Rights and Obligations of Foreigners Obtaining Turkish Citizenship

Foreigners who have obtained Turkish citizenshipbecomes a citizen of the Republic of Turkey after the citizenship decision. The person is no longer treated as a foreigner in Turkey, but within the framework of the general legal rules applied to Turkish citizens. In connection with this topic Citizenship Law You can also review the content titled.

Acquisition of citizenship; It has important consequences such as obtaining an identity card and passport, living in Turkey indefinitely, working without a work permit and benefiting from political rights. However, obligations such as military service, tax, address notification and keeping population records up-to-date may also arise.

First Things to Do After Citizenship Decision

With the positive result of the citizenship application, the decision is sent to the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship or the Turkish foreign representative office where the application is made. The announcement document is delivered to the person who acquires citizenship against signature. About the relevant aspect of the process Conditions for Applying for Turkish Citizenship by Marriage There is detailed information on the page.

After the announcement document is received, the following actions should be taken:

1. Applying for the Republic of Turkey identity card,
2. Checking the place of residence and contact information,
3. Examination of whether the foreigner identity number remains active,
4. If necessary, applying for a Turkish passport,
5. Checking military service and social security status.

If the foreigner ID number still appears to be active after acquiring citizenship, a petition can be submitted to the application authority and the records can be requested to be corrected.

Fundamental Rights of the New Citizen

Is Residence and Work Permit Required Now?

After acquiring Turkish citizenship, the person does not need to obtain a residence permit to stay in Turkey. The expiration of the previous residence card does not terminate the citizen's right to stay in Turkey. What Should Foreigners Whose Turkish Citizenship Application Has Been Rejected Do? its content explains other legal points related to this stage.

The work permit requirement is also eliminated. If the person meets the diploma, license and expertise requirements required by the profession, he/she can work in jobs open to Turkish citizens or start his/her own business.

Some professions that are closed to foreigners and can only be done by Turkish citizens may also become accessible after citizenship. However, in areas such as lawyers, doctors, pharmacists or public duties, professional qualification and equivalence conditions may be sought in addition to citizenship.

Right to Vote, Be Elected and Engage in Political Activity

Turkish citizens over the age of eighteen can vote in elections and referendums within the framework of the conditions in the law. The fact that citizenship is acquired later does not make the person a second-class citizen in terms of political rights.

In order to vote, the electoral roll and address records must be correct. If the citizenship decision is made very close to the election date, the finalization dates of the voter lists may also be important.

The right to be elected and to engage in political activity is also subject to the age, education, conviction and other qualification requirements in the Constitution and election legislation.

Can I Apply for Public Offices?

Turkish citizens have the right to enter the public service. If the person who acquires citizenship later meets the necessary training, exam, security research and duty conditions, he can apply for public personnel postings.

Citizenship alone does not provide the right to be appointed to public office. KPSS, diploma equivalence, professional license, age, health and other special conditions are also applied according to the nature of the task.

What Changes in Real Estate and Inheritance Rights?

The person who acquires Turkish citizenship is not subject to the country, region and area restrictions regarding the acquisition of real estate by foreigners in future real estate transactions. Real estate purchase and inheritance transactions are carried out in accordance with the general provisions applicable to Turkish citizens. Also The Process of Obtaining Turkish Citizenship by Purchasing Real Estate should be evaluated together with the concrete case.

If citizenship is acquired through investment, the three-year obligation not to sell or protect the investment arising from the investment requirement continues after the citizenship decision. The acquisition of citizenship does not automatically terminate this commitment.

Turkish Passport and Consular Services

After the Turkish ID card procedures are completed, the person can apply for a Turkish passport with the conditions in the passport legislation. Whether the existing foreign passport can be used depends on whether the person's other citizenship continues.

Turkish citizen abroad:

• Passport and population procedures,
• Notary and address transactions,
• Birth, marriage and death notifications,
• Emergency and consular assistance

can apply to Turkish embassies and consulates general.

