Lawyer for Foreigners in Turkey

This page is for foreign nationals who live in Türkiye, plan to move here, own property here or have a matter before a Turkish court or authority. Karanfiloglu Law Firm, the office of Av. Kaan Karanfiloğlu in Şişli, Istanbul, advises and represents foreign clients before courts and authorities across Türkiye, and remotely by power of attorney where the procedure allows.

Most foreign clients arrive with one of the questions below. Many arrive with two at once, for example a residence permit that depends on a property purchase, or an inheritance that turns out to need a divorce recognised first.

Common situations

• Residence permits: a short-term or family residence permit is about to expire, an application has been refused, or the migration authority has asked for more documents. See our Turkish residence permit lawyer page.
• Citizenship by investment: an investor is considering Turkish citizenship through a property purchase or another qualifying investment and wants the title deed, valuation and file checked before money moves (citizenship by investment).
• Buying property: a buyer wants the title, zoning status, mortgages, debts and the sale terms reviewed before the transfer at the land registry office (real estate law).
• Working or running a business: working for a Turkish employer, or running your own company, as a rule requires a work permit, often alongside company formation (work permits and company formation).
• Entry bans and deportation: a restriction code, a deportation order or an administrative detention decision has been issued, and the time to challenge it in court is short (entry ban and deportation).
• A divorce granted abroad: where a Turkish citizen is involved, the foreign judgment usually has to be recognised by a Turkish court before it reaches the Turkish civil registry; some uncontested decisions can be registered administratively instead (foreign divorce recognition).
• Inheritance: a relative who owned a flat or a bank account in Türkiye has died, and heirs living abroad need a certificate of inheritance and a way to transfer or sell the assets (inheritance in Türkiye).
• Marriage: you plan to marry in Türkiye and want to know the documents, the procedure and the property regime that will apply (marriage in Türkiye).

How we work with foreign clients

The first meeting can take place at the office in Şişli or by video call, so you can speak to us before you travel. We read your passport and permit history, title deeds, contracts and any decision you have received. You can send them in advance through the contact page.

You then receive, in writing, the options open to you, the steps in order, a realistic timeline and the costs, with official fees listed separately from translation and notary costs. Our own fee is agreed in writing before work starts. Figures change often in this area, so every estimate carries its date.

Many matters can be handled while you are outside Türkiye: a property sale, a lawsuit, an objection to a refusal. For most of them, a power of attorney signed at a Turkish consulate, or before a notary in your country with an apostille, is enough. Some steps cannot be delegated. A first residence permit appointment at the provincial migration office is one example.

Av. Kaan Karanfiloğlu advises in Turkish, English and French. Russian- and Chinese-speaking clients are served through native-speaking advisors at the office.

You receive written updates at each stage, which matters when you are following a file from another time zone. Turkish authorities and courts correspond in Turkish, so we explain every document you receive.

Documents from abroad: apostille, translation and tax number

Most delays in foreigners' files come from documents, not from the law. Four points save the most time:

• Apostille or legalisation: a public document from a country that is party to the Hague Apostille Convention needs an apostille in that country. Documents from other countries are legalised through the Turkish consulate.
• Sworn translation: the document is then translated into Turkish by a sworn translator, and the translation is usually certified by a Turkish notary. An apostille does not replace the translation.
• Tax number: buying property, opening a bank account or signing a lease usually requires a Turkish tax identification number, which a foreigner can obtain from a tax office on presentation of a passport.
• Issue dates: some authorities accept a criminal record certificate or a civil status record only if it was issued recently. Check the dates before you send anything.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to come to Türkiye for my case?

Often not. A lawsuit, a property sale or an appeal against an administrative decision can usually be conducted through a power of attorney. Steps that need your personal attendance, such as certain permit appointments, are identified at the start.

Can I sign a power of attorney abroad?

Yes. You can sign it at a Turkish consulate, or before a local notary with an apostille (or consular legalisation) and a sworn Turkish translation. For a property sale, the power to sell must be stated expressly, and the land registry usually expects the grantor's photograph on the document.

Which languages can I use with your office?

Av. Kaan Karanfiloğlu works in Turkish, English and French. Clients who speak Russian or Chinese are served through native-speaking advisors at the office. Petitions to courts and authorities are filed in Turkish.

Can a foreigner sue in a Turkish court?

Yes, foreigners can sue and be sued in Türkiye on the same footing as Turkish citizens. A foreign claimant may, however, be asked to deposit security for costs, unless a treaty or reciprocity with their country removes that requirement.

How long do residence permit and citizenship applications take?

Processing times depend on the authority's workload and change over time. A residence permit decision often arrives within weeks to a few months, while a citizenship by investment file usually takes several months after the investment. We give a current estimate when we review your file.