Properly Notarized

The apostille must authenticate the legally relevant official act.

The sequence matters.

Assuming Apostille Means the Content Is Legally Sufficient

It does not.

Apostille authenticates the document’s official origin; it does not add missing powers.

Giving Property Sale Authority Without Understanding It

A property-sale POA can be extremely powerful.

Forgetting Settlement and Waiver Powers

A lawyer may be unable to complete a settlement if the special authority is absent.

Giving Too Much Banking Authority

Litigation authority does not necessarily require unrestricted withdrawal authority.

Inconsistent Passport Names

Differences in names across foreign documents can delay Turkish procedures.

Forgetting the Photograph for Land Registry Transactions

TKGM requires photograph compliance for relevant land-registry powers.

Using the Wrong Legalization Route

A Hague Convention country and a non-Hague country follow different authentication structures.

Preparing the POA Before Asking the Turkish Lawyer for the Wording

This often produces a document that must be prepared again.

Practical Step-by-Step Guide for a Foreigner Living Abroad

A foreign client can usually approach the process as follows.

Step 1 — Determine Exactly What the Lawyer Must Do

For example:

• file a lawsuit;
• sell one apartment;
• obtain inheritance documents;
• establish a company;
• follow a deportation case;
• collect debt;
• or complete a divorce.

Step 2 — Obtain the POA Text From the Turkish Lawyer

The wording should be tailored to Turkish law.

Step 3 — Determine Whether to Use a Turkish Consulate or Local Notary

Check the client’s country and practical availability.

Step 4 — Check Hague Apostille Status

Confirm whether the issuing country and Türkiye operate under the Apostille Convention.

Step 5 — If Using a Turkish Consulate

Confirm:

• appointment;
• passport;
• photographs where applicable;
• translator;
• attorney details;
• and document format.

Mission requirements differ.

Step 6 — If Using a Foreign Notary in a Hague Country

Have the POA properly notarized and obtain the correct apostille from the competent authority.

Step 7 — If Using a Foreign Notary in a Non-Hague Country

Complete the appropriate legalization chain, potentially including Turkish consular authentication.

Step 8 — Obtain the Required Turkish Translation

Use the form of sworn/notarized translation required by the Turkish institution.

Step 9 — Send the Complete Document Package to Turkey

Preserve a high-quality scan.

Step 10 — Confirm Acceptance Before Making Major Travel or Transaction Plans

This is especially important for property sales and complex corporate transactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner give a Turkish lawyer power of attorney?

Yes.

The POA can generally be arranged in Turkey or abroad according to the applicable notarial and authentication rules.

Do I have to come to Turkey?

Not necessarily.

A foreign client can often use a Turkish embassy/consulate or a properly authenticated foreign notarial power of attorney.

Is apostille always required?

No.

Apostille generally applies where the document is issued under the Hague Apostille Convention framework.

A POA executed directly as a Turkish consular notarial act does not require a second authentication for the same Turkish use; TKGM expressly recognizes Turkish consular POAs without further approval for land-registry purposes.

What if my country is not in the Apostille Convention?

A legalization procedure involving competent local authorities and the Turkish consular mission may be required.

Does an apostille prove that the contents are valid under Turkish law?

No.

The powers stated in the document must still be legally sufficient for the intended Turkish transaction.

Can I sign an English POA?

Potentially, depending upon the foreign notarial system, but a legally acceptable Turkish translation will generally be required for use before Turkish authorities.

Can a foreigner obtain a POA at a Turkish embassy?

Turkish missions provide notarial services to foreigners for specified transactions, although available transaction categories and application conditions vary by mission.

Do I need a translator?

If you do not adequately understand Turkish during a Turkish consular or notarial procedure, interpreter requirements can apply.

Can my lawyer sell my property with a general POA?

Not unless the document contains the required special authority.

Article 504 specifically requires special authority to transfer or place rights over immovable property.

Does a property POA need a photograph?

For Turkish land-registry transactions, TKGM’s official guidance requires the POA to contain the principal’s properly authenticated photograph.

Can my lawyer receive the purchase price?

Only if the power granted legally covers receipt of the funds.

Whether such authority should be granted is a separate risk decision.

Can a lawyer settle my lawsuit without special authority?

Settlement is among the acts requiring express special authority.

Can my lawyer appoint another lawyer?

This requires the relevant express authority under Turkish procedural law.

Can I give power of attorney for divorce?

Yes, but the document should contain the specific authority required for family-law proceedings concerning strictly personal rights.

Can I use the same POA for inheritance and property sale?

Possibly, but only if it contains all required authorities for both procedures.

