Is a kapora (deposit) in Türkiye always refundable?

Do not assume so. Whether the first payment is refundable, credited to the price or subject to deductions follows from the specific contract, so these points should be agreed with a lawyer before signing.

I have already paid. Can I get the money back?

It depends on the documents and the circumstances. Keep the contract, bank confirmations and correspondence, and note the next payment or signing deadline before taking advice.

Checking a property in Türkiye before you pay a deposit

Q: Does a preliminary sale agreement transfer ownership in Türkiye?

No. A preliminary agreement does not by itself transfer ownership of the property.

The short answer

Before any money moves, pin down what you are buying, the seller's authority, the contract terms and what the payment is for. The review should end with a clear answer: what the documents confirm, what is still unknown and which conditions must be met before the next step. A deadline set by the seller does not in itself show that the deal is safe.

1. Put together the file for review

Ask for the property details and a copy of the existing title document, the draft contract, the payment schedule and details of who will receive the money. Keep the listing and any written promises about the handover date, fittings and citizenship. Send documents to your lawyer through an agreed channel; a short description is enough for a first enquiry.

State separately whether you are buying a finished apartment, an off-plan unit or a share. The review and the documents differ for each.

2. Compare the offer with official records

The review covers the owner's identity, the description of the property and registered restrictions, including mortgages and attachments. Cadastral information available online does not replace checking the owner. A preliminary agreement does not by itself transfer ownership. The Investment Office of Türkiye explains these distinctions.

Ask your lawyer to list separately the information that could not yet be obtained. A legal document review does not replace a technical survey of the building.

3. Be clear about what the first payment means

Do not assume that the word "kapora" automatically means a refundable payment. Before signing, discuss these questions with your lawyer:

Who receives the money, and on what basis?
Is the amount credited towards the price?
What happens if documents are not provided or an unacceptable risk is found?
How are deadlines, currency, deductions and the refund process set out?
What happens if the purchase was meant to support citizenship but the required conditions are not confirmed?

The answers must come from the specific contract. An agent's promise should be compared with the obligations of the party that actually receives the payment.

4. Agree the order of steps

Ask for a written list of steps up to payment and registration: who provides which documents, who resolves issues and when the next payment is acceptable. If the purpose of the purchase includes citizenship, checking those conditions should be a separate part of the engagement. Do not treat marketing language as a lawyer's opinion.

If you have already paid

Keep the contract, bank confirmations and correspondence. Note the next payment or signing deadline. Whether money can be recovered depends on the documents and the circumstances; the fact of payment alone does not show whether such a right exists.

Discuss your purchase directly

LP Legal acts for buyers throughout Türkiye. Work starts with a short overview of the process and an introductory meeting; the scope of the review, how we communicate and the fee are then agreed. In your first message, give the city, the type of property, the purpose of the purchase, the stage of the deal and the next deadline.

How to choose a lawyer who acts for the buyer.

Turkish citizenship through property: what to check before buying.