A foreign currency purchase document forms one part of some property purchases by foreign nationals in Turkey. The document records a bank-led foreign currency conversion connected with the transaction. Therefore, buyers should coordinate it with the handling bank, land registry office and independent Turkish solicitor before the title transfer.

This guide explains the document’s role, the details buyers should compare and the records to keep. It does not replace advice on a specific transaction.

What the document records

Turkey’s General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre, known as TKGM, publishes official guidance on the foreign currency conversion procedure. Its guidance describes a bank-issued record commonly called a Döviz Alım Belgesi. The document supports the land registry process, but it does not replace the sale contract, title checks or payment evidence.

In practical terms, the bank handles the currency sale and creates the relevant record. However, the accepted process, wording and timing can change. Buyers should ask the bank and the land registry office which current steps apply before moving funds.

The official TKGM foreign currency conversion FAQ is the primary starting point. Check it again close to the transaction date.

Foreign currency purchase document: plan the timing

First, confirm who will coordinate the bank and registry stages. Next, ask which bank can process the conversion and which information it needs. In addition, confirm when the document must reach the land registry file. This sequence reduces the risk of a late or mismatched record.

Do not rely only on an estate agent’s message or a screenshot. Instead, obtain the bank record through the authorised transaction channel. Then share it securely with the buyer’s independent solicitor for comparison with the sale and title documents.

Buyers should also separate this step from eligibility checks. Trust Point’s guide to foreign buyer restrictions in Turkey covers distinct questions about who may buy and where.

Details to compare before the title appointment

Check every identifier before treating the document as ready. For example, compare the buyer’s name and identity details with the passport and transaction file. Also compare dates, currency information and amount references with the bank’s supporting records. A small spelling or number difference deserves clarification.

Ask the handling professionals to confirm that the record links to the intended property transaction. However, do not add or alter wording yourself. If a detail differs, ask the bank or other authorised channel to correct it.

Keep the bank receipt, transfer evidence and foreign currency purchase document together. As a result, the solicitor can review the payment trail alongside the contract and registry papers. Trust Point’s Tapu title deed checks guide explains why title information needs a separate review.

Foreign currency purchase document: buyer checklist

• Confirm the current procedure with the handling bank and land registry office.
• Ask who may arrange the conversion for the specific transaction.
• Check the buyer’s identity details against the transaction file.
• Compare dates, currency and amount information with the bank records.
• Confirm that the record relates to the intended property purchase.
• Keep the original electronic or paper record in a secure file.
• Send the document to the independent solicitor through an agreed secure channel.
• Resolve mismatches before the title transfer appointment.

In addition, record who confirmed each step and when. A dated transaction checklist can help the advisers identify missing evidence. Nevertheless, it cannot turn an informal assurance into an official record.

What the document does not prove

The bank document does not prove that the seller owns the property. Likewise, it does not show that the property is free from mortgages, restrictions or other registry entries. It also does not confirm planning status, building condition, occupancy approval or the accuracy of the marketed description.

For that reason, buyers still need coordinated legal, technical and financial checks. Trust Point’s guide to property due diligence in Turkey outlines the wider review. A separate Turkey property valuation report guide explains how valuation evidence serves another purpose.

Nor does the document confirm that every payment has reached the correct recipient. Therefore, compare bank instructions independently and use verified account details. Never send money because of an unexpected message that changes the beneficiary or account.

How to organise the payment record

Create one chronological file for the transaction. Start with the signed agreement and verified payment instructions. Next, add transfer confirmations, bank conversion records and correspondence from the solicitor. Finally, add the registry appointment and completion papers when available.

Name each file clearly and retain the original version. Meanwhile, keep notes separate from official records so nobody mistakes them for bank or registry documents. If you need a translated copy, ask the solicitor which translator or certification route the receiving authority accepts.

Security matters throughout this process. Use your own banking access, protect authentication details and confirm unusual requests through a trusted contact route. No adviser should need a buyer’s password or one-time security code.

Foreign currency purchase document: questions to ask

Before funds move, ask the bank which current procedure applies. Ask the solicitor when to provide the record and which fields to verify. Then ask the land registry contact whether any transaction-specific issue needs further evidence.

1. Which bank or branch will handle the conversion?
2. What identity and transaction details should the buyer provide?
3. Who can arrange the step in this purchase?
4. When should the bank create the record, and when should the buyer deliver it?
5. How should the amount information match the transaction papers?
6. What correction process applies if a detail is wrong?
7. Which separate payment, contract and title records remain necessary?

Rules and administrative practice can change. Always confirm the current position with the handling bank, land registry office and a qualified independent Turkish solicitor. Seek tax or financial advice where the transaction raises those questions.

Prepare the document as part of wider due diligence

Overall, buyers should treat a foreign currency purchase document as a focused bank and registry record, not a complete buyer check. Plan the timing early, compare the identifiers and preserve the payment trail. Most importantly, resolve any mismatch before the title appointment.

Buyers who are organising a Turkey property search can contact Trust Point to discuss suitable properties and the questions to take to independent advisers.