Is the Syrian entitled to buy and own a property in Turkey?
The Turkish authorities recently issued a decision regarding ownership in Turkey after a Syrian with Turkish citizenship obtained written approval from the Directorate of Foreigners Affairs and also obligated him to complete the purchase and sale of real estate in Turkey and sign a document waiving ownership of the property!
A Syrian with Turkish citizenship owns a property in Turkey. Is the Syrian entitled to buy and own a property in Turkey
With the new decision taken on November 16, 2021, it included the abolition of the requirement that Syrians who obtained Turkish citizenship obtain written approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to complete the process of buying and selling their real estate, as they have the right to own property just like Turks.
- The decision included canceling the procedure for requiring Syrians to sign a document transferring ownership of a property to the state treasury during the transfer of ownership if necessary: in the event of withdrawal of citizenship or the absence of a Turkish heir.
- A Syrian who holds dual citizenship, such as a Syrian-Egyptian or a Syrian-Swede, who “has a nationality other than Turkish”, is considered a Syrian, thus preventing him from owning property in Turkey.
- Foreigners born in Syria who wish to own property in Turkey must bring a document proving that they do not hold Syrian citizenship.
- If a Syrian with dual citizenship already owns real estate in Turkey on the basis of his second citizenship, he will deal with it on the basis of his second citizenship.
- The new decision also stipulated the continuation of efforts to prevent Syrians, who do not have another nationality, from owning real estate in Turkey.
What is the reason for preventing Syrians from owning real estate in Turkey
After knowing the answer, Is the Syrian entitled to buy and own a property in Turkey? We came to explain why the Syrian is unable to own real estate in Turkey:
According to some Turkish sources, the law goes back to the dispute between the Turkish government of Iskenderun at the time after the referendum and the French Mandate government in Syria, where the Mandate government combined with the confiscation of Turkish property in Syria, so the Turkish government prevented Syrians from owning real estate in Turkey.
Turkey re-enacted the law with the “Land Reform Law” that took effect in 1962 by the Syrian state, which provides for the transfer of real estate owned by Turkish citizens in Syria to the state without any compensation.
Against the background of this step, the Turkish Republic confiscated the immovable property of all Syrians in Turkey, on the basis of the principle of “reciprocity”, by a decree that entered into force in 1966.
However, Turkish and Arab advisors are making unremitting efforts to persuade the Turkish government to repeal the embargo on Syrians, and positive progress in this direction is expected later.
While the majority of foreigners residing in Turkey are Syrians, their percentage has increased significantly since 2011 and has become an important weight in the Turkish economy and labor market. This will definitely make a big difference.
What nationalities are not allowed to own and buy real estate in Turkey
According to Turkish law, foreigners residing in Turkey have the right to own real estate in Turkey, but for some foreigners this does not apply to them and its owners are prohibited from owning real estate in Turkey, and these nationalities that are not allowed to own and buy a property in Turkey are:
- Syrian Identity
- Armenian Nationality
- And Greek Cypriot citizenship.
- North Korean citizenship.
- Cuban citizenship.
Who is exempt from the previous law?
- Those who obtained Turkish citizenship from citizens of the previous state by normal methods (bank deposits, assets, exceptional citizenship).
- Those who obtained Turkish citizenship from citizens of the previous country by normal methods (bank deposits, assets, exceptional citizenship). Second citizenship holders whose citizens are allowed to own real estate in Turkey.
- Turkish Cypriot citizens.
There are legal ways to allow these nationalities to own real estate in and from Turkey
Establishing a company in Turkey:
Taking this step allows the investor, who is a citizen of a country that is not allowed to own real estate in Turkey, to purchase and register a property on behalf of the company once it is established. 250 thousand dollars, because the owner of the property is considered a legal entity (company) and therefore not an ordinary citizen and therefore the owner is not entitled to apply for Turkish citizenship, even if the value of the property is the same as in this case.
Thus, we have provided you with a comprehensive report on whether Is the Syrian entitled to buy and own a property in Turkey. We mentioned and explained, as previously, the reasons why the Turkish state does not allow the Syrian citizen to buy and own a property in Turkey.
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