A POA sufficient to obtain an inheritance certificate may not necessarily authorize sale of inherited real estate.

Can I revoke my Turkish POA?

Yes.

Article 512 of the Turkish Code of Obligations permits unilateral termination of the mandate.

Can I revoke it while living abroad?

Yes, using an appropriate formal procedure such as a Turkish consular notarial revocation or properly authenticated foreign documentation depending upon the circumstances. Turkish consular materials expressly recognize POA revocation procedures.

Conclusion

A power of attorney is one of the most useful legal tools available to foreigners who have legal, commercial, family or property matters in Turkey but do not wish to travel repeatedly to the country.

However, the document should not be treated as a simple signature form.

An effective Turkish power of attorney has two dimensions:

formal validity

and

substantive authority.

The formal-validity question asks:

• Who issued the document?
• Was it properly notarized?
• Does apostille apply?
• Is consular legalization required?
• Is translation required?
• Was the principal correctly identified?
• Does the document meet transaction-specific formal requirements?

The substantive-authority question asks:

• What exactly is the agent legally allowed to do?

Both must be correct.

A foreign document can have a perfect apostille and still fail because it does not authorize the lawyer to sell the property or settle the lawsuit.

Conversely, a beautifully drafted POA containing every necessary authority can still be rejected if the foreign authentication process was incorrect.

The Hague Apostille system is particularly important for international clients.

Türkiye is a contracting party to the 1961 Apostille Convention, and the system allows public documents from other participating states to be authenticated through the competent apostille authority rather than the traditional multi-stage diplomatic legalization route.

For powers issued outside that system, the Turkish consular legalization chain may become necessary.

The Turkish Land Registry’s own official guidance expressly distinguishes between:

• Turkish consular powers of attorney;
• apostilled foreign powers of attorney;
• and documents issued in non-Hague countries.

Real estate deserves particular caution.

Turkish Code of Obligations Article 504 requires special authorization for an agent to transfer or place rights over immovable property.

In addition, TKGM requires land-registry powers of attorney to satisfy transaction-specific formal conditions, including the photograph requirement.

A foreign property owner should therefore never rely on a basic statement such as:

“My lawyer has general authority.”

The actual document should be reviewed before scheduling the transaction.

Litigation creates similar issues.

Article 74 of the Code of Civil Procedure requires special authorization for major procedural dispositions such as settlement, waiver, acceptance and various other actions capable of fundamentally changing the client’s rights.

This becomes important where a foreign client expects the lawyer to manage the entire case without travelling to Turkey.

The POA should contain enough authority for the lawyer to perform the intended work—but it does not need to give unnecessary powers unrelated to the case.

For that reason, a tailored power of attorney is usually safer than an indiscriminately broad one.

Foreign clients should also pay attention to the difference between individual and corporate authority.

A shareholder acting personally is not automatically acting on behalf of their company.

A corporate power of attorney must be granted by the legally authorized corporate organ or representative according to the company’s documents and the applicable corporate law.

Consular practices can also differ for foreign legal entities, making advance planning particularly important.

Finally, authority can be terminated.

Under Article 512 of the Turkish Code of Obligations, the mandate may be unilaterally terminated by the principal or agent.

Where a foreign principal decides to revoke authority, this should be handled formally.

A principal who revokes a POA should also consider notifying institutions that may otherwise continue relying upon the earlier authority, particularly:

• banks;
• courts;
• Land Registry offices;
• companies;
• and persons involved in an active transaction.

For foreign nationals, the most efficient procedure is therefore:

decide what must be done → have the Turkish lawyer prepare the correct wording → determine whether consular, apostille or legalization procedure applies → complete translation and authentication → verify acceptance before the transaction begins.

This approach prevents one of the most common international legal problems in Turkey:

having a power of attorney that exists on paper but cannot actually be used for the transaction for which it was prepared.

Legal Disclaimer

This article provides general legal information concerning powers of attorney issued by foreign nationals for use in Turkey as of August 2026.

It does not constitute legal advice regarding any particular power of attorney, foreign document or transaction.

Requirements can differ according to:

• issuing country;
• Hague Apostille Convention status;
• foreign notarial law;
• Turkish consular practice;
• type of transaction;
• principal’s nationality;
• individual or corporate status;
• identity documents;
• Land Registry requirements;
• court procedure;
• bank requirements;
• and the specific authority that must be granted.

Foreign nationals should obtain transaction-specific wording from their Turkish lawyer before executing a power of attorney abroad, particularly where the authority concerns real estate, settlement, divorce, inheritance, company assets, banking or high-value transactions.