Turkish Citizenship by Investment

Turkish Citizenship by Investment: How Does it Work?

What is the new Turkish CBI Program?

As per the 106th Presidential Order, foreign nationals who either:

• Buy or pledge to buy real estate(s) worth at least 400,000 USD with a pledge not to sell it for 3 years
• Invest in a company for at least 500,000 USD
• Deposit at least 500,000 USD in a Turkish bank with a pledge not to withdraw it for 3 years
• Employ 50 people in Turkey
• Buy Turkish government bonds worth at least 500,000 USD with a pledge not to sell them for 3 years

may apply for fast-tracked Turkish Citizenship by Investment.

The investor may apply for Turkish citizenship together with their spouse and all children under 18 years of age.

How does the Process of Turkish Citizenship Work?

After the investment is completed, the process is as follows:

1. The investor’s attorney applies for “Eligibility Certificate” in which the state recognizes that the said investment qualifies for the Turkish CBI program.
2. The investor’s attorney applies for and obtains an “investor’s residence permit” on the investor’s behalf.
3. During this period, the investor, with the help of their Turkish citizenship lawyer, procures the required documents mentioned in Question 5.
4. The attorney applies for citizenship on behalf of the investor and their family members, if any.
5. When the processing period is over, the state notifies the investor of the successful completion of their citizenship application.
6. Upon being delivered the notification of being granted citizenship, the investor applies for Turkish ID card and Turkish passport in this order.

How Long Does the Turkish Citizenship Application Take?

While the citizenship application may take up to 6 months, depending on the season, once all the documents are procured by the investor, it usually takes around 3-4 months to process the application.

Which Documents do I need in Order to Apply for Turkish Citizenship?

These documents include but are not limited to passport copies, birth certificates, marriage certificate (if any), power of attorney, biometric photos and a “family status certificate”.

The family status certificate shows the investor’s relation to the rest of the applicants in their current status. Whether you have such kind of a document in your home country or not, please consult with your Turkish citizenship lawyer to ensure the accuracy of the documents and avoid doing them over.

In order for these documents to be recognizable in Turkey, they need to be stamped with Apostille stamp as per the La Hague Convention.

How Can I Confirm that a Property is Eligible for a Turkish CBI Application?

In order for a property to be eligible for Turkish citizenship by investment, all 3 of the following figures must be equal to or greater than 400,000 USD:

• Amount of sale price paid by the buyer to the seller by bank
• The property’s value assessed by the certified surveyor
• The sale amount that is declared by the seller to the title deed office

Furthermore, the seller of the property must be a Turkish citizen without any close family relations or company partnership/directorship with the buyer/applicant.

However, this checklist is not exhaustive and therefore it is highly recommended that you consult with a Turkish citizenship law firm before you commit to a real estate investment for the purpose of Turkish citizenship. Applying for Turkish citizenship can be a complicated process and it should be dealt with by lawyers who are specialized in this specific area.

Click here to read the most frequently asked questions on Turkish Citizenship by Investment and their answers.

Before you purchase a real estate for the purpose of Turkish citizenship application, it is highly recommended that you consult with a Turkish real estate attorney. Applying for Turkish citizenship can be a complicated process and it should be dealt with by lawyers who are specialized in this specific area. 

Turkish Citizenship Lawyer  Baris Erkan Celebi and his Antalya Law Firm offer legal services to foreign nationals who would like to apply for Turkish citizenship by investment. Turkish Citizenship Attorney’s legal services include but are not limited to providing legal protection for the investment, obtaining eligibility certificate, obtaining residence permit and finally obtaining Turkish citizenship.