Turkish Citizenship

We will comprehensively review the process of obtaining Turkish citizenship, starting with the required standards and conditions, all the way to the benefits of this major step and we will shed light on the main steps and procedures that must be taken to achieve this goal, and we will also review the social and economic impacts of an individual obtaining Turkish citizenship.

Advantages of obtaining Turkish citizenship

1. Obtaining Turkish citizenship allows an individual to enjoy permanent residence in Turkey.
2. A holder of Turkish citizenship can travel freely to many countries without the need for a visa.
3. Citizenship grants the right to work freely within without the need for additional permits.
4. Citizenship holders can fully benefit from real estate ownership rights.
5. Individuals with Turkish citizenship can benefit from education in Turkish institutions at lower fees.
6. Access to health services including health insurance.
7. The right to benefit from social services and social security.
8. The right to participate in elections and influence decision-making.
9. Providing health insurance to protect the individual and his family.
10. Obtaining government support and assistance.
11. Obtaining citizenship may provide tax relief.
12. The right to practice a profession or establish a company.
13. An opportunity to connect with the community and cultural interaction.
14. Possibility of participating in economic activity.
15. Diplomatic protection rights of Turkish citizens.
16. The opportunity to participate in sporting activities in an official capacity.
17. The right to resort to the law and obtain legal protection.
18. The possibility of benefiting from investments in the country.
19. Possibility of obtaining loans on favorable terms.
20. The possibility of obtaining travel visas for the family easily.
21. Providing a stable environment for the family.
22. Freedom to move and live throughout Türkiye without restrictions.
23. The right to establish and own companies.
24. Rights to use social services provided by the government.
25. Intellectual property rights and innovation.
26. The right to defend human rights and fundamental freedoms.
27. Obtaining support from Turkish embassies and diplomatic missions abroad.

Ways to obtain Turkish citizenship

Below let us learn about the ways to obtain Turkish citizenship:

Turkish citizenship through real estate investment:

The most common and well-known way to obtain Turkish citizenship is through real estate investment, as this approach allows foreigners to obtain citizenship and start a real estate investment project simultaneously and the investor must be aware that obtaining citizenship is not only related to purchasing a property in Turkey, but rather he must comply with a set of necessary conditions that must be met by the property and the buyer and this includes:

1. The value of the property must not be less than 400 thousand US dollars.
2. Commitment not to sell the property before three years have passed.
3. Purchasing the property through a Turkish citizen or a Turkish company.
4. Transferring the property price via a Turkish bank to the seller’s account.
5. Verify that the property has not been previously used to obtain citizenship.
6. Issuing a real estate evaluation document to verify the value of the property and ensure the integrity of the deal.

Turkish citizenship through business investment

If you decide to establish your own business for the purpose of Turkish citizenship, you must have a capital of no less than 500 thousand US dollars, as Turkish citizenship can also be obtained by purchasing shares or bonds worth no less than $500,000, with an investment period of no less than 3 years, as it is prohibited to sell them before the end of this period and in addition, an amount of $500,000 is required to be deposited in a bank account with a commitment not to withdraw any part of the amount before three years have passed.

If you decide to establish a private business, you must employ at least 50 Turkish employees, a requirement that was 100 employees before the amendments issued in 2018, as it is also worth knowing that a foreigner who is under the legal age can obtain citizenship if he is adopted by a Turkish family, provided that he does not pose a threat to public security in Turkey.

It is also possible to apply for citizenship if the foreigner’s Turkish affiliation and origins are proven by submitting the required papers and documents, which will be obtained immediately after that and in exceptional cases, citizenship can be granted to a foreigner if he presents a scientific achievement or technological invention that benefits and benefits Turkey.

Turkish citizenship through marriage

One of the common ways to apply for Turkish citizenship is through marriage, where a foreigner can marry a Turkish citizen or a foreigner can marry a Turkish citizen, however, this marriage should be real and should not be understood as only a means of obtaining citizenship and therefore, an individual is not allowed to apply for citizenship until three years have passed from the date of marriage, and the marriage is required to be free of any tampering and moreover, the individual must not be a public safety problem in the country, in order to ensure the safety of the country.

