How to Apply for Citizenship by Investment in Turkey?

Applying for citizenship by investment in Turkeyis an exceptional citizenship application made by fulfilling one of the specified investment requirements. Buying real estate, depositing in a bank, buying investment funds or creating employment are among the methods that can be used. In connection with this topic Citizenship Law You can also review the content titled.

However, making the investment alone does not mean that Turkish citizenship has been acquired. In order to complete the process, the investment must be approved by the competent institution, the appropriate residence permit must be obtained for the investor, and the citizenship file must pass a security review.

The application consists of four basic stages

1. Determination of the investment method and realization of the investment,
2. Obtaining the certificate of conformity or investment determination from the relevant institution,
3. Applying for a short-term residence permit specific to the investor,
4. Submission of the citizenship file to the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship.

In each investment option, the investment amount, the method of transfer of the money, the investment protection period and the institution issuing the certificate of conformity are different. Therefore, before investing, the compliance of the chosen method with current legislation should be checked.

What are the Citizenship by Investment Options?

The investor can choose only one of these methods. It should not be assumed that the required limit will be completed by combining the missing amounts of more than one investment type.

Citizenship Application by Real Estate Investment

One of the most commonly used methods is the purchase of real estate or immovable properties with a total investment value of at least $400,000. An annotation should be placed in the land registry stating that the immovable will not be sold for three years.

There is no general limitation in terms of the number of immovables. The total value of more than one eligible property can meet the required investment amount. On the other hand, the acquisition of real estate with shares cannot be subject to citizenship application.

A preliminary sales contract issued at a notary public can also be used under certain conditions. The real estate subject to the promise of sale must be condominium or floor servitude established, the required amount must be paid in advance, and the contract must be annotated in the land registry with a commitment not to be transferred or abandoned for three years.

Not every property is suitable for citizenship

The title deed nature of the real estate to be purchased for investment purposes, its previous owners, the proximity between the parties, whether it has been used in the citizenship application before, and the mortgages or liens on it should be examined.

Unbuilt land, agricultural real estate and timeshare rights cannot be used for citizenship purposes. Immovables in the nature of land must have a permanent structure that complies with the legislation and has a building occupancy permit.

How is the Value of the Real Estate Determined?

The value of the real estate to be acquired for citizenship purposes is not accepted only according to the figure written in the sales contract. In current practice, the amount of real estate investment, Amount Determination Document for Acquisition of Citizenship by Acquisition of Real Estate It is confirmed through.

The sales price declared in the official deed, the actual payment made through the bank and the acceptable value in the investment determination document must separately meet the required limit.

The foreign currency related to the real estate price is sold to a bank operating in Turkey and a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate is issued. The bank receipt showing that the sales price has been paid to the seller is also submitted to the land registry office. Commissions, taxes, fees and similar expenses are not included in the minimum investment amount.

How to Get a Certificate of Conformity?

After the investment is completed, it must be determined by the authorized institution that the investment meets the minimum requirements in the regulation. The issued document is used in the investor's citizenship and residence permit application. Also Conditions for Applying for Turkish Citizenship by Marriage should be evaluated together with the concrete case.

The institution that will issue the certificate of conformity varies according to the investment method. For example, the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre is authorized for real estate investment, the Capital Markets Board is authorized for fund investment, and the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency is authorized for bank deposits.

Receiving the document does not mean that the citizenship decision has been made. It only indicates that the investment requirement is met.

Should the Investor Get a Residence Permit?

After the certificate of conformity, the investor applies for a short-term residence permit within the scope of Article 31/1-j of Law No. 6458. This residence permit is a special type of application issued for foreigners who invest.

Documents such as certificate of conformity, passport, residence permit application form, address and health insurance may be requested in the application. The Provincial Directorate of Migration Management may request a criminal record or additional documents depending on the nature of the file.

For citizenship by investment, it is not necessary to have lived in Turkey for many years. However, before the citizenship application is completed, the residence status suitable for the investor must be established. About the relevant aspect of the process Real Estate Valuation Process in Citizenship by Investment There is detailed information on the page.

Where to Submit the Citizenship File?

After obtaining the certificate of conformity and short-term residence permit, the application is made to the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship in the investor's place of residence.

The file generally contains the following documents:

• VAT-4 exceptional citizenship application form,
• Passport and its notarized Turkish translation,
• Document showing birth and identity information,
• Marital status and marriage certificate,
• Recent criminal record,
• Biometric photographs,
• Valid residence permit information,
• Investment conformity certificate,
• Receipt showing that the application service fee has been paid.

Documents received from a foreign country must be apostilled or consulate-certified depending on the country. If the documents are not in Turkish, notarized translations should be prepared.

Can Spouse and Children Be Included in the Application?

The foreign spouse of the investor and the minor or dependent foreign children of the investor or his/her spouse can be included in the citizenship application.

Adult and economically independent children and the investor's parents do not automatically acquire citizenship through the same investment. The custody status of the children and the consent of the other parent are examined separately according to the file.

Passports, birth, marriage, custody and marital status documents of family members must also be duly prepared.

Can the Application Be Completed with a Power of Attorney?

Real estate research, payment controls, preparation of contracts and some institution correspondence can be carried out through authorized representatives. However, the personal participation of the investor is essential in residence permit and citizenship applications.

Depending on the investment method, the relevant institutions may have different practices regarding the application by power of attorney. For this reason, the scope of the power of attorney and the transaction to be performed in person should be determined in advance.

Does Investing Guarantee Citizenship?

Meeting the investment requirement does not give the foreigner the right to citizenship directly and unconditionally. A national security and public order examination is carried out on the applicant and his family members included in the file. What Should Foreigners Whose Turkish Citizenship Application Has Been Rejected Do? its content explains other legal points related to this stage.

Exceptional citizenship is acquired by the proposal of the Ministry and the decision of the President after the necessary examinations. Fake documents, money of unexplained origin, false sales or records that create an obstacle in terms of security may cause the application to be negative.

What Should Be Considered in the Three-Year Period?

If real estate, bank deposit, government debt instrument, mutual fund or private pension method is chosen, the relevant investment must be protected for a three-year period.

Selling the real estate before its term, reducing the deposit or transferring the fund shares may constitute a violation of the investment condition. The occurrence of a lien, forced sale, or other transaction limiting ownership on the investment may also affect the certificate of conformity.

Checks to be Done Before Application

• The suitability of the investment method for the applicant must be determined.
• The source of the money transfer and bank records must be documented.
• If real estate is to be chosen, its title deed history and suitability for citizenship should be investigated.
• Documents of the applicant and family members must be prepared in advance.
• The three-year investment protection obligation must be taken into account.
• It should be known that investment does not automatically guarantee citizenship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum amount of real estate to be purchased for citizenship?

The total acceptable investment value must be at least $400,000, and a three-year not-to-sell annotation must be placed on the title deed.

Can the amount be completed by buying more than one house?

Yes. In the investment made through sale, the value of more than one eligible real estate can be combined.

Can the shared title deed be used in citizenship application?

The purchase of a share in a real estate is not accepted in the application for citizenship through real estate investment.

Can the investor's spouse also acquire citizenship?

Foreign spouses and minor or dependent foreign children can be included in the application file.

Is it necessary to live in Turkey for five years?

The five-year residence requirement on the way to general citizenship is not required for exceptional citizenship by investment.

Is citizenship finalized when the investment is completed?

The certificate of conformity proves the investment requirement; Citizenship can be acquired as a result of security review and the decision of the competent authority.

Legal information: This content has been prepared for general information purposes. Since investment amounts, document conditions and institution practices may change, current legislation and official institution regulations should be checked before the transaction.