Buying property abroad with TEKCE: how it works in Türkiye, Spain, Dubai and Northern Cyprus
The path is the same in every country: shortlist, viewing, deposit, contract, title transfer. What changes is the legal detail and the timing — 2–6 weeks in Türkiye, 4–8 weeks in Spain, around 30 days in Dubai and about six months in Northern Cyprus. TEKCE, which has worked with foreign buyers since 2004, walks through each route.
In short: buying property abroad follows the same six steps wherever you buy. What differs is the paperwork and the pace — a Spanish NIE number, a Turkish land registry appointment, a purchase permission in Northern Cyprus. This article explains how a purchase runs in each of TEKCE's markets, how long it takes and who oversees it.
Who TEKCE is
TEKCE is an international real estate group that helps people buy property outside their home country. It started trading in Türkiye in 2004 and has operated under its own brand since 2006. Today it works from 20 offices in five countries: Spain, Türkiye, Northern Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates and Sweden.
Brokerage is the core of the business. Around it the group runs property management, legal consultancy, project marketing, construction, investment and after-sales services, so a buyer can complete the whole move with one company.
By TEKCE's own figures, it has more than 250 agents who between them speak over 30 languages, and more than 1,500 buyers complete a purchase with it every year.
TEKCE's properties in Türkiye, Spain, the UAE and Northern Cyprus are listed on its agency page.
The same path in every country
Whichever of these countries you buy in, the purchase follows the same outline:
- Shortlist. You describe what you are looking for and the agent puts together a shortlist.
- Viewing — in person, or remotely by live video.
- Agreeing the terms with the seller or developer.
- Deposit, which reserves the property.
- Contract, signed by both sides.
- Title transfer at the official registry, which makes you the owner of record.
What changes from country to country is the legal detail in steps 4 to 6: how big the deposit is, which documents you need and which authority registers the sale. That detail is also what sets the timeline.
Türkiye
How it runs: shortlist → viewing tour or live video tour → agreement → deposit → sales contract → Turkish tax number → bank account → title transfer at the Land Registry (Tapu ve Kadastro).
- Deposit. For a resale property the deposit is typically 5–10% of the price, and the title transfer usually follows within 7–15 days. Off-plan purchases typically need 30–50% down, with the rest paid in stages until completion.
- Bank account. Recommended, not mandatory.
- Timeline. With documents in order, the whole purchase usually takes 2–6 weeks.
- It cannot be done entirely online. The parties sign the title transfer before a land registry officer — either in person, or through an attorney acting under a notarised power of attorney.
- Ownership. Most property is freehold.
- Citizenship. Foreign buyers can obtain Turkish citizenship through a property purchase of at least USD 400,000. The property then carries a three-year no-sale annotation in the land registry.
More detail on taxes and costs: How to buy property in Turkey.
Spain
How it runs: shortlist → viewing → reservation deposit → identity and anti-money-laundering (KYC/AML) checks → Contrato de Arras → NIE number and Spanish bank account → Escritura Pública signed before a notary → registration at the Registro de la Propiedad.
- Timeline. Typically 4–8 weeks from viewing to deed, and 2–4 weeks with good planning. A mortgage adds roughly a month.
- The NIE is compulsory. It is the identification number for foreigners in Spain, and obtaining it takes about 1–3 weeks. Start early.
- Source of funds. The KYC/AML step asks for evidence of where the money comes from, not just proof of identity. This is the step that most often sets the pace, so have the paper trail for your funds ready before you reserve.
More detail on taxes and costs: How to buy property in Spain.
Dubai (UAE)
In Dubai there are two different paths, depending on whether the property is already built.
Off-plan: reservation (typically a 2% fee and 20% down) → Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) → registration with the Dubai Land Department and an Oqood certificate → final title transfer about 7–15 days after handover.
Ready property: reservation deposit of about 10% → memorandum of understanding (MOU, Form F) → manager's cheque → signing at a Trustee Office → title deed issued within 1–2 days. From signature, a purchase of a ready property usually completes within 30 days.
You do not need to be in Dubai in person. A properly scoped notarised power of attorney is enough.
More detail: How to buy real estate in Dubai and the UAE.
Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus is a separate market from the Republic of Cyprus, with its own land registry and its own rules for foreign buyers. It is also the one market where the purchase has a genuinely different step.
How it runs: shortlist → viewing → deposit → contract → registration of the Contract of Sale at the Land Registry → Permission to Purchase → title deed.
- Deposit. About 5–10% for a resale property and about 35–50% for off-plan.
- Register the contract within 21 days. A copy of the Contract of Sale must be filed at the district Land Registry within 21 days of signing. That filing is what protects the buyer's right to have the sale completed while the rest of the process runs.
- Permission to Purchase (PTP). Foreign buyers need a purchase permission, granted by decision of the Council of Ministers. The title deed is issued only once the permission has come through.
- Limits for foreign buyers. Under decree with force of law No. 89/2026, in force since 7 August 2026, there are limits on how many properties, and how much land, one foreign buyer may acquire. The same decree makes a contract void if it is not registered, with the purchase permission applied for, within one month. Ask which limit applies to you before you reserve.
