How to get Turkish Citizenship by Real Estate Investment in Turkey? 

Turkey offers a golden opportunity for foreign investors! Since September 2018, the Turkish government has made it much easier for foreign investors to acquire Turkish citizenship by real estate investment in Turkey.

This move was seen as an effort to attract more foreign investment into the country - and it's working! According to recent reports, there has been a significant increase in the number of foreigner investors interested in purchasing property in Turkey.

So, if you're looking to get Turkish citizenship by real estate investment, here is everything you need to know about this incredible program and the process. But first, let's take a look at the benefits of a Turkish citizenship!

1. What are the Benefits of Turkish Citizenship?

Turkish citizenship gives you the opportunity to live, work and study in Turkey and enjoy all the benefits that come with it. As a Turkish citizen, you will have access to free healthcare and education, as well as social security benefits.  

Also, a passport from Turkey opens up a world of opportunities. It's a very powerful passport, allowing visa-free or visa on arrival access to 110 countries. 

If that wasn't enough, you will also be able to invest in property in Turkey without any restrictions! Thanks to a new law, it's easier than ever to get Turkish citizenship by investing in real estate. So, let's see how it works: 

2. Who is eligible to obtain Turkish Citizenship by Real Estate Investment?

The good news is that almost everyone is eligible for obtaining Turkish Citizenship by Real Estate Investment! Unlike other countries, you do not have to know the Turkish language or take a test about the country.

You are eligible if,

• you are a foreign national,
• 18 years or older, 
• have no standing criminal record,
• have made a minimum real estate investment of USD 400,000 (or equivalent thereof in foreign currency or in Turkish Lira). This can be a single unit or multiple ones.

In addition, your application for acquisition at the land registry must state that you have purchased the property for this purpose, (the title deed needs to state this purpose), and that the property will not be sold for 3 years (must be registered as an annotation within the title deed).

Best of all, your family (spouse and children under 18) can be included in the citizenship application!

Important: Once a property has been used for obtaining Turkish citizenship through sale or promise of sale, that property may not be used again for the acquisition of citizenship. Therefore, before buying a property, you should pay attention to whether the property was already used in the real estate investment citizenship program.

3. How does the Application Process work?

The application process is quite simple and straightforward. Once you have bought your property using a bank transfer and met the above requirements, you can then begin the application process by filling out the necessary paperwork and submitting it to the appropriate authorities.

All you have to do is follow these four simple steps:

• First, you need a "Real Estate Valuation Report". You can obtain this from firms authorized for valuation as licensed by the CMB (Capital Market Board)
• Then you have to go to the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre with all the required documents, where you will need a "Certificate of Eligibility". As part of this process, the Land Registry will verify that the valuation report, bank voucher, and information provided meet all the required criteria. During this process, the land registry fees must also be paid.
• After receiving the Certificate of Eligibility, you will need to file an application for a residence permit at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management.
• Afterwards, you can apply for Turkish citizenship at the Provincial Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs.

Note: If you don’t have time for these procedures, it is possible to give power of attorney to a real estate agent or lawyer.

4. What are the Required Documents for Turkey Citizenship by Real Estate Investment?

Besides the real estate investment, you also need to provide some documents. These documents should be translated into Turkish and apostilled. You can find the documents that are typically required here: 

• Valid passport and notarized translation of your passport
• Application forms
• Title deed or notarized property purchase commitment
• Valuation report for the real estate
• Bank receipt showing that your property is worth at least 400,000 USD
• A copy of your birth certificate
• Certificate of residence
• If applicable, documents proving your relationships with your spouse and children (marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates)
• 4 biometric photos of each family member

5. How long does it take to get Turkey Citizenship by Real Estate Investment? 

The entire process from application to the granting of Turkish citizenship takes only a few months. Usually, the whole process lasts between 3 to 6 months, which makes it one of the fastest and easiest ways to obtain Turkish citizenship.

Once you have your Turkish Citizenship, you will be able to enjoy all the benefits that come with it!

6. What are the Expenses for obtaining Turkey Citizenship through Real Estate Investment?

Now that you know the basics of how to get Turkish citizenship by real estate investment, let's dive into the numbers.

As you know, the minimum real estate investment amount is 400,000 USD. In addition to this amount, there is also an application fee and other additional expenses, such as notary fees, transaction fees and professional fees (if you use a real estate agent or lawyer). If you apply together with a family, you will need to raise an additional approximately 580 USD per person.

All this can add up to a total of around 5 to 8% of the investment amount, if you are applying alone.

Tip: The Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs has put together a guidance page for foreigners who want to obtain Turkish Citizenship by Real Estate Investment. You can find here the most common questions and answers.  

7. After obtaining Turkish Citizenship through Real Estate Investment

What about after obtaining Turkish citizenship? Let us now take a closer look at the following points:

• Citizenship: After obtaining your Turkish citizenship, you can usually keep your previous citizenship, as the Turkish state allows dual citizenship. This is extremely positive news for those who want to take advantage of Turkish citizenship but do not want to give up their original citizenship. You will be able to travel freely between the two countries and enjoy the best that each country has to offer. Note, however, that some countries do not recognize multiple citizenship, so check with the laws in your country regarding this.
• Military service: After acquiring Turkish citizenship through the purchase of real estate, there is no obligation to complete military service.
• Residency: You are not required to live in Turkey in order to maintain your citizenship, as there are no residency requirements or minimum time requirements that you must stay in Turkey in order to keep your citizenship.
• The acquired property: There is one key requirement for maintaining your Turkish citizenship status that you need to be aware of, and that is keeping your property for at least three years after obtaining citizenship.
• Revocation of citizenship: It is important to note that the government does reserve the right to revoke citizenship if it is determined that the investor no longer meets the criteria. However, after 3 years you are free to sell the property if you wish, and your citizenship is guaranteed forever.

Of course, now that you are a Turkish citizen, you can enjoy all that Turkey has to offer. With its rich culture, delicious food, and amazing scenery, Turkey is a great place to call home!

For more information or any questions, feel free to contact our team of experts of the real estate field in Antalya. Make sure to take a look at our article about 11 Things to Know before Buying Property in Antalya as a Foreigner and Top Neighborhoods To Live in Antalya as a Foreigner.