Although Turkish law is one of the best laws around the world regarding the ownership of foreigners on Turkish lands, as laws, decisions, and government amendments encourage foreign investment in Turkey, there are always red lines, and here we will talk about foreign nationalities that Turkish law does not allow to buy a property on Turkish lands, and this issue is one of the red lines that sometimes impede the ownership of the real estate, so let's see who hindered real estate ownership in Turkey because of this red line.

Real estate ownership in Turkey and the principle of reciprocity

Previously, Turkey prevented citizens of foreign nationalities from owning real estate if their country deprived the Turks of this right as well, and this was known as the "principle of reciprocity."

But after 2012, Turkey decided to abolish the principle of reciprocity and allowed all foreign nationalities to own real estate on its lands, but with that, five foreign nationalities remained banned from real estate ownership in Turkey, for various reasons. We will detail the names of these nationalities and the reasons why Turkey continues to prevent them of real estate ownership on its lands, despite a clear decision to abolish the principle of reciprocity with regard to real estate ownership in Turkey.

What nationalities are prohibited from owning real estate in Turkey?

According to Turkish laws, foreigners residing in Turkey are allowed to own real estate in Turkey, but for some foreign nationalities, this permission, unfortunately, does not include them, and its citizens are considered prohibited from owning real estate in Turkey.

Which:

  • Syrian nationality

  • Armenian nationality

  • Cypriot nationality

  • North Korean nationality

  • Cuban nationality

Exceptions are:

  • Those with Turkish citizenship who are citizens of the previous countries

  • Holders of second citizenship whose citizens are allowed to own real estate in Turkey

  • Citizens of Northern Cyprus.

Why does Turkey prevent them from owning real estate in it?

Why are Syrians prevented from owning real estate in Turkey?

  • For the Syrians, the reason for preventing them from owning real estate in Turkey dates back to a referendum in 1939 in the state of Hatay, where the state was removed from the French mandate authority and annexed to the territory of the Turkish Republic. This was followed by strict measures by the French mandate government in Syria and the confiscation of Turkish property in Syria .

  • This matter still constitutes a point of difference between Syria and Turkey since that date, which loosened its ropes on the real estate ownership law in Turkey and impeded the lifting of the ban on Syrians.

  • However, there are unremitting efforts by Turkish and Arab real estate consultants to persuade the Turkish government to reverse its ban on Syrians from owning real estate in Turkey, and positive progress is expected in this direction at a later time.

  • Note that the number of Syrians in Turkey has increased significantly since 2011, and they have become an important weight in the Turkish economy and the labor market, as well as if they are benefited from the real estate sector in Turkey, this will certainly make a big difference.

  • It is expected that the decision to allow Syrians to own real estate in Turkey will soon see the light of day.

Read also: Syrians own property in Turkey

 

Why are Armenians prevented from owning real estate in Turkey

It also affected the historical relations between Turkey and Armenia and the mutual accusations between them about the period of war between the Armenians and the Turks prior to the First World War.

This issue is still one of the issues affecting Turkish national security, so the Turks continued to ban real estate ownership of Armenians inside Turkey,

and it is not expected that this ban on Armenians will be rescinded in the near future, given the sensitivity of the dispute between the two countries.

Why are Cypriots prevented from owning real estate in Turkey

The real dispute between Turkey and Cyprus is a dispute over the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, whose state Turkey recognizes as "Northern Cyprus" or what is known as "Turkish Cyprus".

The origins of this dispute date back to 1925, but it exploded dramatically in 1974 when the Turkish army entered Northern Cyprus to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, and since that time the crisis has remained unchanged between the two countries.

However, the embargo is expected to disappear if an agreement is reached between the Greek and Turkish parts of Cyprus, or if the diplomatic crisis between the two countries ends.

Reasons for banning other nationalities

As for Cuba and North Korea, preventing their citizens from owning real estate in Turkey is due to reasons related to the imposition of international and UN sanctions on these two countries, and Turkey's commitment to this.

Are there ways to allow them to own real estate in Turkey

There are some ways by which the ban on real estate ownership by some foreign nationals in Turkey, such as Syrians, can be bypassed, but the property owner does not obtain the full rights enjoyed by real estate owners in general.

Among these methods are: Establishing a company in Turkey

Taking this step allows you to buy real estate in Turkey in the name of the company that you established, and you have the right to use, invest and sell it later as the company's representative before the Turkish state.

However, in this case, the buyer does not obtain real estate residency in Turkey, and he cannot apply for citizenship through real estate investment in Turkey, even if the price of the properties he bought in the name of his company exceeds the limit of 250 thousand US dollars.

Is it possible to cancel their ban on owning real estate in Turkey

As we mentioned in a later paragraph, each prohibition has a special reason, and each country has different circumstances in the nature of its relationship with Turkey, but as an expectation and from the course of what we see, the most fortunate country in the possibility of canceling the ban imposed on its citizens owning real estate in Turkey is Syria.

The most worst fortunate of these countries in this aspect is Armenia, and in general, the rest of the countries remain linked to the nature of the reason why Turkey prevents its citizens from owning real estate in it.

Turkey real estate attracts thousands of foreigners annually

Real estate in Turkey today has become one of the most important investment destinations for foreign nationals in Turkey, and the number of foreigners who bought real estate in Turkey in the past 2019 exceeded the threshold of 45 thousand properties.

Last year, Turkey granted citizenship to more than 900 foreigners who bought real estate in Turkey whose price exceeded the $250,000 mark.

Therefore, we can say that this country is considered one of the most attractive countries for those wishing to live or invest in real estate, and for those who dream of obtaining an ideal real estate purchase experience outside their country, and for those looking for a safe portfolio for their money and investments.

Can Turkey prevent other nationalities from owning real estate?

It is theoretically possible, but it is rare and may not happen.

As we cannot link small problems or even diplomatic crises that may occur between your home country and Turkey with real estate ownership in Turkey, because it will certainly remain available to you.

The crisis between Turkey and any other country can cause reluctance or a decline in the proportions of real estate buyers from this or that country, but Turkish law does not prevent them from buying a property in Turkey as long as it operates according to “the abolition of the principle of reciprocity” and as long as the crisis between Turkey and your home country does not affect Turkish national security.

Turkey may also take steps similar to what it took against the Cubans and North Koreans when it prevented them from owning real estate on its lands by virtue of the international sanctions imposed on their countries. Also, if strict international sanctions issued by the United Nations are imposed against any other country, Turkey may start implementing the ban on real estate ownership against it.

Fanar Realty told you about one of the most important topics that someone who wants to buy a property in Turkey may ask about, which is the nationalities that are prohibited from owning real estate in Turkey. point of the topic.

Fanar Realty will remain for you a beacon that will illuminate your investment path in Turkey, and help you choose your real estate in this distinguished country.