Turkish Citizenship: Complete Guide for Foreign Investors
Updated: March 2026
Important disclaimer. The decision to grant citizenship of the Republic of Türkiye is made exclusively by the competent state authorities — the Ministry of Interior (İçişleri Bakanlığı) and the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü). Real East is not an immigration law provider and does not guarantee approval of any application. Legal support for the citizenship procedure is provided through the Company’s accredited legal partners. The Agency provides assistance exclusively in relation to the selection and documentation of real estate.
What Turkish citizenship provides
A Turkish passport provides visa-free entry to 120 countries, including Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Holders of a Turkish passport gain access to the U.S. E-2 business visa and to a Schengen Category C visa valid for up to 5 years. Türkiye ranks 26th worldwide in Numbeo’s healthcare ranking, and 26 Turkish universities are included in international academic rankings.
A key advantage for citizens of Russia and the CIS is that the Republic of Türkiye permits dual citizenship: renunciation of the first passport is not required. At the same time, citizens of the Russian Federation are obliged to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation of the acquisition of foreign citizenship within 60 days.
| Benefit | Details |
| Visa-free countries | 120 countries, including Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong |
| U.S. visa | E-2 business visa, B-1/B-2 tourist visa valid for 10 years |
| Schengen | Category C visa for up to 5 years |
| Dual citizenship | Permitted; renunciation of the first passport is not required |
| Healthcare | 26th in the world in terms of healthcare quality |
| Education | 26 universities in international rankings |
| Banking services | 54 banks, Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay |
Ways to obtain Turkish citizenship
The legislation of the Republic of Türkiye provides several legal grounds for foreign nationals to obtain citizenship. Each route has its own requirements, timelines, and set of supporting documents.
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Citizenship by investment (the fastest route)
Türkiye’s citizenship-by-investment program is the most in-demand route among foreign investors. The application review period ranges from 3 to 6 months.
The legislation provides four investment options:
| Type of investment | Minimum amount | Holding period |
| Purchase of real estate | $400,000 | 3 years |
| Capital investment | $500,000 | 3 years |
| Bank deposit | $500,000 | 3 years |
| Government bonds | $500,000 | 3 years |
| Job creation | 50+ jobs | Permanent |
The most common option is the purchase of real estate with a value of at least $400,000. The property may be residential or commercial, primary or secondary. The purchase of multiple properties is permitted provided that their aggregate value meets the established threshold.
Mandatory conditions when purchasing real estate:
Payment is made exclusively via bank transfer — cash settlements are not permitted for citizenship-related transactions. The value of the property must be confirmed by an official valuation report. As of 4 March 2024, valuations are conducted only by GEDAŞ Gayrimenkul Değerleme A.Ş., a subsidiary of TOKI (the Housing Development Administration of Türkiye). An application for valuation is submitted through the Web Tapu system (webtapu.tkgm.gov.tr) by selecting the option “Vatandaşlığa Konu Satış”.
As of 1 January 2024, when submitting a citizenship application, the personal presence of the investor and his/her spouse in Türkiye is mandatory. During the visit, fingerprints are taken and biometric photographs are captured.
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Citizenship by naturalization
Naturalization is possible after continuous residence in Türkiye for 5 years on the basis of a valid residence permit. The total time spent outside the country over the entire five-year period must not exceed 1 year, and within each individual year must not exceed 6 months.
Additional requirements include: legal age and full legal capacity; sufficient command of the Turkish language for everyday communication (confirmed by an interview or a certificate); a stable and lawful source of income; and no criminal record.
It is important to note that meeting all of the above requirements does not guarantee automatic acquisition of citizenship. The final decision is made by the state authorities based on an overall assessment of all circumstances.
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Citizenship through marriage
Marriage to a citizen of Türkiye does not confer an automatic right to citizenship. A foreign spouse may apply after at least 3 years of an official marriage, provided that the spouses live together. The Turkish authorities conduct interviews with both spouses to verify the authenticity of the marriage. A finding of a sham marriage results in refusal of citizenship and other legal consequences.
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Citizenship by descent
Persons whose parents or grandparents were citizens of Türkiye may apply for citizenship by descent. The review period is from 6 to 12 months.
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Citizenship for exceptional merit
Citizenship may be granted by the Council of Ministers of Türkiye to persons who have made a significant contribution to science, culture, sport, or the country’s economy. This ground is exceptional in nature and is applied at the discretion of the competent state authorities.
Free consultation! Contact our experts. *RealEast does not guarantee the issuance of a residence permit or citizenship, and does not guarantee the profitability of real estate investments. Decisions regarding the granting of residence permits and citizenship are made exclusively by the competent government authorities of the respective country. Any information regarding the possibility of obtaining a legal status or the investment potential of properties is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute a guarantee of results.
Become a Turkish citizen through real estate investment.
Step-by-step procedure for obtaining citizenship through the purchase of real estate
Step 1. Property selection
The property must meet the following criteria: a value of not less than $400,000 at the official exchange rate on the transaction date; no encumbrances (İpotek, Haciz); the presence of an İskan (occupancy permit); and compliance with the intended designation (residential or commercial). Real East assists in selecting properties that meet the requirements of the investment program.
