When purchasing property in Turkey, all payments must be made in Turkish Lira (TL) as required by Article 13 of the Circular of Capital Movements / Sermaye Hareketleri Genelgesi. To complete the property transfer at the TAPU (Deeds) Office, foreign buyers must obtain a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate, also known as a DAB (Döviz Alım Belgesi) certificate.
This guide explains the process, step-by-step, to help foreign buyers navigate property payments in Turkey safely and efficiently.
The DAB certificate confirms that the declared property purchase amount has been converted into Turkish Lira (TL) through the Central Bank of Turkey. It is required by the TAPU office to finalise property ownership transfer.
Monies sent for Purchase
Funds should be sent to Turkey in your home country currency (GBP/EUR/USD) to minimise currency conversion losses.
Currency conversion via Central Bank of Turkey
The foreign currency is converted into Turkish Lira (TL) through the buyer’s bank using the Central Bank exchange rate.
The bank issues the DAB certificate confirming the amount in TL.
Presentation at the TAPU Office
The DAB certificate is presented at the TAPU office to complete the property title transfer.
Payment to the seller
If the seller requires payment in their home currency, the TL is converted back into the chosen foreign currency.
Be aware that buying and selling exchange rates differ, and there is a small government tax on currency conversion, which may reduce the final amount received.
If a Foreign buyer already holds Turkish Lira in a local bank account, it must be converted into their home currency first before the DAB process can be done.
To minimise financial losses, it is recommended that foreign currency for the property purchase arrives in Turkey as GBP/EUR/USD. Multiple conversions can increase buy/sell rate losses.
Exchange rates fluctuate daily, and government taxes apply on currency conversions, so the exact amount received back after the DAB will vary.
Declared property price: 8,000,000 TL
Date of exchange: 01.03.26
Initial payment: £136,000 @ 58.82 TL/GBP → buys 8,000,000 TL (Central Bank rate)
DAB certificate issued for 8,000,000 TL
Seller requests payment in GBP → TL converted back at 59.40 TL/GBP
Amount received after conversion & tax: £134,590
Difference due to exchange: £1,410
Note: Exchange differences vary daily, so exact amounts will differ.
Q1: What is a DAB certificate?
A: It is a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate issued by your bank confirming that your foreign currency has been converted to TL for property transfer at the TAPU office.
Q2: Can I pay for my property entirely in my home currency?
A: No. Turkish law requires the TAPU-declared amount to be in TL. Payments in foreign currency must first be converted to TL to obtain a DAB certificate.
Q3: What if I already have TL in my Turkish bank account?
A: You will need to convert your TL back to your home currency (GBP/EUR/USD), then convert it into TL through the Central Bank to obtain the DAB certificate.
Q4: Are there taxes on currency conversion?
A: Yes, government taxes apply when converting TL back to foreign currency. This is based on the % being transferred.
Q5: How can I minimise exchange rate losses?
A: Always transfer in your home currency to arrive in your home currency. This avoids multiple currency conversions, and work with a bank familiar with the DAB process.
All property payments in Turkey must be declared in Turkish Lira (TL)
Planning your payment carefully reduces financial losses due to exchange rates and taxes.
The DAB certificate is mandatory for TAPU property transfers by foreigners
