ACQUIRING TURKISH CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT

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• Turkish citizenship is offered by the Turkish State as a right granted to foreign nationals who make certain economic investments. This process is governed by the Turkish Citizenship Law and the related regulations.

• Investment Options

• A foreign national wishing to acquire Turkish citizenship may make one of the following types of investment:
• 1. Real Estate Investment
• ✦ Purchasing real estate worth at least USD 400,000.
• ✦ An undertaking must be given not to sell this property for at least 3 years. This undertaking is registered at the Land Registry Office (Tapu Sicil Müdürlüğü).
• 2. Capital Investment
• ✦ Making a fixed capital investment of at least USD 500,000 in Türkiye.
• ✦ This investment must be approved by the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
• 3. Job Creation
• ✦ Creating employment for at least 50 people in Türkiye.
• ✦ This is verified by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
• 4. Bank Deposit
• ✦ Depositing at least USD 500,000 with a Turkish bank operating in Türkiye and keeping this money in the bank for at least 3 years.
• 5. Government Debt Instruments
• ✦ Purchasing government debt instruments worth at least USD 500,000, as determined by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance of Türkiye, and holding these instruments for at least 3 years.
• 6. Real Estate Investment Fund or Venture Capital Investment Fund
• ✦ Purchasing fund participation shares worth at least USD 500,000 and holding them for at least 3 years.

• Application Process

• The process to be followed by a person wishing to acquire Turkish citizenship through investment is as follows:
• 1. Making the Investment
• ✦ One of the investments meeting the specified conditions is made.
• ✦ The investment's compliance with the conditions is approved by the relevant public authorities (for example, the Land Registry Office, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Ministry of Industry and Technology).
• 2. Obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility
• ✦ Documentation is obtained showing that the investment qualifies for citizenship. For example, if you have made a real estate investment, the certificate of eligibility is issued by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation.
• 3. Residence Permit Application
• ✦ The investor applies for a residence permit in Türkiye. This residence permit has been set up as a special category solely for persons who will apply for Turkish citizenship.
• 4. Citizenship Application
• ✦ Once all documents are complete, an application for Turkish citizenship is made to the relevant Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
• ✦ The process is usually completed within 3 to 6 months.
• Important Notes
• ✦ Acquisition of citizenship covers not only the investor but also the investor's spouse and children under the age of 18.
• ✦ It is possible to dispose of the investment after Turkish citizenship has been obtained; however, if the investment is unwound before the committed period expires, annulment of citizenship may become an issue.

• ACQUIRING CITIZENSHIP THROUGH REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT

• 1. Conditions and Criteria

• A foreign national wishing to acquire Turkish citizenship through real estate investment must meet the following conditions:
• Minimum Investment Amount
• ✦ One or more properties worth at least USD 400,000 (or the equivalent in Turkish lira) must be purchased.
• Commitment Period
• ✦ The purchased property (or properties) cannot be sold for at least 3 years. This undertaking is entered in the title deed register.
• Title Deed and Valuation Requirement
• ✦ A valuation report on the property must be obtained from a valuation firm authorised by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change.
• ➥ The value stated in the valuation report must be USD 400,000 or above.
• ➥ The actual market value must be declared in the purchase transaction; under-declared values are not accepted.
• Payment Conditions
• ✦ Payments must be made through the banking system. In other words, a bank receipt is required to document that the purchase price of the property was paid to the seller.
• Nature of the Property
• ✦ The property may be a residence, a plot of land, a commercial unit or another type of property.
• ✦ Mortgaged properties are not accepted (the transaction cannot be carried out until the mortgage is removed).

• 2. Process and Application Stages

• Step 1: Purchasing the Property
• 1. Choosing the Property: You can buy property in any region you wish throughout Türkiye.
• 2. Obtaining a Valuation Report:
• ✦ A valuation report stating the actual value of the property is prepared.
• ✦ The report must have been issued no more than 3 months before the date of purchase.
• 3. Title Deed Procedures:
• ✦ An annotation stating that the property cannot be sold for 3 years is placed on the title deed register.
• ✦ This annotation is entered by the relevant Land Registry Office.
• Step 2: Certificate of Eligibility
• ✦ An application is made to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change with the documents obtained from the Land Registry Office and the valuation report.
• ✦ The Ministry assesses whether the investment is eligible for citizenship and gives its approval. This approval document is called the 'Certificate of Eligibility for Citizenship'.
• Step 3: Residence Permit Application
• ✦ After the certificate of eligibility is obtained, a short-term residence permit is obtained by applying to the Directorate General of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi). This permit is required only for the citizenship application.
• Step 4: Turkish Citizenship Application
• ✦ After the residence permit is obtained, an application for Turkish citizenship is made to the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
• ✦ The required documents are submitted and the process begins.

• 3. Required Documents

• The following documents are required for Turkish citizenship through real estate investment:
• 1. Passport (with notarised Turkish translation)
• 2. Title Deed (the land registry record of the property)
• 3. Valuation Report
• 4. Bank Receipt (document showing that the purchase price of the property was paid)
• 5. Document Showing that the Non-Sale Annotation Has Been Entered (obtained from the land registry)
• 6. Biometric Photographs
• 7. Birth Certificate (with notarised translation)
• 8. Marriage Certificate (if married, for family information, with notarised translation)
• 9. Criminal Record Certificate (required for the citizenship application)

• 4. Advantages

• The advantages of acquiring Turkish citizenship through real estate investment are as follows:
• ✦ Fast Processing: The entire application process is usually completed within 3-6 months.
• ✦ Covers the Family: The investor can also include their spouse and children under the age of 18 in the grant of Turkish citizenship.
• ✦ Possibility of Dual Citizenship: Türkiye allows dual citizenship with many countries (subject to the laws of your own country).
• ✦ A Strategic Investment: The real estate market in Türkiye is attractive both for residence and for long-term investment.

• 5. Key Points

• ✦ It is advisable to work with a professional lawyer or consultant when buying property. This ensures that the procedures run smoothly.
• ✦ The legal status of the property must be checked before registration at the land registry. For example, there must be no mortgage or attachment on it.
• ✦ The investment amount and all transactions at the land registry must be fully documented; otherwise the citizenship application may be rejected.

• ACQUIRING TURKISH CITIZENSHIP THROUGH A BANK DEPOSIT

• 1. Conditions and Criteria

• Minimum Deposit Amount
• ✦ At least USD 500,000, or its equivalent in Turkish lira or another currency such as EUR, must be deposited with a Turkish bank operating in Türkiye.
• Blocking Period
• ✦ This deposit must be kept in the bank for at least 3 years.
• ✦ During this period, the investor undertakes not to withdraw the deposit or transfer it elsewhere.
• Bank and Undertaking Procedures
• ✦ The bank blocks this deposit and ensures that the investor will not withdraw the money for 3 years.
• ✦ The undertaking is given through the banking system and documented in writing.
• Approval Document
• ✦ The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) confirms that the deposit has been blocked and meets the citizenship conditions. The BDDK issues this approval document to the investor.

• 2. Process and Application Stages

• Step 1: Opening a Bank Account
• ✦ A deposit account is opened in the investor's name at a Turkish bank in Türkiye. For foreign nationals, a passport, tax number and address details are required when opening the account.
• Step 2: Depositing the Funds
• ✦ The investor deposits the specified amount (at least USD 500,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency/TL) into this account.
• ✦ The source of the deposit must be documentable. In other words, money transfers are usually made through the international banking system.
• Step 3: Undertaking Procedures
• ✦ The bank prepares a written undertaking that the deposit will be blocked for 3 years.
• ✦ This undertaking is sent to the BDDK for approval.
• Step 4: Certificate of Eligibility
• ✦ Once the deposit and blocking procedures are completed, a certificate of eligibility is issued by the BDDK. This document is one of the key elements of the citizenship application.
• Step 5: Residence Permit Application
• ✦ The investor obtains a short-term residence permit by applying to the Directorate General of Migration Management with the certificate of eligibility.
• Step 4: Certificate of Eligibility
• ✦ After the residence permit is obtained, an application for citizenship is made to the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
• ✦ The process is usually completed within 3 to 6 months.

• 3. Required Documents

• The following documents are required for a citizenship application through a bank deposit:
• 1. Passport (with notarised Turkish translation)
• 2. Bank Receipt (showing that the deposit of USD 500,000 has been made)
• 3. Undertaking Document (bank confirmation that the deposit has been blocked for 3 years)
• 4. BDDK Certificate of Eligibility
• 5. Birth Certificate (with notarised Turkish translation)
• 6. Marriage Certificate (if any, to show family ties)
• 7. Criminal Record Certificate (document on the investor's criminal history)
• 8. Biometric Photographs

• 4. Blocking Period and Right to Income

• ✦ Since the deposit is held in the investor's name, the investor can benefit from interest or profit-share income during the 3-year blocking period.
• ✦ In other words, the interest or returns offered by the bank on the USD 500,000 deposited are paid to the investor.
• ✦ However, the principal remains blocked and cannot be withdrawn during this period.

• 5. Advantages

• The advantages of acquiring Turkish citizenship through a bank deposit are as follows:
• ✦ Low-Risk Investment: Compared with other investment options, a deposit investment has a fixed value and is not exposed to market fluctuations in the way real estate is.
• ✦ Interest/Profit-Share Income: Additional income can be earned from the deposit during the 3-year period.
• ✦ Fast Process: All application procedures are usually completed within 3 to 6 months.
• ✦ Covers the Family: The investor can also include their spouse and children under the age of 18 in the citizenship application.
• ✦ Recoverable Investment: After 3 years, when the block on the deposit is lifted, the investor can freely withdraw the principal.

• 6. Key Points

• ✦ Choosing the Right Bank: It is important to work with a reliable Turkish bank operating in Türkiye.
• ✦ Proof of Source: The source of the amount deposited must be documented. Under anti-money laundering legislation, a transparent transaction process is essential.
• ✦ Expert Advice: It is recommended that the process be conducted with the assistance of a professional lawyer or citizenship consultant.
• ✦ BDDK Approval: The BDDK certificate of eligibility is a mandatory document for the citizenship application. For this reason, the blocking procedures must be carried out in full.
• In summary, Turkish citizenship through capital investment offers an attractive opportunity for foreign investors who wish to direct their financial resources to Türkiye. This process can be carried out through certain types of investment and usually requires a substantial financial investment. However, those who choose this route gain a Turkish passport and the opportunity to benefit from the economic opportunities in Türkiye.

• Frequently Asked Questions

  How much do I need to invest to obtain Turkish citizenship by buying a home?

  One or more properties worth at least USD 400,000 (or the equivalent in Turkish lira) must be purchased, and the value in the valuation report must also be USD 400,000 or above. An annotation that the property will not be sold for at least 3 years is entered in the title deed register.

  How long must the money stay in the bank for citizenship through a bank deposit?

  A deposit of at least USD 500,000 or the equivalent must be blocked for at least 3 years at a Turkish bank operating in Türkiye. Interest or profit-share income can be received during this period, but the principal cannot be withdrawn.

  Does Turkish citizenship by investment also cover the family?

  Yes. Citizenship by investment covers not only the investor but also the investor's spouse and children under the age of 18.

  Can the investment be sold after citizenship has been obtained?

  It is possible to dispose of the investment after Turkish citizenship has been obtained. However, if the investment is unwound before the committed period expires, annulment of citizenship may become an issue.

  Which documents are required for a citizenship application through real estate?

  The required documents are: a passport with notarised Turkish translation, the title deed, the valuation report, a bank receipt showing that the purchase price was paid, the non-sale annotation document obtained from the land registry, biometric photographs, a birth certificate with notarised translation, a marriage certificate if married, and a criminal record certificate.