Yes, with conditions. Since August 2026, licensed estate agencies in Turkey may post listings on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, provided each post carries the link to a listing verified through EİDS and the photos, video, description and price match that listing exactly. Unverified listings, "price in DM" posts and photos of a different property expose the agency to administrative fines.
What people call the "real estate social media ban" in Turkey is not a single ban. It is the combined effect of the Regulation on Real Estate Trade (Taşınmaz Ticareti Hakkında Yönetmelik), the Electronic Listing Verification System (EİDS) and a series of statements by the Ministry of Trade between 2024 and 2026. Our office is across Turkey, and many of the agencies we work with sell to foreign buyers. This guide summarises the rules with official sources, then explains how to run effective social media within them.
Note: This article is general information, not legal advice. The rules were updated several times in 2026; before posting, check the latest announcements from the Ministry of Trade and your chamber of commerce. All sources are listed at the end.
Where the rules come from: the regulation and key dates
The core text is the Regulation on Real Estate Trade, published in the Official Gazette (Resmî Gazete) on 5 June 2018, issue 30442. The amendments that matter for social media:
- 14 October 2020 (issue 31274): The regulation was largely rewritten. The obligations for online listings (Article 12) and the information a listing must show (Article 14) took their current form.
- 31 August 2023 (issue 32295): Listing platforms became obliged to verify the identity of the person posting and their authority over the property before the listing goes live. This is the legal basis of EİDS.
- 30 May 2025 (issue 32915): Price increases in online listings that are out of line with general economic data and have no justified reason were banned, and agencies may not broker such listings.
- 29 April 2026 (issue 33238): Rules on amending the agency licence were added, and a secure payment system for property sales was introduced. According to the Ministry's statement of 28 September 2026, the payment system becomes mandatory on 1 December 2026.
Two rules sit underneath everything. First, real estate brokerage may only be carried out by businesses holding a yetki belgesi — the estate agency licence issued by the provincial directorate of the Ministry of Trade (Article 5). Second, an agency may not advertise a property it is not authorised to sell, market or let (Article 14/2-j). That authority comes from a written authorisation contract with the owner.
Has the "social media ban" on estate agents been lifted? 2024–2026 timeline
The confusion comes from the Ministry's position being clarified several times in a short period:
1. December 2024: The Ministry warned about property listings on social media and said access to non-compliant accounts had been restricted and platforms had been fined.
2. 13 June 2026: The Ministry announced an administrative fine on Meta's Turkish company over EİDS-non-compliant listings on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, and told agencies to share only the link to their EİDS-verified listings on these platforms and nothing else of a listing nature. This is where the idea of a "social media ban" came from.
3. July 2026: The Ministry's letter reached members through the chambers; the Turkey Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ALTSO) also published it. According to the letter, each non-compliant post can be fined up to 286,206 TL.
4. 11 August 2026: In a new statement passed on through the chambers, the Ministry said it is acceptable to share photos, videos, descriptions and the price together with the EİDS-verified listing link, as long as they relate to the property in the verified listing.
5. Late August 2026: According to news reports, 42 estate agencies that wrote "price in DM" instead of a price, or used photos of another property, were fined 100,000 TL each.
So "the ban has been lifted" is not accurate; what exists now is conditional permission. We could not find the full text of the August 2026 statement on the Ministry's own website and confirmed it through chamber announcements and news reports, so we recommend checking regularly for new announcements.
What EİDS is and how it applies to social media
EİDS (Elektronik İlan Doğrulama Sistemi) is the Ministry of Trade's system that verifies, through e-Devlet (Turkey's e-government portal), the identity of whoever posts a listing and their authority to market the property. Its stages:
- 1 November 2023: Identity verification started on listing platforms.
- 15 September 2024: Authority verification went live, with a transition period until 31 December 2024.
- 1 January 2025: Fully in force — no listing can be posted without authority verification.
Under EİDS, a property can only be listed by the owner, their first- or second-degree blood relatives, their spouse, or a licensed agency the owner has authorised via e-Devlet. Verification happens on listing platforms integrated with EİDS (the major Turkish property portals), and a verified listing shows the EİDS logo.
Social media platforms do not run this verification themselves. That is why the Ministry requires every social media post to be tied to a listing verified on an integrated portal. The practical flow: get the listing verified on an EİDS-integrated portal first, then share it on social media with that listing's link.
Some points remain unclear. Links in Instagram captions are not clickable, and the official texts do not say whether a link only in the profile ("link in bio") is enough. How an agency's own website portfolio should match EİDS is not spelled out either. The safest approach is to write the verified listing link in the text of every post and link to the portal listing from your own site as well.
What a compliant listing post must include
Article 14/2-i of the regulation lists what a listing must show in an easily readable way. Combined with the Ministry's 2026 statements, a checklist for a social media listing:
- EİDS-verified listing link: The link to the listing on the integrated portal.
- Licence (yetki belgesi) number and business name: Exactly as on the licence.
- Location: Province, district, neighbourhood, block and parcel (ada/parsel) — but not the full street address.
- Property details: Key facts from the authorisation contract, such as size, number of rooms, floor and age.
- Price: Stated openly; "price in DM" has already led to fines.
- Contact details, and the energy performance certificate details where one exists.
- Matching visuals: Photos and video must show only the property in that listing — no show flats, images from another project or stock photos.
- Keeping it current: When the property is sold, the sale is withdrawn or the authorisation contract ends, the listing must be removed within three days (Article 14/2-h). Apply this to older social media posts too.
When you change the price on the portal, update the social media text as well; a mismatch between the two channels creates the risk of a "post that does not match the verified listing".
A social media strategy for estate agents that stays within the rules
The rules make it harder to use an account as a listings board, but good real estate social media management was never just listings. Buyers — foreign buyers especially — first need to trust the office and the area. Content types that stay clear of the rules and genuinely help sales:
- Brand and expertise content: Videos introducing the team, the office and each consultant's specialism. An office with faces and voices looks more trustworthy than an anonymous listings account.
- Area guides: Transport, amenities, schools and hospitals in areas such as Mahmutlar, Kestel, Oba and Kargıcak. An area guide that does not offer a specific property for sale is not a listing.
- Process explainers: The title deed (tapu) process for foreigners, the valuation report, getting a tax number, residence permit steps. These are the posts that get the most questions and saves.
- Video tours and drone footage: A tour of a property that is for sale is a listing and must be posted with the EİDS link, price and required details. Drone footage is powerful for area and project surroundings, but you cannot fly everywhere; we cover the rules in our drone permit guide. Our video editor shoots on site, and aerial footage is flown by our licensed drone pilot — details on the drone and video production page.
- Lead flow: Every post should end with a clear path to your website and WhatsApp. A real estate website where the portfolio is live, with EİDS links and the required details, catches the interest social media generates without losing it.
The official texts do not define where "content of a listing nature" begins. A practical test: if a post shows a specific property for sale or rent (a price, "for sale", a call to contact you, a recognisable flat), apply the listing rules. When in doubt, adding the link and required details is safer than leaving them out.
We explain how to build a content calendar, a shooting plan and measurement step by step in our article on how to manage social media. When we run this for estate agencies, the accounts stay in the client's name and we send a monthly report that includes website and WhatsApp clicks. You can see the scope on our social media management across Turkey page.
TR, EN and RU content for foreign buyers
A large share of property buyers across Turkey and Turkey do not speak Turkish. The rules do not change with the language: a sales post in English or Russian must also carry the EİDS link, the price and the required details. When working in several languages:
- Separate copy for each language: Machine translation produces wrong meanings, especially with legal terms. Terms such as "tapu" (title deed), "iskân" (occupancy permit) and "yetki belgesi" should come with a short explanation.
- Same facts, same price: Whatever the language, the price and property details must match the portal listing. If you show EUR or USD, keep it consistent with the portal.
- Channel by audience: Measure which channel your audience actually messages on; across Turkey, the first conversation with a foreign buyer usually starts on WhatsApp. Having someone who speaks the buyer's language answer on that channel has a direct effect on conversion.
- Targeting limits in ads: Meta requires housing ads targeting the United States, Canada or certain parts of Europe to be declared as a "Special Ad Category", where age, gender and some interest targeting is limited. If you advertise to buyers in Europe, set up campaigns accordingly. The ad budget is kept separate from our service fee; for setup and optimisation, see our social media advertising management page.
