The principles for acquiring Turkish citizenship are regulated in the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 (TVK). If the conditions are met, an application is made to the administrative authorities, and a positive evaluation from these authorities is required. The TVK grants the administrative authorities ,discretionary power regarding the approval of the citizenship application. Applications are received at provincial civil registry offices or investment offices, and the applications are sent to the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Nationality. After the necessary archival investigations are conducted regarding the files, those deemed suitable for citizenship are submitted for decision, and the citizenship approval decision is obtained with the signature of the President (formerly the Council of Ministers). Afterwards, a Citizenship Decision Approval Notification document is prepared for those individuals.
TVK Article 9
Subsequently Acquired Citizenship
(1) Subsequently acquired Turkish citizenship occurs through a decision by the competent authority, or through adoption or the exercise of the right of choice.
TVK Article 12
Exceptional Cases in Acquiring Turkish Citizenship
(1) Without any conditions that would pose an obstacle to national security and public order, the following foreigners may acquire Turkish citizenship by decision of the President:
a) Individuals who bring industrial facilities to Turkey or who are considered to have provided or will provide extraordinary services in the fields of science, technology, economy, social issues, sports, culture, and arts, and for whom reasoned proposals have been made by the relevant ministries.
b) (Added: 28/7/2016-6735/27) Foreigners who have obtained residence permits under paragraph (j) of the first paragraph of Article 31 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458 dated 4/4/2013, as well as Turquoise Card holders, and their foreign spouses, and their dependent foreign children.
c) Individuals deemed essential for citizenship.
d) Individuals recognized as migrants.
(2) (Added: 19/10/2017-7039/29) Applications of individuals who have conditions that would pose an obstacle to national security and public order are rejected by the Ministry.
Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship Through Investment & Real Estate Purchase
This pathway is one of the exceptional methods specified in Article 12 of the Turkish Citizenship Law (TVK).
– Make a fixed capital investment of at least 500,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish Lira (the fixed capital investment is determined by the Ministry of Industry and Technology).
– Purchase real estate worth at least 400,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish Lira and place a restriction in the title deed records that it cannot be sold for three years.
– Foreigners who create employment for at least 50 people at a workplace in Turkey may be granted Turkish citizenship, as determined by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. It is important to note that the 50 employed individuals do not have to be Turkish citizens. It is sufficient that the employment is legal and complies with foreign employment quotas.
– Deposit at least 500,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish Lira in banks operating in Turkey and commit to keeping it for three years (an application for a compliance certificate is made to the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency).
– Purchase government bonds worth at least 500,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish Lira with the condition of holding them for three (3) years (an application for a compliance certificate is made to the Ministry of Treasury and Finance).
– Purchase shares in a real estate investment fund or venture capital investment fund worth at least 500,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish Lira , with the condition of holding them for at least three (3) years (an application for a compliance certificate is made to the Capital Markets Board).
Turkish citizenship can be applied for through investment made via one of these methods.
Basic Conditions for Acquiring Turkish Citizenship by Purchasing Real Estate Worth at Least 400,000 USD:
– The sale of at least 400,000 USD to the Central Bank and the subsequent issuance of a Currency Purchase Certificate by the bank to be submitted to the Title Deed Office.
– A restriction stating that the property will not be sold for three years or that if it is a right of easement or condominium, there will be no transfer or cancellation for three years must be recorded in the title registry.
– Obtaining a Compliance Certificate from the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.
– Obtaining a residence permit under paragraph (j) of Article 31 of Law No. 6458.
– Submitting an application for Turkish citizenship through investment to the Population Directorate.
Foreign nationals must first make a preliminary application to the title deed offices in order to acquire real estate in Turkey. After the preliminary application, a date is set for the transfer transactions of the property. On the specified day, the application documents must be ready. There are no restrictions on the nature of the properties to be acquired through sale. The property can be land, a field, or a residence. However, under General Circular No. 2013/15 (1752), foreign nationals seeking to acquire agricultural land must obtain prior permissions under agricultural legislation and commit to submitting an agricultural project within 2 years. For land with no construction, there is a commitment to submit a construction/project permit to the relevant municipality or institution within 2 years.
