Turkish Citizenship by Investment: Eligibility, Investment Options, Family Inclusion, and Program Security
- Özgür Kurucuk
- Sep 13
- 10 min read
The Turkish Citizenship by Investment Program has become one of the most attractive pathways for global investors seeking a powerful second passport, access to international markets, and a strategic lifestyle hub between Europe and Asia. By making a qualifying investment in Turkey — whether through real estate purchase or a bank deposit — foreign nationals can obtain Turkish citizenship in as little as 6–9 months.
At Kurucuk & Associates, a leading law firm in Istanbul, Turkey, our team of English-speaking lawyers specializes in guiding clients through every stage of the application process. From securing your Turkish Tax ID and residence permit to ensuring compliance with investment regulations and due diligence, we provide end-to-end legal support.
With no language test, no mandatory long-term residence requirement, and family inclusion options, the program is a practical, fast, and secure route to citizenship. Backed by a stable legal framework, it offers global mobility, business advantages, and access to Turkey’s high-quality education and healthcare systems.
Turkish Citizenship by Investment: Core Program, Eligibility, Investment Options, Family Inclusion, Residency Rules, and Program Security
What is the Turkish citizenship by investment program?
The Turkish Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program lets foreign nationals obtain Turkish citizenship by making an approved qualifying investment (e.g., real estate, bank deposit, fixed capital, government bonds or job creation). It is a transaction-based route designed to provide a fast, objective pathway to a Turkish passport when applicants meet the investment and documentation requirements.
How much do I need to invest for Turkish citizenship?
The most commonly used minimums in current practice are: $400,000 (real estate) and $500,000 (bank deposit or other capital options), each subject to the program’s holding and procedural conditions described in the rules and implementing practice. Check exact amounts with your lawyer before transacting because thresholds and details can change.
What are the different investment options for Turkish citizenship?
Commonly used options:
Real estate purchase (meet the minimum qualifying value and 3-year restriction on sale)
Bank deposit held/blocked for the required term (converted to TRY through the CBRT system)
Fixed capital investment / company investment (meeting minimum thresholds)
Government bonds or approved funds (real estate investment funds / venture capital funds)
Job creation (creating the statutory minimum number of full-time Turkish jobs)
Can I get Turkish citizenship by buying property?
Yes — buying qualifying property is the most popular route. The property must meet the program’s minimum value requirement and be registered with the required 3-year annotation (no-sale restriction) on the title deed (Tapu) while the investment is maintained.
What is the minimum real estate investment for Turkish citizenship?
The standard qualifying minimum used currently is $400,000 USD (or equivalent) as verified by an official valuation (Ekspertiz Raporu). The property’s official appraisal must meet or exceed the threshold for the application to qualify.
Can I get citizenship by depositing money in a Turkish bank?
Yes — the bank deposit option remains available but under specific rules: funds typically must be deposited, converted into Turkish Lira via the CBRT system and blocked for a minimum term (3 years); a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate and bank blockage letter are required and a Certificate of Conformity is requested from the relevant authority. Note: older protected-currency products (e.g., YUVAM) may no longer qualify — check current rules.
Am I eligible for Turkish citizenship by investment?
Basic eligibility checklist (high level): you must make an approved qualifying investment, supply complete and legalized documentation (passport, birth certificate, police clearance, etc.), pass background due diligence, and meet any pathway-specific rules (e.g., property appraisal or bank deposit converted through CBRT). A criminal record or material problems in due-diligence can disqualify an applicant.
Can my family be included in the citizenship application?
Yes. The program permits the principal applicant to include immediate family members (spouse and dependent children) in the same citizenship application — provided the family members are documented and included on the application dossier.
Which family members can be included in my application?
Typically: spouse and dependent children (the common approach is to include children under 18; jurisdictional practice may vary on dependents beyond this). Include proof documents (birth certificates, marriage certificate) properly legalized and translated.
Is there a language requirement for the citizenship by investment program?
For the investment route, there is normally no formal Turkish language test requirement as a precondition. (Language proficiency is more commonly assessed in long-residency naturalization routes.) Still, occasional interviews or checks can involve basic language assessments in other pathways.
Do I need to reside in Turkey to get citizenship by investment?
No long-term residence is required for the investment route in order to keep the investment-based application — however, short-term residence permits and in-country biometric steps (fingerprints, biometric photos) are typically required during processing; the main applicant and spouse often must visit Turkey to complete these steps.