Step 2. Legal due diligence of the property (Due Diligence)
Before paying a deposit, an accredited legal partner verifies the TAPU (title deed), the İskan, the presence of encumbrances through the TKGM registry, and any outstanding liabilities for taxes and utility payments. This stage is mandatory and cannot be skipped.
Step 3. Obtaining the valuation report
The valuation application is submitted through Web Tapu. The valuation is carried out by GEDAŞ Gayrimenkul Değerleme A.Ş. The report confirms that the market value of the property meets the established $400,000 threshold.
Step 4. Closing the transaction and registering the TAPU
Payment is made via bank transfer. The transaction is registered with the Land Registry office (Tapu Kadastro Müdürlüğü). The buyer receives the TAPU — the title deed — which serves as the basis for filing the citizenship application.
Step 5. Filing the citizenship application
An application using the VAT FORM 6 is submitted to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs with the personal presence of the investor and his/her spouse. Fingerprints and biometric photographs are taken. Legal representation at this stage is provided through an accredited legal partner.
Step 6. Review of the application
The review period ranges from 3 to 6 months. The state authorities verify the documents, the source of the investment funds, and the applicant’s compliance with the established requirements. The decision is made exclusively by the competent state authorities of Türkiye.
Step 7. Issuance of documents
After approval, a citizenship certificate is issued. Passport production time ranges from 2 weeks to 1 month.
Documents required for filing
| Document | Notes |
| Valid international passport | Validity period — at least 6 months at the time of filing |
| 4 photographs (3×4) | For each family member included in the application |
| Birth certificate | With apostille and notarized translation |
| Marital status documents | Marriage or divorce certificate |
| TAPU for the real estate property | Registered with the Land Registry office |
| GEDAŞ valuation report | Confirmation of the property value |
| Proof of bank transfer | Bank statement indicating the payment purpose |
| Criminal record certificate | With apostille and notarized translation |
| Health insurance | Mandatory for minors and persons over 65 |
Documents issued in Russia and other CIS countries must be apostilled and notarized in Türkiye.
What documents are required to obtain Turkish citizenship?
Download the checklist. It’s free!
*RealEast does not guarantee the issuance of a residence permit or citizenship, and does not guarantee the profitability of real estate investments. Decisions regarding the granting of residence permits and citizenship are made exclusively by the competent government authorities of the respective country. Any information regarding the possibility of obtaining a legal status or the investment potential of properties is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute a guarantee of results.
Property holding requirements
A property purchased under the investment program must remain in the investor’s ownership for at least 3 years without encumbrances. Sale of the property before the expiration of this period results in the loss of the basis for citizenship. After 3 years, the property may be sold without restrictions.
Reasons for refusal of citizenship
The state authorities may refuse to grant citizenship on the following grounds: criminal record or links to organizations recognized as illegal in Türkiye; submission of false documents or information; non-compliance of the investment source with legal requirements; identification of a sham marriage; breach of residence requirements for naturalization; and insufficient command of the Turkish language.
After receiving a refusal, the applicant has the right to challenge the decision by submitting additional explanations within 60 days.
The role of Real East and legal partners
Real East is a licensed real estate agency (Emlak Yetki Belgesi No. 3409694) operating in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Türkiye. The Company assists with selecting properties that meet the requirements of the investment program and supports the purchase-and-sale transaction up to the registration of the TAPU.
Legal support for the citizenship procedure — preparation of documents, communication with state authorities, and representation of the client’s interests — is provided through the Company’s accredited legal partners who hold the relevant licenses to provide immigration-related services.
Allocation of responsibilities:
| Stage | Responsible party |
| Property selection | Real East |
| Legal due diligence of the property (Due Diligence) | Legal partner |
| Closing the transaction and registering the TAPU | Real East jointly with the legal partner |
| Preparing citizenship application documents | Legal partner |
| Filing the application and liaising with state authorities | Legal partner |
| Decision on citizenship | State authorities of Türkiye |
Legal disclaimer. This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The terms of Türkiye’s citizenship-by-investment program may change. Current requirements should be verified with an accredited legal partner. Real East does not guarantee approval of any citizenship application. The decision is made exclusively by the competent state authorities of the Republic of Türkiye.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Government authorities may deny citizenship on other grounds, including considerations of national security. The refusal can be appealed within 60 days.
Yes, after 3 years from the date of TAPU registration, the property can be sold without restrictions. Citizenship is retained.
Yes. The application may include the investor’s spouse and minor children.
No. Investment citizenship does not require mandatory residence in the country. It is sufficient to hold the property in ownership for 3 years.
No. Turkey allows dual citizenship. Russian citizens are required to notify the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs of obtaining foreign citizenship within 60 days.
The official processing time for the application is from 3 to 6 months. Including document preparation and transaction execution, the full process takes from 6 to 9 months.
Sources:
[1] General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre of Türkiye — Circular No. 2024/2 on the property valuation procedure: webtapu.tkgm.gov.tr
[2] MNP — “Turkish citizenship for Russian citizens in 2025”: mnp.ru
[3] Official Investment Office portal of Türkiye — “Acquiring Property and Citizenship”: invest.gov.tr