The Q & A day
In this article, I will respond to different questions about different topics. The first question is about military service.
In this article, I will respond to different questions about different topics. The first question is about military service.
[HH] Paid military service
Q: Dear Sadettin, I am a dual Turkish citizen. I have been living in the Netherlands for 18 years. Can I take advantage of paid military service (dövizli askerlik)? Best regards. D.N.
A: Dear reader, for Turkish citizens (including dual citizens) who have lived or worked abroad for at least three years, a basic military training of three weeks is offered instead of the full-term military service if they pay a certain fee in a foreign currency (currently set at 5,112 euros). You can take advantage of this military-service type.
[HH] Turkish passport
Q: Dear Sadettin, as a foreigner, can I apply for a Turkish passport after living and working in Turkey for five years? Kind regards, Selahh.
A: Dear Selahh, according to Law No. 5682, five different passports are granted by the Turkish Republic. These are the diplomatic passport, special-stamped passport, general passport, service-stamped passport and foreigners’ passport. The foreigners’ passport is given by the Interior Ministry and stamped with "for foreign person"; this passport does not bestow Turkish citizenship nor grant any right in favor of persons who are stateless or affect the obligations considered by the ministry to be incumbent upon the persons who are subject to procedures for stateless persons regarding their residence and travel due to the irregular conditions of their nationality.
In other words, you cannot apply for a Turkish passport as a residence permit holder.
[HH] Informal property sale agreement
Q: Dear Orhan, can I sell my real estate with an informal property sale agreement? Is this sale valid in Turkish real estate law? M.T.
A: Dear M.T., the only way to become the owner of a property in Turkey is to have it registered at the Land Registry Directorate. An informal sales agreement itself never confers the ownership of a property onto a buyer. In brief, the ownership of a property can only be registered at the Land Registry Directorate, the only authority where the title of a property can duly be transferred. It is a basic rule that a property should be registered with the Land Registry Directorate in order to conduct any kind of transaction related to it.
[HH] Notary agreement
Q: Dear Sadettin, I have read your article about “Informal property sales agreements.” I have bought an apartment from a land agent in Alanya. The sales agreement was made at the notary. Is this agreement invalid, given your article,? What should I do about it now? Shane.
A: Dear Shane, as I mentioned above, an informal property sales agreement is not valid under Turkish law. Besides, sale agreements made at the notary are not completely informal. This document gives you some rights. However, you must register it at the Land Registry Directorate.
Hurriyet Daily News/12.11.2010
In this article, I will respond to different questions about different topics. The first question is about military service.
[HH] Paid military service
Q: Dear Sadettin, I am a dual Turkish citizen. I have been living in the Netherlands for 18 years. Can I take advantage of paid military service (dövizli askerlik)? Best regards. D.N.
A: Dear reader, for Turkish citizens (including dual citizens) who have lived or worked abroad for at least three years, a basic military training of three weeks is offered instead of the full-term military service if they pay a certain fee in a foreign currency (currently set at 5,112 euros). You can take advantage of this military-service type.
[HH] Turkish passport
Q: Dear Sadettin, as a foreigner, can I apply for a Turkish passport after living and working in Turkey for five years? Kind regards, Selahh.
A: Dear Selahh, according to Law No. 5682, five different passports are granted by the Turkish Republic. These are the diplomatic passport, special-stamped passport, general passport, service-stamped passport and foreigners’ passport. The foreigners’ passport is given by the Interior Ministry and stamped with "for foreign person"; this passport does not bestow Turkish citizenship nor grant any right in favor of persons who are stateless or affect the obligations considered by the ministry to be incumbent upon the persons who are subject to procedures for stateless persons regarding their residence and travel due to the irregular conditions of their nationality.
In other words, you cannot apply for a Turkish passport as a residence permit holder.
[HH] Informal property sale agreement
Q: Dear Orhan, can I sell my real estate with an informal property sale agreement? Is this sale valid in Turkish real estate law? M.T.
A: Dear M.T., the only way to become the owner of a property in Turkey is to have it registered at the Land Registry Directorate. An informal sales agreement itself never confers the ownership of a property onto a buyer. In brief, the ownership of a property can only be registered at the Land Registry Directorate, the only authority where the title of a property can duly be transferred. It is a basic rule that a property should be registered with the Land Registry Directorate in order to conduct any kind of transaction related to it.
[HH] Notary agreement
Q: Dear Sadettin, I have read your article about “Informal property sales agreements.” I have bought an apartment from a land agent in Alanya. The sales agreement was made at the notary. Is this agreement invalid, given your article,? What should I do about it now? Shane.
A: Dear Shane, as I mentioned above, an informal property sales agreement is not valid under Turkish law. Besides, sale agreements made at the notary are not completely informal. This document gives you some rights. However, you must register it at the Land Registry Directorate.
Hurriyet Daily News/12.11.2010
