Turkish Citizenship

Turkish citizenship offers a strategic bridge between Europe and Asia, visa-free or facilitated access to more than 110 countries, and a status that allows dual nationality. For many foreigners worldwide Turkey is no longer simply a holiday or trade destination — it is a second home. Demirel Consultancy knows every route available under Law No. 5901 on Turkish Citizenship — investment, marriage, standard application and the exceptional track — and structures your file in line with the latest Directorate General of Civil Registration practice.

Citizenship by investment is the route most popular with our clients from the Middle East, Central Asia, Russia and the Far East. But the investment alone is not enough: the file has to be complete, the documents in the right format, and the process — including Central Bank foreign exchange purchase certificates — has to follow the official flow exactly.

Routes to Turkish citizenship

1. By investment (CBI — Art. 12)

• Real estate purchase of at least USD 400,000 with a 3-year non-sale annotation on the title
• Fixed capital investment of at least USD 500,000 — approved by the Ministry of Industry and Technology
• Government debt instruments of at least USD 500,000, held for 3 years
• Units of a real-estate investment fund or venture capital fund worth at least USD 500,000
• Creating employment for at least 50 people, certified by the Ministry of Labour
• At least USD 500,000 deposited in Turkish banks for 3 years

2. By marriage (Art. 16)

Requires at least 3 years of family union with a Turkish spouse. To rule out any suspicion of sham marriage we strengthen the file with proof of social life, shared residence and bank activity.

3. Standard application (Art. 11)

Open to foreigners who have resided legally in Turkey for 5 uninterrupted years, speak Turkish and have a clean health and moral record. Staying abroad for more than 6 months in any year is a critical disqualifier.

4. Exceptional track (Art. 12)

Persons who have rendered outstanding service to Turkey in industry, science, culture or sport can become citizens by Presidential decision.

Investment route — step by step

1. Initial analysis. Choice of investment type, budget planning and total cost of including family members.
2. Tax number and bank account. Accounts required for citizenship and real estate purchase are opened in Turkey.
3. Appraisal report. A CMB-licensed firm prepares the valuation report — must not be lower than the deed value.
4. Currency conversion. The investment amount is reported to the Central Bank and a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate is issued.
5. Title deed and annotation. The 3-year non-sale annotation is added at the Land Registry.
6. Compliance certificate. Issued by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change.
7. Short-term residence permit. Obtained before the citizenship application is filed.
8. Filing at the Civil Registration Directorate. Biometric registration and document submission together with family members.
9. Ministry of Interior and Presidential approval. Decision within 3-6 months on average.
10. ID card and passport. Turkish ID card and passport are issued upon approval.

Family members

Spouse and unmarried children under 18 are included in the same file. A single investment makes the whole immediate family Turkish citizens — a feature that makes the CBI programme especially attractive. Children over 18 file separately.

Required documents

• Passports and biometric photos of all family members
• Apostilled birth certificates and marriage certificate
• Criminal record from your country of nationality and from every country you lived in during the last 5 years
• Title deed, appraisal report, compliance certificate
• Foreign exchange purchase certificate and bank receipts
• Short-term residence permit
• Four biometric photos

Timeline and fees

With a complete file, the citizenship application concludes in 3 to 6 months. Government fees, appraisal, land registry charges, notary and consultancy fees are listed as separate line items in the contract so you see the full cost up front.

Why Demirel Consultancy?

We run Turkish citizenship files end-to-end, coordinating legal, real-estate and tax advisory in one place. With our partners at appraisal firms, notaries, banks and land registry offices, you only need to be in Turkey for your signatures and biometric registration — we handle everything else.