Are there any country restrictions for the program?
There is no universal nationality black-list stated in the standard program documents, but each application is subject to individual due-diligence and security checks; national security or legal restrictions can affect approvals on a case-by-case basis. Always confirm through counsel.
Is the Turkish citizenship by investment program officially written into law?
Yes. The Turkish citizenship framework is governed by the Turkish Citizenship Law and implementing regulations; the investment program is implemented via legislation and administrative rules and enforced by the relevant government directorates.
Which government authority oversees and approves the citizenship applications?
Applications are processed through a multi-stage administrative workflow involving the Provincial Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs, the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs, and ultimately reviewed by the Ministry of Interior (and in investment cases relevant financial authorities such as BRSA for bank conformity certificates).
Has the investment amount changed over time? What was the previous amount?
Yes — investment thresholds have changed historically. (For example, the real estate minimum has been increased over time to reflect policy changes.) Because thresholds can change, always verify the current official minimum before investing.
Is the Turkish program a "golden visa" or a direct "citizenship by investment" program?
It is a direct citizenship by investment program (a CBI), not merely a golden-visa (residence) scheme. Approved investors who meet the criteria may be granted citizenship rather than only residence rights.
What is the official name of the law governing citizenship by investment in Turkey?
Citizenship matters are governed under Turkish nationality law and its implementing regulations (the general framework is the Turkish Citizenship Law and associated regulations). For investment-specific measures, refer to the relevant Citizenship Regulation and administrative circulars that implement investment thresholds and procedures.
Is the $400,000 investment minimum fixed in USD or Turkish Lira?
The threshold is commonly expressed in USD (or equivalent) for clarity, but the authorities require documentary proof in the manner prescribed (e.g., appraisal reports in TRY, CBRT exchange documentation for bank deposits). In practice, conversions and bank documentation (Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate) are essential; check exact documentation and conversion rules with counsel.
Can I combine different investment options to meet the $400,000 requirement? (e.g., property + bank deposit)
The program’s rules are specific about which investment options qualify and whether they can be combined. Combining options is generally not permitted to reach a single option threshold (e.g., two separate properties can be combined if their total appraised value meets the real-estate threshold), but mixing different categories (part property + part bank deposit) to meet a single route’s minimum is typically not allowed unless explicitly permitted by the implementing regulation. Confirm with counsel before structuring transactions.
Does the "capital investment" option mean starting a new company or investing in an existing one?
Capital investment may be satisfied by directed fixed capital investment in a Turkish company — this can include starting a new company or investing in qualifying fixed capital — subject to the thresholds and documentation required by the authorities. Specific criteria for qualifying capital investments are set in the implementing rules.
What are the specific criteria for the venture capital fund or real estate investment fund options?
Those options require investment in government-approved funds and documentary proof that the investment meets the minimum threshold and holding period; funds must be the types explicitly allowed under the regulation (e.g., government-approved real estate investment funds or venture capital funds). Exact fund eligibility and holding rules are set by regulation—seek up-to-date fund lists and fund documents before investing.
For the fixed capital investment option, do I need to run the company myself?
Not necessarily. Fixed capital investments are evaluated by reference to the investment amount and the nature of the capital contribution; active management is not universally required unless the specific investment route’s rules demand it. The authorities focus on the qualifying investment criteria rather than day-to-day operation in many cases. Confirm obligations and evidence requirements with your lawyer.
Are there any nationalities that are banned from applying for the program?
There is no automatic nationality ban in the standard program text; however, each applicant is subject to due-diligence, security checks and the discretion of authorities — so citizenship approvals are considered on an individual basis.
Will a criminal record disqualify me from obtaining citizenship?
A serious criminal record or adverse findings in due-diligence can lead to rejection. Applicants must submit police clearance certificates and pass background checks as part of the application.
Is there a minimum age requirement for the main applicant?
Applicants should be legal adults under the laws of their home country (minors are typically included as dependents with a responsible adult as the main applicant). Confirm the exact age-of-majority requirement for the principal applicant with counsel.
Do I need to provide a source of funds report?
Yes — source of funds / source of wealth documentation is frequently required to satisfy AML/KYC checks and due diligence; provide bank records, transaction evidence and other documentary proof as requested.
Are there any health or medical test requirements for eligibility?
