Turkey

Turkey Citizenship by Investment Program Overview

The Turkey Citizenship by Investment Program is open to foreign nationals who invest at least US$400,000 in qualifying Turkish assets.

The program offers multiple investment routes and grants citizenship directly without requiring any prior residency in Turkey.

Citizenship is granted by presidential decree and carries a mandatory three-year holding period on the qualifying investment, after which the funds can be recovered. 

The main applicant can include their spouse and dependent children under 18. Adult children and parents cannot be included as dependents and must apply independently.

Eligibility Requirements

Five qualifying investment routes are available.

Real Estate Purchase

• Minimum purchase of US$400,000 in residential or commercial property, with no restriction on location or property type
• Property value must be confirmed by a state-approved valuation report from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change
• Payment must be made through a Turkish bank; all funds must be converted to Turkish lira at the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey rate and documented with a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate
• A three-year no-sale annotation is registered on the title deed
• Multiple properties may be combined to reach the threshold for title-deed purchases; for notarial pre-sale contracts, the full US$400,000 must fall within a single contract
• Undeveloped land plots do not qualify
• Citizens of Armenia, Syria, Cyprus, Cuba, Taiwan, North Korea, and Eritrea are prohibited from purchasing real estate in Turkey

Fixed Capital Investment

• Minimum investment of US$500,000 in fixed capital in a Turkish company, as attested by the Ministry of Industry and Technology
• Investment must be maintained for three years

Bank Deposit

• Minimum deposit of US$500,000 in a Turkish bank, maintained for at least three years
• Funds must be deposited in Turkey; deposits held at overseas branches of Turkish banks do not qualify
• The deposit may be held in a joint account provided all joint holders provide express consent to maintain the deposit for the full period

Government Bonds

• Minimum purchase of US$500,000 in Turkish sovereign debt securities, held for at least three years
• Attested by the Capital Markets Board of Turkey

Investment Fund Share

• Minimum investment of US$500,000 in shares of a real estate investment fund or venture capital investment fund, maintained for at least three years
• Attested by the Capital Markets Board of Turkey

Job Creation

• Creation of employment for at least 50 Turkish citizens, maintained for at least three years
• Attested by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services

Route to Citizenship

Upon completing the qualifying investment and passing due diligence review, the Turkish President issues a citizenship decree for the main applicant and all included family members simultaneously. 

The application process typically takes three to six months from submission of a complete application. Applicants must be physically present in Turkey to obtain the investor residence permit and to submit biometrics; both the main applicant and spouse must attend in person. 

Turkey permits dual nationality. 

Mobility and Taxation

Mobility

Turkish citizens can access approximately 114 destinations visa-free or visa-on-arrival, including Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. 

In addition, Turkish citizens are eligible to apply for the US E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, which allows entry to the United States to develop or manage a qualifying business investment, after establishing domicile in Turkey as a national for at least three years.

Taxation

Turkey taxes its residents on worldwide income. Non-resident Turkish citizens are taxed only on income sourced within Turkey. 

Applicants who do not establish tax residency in Turkey, by spending fewer than 183 days per year in the country, are subject to Turkish tax only on Turkish-sourced income. 

Turkish gift and inheritance taxes apply to worldwide assets held by Turkish citizens, regardless of where they reside. Applicants should seek independent tax advice.

How to Apply

The program is primarily administered by Turkey’s Investment and Finance Office and other Turkish government bodies, depending on the chosen investment route. Citizenship applications are processed by the Provincial Directorate of Civil Registration and Nationality, in accordance with Article 12 of Law No. 5901 and the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law. 

The process typically runs as follows:

• Step 1: Select the qualifying investment route and appoint a licensed Turkish lawyer to act on the applicant’s behalf.
• Step 2: Complete the investment and obtain the relevant Certificate of Conformity from the supervising ministry.
• Step 3: Travel to Turkey with your spouse to obtain the investor residence permit and submit biometrics at the relevant immigration office.
• Step 4: Submit the full citizenship application file, including the Certificate of Conformity, residence permit, certified translations of all foreign documents, clean criminal record certificates for both the main applicant and spouse, biometric photographs, and family status documents.
• Step 5: The Directorate General of Civil Registration conducts ministerial due diligence; the Presidential citizenship decree is issued upon approval.
• Step 6: Collect citizenship certificates and apply for passports in Turkey or at a Turkish embassy abroad.