Citizenship Support

Every route to a Turkish passport, explained plainly.

Investment, residence, marriage, descent and more. Here is how each route to Turkish citizenship actually works, who it suits, and what it takes — followed by how we help you through it.

Ask about citizenship See the routes
Ways to get citizenship

Seven routes, under one law.

Turkish citizenship is governed by the Turkish Citizenship Law, No. 5901. Most people qualify through one of the first three routes; the others apply to specific family or personal circumstances.

Exceptional citizenship · Article 12

By investment

The fastest route, and the one most of our clients ask about. A qualifying investment, held for the required period, makes you eligible to apply.

  • Property from USD 400,000, held for three years
  • Or USD 500,000 via deposit, bonds, funds, capital or pension
  • Or creating jobs for at least 50 people
  • No residence period and no language test
  • Spouse and children under 18 can apply with you

At a glanceTypically several months to a year once the investment is complete

General naturalisation · Article 11

By residence

For people who have genuinely made Türkiye their home. Not automatic after five years — the file is assessed as a whole.

  • Five years of continuous, lawful residence
  • Limited total time outside Türkiye during that period
  • Not every permit type counts towards the five years
  • Adequate Turkish, a sustainable income and good conduct
  • An interview and security checks before a decision

At a glanceQualifying period: five years of residence

Article 16

By marriage

Marriage to a Turkish citizen does not grant citizenship automatically, but after three years it opens a dedicated route.

  • Married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years
  • The marriage must be continuing
  • Living together as a family
  • No conduct incompatible with the marriage
  • No threat to national security or public order

At a glanceQualifying period: three years of marriage

By birth · Article 7

By descent

A child with a Turkish mother or father is a Turkish citizen from birth, wherever in the world they are born.

  • Applies through either parent
  • Birth is registered via a Turkish consulate or civil registry
  • Adults with a Turkish parent can often register late
  • Documents from the country of birth must be apostilled and translated

At a glanceA registration, not a naturalisation

Articles 13 & 28

Reacquisition & Blue Card

Former Turkish citizens — and in some cases their children — can regain citizenship without meeting a residence period.

  • For people who gave up Turkish citizenship with permission
  • Blue Card holders keep many citizen rights in the meantime
  • No residence requirement for reacquisition
  • Decided by the Ministry of Interior

At a glanceFor former citizens and their descendants

Article 12

Special contribution & Turquoise Card

Exceptional citizenship can also be granted to people whose presence benefits Türkiye in a significant way.

  • Notable scientific, economic, cultural, artistic or sporting contribution
  • Turquoise Card holders and their immediate family
  • Granted at the discretion of the President
  • A strong, well-documented file is essential

At a glanceDiscretionary, and assessed case by case

Article 17

By adoption

A minor adopted by a Turkish citizen can acquire Turkish citizenship, subject to security checks.

  • The child must be under 18 when adopted
  • At least one adoptive parent is a Turkish citizen
  • Adoption documents must be recognised in Türkiye

At a glanceFor children adopted by Turkish citizens

Investment options

The investment route, option by option.

You can qualify through any one of these. Amounts can be paid in US dollars, another foreign currency or Turkish lira at the equivalent value, and each is confirmed by the authority listed.

Figures as of September 2026

InvestmentMinimumHolding periodConfirmed by
Real estateUSD 400,0003 years (no-sale annotation on the title deed)Land Registry and Cadastre
Bank depositUSD 500,0003 yearsBanking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK)
Government bondsUSD 500,0003 yearsMinistry of Treasury and Finance
Real estate or venture capital fund sharesUSD 500,0003 yearsCapital Markets Board (SPK)
Private pension systemUSD 500,0003 yearsInsurance and Private Pension Regulation Agency
Fixed capital investmentUSD 500,000—Ministry of Industry and Technology
Employment50 jobsMaintained as requiredMinistry of Labour and Social Security

Valuation decides, not the price tagThe property's value must meet the threshold in an official report from a licensed appraiser — a higher sale price on the contract is not enough.

Keep the paper trailFunds brought from abroad need proper bank transfer and currency exchange documentation. A missing certificate can disqualify an otherwise valid purchase.