Stages of obtaining Turkish citizenship

Below are the most important stages of obtaining Turkish citizenship:

The first stage: submitting the application

This stage begins with a special interview to submit the citizenship application at the Immigration Department and the application is registered and officially approved, and this stage includes studying the documents submitted in the application file and ensuring that they are correct and official and the file is approved by the Immigration Department, making it eligible to move to the second stage, as the documents must be notarized by a notary.

The second stage: transfer the file

This stage is considered relatively short, as the applicant’s Turkish citizenship file is transferred from the Immigration Department to the Civil Status Directorate and the Civil Status Directorate grants the ID card to citizens after they obtain citizenship and through this directorate, the remaining stages of the applicant’s acquisition of citizenship are followed up.

The third stage: initial audit

This stage includes an audit of the file by the General Directorate of Civil Status, where the completion of papers and identification is verified and if the file is for a family, personal files that prove kinship ties are checked and this is a short stage that does not consume much time.

Fourth stage: security audit

This stage is considered special for the security study of the file, and the extensive security audit of everything related to the security file of the applicant and this audit requires transferring the file to security agencies specialized in research.

The fifth stage: sending the file to the Council of Ministers

At this stage, the file is sent to the Turkish Council of Ministers for official approval and files are sent in groups, and the duration of this stage depends on the number of files in the group and the duration of the security study.

Sixth stage: Presenting the file to the Council of Ministers

This stage allows the Council of Ministers to evaluate the naturalization file and announce its acceptance or rejection and reaching this stage often means acceptance, and rejection occurs in rare cases.

Seventh stage: Transferring the file to the Civil Status Directorate

After the Council of Ministers evaluates the naturalization file and announces its acceptance, the file is sent back to the Civil Status Directorate, and it is informed of the result.

Eighth stage: Preparing the ID card

This is the final stage where the ID card of the accepted persons is prepared, their file is fully prepared in the Civil Status Directorate, and the cards are sent to the addresses of the accepted persons via the Turkish Post (PTT), thus, the applicant becomes a Turkish citizen with all rights.

Conditions for obtaining Turkish citizenship

1. The individual must be of legal age and have full mental capacity.
2. The individual must reside in Turkey for a period of no less than five years continuously.
3. He must provide evidence confirming his sincere intention to live and settle in Turkey, and this can be achieved by establishing a business, purchasing a property, or starting an investment project.
4. He must not be infected with a serious contagious disease that threatens public health.
5. He must not be involved in a criminal offense to ensure continued public safety.
6. All laws and regulations prevailing in Türkiye must be respected and adhered to.
7. He must have a sufficient source of livelihood for himself and his family.
8. The individual must master the Turkish language sufficiently to deal and integrate into Turkish society.

Reasons for rejecting the Turkish citizenship application

1. The applicant may not comply with specified financial requirements, such as not having sufficient capital.
2. If the applicant violates Turkish laws or regulations, this may result in the application being rejected.
3. If the applicant has a criminal record, this could be grounds for rejection of the application.
4. In the event that the applicant does not comply with the procedures and requirements specified by the Turkish government.
5. In the event that the documents submitted in the application are discovered to be forged.
6. If the applicant for citizenship is suspected of involvement in terrorist activities.
7. If he has an illegal residence or does not comply with the residency conditions.
8. In the event of failure to commit to national service if these obligations are required.
9. If the applicant does not comply with the investment conditions required to obtain citizenship.
10. If the applicant does not provide all the required information.
11. If the applicant is involved in illegal or corrupt activities.
12. If the applicant is involved in tax evasion.
13. In the event of not submitting the correct documents or using forged documents.
14. If the applicant for citizenship does not pass the required health examination.
15. In the event that the applicant does not comply with the Turkish language requirements.
16. If the applicant does not comply with the conditions for long-term residence in Türkiye.
17. If he does not adhere to the required real estate investment conditions.
18. If the applicant does not comply with the required tax obligations.
19. If the applicant has a record of activities that may pose a threat to security.
20. If the applicant does not provide sufficient justification for the need to obtain citizenship.

Documents required to obtain Turkish citizenship

1. Birth certificate: to determine identity and verify date of birth.
2. Passport: to determine current identity and nationality.
3. Proof of residence: to determine your current place of residence in Türkiye.
4. Colored biometric passport photos: to enhance the applicant’s identity.
5. Marriage certificate: In the event of a marriage, to verify marital status.
6. Clean criminal record: proof of applicants’ integrity.
7. Proof of health insurance: Must be valid in Türkiye.
8. Proof of investment: Requires an investment of $400,000 in a Turkish bank account within the framework of real estate investment.
9. Turkish tax number: to determine applicants’ compliance with tax obligations.

Information you must know when applying for Turkish citizenship

1. The period for obtaining citizenship varies according to each file, and naturalization processes through investment are usually quick and the relevant authorities in Turkey work to facilitate procedures and reduce bureaucracy during the submission of citizenship files, which helps speed up the study of the file.
2. The Civil Status Directorate can contact you to complete missing documents if necessary or to ask questions about the naturalization file, as it is recommended to keep the citizenship application code and not lose it.
3. If the citizenship file is deleted, you can go to the Immigration Department to file an objection, and it is preferable to seek help from a Turkish lawyer to assist in this matter.
4. It is recommended that you do not share your personal data or order code with anyone, as it is also advised not to change the residence address or phone number provided to the Immigration Department during the citizenship application.
5. It is important for individuals coming to Turkey after the age of 22 to be aware that they are not required to perform compulsory service in the Turkish army after obtaining citizenship, but they must review the conscription division to obtain an exemption paper or make a decision to perform the service if they are not exempt.

Tips when applying for Turkish citizenship

1. Make sure you meet all the necessary conditions to obtain Turkish citizenship and check current laws and regulations to ensure your application is submitted according to the correct requirements.
2. The application was submitted with complete and correct documents and make sure that all documents are translated into Turkish if necessary and certified by the Turkish embassy or consulate.
3. Follow the instructions carefully and make sure you fill out each part of the application correctly and completely, and follow the instructions carefully.
4. Apply on time and ensure that you have paid all required fees on time.
5. If you have difficulty understanding the legal procedures or have special issues, working with an immigration lawyer may be of benefit.
6. Consider that obtaining citizenship can include several stages and examinations, such as a security check and a security audit and be prepared to provide the necessary information and cooperate at these stages.
7. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your application, do not hesitate to contact the relevant authorities for additional assistance.
8. Keep copies of all documents and correspondence relating to your application, as these documents may be useful in the future.
9. Make sure you are prepared for waiting periods, as some stages can take a long time. Be patient and prepared for any delays that may occur.
10. Follow any updates in laws and regulations related to Turkish citizenship to ensure you are always aware of current requirements.

Should I give up my original citizenship in order to obtain Turkish citizenship?

There is no need to give up your original citizenship, as you can obtain Turkish citizenship and retain your primary citizenship according to Turkish law.

Is Turkish citizenship granted to all family members?

Of course, the wife and children under the age of 18 can obtain Turkish citizenship directly, as for children over the age of 18, they can apply for citizenship individually or apply for family residency.

In conclusion, we find that obtaining Turkish citizenship constitutes a big and important step in the lives of individuals who seek to achieve a new life experience in Turkey, just looking at the advantages of this nationality and whether through investment, marriage, or other means, he reveals the opportunities and privileges Turkey offers to individuals who choose to become involved in its society.

By adhering to the conditions and preparing the application well, individuals can make their way towards obtaining Turkish citizenship and enjoy the economic and social benefits that come with it and individuals are encouraged to familiarize themselves with all the necessary details and steps and adhere to official guidance to ensure the success of their application.