Regulation Concerning Short-Term Property Rentals in Turkiye

Permit Document Procedures

With the law, in order to register residences rented for tourism purposes through certification, it has been made mandatory to obtain a permit document from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (“the Ministry”) before signing a rental agreement, allowing such properties to be rented for tourism purposes for a maximum of 100 days. The Regulation specifies the details regarding permit applications. According to Article 5 of the Regulation, the obligation to obtain a permit applies to landlords who are owners or holders of limited real rights.

Permit applications are made via the e-Government (e-Devlet) system. The following documents must be submitted with the application:

• For individuals: a copy of their ID; for foreign nationals, a copy of their passport, along with their foreigner ID number or tax ID number, and if there is no signature on the ID or passport, a signature declaration.
• For legal entities: their tax ID number, trade registry number or MERSIS number (if available), and for their authorized representatives, the same documents required from individuals.
• A current land registry record showing ownership or other real rights over the property, and if available, the building registration certificate.
• In the case of shared ownership of the property, written declarations and required documents from owners who represent the majority of shares and co-owners; in the case of joint ownership, written declarations and required documents from all owners, including a written statement designating the landlord who is authorized to represent and bind all owners before the Ministry.
• If the property is located in a building or residential complex with multiple independent units, a notarized copy of the unanimous decision by all co-owners of the residential units stating that the intended tourism activity is deemed appropriate (this condition does not apply to high-quality residences [residences] or detached houses).
• If more than five properties in the same building are being rented under the same landlord’s name, a workplace opening and operation license is required. If the building is part of a residential complex, a notarized copy of the unanimous decision by all co-owners in the complex is also required.
• If the application is submitted by proxy, a notarized power of attorney signed by the landlord or authorized representative.

If it is determined that false documents have been submitted during the application, the application will be rejected. If the property has already been certified, its certificate will be revoked, and legal proceedings will be initiated against the individuals who submitted the documents in accordance with the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237.

The provincial directorate is required to finalize permit applications within 30 days. However, applications concerning high-quality residences (residences) are processed directly by the Ministry. An inspection of the property is conducted within thirty days from the date the permit is issued.

If, during the inspection, it is determined that the property does not meet the criteria required for the issuance of a permit, an administrative fine of 100,000 Turkish Lira will be imposed, and the property owner will be given 15 days to rectify the non-compliance. If the deficiencies are not addressed within this period, the permit will be revoked.

If, during the inspection, it is found that any of the information stated in the permit needs to be updated or corrected, the permit will be revised accordingly.

Copies of the issued permits are sent to:

• the Ministry,
• the relevant local authority,
• the law enforcement agency responsible for the area where the property is located,
• and the local tax office.

In the case of permit cancellation or application rejection, the same institutions and organizations will be notified.

The permit document must include:

• the name or trade name of the permit holder,
• the address of the property,
• the date of the permit,
• the document number (starting with the license plate code of the province where the property is located),
• and the maximum number of guests allowed to stay in the property.

Important Note:
According to the Regulation, a permit cannot be issued for the rental of one or more rooms within a residential property that is currently used by the landlord for personal residential purposes and does not already have a permit.
Therefore, in order to rent out one or more rooms of a property, a permit must first be obtained for the entire property.

Mandatory Display of a Plaque

To ensure that residences rented for tourism purposes can be visibly verified as being permitted by the Ministry, the law requires a plaque, prepared by the Ministry, to be affixed at the entrance of the property.
According to the regulation, the plaque must include:

• the phrase “Tourism Purpose Residence”,
• the permit date,
• the permit number,
• the contact number of the permit holder,
• and the full address of the residence.

Requirements for Rental Properties

The regulation specifies the minimum standards a residence must meet to qualify for a permit. Each property must include at least:

• one bed,
• a toilet and bathroom,
• a living space,
• a kitchen setup.

In addition, the following amenities and safety measures are required:

• Hot and cold running water,
• Basic items like pillows, sheets, and towels,
• A smoke detector, fire extinguisher, and floor plan indicating emergency exits.

All decor, equipment, and appliances must be clean, functional, well-maintained, and meet safety and quality standards.

Occupancy Capacity

The occupancy limit is calculated as follows:

• Each bedroom allows for 2 people.
• An additional 2 people may be accommodated outside the bedrooms.
• Regardless of the number of rooms, a maximum of 12 people may stay in the property.
• Children under 3 years old are not included in this count.

Obligations of Permit Holders

Permit holders are responsible for:

• Delivering the property in full compliance with the above-stated standards.
• Ensuring regular cleaning and maintenance between guest stays, pest control, and keeping related records.
• Informing guests of building or site rules either in writing or digitally.
• Affixing the official plaque at the property entrance.
• Complying with the obligations under:
  • the Identification Notification Law No. 1774 and
  • the Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698.

⚠️ It is strictly prohibited to rent individual rooms within the permitted property to different people under separate contracts.

Marketing and Promotional Activities

Additional provisions regulate the advertisement and promotion of permitted properties.

According to Article 11 of the Regulation:

• All promotional materials must include accurate information and must not be misleading or harmful to national tourism.

Under Article 9(2):

• A clear and readable image of the permit must be included in all forms of promotion and marketing.

Promotions must include details such as:

• Property location, occupancy capacity, floor number,
• Whether it has a balcony/terrace,
• Number and type of bedrooms, living areas, bathrooms,
• Bed configurations (single/double),
• Furniture and equipment for:
  • cooking, food storage, food and drink preparation,
  • dishwashing, laundry, TV, hairdryer,
  • heating/cooling systems,
• Shared/private facilities like gym, spa, pool, parking,
• Accessibility features, pet policy, and internet availability,
• Building rules and regulations,
• Check-in/check-out times,
• Whether cleaning services are included.

Inspection and Ministry Authority

Permit holders must maintain compliance with the criteria upon which the permit was issued.

• Properties will be inspected at least once every two years starting from the permit date.
• Inspections are carried out by personnel assigned by the relevant provincial governorates.

If non-compliance is found, the applicable penalties outlined in the Law will be enforced.

In addition, the Ministry has the authority to:

• Request any documents or information necessary to ensure compliance and to address any issues or uncertainties in implementation.

Lastly, the Ministry may instruct online platforms and intermediary service providers to remove promotional content related to unpermitted properties.