Consular protection does not imply interference with the courts or immigration authorities of a foreign country. The person continues to comply with the law of the country in which he is located.

Does Dual Citizenship Continue?

Turkey allows multiple citizenship to be recorded in the civil registry. However, whether a person can keep their previous citizenship depends on the legislation of the other country of which they are a citizen.

Some countries allow second citizenship, while others may terminate existing citizenship if another citizenship is acquired. For this reason, it may be necessary to obtain information from the consulate of the other country after the Turkish citizenship decision.

It is important that current or acquired foreign citizenship information is shown correctly in Turkish population records.

How is Military Service Obligation Determined?

The military status of men who acquire Turkish citizenship later is determined by their age, education and whether they have previously served in the military in another country.

In general, those who are 22 years of age or older in the year of naturalization and those who certify that they have served in the military or are deemed to have fulfilled their military service in their previous country can be considered to have done military service, with certain exceptions.

Those who acquire citizenship at a younger age may be subject to military service based on their age and education at the time they acquire citizenship. Postponement or military service opportunities in foreign currency for many citizens living abroad can be evaluated separately.

The result of military service should not be left to assumption; the status of the person should be checked through the military branch or the Turkish foreign representative office.

How Does Citizenship Affect Tax Liability?

Acquiring Turkish citizenship does not mean that the person will automatically pay taxes in Turkey on all his income in the world. The basic criteria for income tax include whether the person is resident in Turkey and where the income is obtained.

Persons residing in Turkey may be full taxpayers, while non-residents of Turkey may be limited taxpayers in terms of their income originating from Turkey in general. Double taxation treaties can also affect the outcome.

The company needs to evaluate the tax status of new citizens with rental income, real estate sales or foreign income based on their tax residency, not just their citizenship.

Do Social Security and Health Rights Start Automatically?

Acquiring citizenship alone does not constitute a retirement pension or past insurance entitlement. Pension and other social security rights depend on the working period, the number of premium days and the relevant insurance conditions.

Turkish citizens residing in Turkey can be covered by general health insurance. It is also determined which of the employee, retired, dependent or premium-paying insured status the person falls into.

The income test process may come to the fore for citizens who do not have any social security and do not have the ability to pay premiums.

Population and Address Records Should Be Kept Up-to-Date

After citizenship, population events such as birth, marriage, divorce, death, name change and address change must be reported to the competent authorities.

Citizens living abroad can carry out these transactions through Turkish foreign representations. Incorrect or incomplete information in the population records; It may cause problems in passport, inheritance, marriage, military service and voter registration procedures.

Does Citizenship Automatically Pass to Spouse and Children?

The scope of the citizenship decision is evaluated according to the file. It should not be assumed that the spouse or especially adult children automatically become Turkish citizens upon the main applicant's acquisition of citizenship.

The foreign spouse and minor or dependent children included in the application for citizenship by investment can acquire citizenship in the same process. A separate application may be required for family members who are not included in the file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should a person who has obtained Turkish citizenship renew his residence permit?

After the acquisition of citizenship, the obligation to stay in Turkey with a residence permit ends.

Can he work without a work permit?

Yes. However, the diploma, equivalence or license requirements required by the profession must be fulfilled separately.

Can he vote immediately?

Eighteen years of age and other legal conditions must be met. In addition, address and electoral roll records must be up-to-date.

Will he lose his former citizenship?

This depends on the law of the other country. Turkey allows multi-citizenship registration.

Does everyone who gets citizenship do military service?

The result varies according to age, date of acquisition of citizenship, educational attainment, and previous military service.

Does citizenship cover the whole family?

Not always. It should be checked separately which family members the decision and the application file cover.

Legal information: This content has been prepared for general information purposes. Military service, tax, social security and citizenship of family members; It may vary according to the age of the person, country of residence, other citizenship and method of acquiring citizenship.