The primary focus of the investment route is financial and security due diligence; medical tests are not normally part of the CBI eligibility but confirm current practice with counsel as procedural requirements can vary.
Can a legally owned company make the investment on my behalf to get citizenship?
The program generally requires that the investment be attributable to the principal applicant (personal capital, or capital controlled by the applicant); some corporate structures can be used but documentary proof linking the investment to the applicant and meeting program rules (and anti-avoidance checks) is essential. Consult your lawyer to design a compliant structure.
What is the definition of a "dependent child" for the application?
Dependent children are normally biological or legally adopted children of the principal applicant and spouse; documentation (birth/adoption certificates) is required. Age limits and dependency rules follow the implementing practice—commonly children under 18 are included.
Is there an age limit for children included in the application?
Common practice is to include children under 18 as dependents; rules on older dependent children (students, disabled dependents) vary — present proof and check current practice.
Can I include my newborn child after my application is submitted but before it's approved?
Yes — if documentation is updated and submitted before final decision, you can generally include newly born children by providing the updated birth certificate and related documents (properly legalized and translated). Confirm timing and document rules with your lawyer.
Can I include my parents or siblings in my application?
Parents and siblings are not normally included as automatic dependents in the standard spouse+children package; options for extended family are exceptional and depend on the law and administrative discretion. Discuss family coverage needs with counsel for possible alternative routes.
Is a marriage certificate required to include a spouse? Does it need to be apostilled?
Yes — a valid marriage certificate is required to include a spouse. Documents from abroad must be legalized (Apostille or consular attestation) and translated into Turkish as required by the authorities.
What happens if I get married or have a child after I receive citizenship?
If you acquire Turkish citizenship, you can later sponsor family members under the applicable immigration and family-reunification rules; having a child or spouse after citizenship is typically handled under ordinary immigration/citizenship family provisions. Specifics vary by case—legal advice recommended.
Do I need to first get a residence permit before applying for citizenship?
Yes — for non-investment routes and for procedural steps in many investment cases, applicants must obtain the short-term residence permit and complete biometric steps before filing the citizenship application; the main applicant and spouse normally must visit Turkey to provide fingerprints.
Is there any requirement to ever visit or live in Turkey after receiving the passport?
There is no general requirement to permanently live in Turkey after citizenship by investment, but some procedural steps require in-country presence during the application (residency permit, fingerprints). Keep documentation up to date and be mindful of any property holding annotations (3-year locks).
Can I apply for citizenship while residing in Turkey on a tourist visa?
You will usually need the appropriate residence permit and to complete required in-country biometric steps rather than relying solely on a tourist visa; follow the residency and fingerprint requirements set out in the application process.
Is a Turkish language test part of the citizenship interview or process?
For the investment route, a formal Turkish language test is not normally required; language assessments are more relevant to naturalization through long-term residency.
Is there a risk of the Turkish government suddenly canceling the program?
Any citizenship program can be altered by law or regulation; while sudden cancellation is unusual, program rules and thresholds have changed historically, so applicants should plan with legal counsel and act on confirmed, current rules and official documentation.
What happens to my application and investment if the program rules change after I apply?
When you have already made the qualifying investment and submitted required documentary proof (for example, a bank blockage letter or a registered title deed with the 3-year annotation), authorities generally treat the application under the rules in effect at the time of investment, but outcomes depend on the precise timing and regulatory wording — get written legal advice and ensure all filings are promptly made.
Is the investment amount guaranteed to remain at $400,000, or could it increase?
It could increase — investment thresholds have changed in the past. Always confirm the current official threshold with your lawyer or an authorised advisor before making any irreversible transaction.
How stable is the legal framework for this program?
The legal framework exists in law and regulation, but program specifics (investment thresholds, permitted instruments, documentation method) have been adjusted over time; therefore, while the framework is established, operational details are dynamic and require up-to-date legal guidance.
Start Your Turkish Citizenship Journey Today with Trusted English-Speaking Lawyers in Istanbul
Unlock the benefits of the Turkish Citizenship by Investment Program with the guidance of Kurucuk & Associates – a leading law firm in Turkey. Whether you choose real estate investment or a bank deposit route, our experienced English-speaking lawyers in Istanbul will handle every step — from obtaining your Turkish Tax ID and residency permit to securing your citizenship approval.
With proven expertise in Turkish citizenship law, we ensure compliance, safeguard your investment, and make the process smooth for you and your family.
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