By Av. Serkan Kara, Istanbul Bar No. 53770. Last updated: 14 June 2026.
A power of attorney (vekaletname) in Turkey is governed by the agency provisions of the Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098 (Articles 502 to 514), and it grants a named representative authority to act for the principal within the exact limits the document states. Turkish notaries and courts read those limits strictly, so the instrument must name each transaction it authorises; a general grant does not silently extend to property sales, court representation, or company acts that the law treats as special-authority matters.
For foreign investors, general counsel, and cross-border companies who cannot appear in person, a correctly drafted POA is the single document that lets Turkish counsel complete a deed transfer, register a company, or run litigation without the principal travelling. The sections below answer the questions clients actually ask, with the governing instruments named in each answer.
What is a power of attorney under Turkish law?
A power of attorney is a unilateral authorisation issued under the agency rules of the Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098, Articles 502 to 514. It empowers an attorney (vekil) to perform legal acts that bind the principal (muvekkil) toward third parties. The scope is defined by the document itself: Turkish law distinguishes ordinary acts, which a general authority can cover, from acts the Code reserves for express special authority. The attorney must act within that scope and in the principal’s interest, and the principal carries liability for acts performed inside the granted authority.
What types of power of attorney exist in Turkey?
Turkish practice works with two core categories under the Code of Obligations No. 6098: a general power of attorney (genel vekaletname) for routine, day-to-day transactions, and a special power of attorney (ozel vekaletname) for specific acts such as a property sale, marriage, or representation before a court. A third form, the irrevocable power of attorney, is permitted only in the limited circumstances recognised under TBK Article 512, typically where the authority secures the interest of the attorney or a third party rather than the convenience of the principal.
- General (genel): broad authority for ordinary transactions; it does not by itself reach acts the law reserves for special authority.
- Special (ozel): targeted authority that must name the act, for example sale of a specified property or appearance in a specified case.
- Irrevocable (azledilemez): available only within the narrow grounds of TBK Article 512; not a default convenience option.
How does a foreign national grant a Turkish power of attorney from abroad?
A foreign national has two routes recognised under Turkish law. The first is to attend a Turkish consulate abroad, where the consular officer issues the vekaletname directly in the form Turkish authorities accept. The second is to execute the document before a local notary in the country of residence, then have it legalised by apostille under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention and accompanied by a sworn Turkish translation. Either route produces an instrument a Turkish notary, land registry, or court will accept. The principal’s passport identity details and a photograph are usually required so the deed registry can verify the grantor.
What must a property power of attorney specifically state?
A power of attorney used for real estate must explicitly identify the property and authorise the specific transaction, because the Turkish land registry (Tapu) and the courts interpret these powers strictly under the Code of Obligations No. 6098. A vague authority to handle affairs will not support a tapu transfer. The document should state the parcel and registry details, name the transaction (sale, purchase, mortgage, or annotation), and grant the attorney the express authority to sign the deed before the land registry. Where the same POA is used for a citizenship-by-investment file, it should also cover the supporting steps described below.
How is a POA used in a citizenship-by-investment file?
In a Turkish citizenship-by-investment file, the power of attorney is what lets local counsel run the transaction end to end without the investor present. A properly drafted POA authorises the attorney to complete the tapu (deed) transfer, coordinate the SPK-licensed valuation report, handle the government filings, and submit the citizenship application on the investor’s behalf. Because each of these is a distinct legal act, the document should list them expressly rather than rely on a general grant. The acquisition route itself runs under Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and its implementing regulation; for the broader process see our guidance on legal aspects of foreign investment in Turkey.
Can a power of attorney be revoked, and when is it irrevocable?
A power of attorney in Turkey is revocable by the principal at any time as a matter of default agency law under the Code of Obligations No. 6098, and the principal can withdraw the authority through the notary that issued or recorded it. The exception is the irrevocable power of attorney permitted under TBK Article 512, which is valid only in the limited situations the Code recognises, generally where the authority protects the interest of the attorney or a third party. Outside those grounds, a purported waiver of the right to revoke will not bind the principal, so an irrevocable grant should be drafted with care and a clear legal basis.
General versus special power of attorney: which do you need?
The choice turns on what the attorney must actually do. A general power of attorney suits routine administration; a special power of attorney is mandatory where Turkish law reserves the act for express authority, such as selling a property, settling a dispute, or representing the principal in litigation. The table compares the two on the points that decide validity.
| Feature | General power of attorney | Special power of attorney |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Routine, day-to-day transactions | A named act (property sale, court case, settlement) |
| Scope | Broad but limited to ordinary acts | Confined to the act expressly stated |
| Property transfer at Tapu | Not sufficient on its own | Required, with parcel details named |
| Court representation | Generally insufficient | Required, naming the matter |
| Drafting risk | Over-broad grants read down by courts | Missing the precise act voids the action |
Why does precise drafting matter so much?
Turkish courts and the land registry interpret a power of attorney strictly, so the most common failure is not forgery but scope: an authority that does not clearly name the act the attorney performed. Under the Code of Obligations No. 6098, an attorney who exceeds the granted authority does not bind the principal, and the third party may be left without an enforceable transaction. For cross-border matters the document should also be issued through the correct channel (consulate, or notary plus apostille and sworn translation) so that a Turkish authority will accept it on first presentation. This is where experienced counsel prevents a deed appointment or a filing deadline from being lost to a defective POA.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Turkish power of attorney need to be notarised?
For acts that bind third parties, such as a property sale or court representation, the vekaletname is issued through a Turkish notary or a Turkish consulate, which provides the official form Turkish authorities accept. A document signed before a foreign notary is recognised once it carries an apostille under the 1961 Hague Convention and a sworn Turkish translation. Private, unauthenticated authority letters do not support deed transfers or litigation.
Can one power of attorney cover both a property purchase and a citizenship application?
Yes, provided the document expressly lists each act. A single POA can authorise the tapu transfer, the SPK-licensed valuation coordination, the government filings, and the citizenship application, but because Turkish law treats these as distinct legal acts, each should be named. A general grant that omits the specific transactions risks rejection at the land registry or the citizenship authority, so counsel typically drafts a tailored special authority for investment files.
Is a Turkish power of attorney valid if the principal later loses capacity?
Turkish agency law under the Code of Obligations No. 6098 ties authority to the principal’s standing, so capacity questions can affect a POA’s continued effect, and the rules differ from common-law durable or springing instruments. Where continuity matters, the position should be confirmed with counsel for the specific situation rather than assumed from a foreign model, because the protective regime in Turkey is structured differently from common-law durable powers.
How quickly can a POA be arranged for a cross-border deal?
Timing depends on the issuing channel rather than a fixed statutory period. A consulate appointment, or notarisation plus apostille and sworn translation, drives the schedule, and these vary by country and consulate workload. Plan the POA as the first step so it is in hand before any deed appointment or filing deadline; confirm current consular and apostille timelines for your jurisdiction at the time of instruction.
Speak to cross-border counsel about your power of attorney
A defective or over-broad power of attorney is one of the most avoidable ways to lose a transaction in Turkey. Our team drafts and reviews POA instruments for foreign investors and companies, and coordinates the consular or apostille route so the document is accepted on first use. To discuss a specific matter, see our corporate and commercial law services, or read our related guidance on data privacy and KVKK compliance and debt and bankruptcy procedures in Turkey.
General information, not legal advice. Turkish law; verify your specific situation with qualified counsel.
Related legal guides
- For related guidance, see our commercial legal services.