Turkey Citizenship Requirements
In Article 11 of the Turkish Citizenship Law (TVK), the ways of “acquiring Turkish citizenship later” are regulated. The foreigner who wants to acquire Turkish citizenship must meet the following conditions:
- Must be mature and have the power of discernment.
- Must reside in Turkey for 5 years backwards from the date of application.
- Should confirm with his behavior that he has decided to settle in Turkey.
- Must meet the general health conditions.
- Must have good morals.
- Should speak Turkish sufficiently.
- Must have an income or occupation sufficient for the subsistence of himself and his dependents in Turkey.
- Should not be an obstacle in terms of national security and public order.
Buying Real Estate for Turkish Citizenship
In Article 31/1-b of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (YUKK), “having immovable property in Turkey” is among the situations where a short-term residence permit can be granted. The person who will obtain a short-term residence permit by owning immovable property in Turkey must first acquire an immovable property and then apply for a short-term residence permit and reside in Turkey for at least 5 years without interruption. After residing for at least 5 years, he can apply for Turkish citizenship. The spouse and minor child of the person who acquires Turkish citizenship also acquire citizenship. The regulation in this article is actually a situation that makes it easier to obtain a residence permit. It is not a sine qua non condition for acquiring Turkish Citizenship depending on residence. However, in the acquisition of citizenship, it is a positive reason for appreciation that shows that the person intends to settle in Turkey. In addition, the value of the immovable property does not have to be 400,000 USD, which is stipulated in the acquisition of Citizenship by Investment by purchasing Real Estate. It is enough to have only one resident. Both are different arrangements.
Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship by Investment
Among the “exceptional cases in the acquisition of Turkish citizenship” stipulated in Article 12 of the TVK, the acquisition of citizenship by investment is also counted.
As a fixed capital investment, the investment amount must be worth a minimum of 500,000 USD. After this investment is determined by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, it is possible to acquire Turkish citizenship. By the Ministry of Industry and Technology; Citizenship can be acquired through the complete purchase of a non-public company of fixed capital or by becoming a partner in the company at a certain rate. Persons who will apply for this method cannot transfer their shares in the company for three years.
Foreigners who want to obtain citizenship by purchasing real estate or by making an immovable sales promise contract must purchase real estate worth at least 400,000 USD and an annotation that will not be sold for three years must be placed on the title deed. It is not necessary to purchase the real estate for Turkish citizenship. Citizenship can also be acquired through a contract of promise to sell real estate. The most important difference between acquiring Turkish citizenship by investment and citizenship gained by purchasing real estate is that there is no residency requirement.
Persons who are determined by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to employ at least 50 people are also entitled to acquire Turkish citizenship.
In order to acquire Turkish citizenship by depositing money into a deposit account, foreigners who are determined by the BRSA to have deposited at least 500,000 USD or the equivalent amount of foreign currency in banks in Turkey for three years, provided that they keep the deposit for three years, may be eligible for citizenship. The relevant amount can be deposited into the same account as well as in different accounts.
Foreigners who want to acquire citizenship by investing in government debt instruments must pay at least 500,000 USD; Government Domestic Debt Securities, Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey Liquidity Bonds, Bank Bonds, Asset and Mortgage-Backed Securities, Financing Bonds, Income-Indexed Securities, Asset and Mortgage-Backed Securities, Private Sector Bonds and Income Partnership Bonds. People who invest in these instruments and hold them for three years can acquire citizenship.
People who deposit at least 500,000 USD into their private retirement account and keep it in the system for three years can also gain citizenship.
How to Apply for Turkish Citizenship by Investment?
The application for Turkish citizenship by investment is made with a petition to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs. Before the application, it must be determined by the relevant ministry or institution that the necessary conditions are met. The documents required for this application are listed below:
1) Citizenship application petition,
2) The applicant’s passport or passport substitute document,
3) Birth certificate of the applicant
4) Marital status certificate of the applicant: Marriage certificate if married, divorce certificate if divorced, death certificate of spouse if widowed,
5) A copy of the birth certificate of the applicant himself and his family
6) 2 biometric photographs of the applicant,
7) Receipt showing that the service fee has been deposited in the finance cashier,
8) If the real estate is purchased, the real estate valuation report showing the value of the real estate,
9) Document showing the investment made by the applicant (for example, if the real estate has been purchased, the land registry record, if money has been deposited into the deposit account, the documents to be obtained from the bank, etc.)
If there is a deficiency in these documents required for the application, the applicant is given time to correct the deficiency. If the deficiency is not corrected within the given time, the application will be rejected.
there is a deficiency in these documents required for the application, the applicant is given time to correct the deficiency. If the deficiency is not corrected within the given time, the application will be rejected.
The application for the acquisition of Turkish citizenship by investment is finalized in approximately 3 months.
In the last few years, the interest of foreigners, especially Chinese entrepreneurs and investors, in acquiring Turkish Citizenship through Real Estate investment has been increasing, as it is the fastest and clearest solution for the acquisition of Turkish citizenship in Turkey, which has strategic importance.
As mentioned above; Acquiring Turkish citizenship in return for a certain investment is the easiest and fastest solution. It is possible for foreigners to acquire Turkish Citizenship by one of the ways of capital investment of 500,000 USD, investment fund participation shares or government debt instrument or 400,000 USD of real estate purchase and employment of 50 people, provided that it complies with the foreign quota conditions. Investments must be permanent for 3 years. In case of investment in this way, transactions are concluded in as little as 3 months.
The most preferred way is to buy real estate. Real estate in Turkey is one of the best investment tools for foreign and Turkish entrepreneurs due to its continuous appreciation and high rental prices. Ultimately, although real estate purchased for 3 years cannot be sold, there are all kinds of savings opportunities, including sales, at the end of 3 years.
The solution partner of our Office in this field is Hakan AKÇAM, who was appointed as the President of the All-Realtors Association, which was established by the decree of our President. All Realtor’s Association is the highest organization that has the only say in national and international real estate investment and has completed its structuring in every province and district of Turkey in a very short time. In the overseas structuring, appointments have been made to the TRNC, the United Kingdom, England and Azerbaijan, and the structuring processes related to other investor countries are continuing. It provides professional services both in the acquisition of Turkish Citizenship and in the purchase, rental and sale of individual/commercial real estate.
In this sense, it is very meaningful and important for us to work with Turkey’s top umbrella organization, which provides professional services in real estate investment to be made for the acquisition of Turkish Citizenship and in the purchase, rental and sale of individual/commercial real estate, factories and storage, with our solution partner TEDB, for reliability and fast solution.