Section 11 · Official registration and signing
The land registry directorate appointment and the official signing process
The last step in the signing room: identity checks, reading out the transaction sheet and registering the ownership
After the fees are paid, the Land Registry Directorate notifies the parties of the signing time by SMS. In the signing room, the registry director or an authorised officer verifies the parties' identities, reads out the parcel's encumbrance status aloud one last time, takes the parties' declarations of intent and has them sign the official ‘transaction sheet’ (akit tablosu). Ownership passes when the transaction sheet is signed and the transaction is registered in the title-deed register (TMK Art. 705).
Step-by-step process
- Arriving at the land registry office (15 minutes early) (Land Registry Directorate). The parties are present at the land registry directorate with their new chip-enabled IDs 15 minutes before the appointment time stated in the SMS.
- Identity verification and biometric signature (Reception / Security). At the application reception desk the IDs are scanned and, if required, the person is confirmed by fingerprint / camera recording.
- Declaration of intent at the signing table (Authorised transaction officer). In front of the registry officer, the sale terms of the plot, the attachment/mortgage status and the sale price are read out aloud and confirmed.
- Signing the transaction sheet and registration (Registry Director approval). The parties sign the transaction sheet. Takasbank releases the money; the new title deed is presented to the buyer.
Legal basis
- Turkish Civil Code (Türk Medeni Kanunu, TMK) Art. 705 (acquisition of ownership by registration)
- Land Registry Regulation (Tapu Sicili Tüzüğü) and TKGM practice (drawing up and signing the transaction sheet)
- Union of Notaries of Türkiye and Land Registry–Cadastre principles for the review of powers of attorney
Key principles
New chip-enabled Turkish ID card (TKGM practice). TKGM practice: an old population register card may not be accepted at the land registry; confirm with the land registry directorate before the appointment. The ID's chip must be intact and the photo current.
Strict review when selling by power of attorney. In a sale by proxy, the power of attorney must expressly contain the wording ‘to sell immovable property and to collect its price (ahzu kabza)’, and a check for revocation (azil) is mandatory.
Reading out the transaction sheet aloud. The officer reads out the block, parcel, area and sale price aloud. If there is any disagreement or the price is wrong, DO NOT SIGN.
Handing over the title deed. After the signatures, the registry officer hands over the registered title deed (or the QR-coded title-deed document) issued in the new owner's name.
Mistakes to avoid
- Going to the land registry with an old blue/pink population register card or an expired passport (the transaction may not be possible).
- A power of attorney that has the authority for ‘sale of immovable property’ but lacks the authority to ‘collect the sale price (ahzu kabz)’.
- Not bringing two impartial witnesses for parties who cannot read and write or who have a hearing/speech impairment.
Checklist
- The transaction sheet signed at the land registry is conclusive evidence; never sign without reading it or while there is a clause you do not understand.
- The moment the signing is over, the new owner sees the parcel in the Web-Tapu register through e-Devlet.
- After ownership changes hands, your Parselo file can be handed over to the new owner's use.
With Parselo
Parselo Portfolio Management offers a digital title-transfer assistant that lets you archive the parcel file, or hand it over to its new owner, the moment the title-deed transfer is completed.
Official source: TKGM Land Registry Appointment and Query (https://randevu.tkgm.gov.tr)