Not every property qualifiesProperty already used for a citizenship application in the previous three years cannot be used again. Several properties can be combined to reach the threshold.

What we handle

Everything on this list is ours to worry about.

Most delays and refusals come from the file, not the applicant: the wrong permit type counted towards residence, a valuation below the line, a missing currency certificate. We check those before they become problems.

  • Route assessment — which path genuinely fits your situation
  • Eligibility review of your residence, marriage or family history
  • Property search and due diligence for the investment route
  • Licensed valuation report arranged and checked against the threshold
  • Currency exchange documentation for funds brought into Türkiye
  • Certificate of conformity (uygunluk belgesi) application
  • Residence permit for you and your family during the process
  • Document collection, sworn translation, notarisation and apostille
  • Application submission and follow-up with the authorities
  • Collection of your Turkish ID card and passport
  • Spouse and children included in the same application
  • Help after approval — address registration, tax, banking

Buying property to qualify?See how we check the title deed first →

How it works

From first conversation to passport.

1

Choose the route

A free conversation about your goals, budget, family and history. We tell you plainly which route fits — and when the honest answer is that none does yet.

2

Qualify

For investment: the purchase or deposit is made, valued and documented. For residence or marriage: the qualifying period and paperwork are checked line by line.

3

Certificate and permit

The relevant authority confirms the investment with a certificate of conformity, and residence permits are issued for you and your family.

4

Apply

The complete file is submitted. Security and background checks follow; we track the application and answer the authorities' questions.

5

Citizenship granted

Once approved, you collect your Turkish ID card and apply for your passport. We stay on hand for everything that follows.

Documents to start gathering

Exact requirements depend on your route and nationality, so treat this as a starting point — we'll give you the precise list for your case:

  • Valid passport for every applicant
  • Birth certificate, apostilled and translated
  • Marriage certificate, if applying with a spouse
  • Children's birth certificates
  • Biometric photographs
  • Proof of the source of funds (investment route)
Questions

Citizenship questions.

Does Türkiye allow dual citizenship?

Yes. Türkiye permits dual citizenship, so you can usually keep your current nationality — but check your own country's rules too, because some countries do not allow their citizens to hold a second passport.

Can my family be included?

On the investment route, your spouse and your children under 18 can be included in the same application. Adult children and parents generally need their own separate basis.

Do I have to live in Türkiye or learn Turkish?

Not for the investment route — there's no minimum stay and no language test. The five-year residence route is different: it expects you to have genuinely lived here and to speak adequate Turkish.

Can I sell the property later?

Yes, after the three-year holding period. A no-sale annotation is placed on the title deed for that period. Property that has already been used for a citizenship application within the previous three years does not qualify again.

How long does it take?

For investment, typically several months to a year once the investment is complete, depending mainly on security checks. The residence and marriage routes are longer because of their qualifying periods. We'll give you a realistic estimate for your case rather than a sales figure.

Is citizenship guaranteed if I meet the requirements?

No. Every application goes through security and background checks, and approval is at the government's discretion. What we control is a complete, correct, properly documented file — which is what avoids most refusals.

What about military service?

Naturalised men of eligible age can become liable for military service. Depending on age and circumstances there are deferrals, exemptions and a paid option. We'll explain how it applies to you before you decide.

This page is general information about Turkish citizenship law, not legal advice for your situation. Thresholds, holding periods and procedures are set by the Turkish government and change from time to time; the figures here were current as of September 2026. We confirm the current rules in writing before you commit to anything, and final decisions rest with the Turkish authorities.

Find out which route fits you.

Tell us your nationality, your family situation and what you're considering. We'll come back with the honest version — which route works, what it costs and how long it realistically takes.

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Also from us

More ways we help.

Same team, same file. Citizenship usually sits alongside property, relocation or education — we handle those too.

Education Support

Universities, schools, student visas

Tourism Support

Itineraries, guides, transfers, stays

Real Estate & Investment

Search, checks, title deed, citizenship

Relocation & Settlement Guidance

Residence permit, banking, daily life