There are several ways to become a Turkish citizen: by descent, by marriage, after five years of residence, by exceptional decision and, most popular among foreign investors, through citizenship by investment in Turkey. Each route has its own conditions, documents and timeline. This guide explains all of them, with a detailed section on the investment programme as it applies in 2026, prepared by a Turkish citizenship by investment lawyer in Istanbul.
Ways to Get Turkish Citizenship
Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 distinguishes between citizenship acquired by birth and citizenship acquired later:
- By birth: through descent (a child born to a Turkish mother or father, in or outside Turkey) or, exceptionally, through place of birth (a child born in Turkey who cannot acquire any other nationality).
- Later acquisition: by decision of the competent authority (general naturalisation after residence, marriage, exceptional naturalisation including investment), by adoption, or by exercising the right of choice.
For most foreigners, the realistic routes are investment, marriage and residence.
Citizenship by Investment in Turkey
Citizenship by investment in Turkey 2026 remains one of the fastest second-citizenship programmes in the world. It falls under the exceptional naturalisation rule in Article 12 of Law No. 5901 and Article 20 of its implementing regulation. Thresholds have not changed since 2022, when the real estate minimum rose from USD 250,000 to USD 400,000.
Investment Options and Minimum Amounts
| Investment route | Minimum amount | Holding period |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase of real estate | USD 400,000 | 3 years |
| Fixed capital investment | USD 500,000 | — |
| Deposit in a Turkish bank | USD 500,000 | 3 years |
| Turkish government bonds | USD 500,000 | 3 years |
| Real estate / venture capital investment fund shares | USD 500,000 | 3 years |
| Private pension system contribution | USD 500,000 | 3 years |
| Creating employment | 50 employees | — |
The amounts can also be invested in the equivalent value in other foreign currencies. Each investment must be approved by the competent ministry or authority, which issues a certificate of conformity before the citizenship application.
Real Estate Route: Key Conditions
Real estate is by far the most common route. The main conditions are:
- Minimum USD 400,000 in one or more properties, in the same or different cities.
- Payment in foreign currency through a Turkish bank, which converts it and issues a foreign currency purchase certificate (Döviz Alım Belgesi). Payments for citizenship by investment in Turkish lira transferred from a domestic account do not qualify.
- Valuation report from a licensed appraiser, confirming the property’s value.
- Three-year no-sale annotation on the title deed.
- The property must not have been previously owned by the investor, their spouse or children, or transferred between foreigners for citizenship purposes.
- Off-plan purchases are possible with a notarised sales promise contract annotated in the land registry.
Before buying, a full legal due diligence of the title deed, debts, mortgages and zoning status is essential. Our guide Turkish Real Estate Lawyer Istanbul explains the purchase process in detail.
Step-by-Step Process
- Legal review and choice of investment with your lawyer.
- Investment: purchase of the property or transfer of funds, with the foreign currency purchase certificate.
- Certificate of conformity from the relevant authority (for real estate, the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre).
- Short-term residence permit based on the investment.
- Citizenship application with the required documents at the specialised citizenship office.
- Security checks and Presidential decision.
- Turkish ID card and passport.
In practice, the whole process usually takes 4 to 9 months from investment to passport.
Family Members
The investor’s spouse and children under 18 can apply together with the investor under the same investment. Adult children need their own qualifying investment.
Citizenship by Investment in Istanbul
Most applications are processed in Istanbul, where the majority of qualifying properties are located. Investors searching for citizenship by investment Istanbul options will find the widest range of residential and commercial properties here, as well as banks and appraisers experienced in citizenship files. Applications are handled by the specialised citizenship units of the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
Citizenship by Marriage
Marriage to a Turkish citizen does not automatically confer citizenship. A foreigner who has been married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years, and whose marriage continues, may apply. The applicant must live in family unity, must not act in a way incompatible with the marriage and must not pose a threat to national security or public order. If the Turkish spouse dies after the application, the condition of a continuing marriage is not required. A foreigner who acquired citizenship through a marriage later declared void keeps it if they acted in good faith.
