Safe Real Estate Payments in Türkiye Delayed to December 1
Safe Real Estate Payments in Türkiye Delayed to December 1
An important change for property buyers and sellers in Türkiye: the mandatory implementation of the Safe Payment System for real estate transactions has been postponed to December 1, 2026.
The Ministry of Trade of Türkiye announced a new postponement of the mandatory launch date for the Safe Payment System in real estate transactions. The system was previously expected to become mandatory on October 1, 2026, but the new deadline has been set for December 1, 2026.
The change is linked to the need to complete the technical infrastructure and integration between the information systems of the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (TKGM) and banks. Once the banking infrastructure is ready, the authorities plan to begin a pilot implementation of the system.
What Is the Safe Payment System?
The new mechanism is designed for payments during real estate sales. When part or all of the property price is paid in cash, by bank transfer or by electronic transfer, the payment will have to go through the designated system.
The main principle is that the transfer of property ownership and the transfer of funds to the seller should take place simultaneously.
This mechanism is intended to reduce the risk of situations where a buyer transfers a large amount of money before ownership has been officially transferred, or where a seller transfers the property without receiving the agreed payment.
Why Is Türkiye Introducing the New System?
Changes to the Regulation on Real Estate Trade were introduced on April 29, 2026. The Ministry of Trade has linked the new system to several objectives:
- protecting buyers and sellers against fraud;
- reducing the risk of falsified payment documents;
- improving the security of money transfers;
- reducing informal payments in the real estate market;
- coordinating the transfer of money with the transfer of property ownership.
For property buyers in Türkiye, including foreign buyers, the change is particularly important when planning the timing of a transaction and arranging the transfer of funds to the seller.
Why Was the Mandatory Launch Postponed?
The Ministry of Trade said that technical work is continuing together with TKGM and other participants in the project.
The infrastructure for data exchange between TKGM information systems and the banking sector has been prepared, but banks still need to complete their own technical infrastructure.
The mandatory start date for the Safe Payment System in real estate sales has been set for December 1, 2026.
The postponement will give banks and other market participants additional time to complete integration and reduce the risk of technical and operational problems after the system is launched.
The System Was Previously Scheduled for October 1
The mandatory use of the system was originally planned for July 1, 2026. In June, the Ministry of Trade used the possibility provided by the relevant regulations to postpone the launch and set October 1, 2026, as the new date.
The schedule has now been revised again. As of September 28, 2026, the new mandatory date is December 1, 2026.
Testing Will Take Place Before the Mandatory Launch
Once the banking infrastructure is ready, a pilot project is planned. It will allow the authorities and banks to test interaction between banking systems and TKGM information resources before the system becomes fully mandatory.
An integrator is also expected to be appointed to simplify and speed up data exchange and technical cooperation between TKGM and the banks.
What Will Change for Property Buyers and Sellers?
- The parties agree on the terms of the transaction and the property price.
- The funds are processed through the designated Safe Payment System.
- The system links the payment to the property registration process.
- The transfer of ownership and payment of the property price to the seller take place simultaneously within the designated procedure.
The system is still undergoing technical preparation, so practical details concerning banks and payment procedures may be clarified before the mandatory launch.
What Foreign Property Buyers Should Know
Foreigners planning to buy an apartment, villa, plot of land or commercial property in Türkiye should take the new date into account when planning their transaction.
This is particularly relevant for large international transfers, opening bank accounts, preparing documents and coordinating payment arrangements with the seller.
Buyers purchasing property in Alanya and other parts of the country should check the payment procedure for their specific transaction and bank in advance.
Specialists at RestProperty assist clients with real estate transactions in Türkiye and help buyers understand the stages of property registration and applicable requirements.
Source: Ministry of Trade of Türkiye, September 28, 2026.
Image generated using artificial intelligence.
