Sworn Translators and Notaries in Turkish Property Deals: When You Need Them and How It Works

If you buy or sell property in Türkiye and do not speak Turkish, two professionals will shape your paperwork: the sworn translator (yeminli tercüman) and the notary (noter). One makes sure you understand what you sign. The other gives contracts, powers of attorney and translations their official force. This guide explains when each is needed and how the process works, as of November 2026.

Key points

• At the title deed signing, a sworn translator must be present if any party does not speak Turkish. The translator signs the deed too.
• The land registry’s official guide for foreign buyers says that translator must be authorised by a judicial justice commission (adalet komisyonu).
• Foreign documents such as a power of attorney need an apostille, or consular legalisation if the country is not in the Apostille Convention, plus a Turkish translation certified by a notary in Türkiye.
• Notaries cannot transfer title. That happens only at the land registry. But a promise to sell land (satış vaadi sözleşmesi) is only valid if a notary draws it up.
• Notary fees follow an official tariff published each year in the Official Gazette.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check your own case with a lawyer, the notary or the land registry office.

What a sworn translator is

Türkiye has no separate law on translators. The sworn translator system rests on the Notaries Law (No. 1512) and its implementing regulation, according to a 2020 academic review of the system.

• Sworn before a notary. A translator who wants to work for a notary takes an oath before that notary. The notary must first be satisfied that the person knows the language, usually by checking a diploma or other documents. The oath is recorded in a signed minute (yemin tutanağı), and a notary may not use a translator who has no oath minute on file.
• Translator lists of the courts. Separately, each province’s justice commission draws up an annual list of translators for the courts. New translators on that list take an oath, and the Ministry of Justice publishes the combined lists.

The Notaries Law also requires a sworn interpreter at the notary when a party does not know Turkish: "İlgili, Türkçe bilmezse andlı bir tercüman da bulundurulur."

When the land registry requires a translator

The title deed is signed at the land registry office (tapu müdürlüğü). The regulation on official deeds drawn up by land registry offices (Resmi Gazete, 10 November 2009, No. 27402) sets the rules:

• If one of the parties does not speak Turkish, a sworn translator must also be present (Article 17).
• The translator signs the deed along with the parties.
• The translator’s identity details, citizenship number, address and signature are written into the deed (Article 7). The translator must be literate and an adult.

Your Key Türkiye, the land registry’s official site for foreign buyers, lists the sworn translator among the documents for a foreign buyer’s application. It says the translator is needed if a party does not speak Turkish and must be authorised by the regional judicial justice commission (bölge adli yargı adalet komisyonu). Confirm with the land registry office before the appointment that your translator qualifies.

A language barrier alone does not trigger the separate witness rule. Two witnesses are needed in other cases, for example when a party cannot sign or read, is deaf, blind or mute, or when there is doubt about someone’s identity.

Step 1: Decide if you need a translator at the deed office

You need one if you, or the seller, do not speak Turkish. If a representative signs for you under a power of attorney, the question applies to the representative instead.

Step 2: Book the translator early

• Ask the land registry office, your lawyer or your agent which translators they accept.
• Check that the translator is on the justice commission’s list, as Your Key Türkiye requires.
• Make sure the translator brings official identity documents, because their identity and citizenship number go into the deed.
• Agree the fee in advance. Freelance translator fees are not set by the notary tariff.

Step 3: Prepare foreign documents

The land registry checks your passport or national identity card and, where needed, its translation. Other foreign documents, such as birth or marriage certificates, inheritance papers or a power of attorney, also need to be made usable in Türkiye.

Apostille. Türkiye is a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. It signed on 8 May 1962 and the Convention entered into force for Türkiye on 29 September 1985. The Convention replaces the traditional legalisation chain with a single certificate, the apostille, issued by a competent authority in the country where the document comes from. Electronic apostilles are as valid as paper ones.

Consular legalisation. If the issuing country is not a party to the Convention, the document goes through the older route: the issuing official’s signature is verified by that country’s competent authority and then certified by the Turkish consulate there.

Translation. Once the document carries its apostille or legalisation, it is translated into Turkish by a sworn translator and the translation is certified by a Turkish notary.

Step 4: Get a power of attorney right

Many buyers sign through a representative under a power of attorney (vekaletname). The land registry applies a circular, No. 2015/5 (1767), to powers of attorney issued abroad. Your Key Türkiye says the original or a certified copy must be submitted with its translation. According to a summary of the circular and a 2017 clarifying letter by law firm Moroğlu Arseven, a power of attorney issued by a foreign notary must:

• be drawn up by the notary in the required statutory form;
• be in the issuing country’s language and carry a photo of the person giving it, sealed or certified by the issuing authority;
• expressly authorise the specific land registry transaction;
• carry an apostille, or consular certification for non-Convention countries;
• be translated and notarised in Türkiye.

These conditions apply to powers issued by foreign notaries. The alternative is a power of attorney issued at a Turkish consulate. If you are already in Türkiye, a Turkish notary can prepare one, with a sworn translator present if you do not speak Turkish. Our power of attorney guide covers this step in detail.

How notaries work in Türkiye

For property buyers, a notary’s main jobs are:

• Powers of attorney. The Notaries Law lists contracts and powers of attorney that require a land registry transaction among those notaries must draw up in full official form.
• Promises to sell (satış vaadi sözleşmesi). Under Article 237 of the Turkish Code of Obligations, a promise to sell real estate is not valid unless made in official form, which means drawn up by a notary. A promise written privately is invalid, and a court will treat it as such on its own motion. A notarised promise can be annotated on the land register (şerh), and the annotation is valid for five years.
• Translations. Translating documents is one of a notary’s legal tasks. The translator signs that the translation matches the original, and the notary’s certification makes it official. The notary confirms the translator’s identity and signature, not the quality of the translation.
• No title transfers. The transfer of ownership itself is done at the land registry, not at a notary.

e-Devlet lists Türkiye Noterler Birliği (TNB), the notaries’ union, as offering several online services, including a query of powers of attorney issued in your name and an e-appointment service.

