Foreign individuals are permitted to obtain real estate in Turkey, that is to be used as a business office or as a residence and that is registered within the building development scheme or the localized building scheme, on a basis of reciprocity and in accordance with the legal requirements. The same conditions are in demand for the establishment of limited title related real rights.
The surface area of the real estate and the limited real rights which have the attributions of permanency and detachedness, that a foreign real person is permitted to obtain, cannot exceed 2,5 hectare. The Council of Ministers is authorised to determine the areas, that the foreign real persons and legal persons cannot purchase considering the national security and public interest because of the attributions of strategic importance, flora and fauna, irrigation, energy, agriculture, mine resources, belief and culture, on a proposal of the related public institutions.
On the basis of districts and counties, the foreign real persons can purchase up to the 10% of surface area of the real estate that is registered within the building development scheme or the localized building scheme and the Council of Ministers is authorised to determine a different percentage not-to-exceed such 10% percent.
Although there are minor exceptions for refugees and individual lacking citizenship, the general permission for foreign real persons is dependent on the main condition of the principle of reciprocity. Accordingly only the citizens of a foreign state that acknowledges the rights of Turkish Republic citizens and legal entities established in Turkey to purchase property are provided the same rights with equal conditions in Turkey as well in accordance with the Turkish Law. General Directorate of Real Estate announces the lists of reciprocity between Turkey and the other States for this purpose. The reciprocity principle has not been changed since the date that the Property Act was first came into force. However, the list of the countries that entered into the agreement of reciprocity with Turkey has been fluctuant. These lists are renewed, when the states authorise by the agreeements with Turkey to obtain real estate on reciprocal terms or their actual legal practice allows Turkish citizens the same rights.