Immigration and Turkish Citizenship
Getting Turkish Citizenship Through Acquisition of Real Estate
According to the new regulation, foreigners in Turkey who purchase real estate worth a minimum of $250.000 USD are eligible to apply for Turkish citizenship. The property must be appraised and for that reason a property valuation report that indicates the property’s current market value is required to be submitted through an application to WebTapu. Besides the property must be purchased using foreign currency brought to Turkey which shall be sold to the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey through a bank operating in Turkey. The foreign person has a right to request Turkish citizenship if only the sale is made by a Turkish citizen.
Once an offer is placed on a property, the process of securing an assessment and appointment for the signing of the deed will take about a week.
When buying a property for the purpose of acquiring Turkish citizenship, this should be disclosed to the officers from the Title Deeds (Tapu) Office so that they know to put an annotation to prevent the sale of the property for 3 years, which is the legally required minimum holding period.
Approximately 15 days after the purchase, the Title Deeds Office will give you an official certificate that allows you to apply for an investor resident document. Once that has been acquired, you can request an appointment to submit your application for Turkish citizenship. Notification regarding the scheduling of your application appointment usually takes around 15 days.
Besides property documents, you will have to collect several documents for the application appointment. These documents may include, but are not limited to, a translation of the applicant’s passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and other documents showing their family, among others. As such bringing these documents to your initial application appointment is strongly advised.
After the application appointment, it takes about 45 days to be approved and receive Turkish citizenship. The entire application process can be completed on your behalf by a legal or a third party representative, except the final step. To complete the application procedure you must be present to receive your Turkish citizenship ID and be finger printed. In total, the application process takes 2 to 4 months.
Question: How does Turkish citizenship acquisition work?
Answer: Upon purchasing real estate with a minimum value 250,000 USD, you apply to the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (Tapu Office) for a proof of eligibility for Turkish Citizenship. As part of the application process, they will review the appraisal report and bank transfer documents. The Tapu Office usually provides this proof within 3 to 7 days. Upon receiving the proof of eligibility, you then immediately apply to the Immigration Office for a temporary residence permit, which should be granted upon receipt of the application. Once you have both the proof of eligibility and temporary residence permit, you then apply to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship. Outside of the Tapu Office application, the whole process occurs in one of two special Citizenship Immigration Offices located in Istanbul and Ankara. Approval of citizenship applications is usually finalized within 30 days.
FAQ about the Citizenship by Investment in Turkey
Q: How is the exchange rate between USD and TL determined?
A: The Turkish Central Bank’s selling rate (Efektif Satış Kuru) on the day of application is used as the exchange rate.
Q: How long does this process take?
A: The process can usually be completed within 30 days. The government has opened a special Citizenship office to reduce time.
Q: Is there any critical point that I should know?
A: The Turkish Government strictly enforces the 250,000 USD minimum property valuation, requiring sworn property valuation companies verify the assessed value in order to prevent fraud. The property value assessed by these firms may deviate as much as 20% from its sales price. We advise that you take this into consideration when considering making a real estate purchase.
Under our Best Price Guarantee when making a purchase of real estate for the purpose of securing a Turkish Citizenship we will work to ensure that the price you pay matches the property’s assessed value.
Q: Are there any required interviews or tests at any stage in the application?
A: No.
Q: Will my citizenship automatically be granted when I fulfill the conditions?
A: No, citizenship approval is contingent upon verification that the applicant poses no threat to national security.
Q: This process seems complicated, will there be somebody available to help me?
A: Yes, as part of our services we’ll help guide you through the process.
Q: I do not have time to come to Turkey, can I still apply for citizenship?
A: Yes, provided you grant us power of attorney to manage the process on your behalf.
Q: Given that it might take 2 months to secure citizenship, is it possible to acquire the residence permit during this period of time?
A: Residence permit (no:6458/31-J) is granted to you and your family on the same day after property approval.
Q: Do I need to complete Turkish Military Service if I become a Turkish citizen?
A: Possibly, depending upon your age, whether you have served in another country’s military service, and any special circumstances. Any children who receive citizenship will require to serve once they reach military age. For people older than 22 years an inquiry should be made when submitting the application to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship for additional information.
Q: Are there any restrictions based on nationality?
A: There are no restrictions based on nationality.
Q: Is it mandatory to live in Turkey to acquire Turkish citizenship?
A: No.
Q: Is it possible to have dual citizenship in Turkey?
A: Yes, Turkey allows dual citizenship. However, you should check with your consulate before applying because some countries, such as India, China, and Saudi Arabia, do not recognize or have certain restrictions in place regarding dual citizenship.
Q: Do I have to renounce my current citizenship when I become a Turkish citizen?
A: No, Turkish laws allow for dual or multiple citizenships.
Q: Is the applicant free to work in Turkey?
A: Yes, though certain professions require licensing and/or certification (doctors, lawyers, etc.), which must be obtained separately.
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