- Timeline. The permission takes roughly 1–2 months for Turkish citizens and 3–12 months for other nationalities. A purchase with TEKCE typically completes in about six months, and it is the permission that sets the pace.
Before choosing a property in Northern Cyprus, read the independent guide to buying there. It explains why the history of the land title matters.
Buying without travelling
A buyer can run the entire purchase from abroad:
- Viewing by video. TEKCE's TeleProperty service is a live video viewing tour of the property.
- Signing by power of attorney. In every one of TEKCE's markets a purchase can be completed remotely under a notarised power of attorney. The power of attorney has to fit the country and the transaction, so agree its exact wording before you sign it at your notary.
What TEKCE takes care of
The legal side. TEKCE's own lawyers carry out the due diligence, verify the ownership details and oversee the title transfer. Buyers who want a second, independent opinion can appoint their own lawyer as well; assetlog.ai's country guides recommend it for a first purchase abroad.
After the sale. TEKCE continues with the practical parts of settling in: tax number, bank account, utilities, furnishing, letting and ongoing property management. Legal and residency matters go through the group's own legal arm, TEKCE Visa.
How long a purchase takes
The timing is set by each country's procedures, not by the agency:
| Country | Typical duration | What sets the pace |
|---|---|---|
| Türkiye | 2–6 weeks | documents in order, appointment at the Land Registry |
| Spain | 4–8 weeks (2–4 with good planning, about a month more with a mortgage) | NIE number and source-of-funds checks |
| Dubai | within 30 days of signing (ready property) | for off-plan, the handover date |
| Northern Cyprus | about six months | Permission to Purchase (3–12 months for most non-Turkish nationalities) |
Who oversees TEKCE
In every country TEKCE works through a locally registered company:
| Country | Company | Licence and registration |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | TEKCE Overseas SA | CIF A93577369, Registro Mercantil, Registro de Agentes Inmobiliarios |
| Türkiye | TEKCE Overseas Gayrimenkul AŞ | Real Estate Trade Authorisation Certificate (Yetki Belgesi) No 0700874, chamber of commerce registration in each city where it operates |
| UAE (Dubai) | Tufan & Tekce Real Estate LLC | RERA brokerage licence No 35016, UAE trade licence, Dubai Land Department registration |
| Northern Cyprus | TEKCE | Turkish Cypriot Estate Agents Union (KTEB), No 21066 |
| Sweden | TEKCE | Bolagsverket (Swedish Companies Registration Office) |
The agency's licence is one layer of protection. The other is the public authorities your own purchase passes through:
- Türkiye: the Land Registry (Tapu ve Kadastro).
- Spain: the notary and the Registro de la Propiedad.
- Dubai: the Dubai Land Department and RERA.
- Northern Cyprus: the Land Registry and the Council of Ministers, which grants the purchase permission.
In each case ownership is entered into a public register. That is what makes a title verifiable rather than a matter of trust.
What to prepare before you get in touch
- Any country: a valid passport, and a clear idea of whether you will come for viewings and signing or buy remotely under a power of attorney.
- Spain: apply for the NIE early and gather evidence of the source of your funds.
- Türkiye: if you are buying with citizenship in mind, the USD 400,000 threshold and the three-year no-sale annotation.
- Dubai: decide between off-plan and a ready property, because the payments and timeline are completely different.
- Northern Cyprus: plan for the months of waiting for the purchase permission.
TEKCE's contact details and all its properties listed on assetlog.ai are on the TEKCE agency page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy property with TEKCE without travelling?
Yes. Viewings can be done by live video through TEKCE's TeleProperty service, and in all of TEKCE's markets the purchase can be completed under a notarised power of attorney. In Türkiye the title transfer itself is signed before a land registry officer, which your attorney can do on your behalf.
How long does buying property abroad take?
It depends on the country: usually 2–6 weeks in Türkiye, 4–8 weeks in Spain (a mortgage adds about a month), within 30 days of signing for a ready property in Dubai, and about six months in Northern Cyprus, where the wait for the purchase permission sets the pace.
How much is the deposit?
In Türkiye typically 5–10% for a resale property and 30–50% down for off-plan. For a ready property in Dubai the reservation deposit is about 10%; off-plan typically means a 2% fee and 20% down. In Northern Cyprus about 5–10% for resale and 35–50% for off-plan.
Does buying property in Türkiye give me Turkish citizenship?
It can. The property must be worth at least USD 400,000, and it then carries a three-year no-sale annotation in the land registry.
Do I need my own lawyer?
TEKCE's own lawyers carry out the due diligence, verify ownership and oversee the title transfer. You can still appoint an independent lawyer for a second opinion, which assetlog.ai's country guides recommend for a first purchase abroad.
Is TEKCE licensed?
Yes, through a local company in each country: RERA brokerage licence No 35016 in Dubai, Real Estate Trade Authorisation Certificate No 0700874 in Türkiye, CIF A93577369 and the Registro de Agentes Inmobiliarios in Spain, and KTEB membership No 21066 in Northern Cyprus.