Advantages of Turkish Citizenship
- With a Turkish passport, you can travel to more than 110 countries and territories visa-free or with a visa on arrival.
- Thanks to the E-2 Visa Treaty between Türkiye and the United States, Turkish citizens who meet the relevant requirements may apply for an E-2 Investor Visa by making a qualifying investment in the United States.
- Turkish citizenship may provide important advantages for business people applying for business visas, particularly for the United Kingdom and many other countries.
- The spouse and children under the age of 18 of the main applicant may obtain Turkish citizenship under the same application.
- Türkiye allows dual citizenship. If permitted by your current country’s laws, you may retain your existing citizenship while becoming a Turkish citizen.
- A Turkish passport can be issued within a relatively short period. Depending on the type of application, the citizenship process may be completed within 3 to 7 months.
- There is no residence requirement in Türkiye after obtaining Turkish citizenship. You may continue living in any country while keeping your Turkish citizenship.
- Turkish citizens enjoy many legal rights under Turkish law, including access to education, healthcare, social security, property ownership, inheritance, and commercial activities.
Turkish Citizenship by Investment
Turkish Citizenship by Investment allows foreign investors who meet specific investment requirements in Türkiye to obtain Turkish citizenship for themselves and their eligible family members. The main applicant, spouse, and children under the age of 18 may all obtain Turkish citizenship under the same application.
Applications for Turkish citizenship by investment are generally completed within 3 to 7 months, depending on the assessment process of the relevant authorities.
Turkish Citizenship by Investment Requirements
Foreign investors may apply for Turkish citizenship by meeting at least one of the following investment requirements:
- Purchase real estate worth USD 400,000 or more, provided that the property is not sold for at least three years.
- Deposit USD 500,000 or more in a Turkish bank for at least three years.
- Make a fixed capital investment of USD 500,000 or more.
- Invest USD 500,000 or more in Turkish government bonds.
- Employ at least 50 Turkish citizens, based on the official employment records of the previous six months.
Turkish Citizenship by Real Estate Investment Process
1. Selecting a Suitable Property
We provide professional consultancy in selecting residential, commercial, office, warehouse, land, or agricultural properties that qualify for a Turkish citizenship application.
Even if the investor identifies the property independently, our lawyers carefully review it from both legal and technical perspectives to determine whether it is eligible for Turkish citizenship. More than one property may be purchased to meet the required investment amount.
Important: The purchase process should not begin before obtaining professional advice from the relevant authorities regarding the eligibility of the property.
2. Legal Consultancy and Lawyer Support
Our experienced lawyers provide legal assistance throughout every stage of the citizenship application process.
We ensure that the investor’s legal rights are fully protected. If the investor already has legal representation, we work in coordination with their lawyer throughout the process.
3. Obtaining a Potential Tax Number
A potential Turkish tax number is obtained on behalf of the investor through the Tax Office or the online tax system.
4. Opening a Bank Account
Opening a Turkish bank account is not mandatory for a citizenship application.
However, if the investment funds will be transferred to Türkiye, we strongly recommend opening a Turkish bank account.
5. Preparing a Notarised Power of Attorney
To complete the application process, the investor must grant a notarised Power of Attorney to RL Consultancy and the lawyers handling the application.
The Power of Attorney may be issued:
- Before a Turkish Notary Public in Türkiye, or
- At a Turkish Consulate in the investor’s country of residence.
The draft Power of Attorney is prepared by our office. We recommend that no legal documents be prepared without consulting us first.
6. Signing the Sale Agreement
Once the investor approves the transaction, the sale agreement is signed either by the investor or by the authorised lawyer.
7. Completion of the Title Deed Transfer
The title deed transfer is completed at the Turkish Land Registry Office.
If requested, the transaction may be completed by our lawyers under a Power of Attorney, or our lawyers may accompany the investor during the process.
8. Property Valuation Report
Before purchasing the property, an official valuation report prepared by an authorised valuation company is mandatory.
The report examines:
- The market value of the property
- Title deed records
- Whether there are any restrictions or annotations affecting the sale
- The legal status and characteristics of the property
9. Registration of the Three-Year Sale Restriction
A restriction preventing the sale of the property for three years is registered with the Land Registry Office.
This procedure is handled by our legal team.
10. Obtaining the Certificate of Conformity
The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change issues the Certificate of Conformity after reviewing:
- The property valuation report
- The sale price recorded in the title deed
- Payment receipts
Important Notice
Before purchasing the property, the foreign currency corresponding to the investment amount must be sold to a bank operating in Türkiye at the exchange rate of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye. The relevant bank receipts must be retained for the application.
11. Preparation of Citizenship Application Documents
All required documents are prepared for the main applicant, the spouse, and children under the age of 18.
12. Obtaining the Investor Residence Permit
Before submitting the citizenship application, an Investor Residence Permit must be obtained.
This process is completed by our lawyers under the Power of Attorney. The applicant must personally attend the Immigration Office with our lawyer to provide biometric fingerprints.
13. Submission of the Turkish Citizenship Application
The completed application file is submitted to the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Nationality.
Applicants may also choose a Turkish first name and surname upon request.
14. Assessment of the Application
The application is reviewed by the relevant public authorities for security and administrative compliance.
Once all required examinations have been completed, the citizenship application is finalised.
15. Issuance of the Turkish Passport and National Identity Card
After the application has been approved, biometric procedures for the investor and eligible family members are completed.
The following documents are then issued:
- Turkish National Identity Card
- Turkish Passport
These documents may be collected either in Türkiye or through Turkish Consulates abroad.
Why RL Consultancy?
Our specialists have been providing professional services in Turkish citizenship, citizenship by investment, residence permits, and work permits since 2010.
We closely follow the latest legislation and administrative practices and provide professional guidance throughout every stage of the investment and citizenship application process.
