Since 2024 Turkey requires a permit for any tourism rental of up to 100 days — and unanimous consent from every owner in the building. What to check before you buy for Airbnb income.
Turkey is not an EU member, so EU Regulation 2024/1028 does not apply here. Turkey has its own national regime instead: Law No. 7464 on the rental of residences for tourism purposes, in force since 1 January 2024. It changed the economics of buying a flat in Antalya, Istanbul or Bodrum for Airbnb income, because the permit is no longer a formality.
The permit and the 100-day rule
Any rental of a residence for tourism purposes — defined as a single rental period of 100 days or less — requires a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, applied for through its electronic system and provincial directorates. The 100 days are counted per contract, not per calendar year, and splitting long stays into repeated short contracts to dodge the rule is itself penalised. Once approved, the property must display an official plaque at its entrance, and platforms must show and verify the permit number.
Unanimous consent of the building
This is the real obstacle. If the flat is an independent unit in a multi-unit building or residential complex, the application must include a decision taken unanimously by all unit owners. A single objecting neighbour can block the permit, and law firms report that this is why a large share of applications never turned into a permit. The Constitutional Court reviewed this requirement in a decision dated December 2025 and is reported to have upheld it, so treat unanimity as the working rule. A detached villa that is not part of a multi-unit structure does not face this hurdle in the same way, which is one reason standalone houses and some complexes with a single owner are easier to license.
What this means for foreign buyers
Foreign owners can hold a permit on the same basis as Turkish owners, typically using a passport, a tax number and, if they are abroad, a notarised power of attorney for a local representative. The practical advice is to ask the seller — before signing — whether a permit already exists for the unit, and to check the building's management plan and owners' attitude to short-term letting. A flat bought on the assumption that the permit will be granted later can end up unlicensable.
Fines and platform liability
Renting without a permit carries an administrative fine of TRY 100,000 per unit as the base amount, with 15 days to obtain the permit, and repeat violations escalate sharply, up to TRY 1,000,000 under the law. Intermediation without a permit and subletting without authorisation each carry their own per-contract fines. The amounts are revalued annually; one Turkish law firm reports a 2026 base figure of roughly TRY 180,000 — confirm the current number before relying on it. Platforms are expected to remove unpermitted listings within 24 hours of notification.
Tax
Permit holders remain subject to Turkish income tax on rental income, and VAT may apply depending on how the activity is structured. The exemptions and rates depend on your profile and change by year, so model the net yield with a Turkish accountant instead of using the gross booking figure.
FAQ
Do I need a permit to list on Airbnb in Turkey? Yes, for any rental of 100 days or less per contract, from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Can a neighbour block my permit? In a multi-unit building, yes — unanimous owner consent is required. Can foreigners get a permit? Yes, on the same basis as Turkish owners, often through a representative with a power of attorney. What if I rent without one? A fine starting at TRY 100,000 per unit (indexed annually), escalating on repeat violations, plus platform delisting. Does the EU short-let regulation apply? No, Turkey is outside the EU.
How we help
We help you check, before you buy, whether a specific Turkish property can realistically be licensed for short-term letting — permit status, building consent and management plan. Informational only, not legal or tax advice; the rules and fine amounts change, confirm the current position with the Ministry or a Turkish lawyer.