Turkish Citizenship Through Real Estate Purchase
Legal framework and requirements for obtaining Turkish citizenship on the basis of a real estate investment in Turkey.
This page describes the legal framework for obtaining Turkish citizenship through the purchase of real estate in Turkey. The information is provided for general orientation and does not constitute legal advice for individual cases.
Authoritative information is provided by the General Directorate of Migration Management of the Republic of Turkey (Göç İdaresi Genel Müdürlüğü) and by a lawyer licensed in Turkey.
Sections
Legal basis
The acquisition of Turkish citizenship is governed by the Turkish Citizenship Law. For foreign nationals, special provisions apply that are linked to investments in Turkish assets.
- Turkish Citizenship Law (Türk Vatandaşlığı Kanunu)
- Supplementary regulations issued by the General Directorate of Migration Management
- Provisions of Turkish property and tax law
- Foreign exchange regulations for cross-border payments
Requirements
All statutory requirements in force at the time of application must be fully satisfied. These include in particular:
- Acquisition of a property that meets the statutory minimum value
- Obligation to hold the property for a period prescribed by law
- Submission of an independent valuation report from a licensed expert
- No security-related or other statutory ground for refusal
- Valid travel documents and official identification records
Procedure
The procedure comprises several consecutive steps and can take from several weeks to several months, depending on the individual case and the workload of the competent authorities.
- Selection and reservation of a suitable property
- Execution of the purchase contract and registration in the Turkish land registry (Tapu)
- Preparation of a valuation report by a licensed expert
- Compilation of the application documents, including identity, ownership, and payment records
- Filing of the application with the competent migration authority
- Review and decision by the General Directorate of Migration Management
- Issuance of the citizenship certificate
Family members
The inclusion of family members is governed by the provisions in force at the time of application. Prior coordination with the competent authority or a lawyer is recommended.
- Minor children can usually be included in the application
- The inclusion of spouses follows the requirements applicable at the time
- Required documents vary depending on the family relationship
Valuation and supporting documents
The valuation report forms the basis for calculating the minimum investment and must be prepared by an institution licensed by the Turkish supervisory authorities.
- Licensed experts are listed in public registers
- The determined value is used to assess the minimum threshold
- Tapu extract, purchase contract, payment records, and identity documents form part of the application file
- Translations must be carried out by sworn translators
Obligations after acquisition
Acquiring citizenship carries ongoing obligations, the non-fulfillment of which may affect the status of the citizenship.
- The property must be held for the period prescribed by law
- A sale or encumbrance may trigger revocation of the citizenship
- Ongoing tax obligations, such as income tax and property tax, continue to apply
- Reporting obligations to the Turkish authorities must be observed
Revocation and withdrawal
Turkish citizenship may be revoked or withdrawn under certain conditions. The General Directorate of Migration Management is the competent authority.
- Revocation in case of false statements during the application
- Revocation if the statutory requirements no longer apply
- Revocation on serious security-related grounds
- Possibility of appeal before Turkish administrative courts
Residence permit as an alternative
The purchase of a property may, under certain conditions, also form the basis for a residence permit. The requirements and effects differ from those of citizenship.
- The requirements for a residence permit are regulated separately
- Both paths exist independently of each other
- An existing residence permit does not replace the requirements for citizenship
Note
Note
Turkish legislation may change. Only the legal provisions and official interpretations in force at the time of application are authoritative. This page does not constitute legal advice and does not replace an individual review by a lawyer.