Notary fees: the official tariff

Notary fees are set by a tariff the Ministry of Justice publishes every year. The 2026 Notary Fee Tariff appeared in the Official Gazette on 30 December 2025 (No. 33123) and applies from 1 January 2026. Two items matter most for translations:

• Translation by the notary: 667.67 lira per page; pages of 10 lines or fewer pay half.
• Writing fee for copies: 80.68 lira per page.

Other fees depend on the transaction. An amendment published on 26 August 2026 (No. 33352) changed only the travel allowance rules. Ask the notary for a written quote before you start.

Step 5: Find a sworn translator

• At the notary. Every notary keeps oath minutes for the translators it works with. Ask the notary which sworn translators it uses for your language.
• From the court lists. Justice commissions post their annual translator lists at courthouses and online, and the Ministry of Justice publishes the combined lists.
• For the deed appointment. Ask the land registry office directly, since Your Key Türkiye requires a translator authorised by the justice commission.

Step 6: On the day

1. Bring your passport and its translation if requested, plus your certified documents.
2. Make sure the translator arrives with official identity documents.
3. The translator reads and explains the deed to you before anyone signs.
4. Ask questions before you sign.
5. Keep copies of the signed deed and all certified translations.

For the full buying process, read our guide to buying property in Turkey as a foreigner and our explainer on the costs of buying a home. You will also need a Turkish tax number early in the process.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need a translator at the title deed office if I speak some Turkish?

A: The rule applies when a party does not speak Turkish. If you cannot follow legal Turkish, use a translator. The deed office decides on the day, so check in advance.

Q: Can my friend or my estate agent translate at the land registry?

A: Only if they meet the legal requirements. Your Key Türkiye says the translator must be authorised by a judicial justice commission, and the translator’s identity is written into the deed.

Q: Does my foreign power of attorney need an apostille?

A: Yes, if issued by a foreign notary in a Convention country. Otherwise it needs consular certification. It must also be translated and notarised in Türkiye.

Q: Can a notary transfer the title deed?

A: No. Ownership is transferred only at the land registry. A notary can draw up a promise to sell, which must be notarised to be valid.

Q: How much does a notary charge to certify a translation?

A: Under the 2026 tariff, a translation by the notary costs 667.67 lira per page, and half for pages of 10 lines or fewer. Other fees depend on the transaction, so ask for a quote.

Planning to buy? Download our free property guide for a step-by-step checklist.

Sources

• Regulation on official deeds drawn up by land registry offices (Tapu Sicil Müdürlüklerince Düzenlenen Resmî Senetlere İlişkin Usul ve Esaslar Hakkında Yönetmelik), RG 10 Nov 2009 No. 27402: Art. 17(3) sworn translator if a party does not speak Turkish, translator signs, identity and address in deed, literate adult; Art. 7(d); Art. 17(1) two-witness cases
• Your Key Türkiye (Land Registry and Cadastre) property acquisition guide: sworn translator needed if a party does not speak Turkish, must be authorised by the regional judicial justice commission; passport with translation where needed; foreign POA original or certified copy with translation, circular 2015/5 (1767)
• Uysal, ‘Çevirilerin resmi olarak onaylanması’ (RumeliDE, 2020): sworn translation rests on Notaries Law 1512 (Art. 60, 74, 75, 112) and Regulation Art. 96; notary checks language knowledge, oath minute signed, no translation without oath minute on file; notary stamp makes translation official
• Regulation on translator lists under the Code of Criminal Procedure (RG 5 Mar 2013 No. 28578): provincial justice commissions prepare annual lists, oath, publication by Ministry of Justice (Ministry of Justice)
• HCCH Apostille Convention status table: Türkiye signed 8 May 1962, in force 29 Sept 1985
• HCCH Apostille Section: apostille replaces legalisation chain; issued by competent authority where document originates; e-Apostille as valid as paper
• Requirements for foreign-issued powers of attorney at land registries, circular 1767 (2015/5) and 20 March 2017 letter: statutory form, photo, apostille or consular certification, express authority, translation and notarisation in Türkiye (Moroğlu Arseven)
• TBK Art. 237 (promise to sell real estate valid only in official form), Notaries Law Art. 89, TMK 1009 annotation, five-year validity of annotation, consequences of private written promises (Hukuki Haber)
• Notary confirms translator’s identity and signature, not the content of the translation (İndigo Dergisi, April 2026)
• 2026 Notary Fee Tariff, RG 30 Dec 2025 No. 33123: Art. 4 translation 667.67 TL per page (half for 10 lines or fewer), Art. 3 writing fee 80.68 TL per page, in force 1 Jan 2026 (Ministry of Justice)
• Amendment to the 2026 Notary Fee Tariff, RG 26 Aug 2026 No. 33352: Article 11 travel allowance only (Ministry of Justice)
• Türkiye Noterler Birliği e-Devlet services: personal power of attorney query, e-appointment (e-Devlet)
• Foreigners at notaries: translator needed when the person does not know Turkish, translator explains the document; property transfers done at land registry offices (FFK Partner Hukuk)
• Translator fees not government-regulated (2base)

Photo: Nightrider1000 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons