Pehlivan & Güven Law FirmPublished:
Contrary to a widespread misconception, marrying a Turkish citizen does not automatically confer Turkish citizenship. Marriage creates a right to apply for citizenship; however, the additional conditions set out in the law must also be met in order to exercise this right.
In this article, we explain in detail the conditions for applying for Turkish citizenship by marriage, how the 3-year period is calculated, the interview process and the review of family unity. For an overview of the other ways of acquiring citizenship, see our article How to Get Turkish Citizenship: An Up-to-Date Guide to the Routes.
Short answer
Marrying a Turkish citizen does not automatically confer citizenship; it gives rise to a right to apply. Under Article 16 of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, you must have been married for at least 3 years from the date of the civil marriage, live in family unity, not engage in conduct incompatible with the marital union and not pose an obstacle in terms of national security and public order. The administration investigates whether the marriage is genuine through a review of documents and an interview.
To apply for citizenship by marriage, all of the following conditions must be met:
Your time limit may be running
If your application for citizenship by marriage has been refused, the refusal can be challenged before the administrative court within 60 days of notification (Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577, Art. 7).
The period is the uninterrupted time from the date of the civil marriage to the date of application. For example:
Warning: Applications made before the period has expired are not processed.
During the application, the administration investigates whether the marriage is genuine (not a sham) and whether family unity continues. For this purpose:
The interview is not an exam. Its purpose is to confirm that the marriage is genuine. The questions generally cover the following topics:
Important: The spouses' answers must be consistent and accurate. Slight differences in minor details may be regarded as natural, but contradictions on fundamental matters are assessed negatively.
The law treats as invalid marriages entered into solely for the purpose of acquiring citizenship, in which no genuine family life is established. If the administration concludes that the marriage is a sham, the application is rejected and legal proceedings may be initiated against the person concerned.
The application file generally includes the following (this may vary depending on personal circumstances):
Divorce may lead to the application being rejected. However, a separation may be temporary; an assessment is made according to the specific facts:
When a rejection decision is received:
For details of the remedies available against a rejection decision, see our article What to Do If Your Turkish Citizenship Application Is Refused.
No. Marriage creates a right to apply for citizenship; however, the additional conditions in the law must also be met in order to exercise this right.
The period is calculated without interruption from the date of the civil marriage to the date of application; periods of engagement or cohabitation do not count. For example, if the date of marriage is 15 March 2023, the application may be made after 15 March 2026; applications made before the period has expired are not processed.
The interview is not an exam; its purpose is to confirm that the marriage is genuine. Questions are generally asked about the spouse's date of birth, occupation and family, the couple's shared daily life, how the marriage began and plans for the future; contradictions between the spouses' answers on fundamental matters are assessed negatively.
If there is a good reason, such as work or education, for the spouses living at different addresses, the application is not adversely affected. Temporary separations due to work, education or health may also be disregarded.
If divorce proceedings are filed during the application, the administration may put the application on hold or reject it. If the couple divorced before the application, an application by marriage cannot be made.
Although Turkish citizenship by marriage may seem an easy and quick route, the conditions required by the law are applied rigorously. The expiry of the 3-year period alone is not sufficient; the genuineness and continuity of family unity are essential. Before applying, prepare your documents in full and approach any interview with natural and honest answers.
