The Turkish Citizenship by Investment program offers foreign nationals a path to Turkish nationality through qualifying investments in Türkiye. The program is governed by Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and the implementing regulation revised by Presidential Decree No. 106. Eligible investments include real estate, fixed capital, bank deposits, government bonds, investment fund participation, and a job creation route.
Bayraktar Attorneys structures investor files from eligibility review through the certificate of conformity and the final naturalization decree. The Şişli, Istanbul team coordinates valuation, banking, and General Directorate of Migration Management steps under one engagement.
Legal Framework of the Program
Two instruments govern the program: Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and the implementing regulation revised by Presidential Decree No. 106. Several authorities verify a different stage of the file. These include the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Capital Markets Board, and the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency. The General Directorate of Migration Management consolidates the application before transmission to the President’s Office.
Three threshold rules apply across every qualifying route:
- The investment must be made in the investor’s own name, not through a holding entity
- A three-year hold restriction is registered on the asset’s title or account
- The investment must be free from sanctions exposure or freeze orders
What Investment Routes Qualify Under the Program
Six routes currently qualify, and the applicant chooses one. Combining routes is not permitted under the current regulation. An investor pursuing turkish citizenship by investment selects the route that fits their capital structure, family plans, and time horizon.
- Real estate purchase of USD 400,000 minimum, with a three-year sale restriction on the title deed
- Fixed capital investment of USD 500,000 minimum, certified by the Ministry of Industry and Technology
- Bank deposit of USD 500,000 minimum, held with a Turkish bank for three uninterrupted years
- Government bond purchase of USD 500,000 minimum, held under the same three-year restriction
- Employment route requiring fifty registered Turkish jobs through the investor’s company
How Long Does the Application Process Take
Processing time varies by route. Real estate files typically complete in three to six months from purchase. Bank deposit and government bond routes commonly run four to eight months from initial transfer. Fixed capital files take longer because Capital Markets Board verification adds review time.
Each route follows the same procedural sequence:
- Eligibility review and document collection at the intake stage
- Bank account opening and investment transfer through a Turkish bank
- Valuation for real estate, or certification for fixed capital and bond routes
- Certificate of conformity issued by the supervising ministry
- Naturalization application filed with the General Directorate of Migration Management
- Presidential decree completing the naturalization step
Documentation Requirements
Bayraktar Attorneys assembles the documentation file in parallel with the investment transaction. All foreign-issued documents must be apostilled in the country of origin and translated by a Turkish sworn translator. The table below summarizes the core document set.
| Document Type | Source | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Passport copy | Investor’s home country | Identity verification |
| Birth and marriage certificates | Civil registry, apostilled | Family inclusion in the file |
| Property title deed | Land Registry Office | Real estate route proof |
| Bank receipt and certificate | Turkish bank | Investment transfer evidence |
| Valuation report | Capital Markets Board licensed valuator | USD 400,000 threshold check |
Each document must be current at the time of filing. Outdated certificates trigger refile requests that can extend the timeline by weeks.
Can the Investor’s Family Members Be Included
Yes. The principal investor’s spouse and children under eighteen are included in the same file. Adult children or dependent parents are not covered by the program and require separate residence or citizenship pathways.
Family inclusion documentation typically includes:
- Marriage certificate, apostilled and translated for foreign-issued copies
- Birth certificates for each child under eighteen
- Custody documents if children are from a previous marriage
- Adoption certificates where applicable, recognized under Turkish law
Each family member receives an independent application reference, and all references move in coordinated review at the General Directorate of Migration Management.
Common Pitfalls and How Bayraktar Attorneys Mitigates Them
Five recurring pitfalls account for most file delays:
- Valuation reports that fall below USD 400,000 on the real estate route
- Currency conversion timing that places the file below threshold on the transfer date
- Sanctions or freeze orders attached to the source bank account
- Apostille format errors on foreign civil registry documents
- Premature title deed transfer before the three-year restriction is recorded
Bayraktar Attorneys reviews each transaction against the regulation checklist before any payment is initiated. This pre-transaction step is where most file failures are prevented.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dual citizenship allowed under the program?
Türkiye permits dual or multiple citizenship without requiring renunciation of the original nationality. Successful applicants retain their previous passport unless the home country imposes its own restrictions. Bayraktar Attorneys advises clients to verify dual nationality rules in the home jurisdiction before the file is opened in Türkiye.
Can the qualifying real estate be sold after three years?
Yes. The three-year sale restriction is recorded on the title deed at the Land Registry Office. After the restriction period expires, the owner may sell the property without affecting the citizenship already granted. The restriction is route-specific and does not apply to general real estate transactions.
Does the program include sanctions screening?
Yes. The General Directorate of Migration Management runs background checks before transmitting the file to the President’s Office. Applicants flagged on Interpol notices, OFAC lists, or EU sanctions registers face refusal. Bayraktar Attorneys reviews these registers at intake to identify exposure before the investment is committed.
How does the bank deposit route differ from a regular Turkish account?
The deposit must remain locked for three uninterrupted years with a bank licensed by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency. The deposit certificate must reference Law No. 5901 and the citizenship-qualifying status. A regular term deposit without this certification does not qualify regardless of amount.
