How to Notarize Rent Contracts in Turkey: A Comprehensive Guide

In Turkey, it is common for landlords and tenants to have their rent contracts notarized. A notarized rent contract is a legally binding agreement that is signed and verified by a notary public. Notarization is the process of verifying the authenticity of a document through the stamp and signature of a notary public.

To notarize a rent contract in Turkey, both the landlord and tenant must appear before a notary public and sign the contract in the presence of the notary. The notary will review the contract to ensure that it is in order and, if everything is in order, will stamp and sign the contract to verify its authenticity. If one of the parties cannot speak Turkish, a sworn translator is also needed at the notary. Also, foreigners need a Turkish tax number (a potential tax number, "potansiyel vergi numarası") before going to the notary. You can get one free of charge at a tax office with your passport, or online through the Revenue Administration (gib.gov.tr). Finally, the passports of foreigners need to be translated into Turkish and notarized before preparing the rent contract.

Notaries in Turkey are licensed professionals who are responsible for authenticating and verifying legal documents. Notaries work from their own offices (noterlik), which you can find in every district of the big cities. To locate a notary in Turkey, search online for "noter" and your district, or ask for recommendations from friends or colleagues.

To notarize a rent contract in Turkey, the following steps should be followed: Prepare the rent contract: The landlord and tenant should agree on the terms of the contract, including the rental rate, duration of the lease, and any other provisions. Schedule an appointment with a notary: Both the landlord and tenant should schedule an appointment with a notary to have the contract notarized. Bring identification: Both the landlord and tenant should bring a valid government-issued ID, such as a passport or national ID card, to the notary appointment. Bring the rent contract: Both the landlord and tenant should bring the rent contract to the notary appointment. Review and sign the contract: The notary will review the contract to ensure that it is in order and, if everything is in order, will ask both parties to sign the contract. Obtain a notarized copy of the contract: After the contract has been signed and notarized, both the landlord and tenant will receive a notarized copy of the contract.

What it costs: you pay the notary fee, which is set by the official notary fee tariff and updated every year, and stamp duty. For a rent contract without a guarantor, the stamp duty in 2026 is 0.189% (1.89 per thousand) of the total rent for the whole contract period. If a sworn translator is needed, you also pay the translator. Ask the notary for the exact total before your appointment.

After the notary: if you need the contract for a residence permit application, the migration office usually asks for a notarized rental contract as proof of address, so keep your notarized copy. When you move to a new address, you must report it within 20 working days. Before you sign, also check the address in e-ikamet: as of October 2026 all neighbourhoods are open to new address registrations by foreigners, but closures have been used before.

In conclusion, a notarized rent contract is a legally binding agreement that is signed and verified by a notary public in Turkey. To notarize a rent contract, both the landlord and tenant must appear before a notary, bring identification, and bring the rent contract. The notary will review the contract and, if everything is in order, will ask both parties to sign the contract. After the contract has been signed and notarized, both the landlord and tenant will receive a notarized copy of the contract.

Fees and rules checked in October 2026. They change often, so ask the notary for the current fee and confirm the stamp duty on gib.gov.tr before you sign.