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Power of Attorney · Selling from Abroad

Power of Attorney & Selling from Abroad in Turkey

Many foreign owners sell their property in Turkey without travelling to the country. This is done through a carefully prepared power of attorney (POA) and, where needed, additional agreements that protect the seller. This page explains how POA works, how to issue it from abroad, who you can authorize, and how to reduce the risk of fraud.

Key points about selling via power of attorney

When selling from abroad through a power of attorney, you should make sure that:
  • The POA is issued at a Turkish consulate or a notary with apostille in your country
  • The property is clearly identified (address, block/parcel, apartment number, etc.)
  • The authority is limited to selling that specific property and receiving the sale price
  • The POA states the bank account where the sales proceeds must be transferred
  • You work with a trusted person, and where possible also use a written trustee / sales protocol
  • You understand that POA can be revoked or replaced if your situation changes

Most asked questions about POA & selling from abroad

Below you will find the key questions foreign sellers ask about using power of attorney and completing a sale while living outside Turkey. The answers are based on common practice and focus on safety and clarity.
Can I sell my property in Turkey while I am living abroad? +
Yes. Most foreign owners who do not live in Turkey sell their property via a power of attorney. You authorize a trusted person to represent you at the Land Registry, follow the bank payments, and sign the necessary documents on your behalf. As long as the POA is correctly prepared and you control the bank account where the money is sent, the sale can be completed without you travelling to Turkey.
How can I issue a power of attorney for a property sale from my home country? +
You have two main options: you can go to the nearest Turkish consulate and issue a POA there, or you can use a local notary in your own country that can provide an apostille. The document is then sent to Turkey, translated into Turkish (if needed) by a sworn translator and notarized. It is important that the POA text is prepared in advance by professionals who understand Turkish property law and Land Registry practices, so that no key detail is missing.
What information should a power of attorney include for a safe property sale? +
A well-drafted POA for a property sale should clearly state:
  • Your full name, passport details and, if available, Turkish tax number
  • The full identity of the person you are authorizing
  • The exact property details (province, district, neighborhood, block/parcel, apartment number, etc.)
  • Authority limited to selling that property and signing related documents
  • The bank account (name, IBAN) where the sales proceeds must be transferred
  • Any conditions you want to impose, such as minimum sale price or requirement to sign a sales protocol
The more clearly the scope and limits are defined, the lower the risk of misuse.
Who can I give power of attorney to – must it be a lawyer, or can it be a relative or agent? +
You may give POA to a lawyer, a family member, a trusted friend or even a real estate agent. Legally it does not have to be a lawyer. However, because you are giving serious authority over an asset of high value, you should carefully check the person’s background, references, and stability. Many foreign owners choose a lawyer or a professional company and combine the POA with a separate written trustee / sales protocol that sets out responsibilities and conditions in more detail.
Is it safe to sell my property using power of attorney, or am I at high risk of fraud? +
POA itself is a standard legal tool and widely used in Turkey. The real risk is not the document but who you choose and how you limit their authority. You can significantly reduce risk by:
  • Authorizing only one or two clearly identified people
  • Limiting the POA to a specific property and purposes (sale and banking)
  • Stating the exact bank account for receiving the sales price
  • Using a written trustee / sales protocol alongside the POA
  • Working with licensed and traceable professionals
When payment is made to an account fully under your control and all conditions are written, the risk of fraud is greatly reduced.
Can I issue a power of attorney if I am elderly or too ill to travel to a consulate or notary? +
In many countries, notaries, authorized lawyers or mobile officers can visit you at home or in hospital to help issue a POA, especially if you are unable to move. The exact procedure depends on your local law. In some cases, a medical report confirming mental capacity may also be required for very elderly clients. It is best to ask a local notary or lawyer in your country what options exist for issuing a POA without leaving your home.
Can a power of attorney be revoked or limited after I have already issued it? +
Yes. As the principal, you always have the right to revoke a POA. Revocation must be done following the local legal procedure (for example, at a notary) and the revocation should be clearly communicated to the authorized person and, where relevant, to institutions such as the Land Registry and banks. If you want to change the scope, you do not “edit” the old POA; instead you revoke it and issue a new, more limited one if needed.
Do I still need to sign anything personally if I already gave power of attorney? +
If the POA is valid and correctly drafted, your authorized representative can sign all necessary documents at the Land Registry and with the bank on your behalf. You do not have to sign anything in person in Turkey. However, you should still sign and keep copies of the POA itself, trustee agreements, bank instructions and any sales protocols in your own records, so that you can prove exactly what you authorized and under which conditions.
Can one power of attorney cover more than one property or future sales? +
A POA can be drafted to cover more than one property, or even future transactions. However, from a risk perspective, it is usually safer to keep the scope narrow and link it to specific, clearly identified properties and purposes. Many foreign owners prefer to issue a separate POA for each major transaction, so that they have more control and a clear record of what has been authorized and when.
Does a power of attorney automatically expire after a certain time? +
Unless a specific expiry date is written into the document, a POA generally remains valid until it is revoked, the purpose is fulfilled, or one of the parties dies (depending on local law). For your own safety, it is a good idea to add a reasonable time limit in the text, especially if you do not fully trust that the transaction will happen quickly. You can always issue a new POA later if needed.
Is it useful to combine a power of attorney with a separate trustee or sales protocol? +
Yes. The POA gives legal authority to act in your name, but it does not always describe the commercial and practical details of how the sale should be handled. A separate trustee or sales protocol can set out your expectations in more depth: minimum price, how and when funds will be transferred, reporting obligations, what happens if the sale does not complete, and so on. Used together, POA + protocol provide a much stronger and clearer framework for a safe sale from abroad.
This page gives general guidance on using power of attorney and selling from abroad. Your exact situation may require a tailored POA text and additional agreements. For sample wording and a personalized structure, please contact our team.