There are some restrictions for foreign citizens in purchasing real estate. The size of the property is limited; foreign citizens in Turkey are allowed to acquire a maximum of 30 hectares of real estate. Acquisition of properties larger than this size is prohibited. The size of the purchased real estate must not exceed 10% of the special property size of the district where it is located. Foreign nationals are also not allowed to own property in military zones. Individuals wishing to purchase residential property to acquire citizenship must comply with the specified restrictions to become Turkish citizens. The required documents for the purchase of the property in question are completed, and an application is made to the Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre.
To acquire citizenship through property acquisition, an application with the necessary documents is submitted to the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Nationality. For the Turkish citizenship application to be completed smoothly, the required application documents must be completed accurately and completely.
Application Documents
1. Title deed document
2. The foreign buyer’s passport and photocopy (with certified Turkish translation)
3. “Real Estate Appraisal Value Document” obtained from the municipality
4. Mandatory earthquake insurance policy for residences and workplaces
5. One photograph of the seller (biometric, with a white background)
6. Two photographs of the foreign buyer (biometric, with a white background)
7. A sworn translator if the foreign buyer does not speak Turkish
8. If the transfer transactions are made by an attorney, the original or certified copy of the power of attorney (if issued abroad, a certified Turkish translation is required)
Expenses to Be Incurred for the Application:
– Service fees to be collected by the state
– Reporting expenses of the CMB Valuation Companies
– Translation expenses
– Notary fees
– Expenses for documents obtained from relevant government offices
– Expenses for obtaining a health report
– Consultation and operation expenses provided by us
Taxes and Expenses in Real Estate Acquisition:
– Title deed fee (determined based on the value of the property)
– Revolving fund fee
– Service fee to be paid to the title office
Individuals wishing to acquire citizenship by acquiring property are required to purchase real estate worth at least 400,000 USD and then apply to the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre for their Turkish citizenship request. The price of the real estate is documented with the Real Estate Valuation Report and sent to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. After the Ministry’s approval, upon the Ministry’s request, a restriction that the property cannot be sold for three years is placed by the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre. Following this, the citizenship application is sent to the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Nationality, marking the final stage of the application process. Afterward, the population directorate processes are completed, and the individual becomes eligible to receive a Republic of Turkey identity card.
The process for completing citizenship application procedures also includes obtaining a residence permit based on the property. In other words, after the house is purchased, a short-term residence permit must be obtained through the property.
Required Documents for Obtaining a Short-Term Residence Permit:
– Residence Permit Application Form
– Original and photocopy of the passport or substitute document valid for at least 60 days longer than the requested residence permit duration
– Four photographs (taken within the last 6 months, with a white background and biometric)
– Statement of having sufficient and regular financial means during the stay
– Valid health insurance
– Receipt showing that the tax fee and card fee paid to the government have been paid (The tax and card fee varies according to the nationality of the foreigner)
– An official document (Title Deed) showing that the property belongs to the individual, signed and stamped/e-signed
NOTE: The application for citizenship through property acquisition can also be made through previously acquired properties. The property/properties must have a value of at least 400,000 USD.
NOTE 2: The effective selling rate or cross-exchange rate of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey on the date of the transaction will be used for the calculation.
NOTE 3: If the property is purchased with a housing loan, the remaining amount must meet the required values after deducting the loan amount taken from the bank.
Turkish Citizenship with Long-Term Residence Permit (TVK Article 11)
a) Long-Term Residence Permit
b) Family Residence Permit
Acquiring Turkish citizenship through a long-term residence permit requires the applicant to have continuously resided in Turkey for a period of five years prior to the application date. The foreign applicant must reside in Turkey with either a) a long-term residence permit or b) a family residence permit. This is because these two types of residence permits indicate an intention to settle in Turkey. The term “five years of continuous residence” in the law means that the individual must not have been outside of Turkey for more than twelve months within the five-year period.
