How to Add a Newborn After Submitting a Turkish Citizenship Application
- Özgür Kurucuk
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Becoming a parent while your Turkish Citizenship by Investment application is in progress is a beautiful blessing — but it also brings an important legal step. Many parents wonder, “How do we add our newborn after submitting a Turkish Citizenship application?”
Under Turkish law, babies born during the citizenship process don’t automatically gain Turkish citizenship. Their details must be officially reported and added to the family’s ongoing citizenship file.
In this guide, the legal experts at Kurucuk & Associates, a leading law firm in Istanbul, Turkey, explain how to include your newborn in your Turkish citizenship file, the required documents, and the legal procedures under the Türk Vatandaşlığı Kanunu (Turkish Citizenship Law).
Understanding the Legal Context
Adding a newborn to a pending citizenship application falls under Law No. 5901 (Article 12) of the Turkish Citizenship Law, which outlines the procedures for acquiring citizenship through investment or descent.
The process involves coordination between key government bodies:
Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı (Directorate of Migration Management) – handles residence permits and notifications.
Nüfus Müdürlüğü (Population Directorate) – records births and manages national ID registrations.
İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü (Provincial Directorate of Migration Management) – processes updates to citizenship files.
This update, known as vatandaşlık dosyası güncelleme, ensures your newborn is legally recognized within your family’s ongoing application. Without this step, the baby’s citizenship cannot be granted automatically — even if the parents’ application is already under review.
Step-by-Step Process to Add a Newborn
1. Notify the Turkish Authorities Promptly
The first step is to inform the Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı or, if you are abroad, the nearest Turkish Consulate. Parents should submit a written notification (bildirim dilekçesi) explaining the baby’s birth and requesting inclusion in their pending citizenship file.
Acting quickly helps prevent administrative delays and ensures your baby’s rights are protected under Turkish law.
2. Prepare the Required Documents
Gather all relevant documents to verify your newborn’s identity and your ongoing citizenship process:
Official birth certificate (translated into Turkish and notarized)
Parents’ valid passports
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Hospital birth record or embassy confirmation
Copy of your citizenship application or file reference number
Biometric photos of the newborn
Proof of residence in Turkey, if applicable
All foreign documents must be legalized — either with an apostille or consular attestation — before submission.
3. Apply for a Temporary Residence Permit
If your Turkish citizenship by investment application is still being processed, the newborn will need a short-term residence permit (kısa dönem ikamet izni).
This temporary residence allows the baby to legally stay in Turkey while your citizenship file is finalized. Once the parents receive Turkish citizenship, the child’s citizenship can then be processed as a derivative benefit.
4. Update the Citizenship File
Your lawyer will submit a request to the İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü or the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü) to update your family’s file.
This step officially connects your baby’s details to your existing application — a critical step that ensures the child will be granted Turkish citizenship once your application is approved.
5. Confirm and Follow Up
After submission, authorities will review and verify your documentation. You or your lawyer should follow up regularly to confirm that your newborn’s details are successfully added to your file before final approval or passport issuance.
Processing times vary, but updates typically take a few weeks depending on the location and workload of the relevant directorate.
Common Scenarios and Legal Clarifications
Here are some frequent situations parents face — and what Turkish law says about them:
If you don’t report the newborn:
The baby won’t automatically receive Turkish citizenship and will require a separate application later.
If your citizenship application is still pending:
The baby can be added to the file and granted residence status until approval.
If your citizenship has already been approved:
The child can apply for citizenship by descent (soy bağıyla vatandaşlık), provided proper documentation is submitted.
Dual citizenship for a newborn (Çifte vatandaşlık yeni doğan):
Turkey allows dual citizenship. Your baby can keep another nationality as long as the other country permits it.
Child born while the process is ongoing (Süreç devam ederken doğan çocuk):
Such children must be declared and added before the family’s citizenship certificates are finalized.
Required Documents Checklist
Document | Requirement |
Birth Certificate | Must be translated, notarized, and apostilled or consularly attested |
Passports of Parents | Valid copies with Turkish translation |
Marriage Certificate | Required where applicable |
Proof of Residence | Turkish residence permit or address registration |
Citizenship Application Reference | File number or acknowledgment receipt |
Biometric Photos | Recent, passport-size photos of the newborn |
Hospital/Embassy Birth Record | Proof of birth, issued officially |
Legal Assistance for Families
Even though the process seems straightforward, navigating Turkish bureaucracy — especially when it involves a newborn — can be challenging. Each submission must comply with specific Mevzuat (legal regulations), and minor errors can delay your family’s application.
That’s where professional legal guidance makes a real difference.
Kurucuk & Associates, an English-speaking law firm based in Istanbul, Turkey, specializes in Turkish Citizenship by Investment and family-related citizenship cases. Their experienced lawyers assist parents with document preparation, communication with the Göç İdaresi, and updating citizenship files efficiently and in full compliance with Turkish law.
FAQs
How soon should we report a newborn to Turkish authorities?
Ideally within 30 days of birth to ensure timely processing and inclusion.
Can our newborn get a residence permit while citizenship is pending?
Yes, a short-term residence permit can be issued for the newborn until citizenship is approved.
Do we need hospital or embassy documents?
Yes. Submit the hospital’s birth certificate or a consular confirmation if the birth occurred outside Turkey.
Can a baby born abroad be added to our Turkish citizenship file?
Yes. Report the birth to your nearest Turkish Embassy or Consulate for official registration and inclusion.
Can parents handle this process without a lawyer?
While possible, legal assistance is highly recommended to avoid delays, missing documents, or procedural errors.
Add Your Newborn to Your Citizenship Application with Confidence
Ensure your family’s Turkish Citizenship journey continues seamlessly. The experienced lawyers at Kurucuk & Associates, Istanbul, guide you through every legal step to include your newborn correctly in your Turkish Citizenship by Investment file.
Contact us today for personalized legal support.