Citizenship by Residence (General Naturalisation)
A foreigner may apply for Turkish citizenship if they:
- are an adult with capacity under their national law,
- have legally resided in Turkey for five years without interruption before the application (absences totalling no more than 12 months are allowed),
- have shown their intention to settle in Turkey (for example by buying a home, investing, working with a work permit or completing their education),
- have no disease posing a danger to public health and are of good moral character,
- can speak sufficient Turkish,
- have income or a profession sufficient to support themselves and their dependants,
- do not pose a threat to national security or public order.
Exceptional Citizenship
Under Article 12 of Law No. 5901, the following foreigners may acquire citizenship by Presidential decision, regardless of the general conditions, provided there is no national security or public order obstacle:
- persons who bring industrial facilities to Turkey or have rendered, or are expected to render, extraordinary service in science, technology, economy, social affairs, sport, culture or the arts,
- investors meeting the thresholds described above, and Turquoise Card holders, together with their foreign spouses and minor or dependent children,
- persons whose naturalisation is deemed necessary,
- persons accepted as immigrants.
Other Routes
- Adoption: a minor adopted by a Turkish citizen may acquire citizenship.
- Right of choice: certain persons who lost Turkish citizenship through their parents may choose to acquire it.
- Re-acquisition: former Turkish citizens may reacquire citizenship, with or without a residence requirement depending on how they lost it.
- TRNC citizens can benefit from facilitated procedures.
Required Documents
The usual documents are:
- application form and two biometric photos,
- passport with a notarised Turkish translation,
- valid residence permit,
- birth certificate and marital status certificate (apostilled and translated),
- documents proving income,
- for investment applications: certificate of conformity, title deed or bank documents and the foreign currency purchase certificate,
- fee payment receipt.
Foreign documents must be apostilled (or legalised) and translated by a sworn translator.
Application, Fees and Status Check
Applications are made in person, or through a lawyer with a special power of attorney, to the provincial directorate of population and citizenship affairs in Turkey, or to a Turkish consulate abroad. Applications are reviewed by the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs; files without any security obstacle are submitted for decision. You can track your application on the website of the General Directorate with your application number and date of birth.
Turkish Citizenship by Investment Lawyer
Every citizenship file is a combination of investment, real estate and administrative law. As a citizenship law firm Turkey investors work with from abroad, we:
- check the property or investment before any money is transferred,
- coordinate the bank, appraiser and land registry steps,
- obtain the certificate of conformity and the residence permit,
- prepare and file the citizenship application under a power of attorney,
- follow the file until you receive your ID card and passport.
Working with an experienced citizenship lawyer Turkey based in Istanbul means you do not need to stay in the country for the whole process. As a Turkish citizenship by investment lawyer, we work in English and Turkish and offer a free short preliminary consultation. If you are looking for a reliable citizenship law firm Turkey, contact us. Related area: Immigration Law.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the minimum investment for Turkish citizenship in 2026?
USD 400,000 for real estate, or USD 500,000 for bank deposits, government bonds, fund shares, private pension contributions or fixed capital investment. Alternatively, creating jobs for 50 people qualifies.
2. How long does citizenship by investment in Turkey take?
Usually 4 to 9 months from the investment to receiving the Turkish passport, depending on the investment type and the security checks.
3. Can I sell the property after getting citizenship?
Not for three years. A no-sale annotation is placed on the title deed for three years from the purchase.
4. Can my family get citizenship with my investment?
Yes. Your spouse and children under 18 can be included in the same application. Adult children need their own investment.
5. Do I have to live in Turkey to get citizenship by investment?
No. There is no minimum stay requirement. You only need to obtain a residence permit as part of the process, and most steps can be handled by your lawyer under a power of attorney.
6. Does Turkey allow dual citizenship?
Turkey allows dual citizenship. Whether you can keep your original nationality depends on the law of your home country.
7. Can I buy several properties to reach USD 400,000?
Yes. You can buy more than one property, in the same or different cities, as long as the total value reaches USD 400,000 and all conditions are met for each property.
8. How long do I need to be married to get Turkish citizenship?
At least three years, and the marriage must still continue at the time of the application.