The question of whether Syrians can own property in Turkey is one that occupies the minds of thousands of Syrian residents in Turkey. Driven by the circumstances of war in their homeland, many Syrians have sought safer and more stable environments in other countries, with Turkey being a prominent option due to its shared border with Syria. Recently, the demand for property ownership among Syrians in Turkey has increased. This article aims to answer this question and provide alternative solutions that enable Syrians to own property in Turkey.

Skyline Real Estate wishes you a beneficial and enjoyable read.

Can Syrians Own Property in Turkey?

In 2012, the Turkish government issued a decree granting foreigners the right to own property in Turkey. However, when this decree was implemented, it included specific instructions that prohibited nationals of certain countries from directly owning property in Turkey. Unfortunately, Syrians were among those nationalities, due to reciprocal agreements between the two countries.

Therefore, the direct answer to the question, "Can Syrians own property in Turkey?" is no. This restriction exists despite the growing demand for property ownership in Turkey among Syrians, especially over the past decade following the onset of the war in Syria, which forced many to seek safety and stability elsewhere.

Although Syrians are not granted the direct right to own property in Turkey, there are alternative legal solutions that enable them to do so. One of the most prominent methods is for Syrians to establish a commercial company and register the property under its name, as the company holds a legal personality under Turkish law.

Indirect Methods for Syrians to Own Property in Turkey

After addressing the main question, "Can Syrians own property in Turkey?" and understanding that there is no direct way for Syrians to own property in Turkey, let's discuss the most important indirect methods that can help Syrians achieve property ownership in Turkey:

Property Ownership through a Turkish Citizen

One of the most notable ways for Syrians to own property in Turkey is through partnership with a Turkish citizen, in compliance with Turkish laws. This involves several procedures to ensure the rights of all parties, such as placing a lien on the property in favor of the Syrian party.

The main challenge Syrian investors face with this method is finding a trustworthy Turkish partner. It is essential to sign a partnership contract that explicitly defines each party's rights. Many Syrian residents in Turkey have successfully owned properties through this method, providing a legal way for Syrians to own property in Turkey.

Obtaining Turkish Citizenship

Since Syrians cannot acquire Turkish citizenship through property ownership by purchasing a property worth 400,000 USD, the only solution is to make a bank deposit of 500,000 USD in a Turkish bank or purchase shares of the same value from the Turkish government. Once they obtain Turkish citizenship, they can own and register properties in their name, regardless of the property's value.

Property Ownership through Establishing a Commercial Company

Establishing a company in Turkey allows Syrian investors to own property with minimal steps. When a Syrian national establishes a company in Turkey, it is granted legal personality under Turkish law, allowing the Syrian resident to own property in Turkey under the company's name. The property's price and size should align with the company's capital and scope.

This method is the most common solution for Syrians to overcome property ownership obstacles in Turkey. Syrian investors have made a significant impact on the Turkish economy by injecting money into the market through companies they own, which the Turkish state has licensed. In 2018 alone, these investments exceeded 23 million USD.

Establishing a company for property ownership purposes in Turkey is not time-consuming and can be completed within a few hours over two days. After completing the legal procedures, the Syrian investor receives a tax number and a commercial register and opens a bank account under the company's name.

There is no requirement for a Turkish partner for the Syrian investor who establishes a company in Turkey. Consequently, this company gains a Turkish legal personality, allowing it to own properties within Turkish territories and engage in commercial, agricultural, and industrial activities without any restrictions, thus driving Syrian investment in Turkey forward.

The Turkish Economic Policy Research Foundation confirmed that more than 10,000 companies were established by Syrian investors in the past seven years, equating to four companies per day.

Required Documents for Establishing a Company

The first step in establishing a company in Turkey is to submit a company formation application and provide a set of documents, which can be obtained through law firms and real estate consultants at Skyline Real Estate. These documents include:

• Company formation application
• Power of attorney for the lawyer to follow up on procedures
• Company formation declaration
• Company establishment contract
• Two copies of the founder’s passport and personal ID, translated and certified
• Signature statement from the company owner
• Certified copies of any other foreign documents, if available
• Bank receipts
• Chamber of Commerce registration statement
• Commitment document, usually required from a foreign partner who does not hold Turkish citizenship
• Tax assignment document
• Purchase of property and registration under the established company's name

Fees for Establishing a Company in Turkey for Syrians

The costs and fees required to establish a company in Turkey for Syrians include:

• Translation and governmental certification fees for documents
• Lawyer or legal consultant fees for following up on procedures
• Fees for the legal accountant, who represents the company legally before the Turkish government
• Fees related to issuing a residence permit after establishing the company, where the owner gets a one-year renewable residence permit
• Commitment to pay company-specific taxes on time, including quarterly taxes, rent taxes, and profit taxes

Skyline Real Estate provides comprehensive solutions for Syrian residents in Turkey to legally own property through indirect methods. For more information about foreign property ownership in Turkey, please contact us at Skyline Real Estate for step-by-step assistance.