Pursuant to presidential decree no 106 dated 18 September 2018, "Regulation Amending the Regulation on Implementation of Turkish Citizenship Law" acquiring Turkish citizenship has become easier than ever before. Generally, obtaining citizenship process takes around 3-5 months for the principal applicant (the investor) and other family members who provided that all the documentation is ready, pre and post-investment works are properly done and these would be minutely followed up. In 2019 with the recent addition in law, the total period to obtain full Turkish Citizenships for all family members have been reduced to 60 days.
The right for citizenship can also be used for the families (spouse and children under 18) of the investors. Also it is known that the Turkish government has reduced the minimum requirement for Turkish citizenship by investing in the country. Previously, these limits were $2 million for investment, $3 million for deposit and $1 million for real estate. The most common type of investment for Turkish Citizenship is the purchase of an immovable property of $250,000. The minimum amount required for applying to citizenship by immovable property in Turkey have also determined as $250,000. Pursuant to the new regulation, Republic of Turkey grants citizenship to foreigners who make;
- Purchasing property worth $250.000 or TL equivalent amount
- Investing $500.000 or TL equivalent amount capital
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE TO THE PROCESS:
This is an example roadmap outlining the stages and steps to be conducted when applying for citizenship by means of investment. There are two ways to obtaining Turkish citizenship;
A. Purchasing property worth $250.000 or TL equivalent amount
1. Instructing a lawyer
2. Obtaining a Valuation Report
3. Legal report on the property
4. Completing Purchase of Property at the Land Registry
5. Obtaining a certificate of suitability: Obtain a certificate of suitability for the property. In order to do this, apply to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and the General Directorate of Land Registers. Provide the requested documents for a residence permit in accordance to the Code no. 6458 Article 31 Item (j).
6. Obtaining a residence permit: Provide the requested documents for citizenship
application to the Provincial Migration Management at where the applicant resides.
7. Application for citizenship: Apply to the Provincial Population and Citizenship Affairs Department at where the applicant resides. The application is then processed and sent to the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
8. Stages of the Citizenship Application Process:
1. Provincial Population and Citizenship Affairs Department issues a citizenship file and sends it to the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
2. The Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs conducts an archive investigation about whether there are any concerns which could constitute an impediment on the national security and public order with the Directorate General of Security and the National Intelligence Organization.
3. If the result of the archive investigation is positive, it is submitted to the
Ministry Office in order to be sent to the Presidency.
4. If approved at the Ministry Office, the file is sent to the Presidency.
5. If the President determines to award citizenship, then the applicant successfully obtains citizenship.
B. Investing $500.000 or TL equivalent amount capital
1. Instructing a lawyer
2. Opening a designated bank account
3. Transferring funds to the designated bankaccount
4. Obtaining a certificate of suitability: Obtaining a certificate of suitability for the property. In order to do this, apply to the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Directorate General of Implementation and Foreign Investment. Next, provide the
requested documents for a residence permit in accordance to the Code no. 6458 Article 31 Item (j).
5. Obtaining a residence permit: Provide the requested documents for citizenship application to the Provincial Migration Management at where the applicant resides.
6. Application for citizenship: Apply to the Provincial Population and Citizenship Affairs Department at where the applicant resides. The application is then processed and sent to the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
The right for citizenship can also be used for the families (spouse and children under 18) of the investors. Also it is known that the Turkish government has reduced the minimum requirement for Turkish citizenship by investing in the country. Previously, these limits were $2 million for investment, $3 million for deposit and $1 million for real estate. The most common type of investment for Turkish Citizenship is the purchase of an immovable property of $250,000. The minimum amount required for applying to citizenship by immovable property in Turkey have also determined as $250,000. Pursuant to the new regulation, Republic of Turkey grants citizenship to foreigners who make;
- Purchasing property worth $250.000 or TL equivalent amount
- Investing $500.000 or TL equivalent amount capital
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE TO THE PROCESS:
This is an example roadmap outlining the stages and steps to be conducted when applying for citizenship by means of investment. There are two ways to obtaining Turkish citizenship;
A. Purchasing property worth $250.000 or TL equivalent amount
1. Instructing a lawyer
2. Obtaining a Valuation Report
3. Legal report on the property
4. Completing Purchase of Property at the Land Registry
5. Obtaining a certificate of suitability: Obtain a certificate of suitability for the property. In order to do this, apply to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and the General Directorate of Land Registers. Provide the requested documents for a residence permit in accordance to the Code no. 6458 Article 31 Item (j).
6. Obtaining a residence permit: Provide the requested documents for citizenship
application to the Provincial Migration Management at where the applicant resides.
7. Application for citizenship: Apply to the Provincial Population and Citizenship Affairs Department at where the applicant resides. The application is then processed and sent to the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
8. Stages of the Citizenship Application Process:
1. Provincial Population and Citizenship Affairs Department issues a citizenship file and sends it to the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
2. The Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs conducts an archive investigation about whether there are any concerns which could constitute an impediment on the national security and public order with the Directorate General of Security and the National Intelligence Organization.
3. If the result of the archive investigation is positive, it is submitted to the
Ministry Office in order to be sent to the Presidency.
4. If approved at the Ministry Office, the file is sent to the Presidency.
5. If the President determines to award citizenship, then the applicant successfully obtains citizenship.
B. Investing $500.000 or TL equivalent amount capital
1. Instructing a lawyer
2. Opening a designated bank account
3. Transferring funds to the designated bankaccount
4. Obtaining a certificate of suitability: Obtaining a certificate of suitability for the property. In order to do this, apply to the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Directorate General of Implementation and Foreign Investment. Next, provide the
requested documents for a residence permit in accordance to the Code no. 6458 Article 31 Item (j).
5. Obtaining a residence permit: Provide the requested documents for citizenship application to the Provincial Migration Management at where the applicant resides.
6. Application for citizenship: Apply to the Provincial Population and Citizenship Affairs Department at where the applicant resides. The application is then processed and sent to the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs.