A taahhütname, which can best be translated as a letter of undertaking, is a legal document you may need in certain situations to prove your intent to do something to Turkish officials.
The Arabic word "taahhüt" means declaration, undertaking, or commitment, and "name" translates to letter. The contents of a taahhütname change depending on the circumstances but usually contain clauses or promise to fulfill a commitment or remedy any wrongdoings. There are also usually mentions of a penalty if you fail to do said commitment.
A taahhütname cannot be signed without at least 2 people involved in the signing for most situations. For an undertaking to be valid and used effectively in future disputes, it should include a clause about legal remedies.
With the letter, you effectively make specific commitments in return for the products or services you receive. You acknowledge that you will initiate legal proceedings if these are not realized.
Taahhütnames can be drafted by a notary public or by you or your legal representative. There are many pre-written templates online for different kinds of taahhütnames, but most notaries have their own. It makes it easy to modify only where needed.
When will I Need a Taahhütname in Turkey?
There are a few instances where you will need a taahhütname, the most common during residence permit applications and tourist/travel visas.
In Turkey, letters of undertaking are also commonly signed during house sales, rental transactions, business agreements, bank applications, and service subscriptions.
Do not worry if you are asked by a Turkish government official or someone else (landlord, employer, etc.) to provide a taahhütname, and you do not know how to write one. As long as they give you instructions as to what they want your taahhütname to state and you communicate this to the notary, you will get your letter stamped ready to submit in no time.
For Short-Term Residence
The first case you will often be asked to provide a taahhütname is for a residence permit.
Among the prerequisites of applying for a residence permit is to prove that you have the financial resources and means to live and sustain your life in Turkey.
In the residence permit application form, you can submit title deeds of the properties you own, share your payslip from your workplace, or evidence your income from other sources such as inheritance or business income. However, you can also draft a taahhütname to declare that you have the means and list all your income sources in detail. In that case, you should attach the taahhütname to your application form.
Another prerequisite is to prove your residence in the form of property, rentals, or other. If you plan to live with someone other than a close relative (third person's residence), the host must submit a notarized letter of undertaking. If that person is married, you will also need to get a taahhütname from their spouse.
It is requested because the government wants each name listed on the property's title deed or rental contract to reaffirm their commitment to being responsible for the foreigner staying in their home.
Includes making sure the foreigner does not overstay their residence permit period, departs in time, and does not leave with any debts. The signee of the taahhütname, therefore, agrees that they will cover the cost of any unpaid fines or debts.
Note: Lodging someone for employment purposes, such as providing home and care services, is considered to be unauthorized work, and in such cases, both the foreigner and the employer will receive an administrative fine. The foreigner will also be deported, all expenses of which will be billed to the employer.
For Minors
If you are under 18 years old, you will need to obtain a notarized letter of undertaking granted by real and legal persons in Turkey. However, this undertaking must be specified in a letter of parental consent penned by either your mother or father who lives abroad or a legal representative.
It ensures that you are not without suitable accommodation, food, education, or the financial means to continue living in Turkey.
Visa Sponsorship
A taahhütname may also be requested in the form of an invitational letter to sponsor someone for a travel visa.
This letter will state your commitment and wish to sponsor someone's temporary entry to or stay in Turkey.
Suppose you are a student, unemployed, or retired and not in a position to cover your travel expenses. In that case, Turkish authorities will want you to demonstrate support from a sponsor who will take care of all associated costs, such as your stay and departure. The sponsor can only be a first-degree relative and must be registered in Turkey to be the undertaker in this case.
Head here for an example prepared by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Signing the Taahhütname
Taahhütnames are always prepared in Turkish, so you will have to have a sworn translator/interpreter present during the signing if you do not speak Turkish.
After reading it aloud in English and making sure you understand every point, the interpreter will let the notary know to proceed with the signing.
You will have to pay extra for the interpreter, but this will depend on which city you are in and the professional charges.
In most cases, you will not be asked to write the taahhütname, and instead, a notary official will prepare it. There is no fixed fee for taahhütname. Costs regarding notary transactions, including taahhütnames, vary according to the number of pages to be signed and stamped and the document's content to be certified.
After the letter is signed and stamped by the notary, the document becomes legally acceptable and a public record. Although they are not numbered forms, the notary will stamp the letter with a number that allows you to go back to the notary to request a copy if you ever need one in the future.
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