The conditions include being of legal age and having the capacity to discern, having the intention to settle in Turkey, not posing a danger to public health, being of good moral character, being able to speak Turkish, having sufficient income, and not posing an obstacle to national security and public order.
Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship through Marriage
Marriage to a Turkish citizen does not directly grant Turkish citizenship. To be able to apply for Turkish citizenship based on marriage, the applicant must have been married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years at the time of application, and the marriage must still be ongoing. When these conditions are met, the individual obtains the right to “only” apply for Turkish citizenship.
The foreign spouse of a Turkish citizen, in the presence of the above-mentioned prerequisites, acquires the right to apply to the competent authorities to obtain Turkish citizenship through marriage. After fulfilling the application prerequisites, the foreign spouse must meet the following conditions to acquire Turkish citizenship:
- Living together as a family,
- Not engaging in activities incompatible with the marriage union,
- Not having any circumstances that would pose an obstacle to national security and public order.
The determination of these fundamental conditions is carried out by the competent authorities. The authority to which the citizenship application is made will send the file, including its opinion resulting from the examination, to the Ministry of the Interior for a decision. With the citizenship decision given by the Ministry of the Interior, the foreign spouse will acquire Turkish citizenship. For the marriage to affect the spouse’s citizenship, a legally valid marriage must exist. The qualifications and conditions for marriage will be determined according to the national law of each party. Marriages conducted in accordance with the qualifications and conditions, as well as formal requirements, are legally valid marriages.
Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship through Adoption
Another way for foreigners to acquire Turkish citizenship is through adoption by a Turkish citizen. A foreign minor adopted by a Turkish citizen can acquire Turkish citizenship, provided that they do not have any circumstances that would pose an obstacle to national security and public order. The determination of whether the child is a minor is a matter of legal capacity and will be assessed according to the child’s national law. In cases where the minor has citizenship in multiple countries, their age will be assessed according to the laws of the country with which they have a close connection. If the adopted individual is not a minor (i.e., a non-major child), the citizenship application will be rejected without needing to investigate the existence of other conditions. The determination of the absence of circumstances that would pose an obstacle to national security and public order is carried out by the competent authority, following the procedures described for acquiring Turkish citizenship through other means.
Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship through the Right of Choice
Individuals who have lost their Turkish citizenship involuntarily through their mother or father may regain Turkish citizenship by exercising their right of choice. Individuals who have lost Turkish citizenship based on their mother or father must apply for Turkish citizenship within three years of reaching the age of majority. Those wishing to regain Turkish citizenship by exercising their right of choice may do so by submitting a petition to the provincial governorates in Turkey or to the foreign representations abroad. The acquisition of Turkish citizenship through the right of choice is not contingent upon the decision of the competent authorities. Exercising the right of choice to regain Turkish citizenship or to renounce it does not affect the spouse’s citizenship.
Special Qualifications and Achievements
According to Article 12(b) of the Turkish Citizenship Law; individuals who have achieved international success in science, arts, sports, or cultural fields may apply for Turkish citizenship. In this case, they must prove that they have contributed to Turkey and integrated into Turkish society.
Reacquisition of Turkish Citizenship without Residence Requirement
Under Article 13 of the TVK; individuals listed below can regain Turkish citizenship by decision of the Ministry, regardless of their residence in Turkey, provided they do not have any circumstances that would pose an obstacle to national security:
a) Those who lost Turkish citizenship by obtaining permission to exit.
b) Those who lost Turkish citizenship based on their mother or father and did not exercise their right of choice within the period stipulated in Article 21.
Reacquisition of Turkish Citizenship with Residence Requirement
Under Article 14 of the TVK, those who lost their Turkish citizenship according to Article 29 can regain it by decision of the President, and those who lost their Turkish citizenship according to Article 34 can regain it by decision of the Ministry, provided there are no circumstances that would pose an obstacle to national security and they have resided in Turkey for three years.
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