Turkish citizenship is governed by the Turkish Citizenship Law (Law No. 5901). There are multiple pathways to acquisition — ranging from ordinary residence-based naturalisation to investment-based routes that do not require any period of residence. Each path has different eligibility requirements, documentation obligations, and processing timelines.
Ordinary Naturalisation (Genel Yolla Vatandaşlık)
The standard route requires the applicant to demonstrate:
- Five years of lawful and uninterrupted residence in Turkey immediately before the application
- Settlement intention (yerleşme niyeti): genuine intention to make Turkey a permanent home, evidenced by family ties, employment, property, and other connections
- Good character: no serious criminal record in Turkey or abroad
- Turkish language proficiency: sufficient to communicate in daily life (assessed at interview)
- Financial self-sufficiency: ability to support oneself and dependants without recourse to public assistance
- No public health risk
The five-year residence must be lawful throughout. Periods of unlawful stay, overstay, or absence from Turkey that break continuity are not counted. Extended periods abroad during the five-year window can interrupt the continuity requirement.
Exceptional Acquisition (İstisnai Yolla Vatandaşlık)
The Council of Ministers (now the President) may grant citizenship exceptionally without the five-year residence requirement. The main grounds are:
Investment Citizenship
The most commonly used exceptional route for foreign nationals:
| Investment Type | Minimum Amount |
|---|---|
| Real property purchase | $400,000 (USD equivalent) with annotation prohibiting sale for 3 years |
| Fixed capital investment | $500,000 |
| Employment creation | 50 persons employed |
| Bank deposit | $500,000 held for 3 years |
| Government bonds / funds | $500,000 held for 3 years |
The property route is the most frequently used. Crucially, no period of residence in Turkey is required — the investor and their spouse and minor children can obtain citizenship without ever living in Turkey.
Other Exceptional Grounds
- Persons who have rendered outstanding service to Turkey in the fields of science, technology, economics, culture, sport, or social affairs
- Persons whose acquisition of citizenship is deemed strategically or nationally important
The Application Process
Applications are submitted to the provincial directorate of the migration authority or, for investment cases, to relevant ministerial units. The process includes:
- Document verification: compilation of personal documents (passport, birth certificate, marital status, criminal record clearance), investment documents, and tax identification
- Security investigation: background check by relevant state agencies
- Assessment report: prepared by the reviewing authority
- Presidential decree: citizenship is formally granted by presidential decision
For investment cases, the land registry must annotate the property with a three-year transfer prohibition before the citizenship application is complete.
Dual Citizenship
Turkey permits dual citizenship. Acquiring Turkish citizenship does not require renouncing another citizenship. However, the applicant’s home country may have its own rules on the effect of acquiring foreign citizenship — this should be verified before applying.
Revocation
Turkish citizenship acquired through naturalisation (ordinary or exceptional) can be revoked if it is established that it was obtained through fraud, false information, or concealment of material facts. Citizenship acquired by birth cannot be revoked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my spouse and children obtain citizenship together with me through the investment route? Yes. A spouse and minor children of the investor can be included in the same application and obtain Turkish citizenship through the investment. Each family member’s application is processed together with the primary applicant’s.
Does the three-year property restriction affect my ability to rent out the property? The annotation prohibits sale or transfer of the property for three years. It does not prevent rental income or use of the property. The restriction is lifted after three years upon application to the land registry.
I have been resident in Turkey for five years. Is there any chance my application will be refused? Meeting the five-year residence requirement is necessary but not sufficient. The good character assessment, language test, financial self-sufficiency evaluation, and security investigation all form part of the decision. Refusal is possible even where the time requirement is met if one of the other criteria is not satisfied. Refusals can be challenged before the administrative courts.
Will I lose my current citizenship if I become Turkish? That depends entirely on your current country’s laws. Turkey will not require you to give up your existing citizenship. But your home country may automatically terminate your citizenship upon voluntary acquisition of a foreign nationality. Check with your home country’s authorities or consulate before applying.