We produce TR, EN and RU content within the same team; for agencies across the wider region, our Turkey social media agency page covers the same scope.
Allowed, risky, what to do: summary table
| Type of post | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| EİDS-verified listing link + photos/video of that property + price | Acceptable (August 2026 statement) | Add licence number, business name, province/district/neighbourhood/block/parcel and contact details |
| Sales post for a property that is unverified or not on a portal | Non-compliant, risk of fines | Get the listing verified on an EİDS-integrated portal first |
| "Price in DM" / sales post without a price | Non-compliant, fines already issued | State the price openly in the post |
| Photos of another property, stock images, show flats | Non-compliant, risk of fines | Use only genuine images of the listed property |
| Post for a property already sold or with expired authority | Non-compliant (three-day rule) | Delete or archive the post |
| Area guide, process explainer, office introduction | Not a listing, generally allowed | Make sure it does not offer a specific property for sale |
| Video tour or drone footage showing a property | A listing if the property is for sale | Post with EİDS link + price + required details; follow drone rules |
| Portal link only in the profile ("link in bio") | Unclear | Also write the link in the text of every post |
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the real estate social media ban in Turkey been lifted?
Not entirely — it has become conditional. In June and July 2026 agencies were told to share only the EİDS-verified listing link. In August 2026 the Ministry said photos, video, a description and the price of that listing may be shared together with the verified link. Posting unverified listings is still non-compliant.
Is it illegal to post property listings on social media in Turkey?
Not for a licensed estate agency: posts are allowed with the link to an EİDS-verified listing, a clear price and the details the regulation requires. Someone without a licence advertising another person's property, however, is in breach of the regulation.
Can I write "price in DM" on Instagram?
According to news reports from August 2026, the Ministry fined 42 estate agencies 100,000 TL each for writing "price in DM" instead of a price. A sales or rental post needs to state the price openly.
What is the fine for posting without an EİDS link?
According to the Ministry letter passed on to the chambers, each non-compliant post can be fined up to 286,206 TL. Fine amounts are updated every year, so confirm the current figure with the Ministry or your chamber.
Do area guides or process videos need an EİDS link?
An area guide, an explanation of the title deed process or an office introduction that does not offer a specific property for sale or rent is not a listing. If a video shows a flat that is for sale in a recognisable way, the listing rules apply; this boundary is not clearly defined in the official texts.
Are the rules different for posts in English or Russian aimed at foreign buyers?
No. The rules do not depend on the language; a sales post in a foreign language must also include the EİDS link, price, licence number and location details. Translate Turkish terms with short explanations and keep the price consistent with the portal listing.
Conclusion
Estate agents in Turkey can post listings on social media, provided each post is tied to an EİDS-verified listing, the price is stated openly and the visuals belong to that property. The rules changed several times in 2026 and some points are still unclear, so following Ministry and chamber announcements — and applying the listing rules whenever in doubt — is the safest path. This article is general information; for your own situation, consult a lawyer.
If you want a compliant, multilingual real estate account that generates enquiries, reach us through our social media management across Turkey page or the contact form. We will review your portfolio, target countries and the portals you use, and draw up a content plan together.
Sources
All sources were checked on 28 September 2026. Official sources are in Turkish.
- Regulation on Real Estate Trade, current text — mevzuat.gov.tr (PDF)
- Amendment to the Regulation on Real Estate Trade, 31.08.2023, issue 32295 — Official Gazette
- Amendment to the Regulation on Real Estate Trade, 30.05.2025, issue 32915 — Official Gazette
- Amendment to the Regulation on Real Estate Trade, 29.04.2026, issue 33238 — Official Gazette
- EİDS authority verification launched — Ministry of Trade
- EİDS sanctions against fake listings on social media, 13.06.2026 — Ministry of Trade
- Press statement on the secure payment system amendment, 28.09.2026 — Ministry of Trade
- Electronic Listing Verification System (EİDS) — Ministry of Trade
- Social media posts in breach of EİDS — Turkey Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Announcement on EİDS social media posts, 13.08.2026 — Bodrum Chamber of Commerce
- Advertising Standards, Special Ad Categories — Meta Transparency Center
