Under the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, a foreigner can acquire Turkish citizenship mainly through investment (the exceptional route), marriage to a Turkish citizen lasting at least three years, or five years of uninterrupted residence in Turkey (the general route). Meeting the conditions does not create an absolute right: the authorities have discretion and carry out a security review. Minimum investment amounts are set by Presidential decision and change from time to time. A refusal can be challenged before the administrative courts within 60 days of service.
Overview: how Turkish citizenship is acquired
Turkish nationality law is set out in the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and its implementing regulation. Applications are handled by the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs of the Ministry of Interior; in Turkey they are filed with the provincial population and citizenship directorates, and abroad with Turkish embassies and consulates.
The law distinguishes between citizenship acquired by birth and citizenship acquired later. The routes most relevant to foreign nationals are summarised below.
| Route | Who it is for | Law No. 5901 |
|---|---|---|
| Descent | Children born to a Turkish mother or father, in Turkey or abroad | Art. 7 |
| General route (residence) | Foreigners who have lived in Turkey for five years without interruption | Art. 11 |
| Exceptional route | Investors, Turquoise Card holders and other special cases | Art. 12 |
| Marriage | Foreigners married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years | Art. 16 |
| Adoption | Minors adopted by a Turkish citizen | Art. 17 |
| Reacquisition | Former citizens who renounced with permission | Art. 13 |
Citizenship applications often overlap with other areas of law: the investment route usually involves buying property in Turkey, a residence permit is needed during the process, and marriage-based applications touch on family law.
Turkish citizenship by investment
Article 12 of the law allows foreigners who make a qualifying investment in Turkey to obtain citizenship through the exceptional route. The five-year residence requirement of the general route does not apply, and the decision is taken by the President. The main qualifying investment types listed in the regulation are:
- Purchasing real estate, with an annotation on the title deed that it will not be sold for three years
- Making a fixed capital investment
- Depositing funds with banks operating in Turkey and keeping them for three years
- Purchasing Turkish government debt instruments and holding them for three years
- Purchasing participation shares in real estate or venture capital investment funds
- Creating employment for a specified number of people
The minimum amount for each investment type is set by Presidential decision and has been changed several times. The website does not state figures, because an outdated amount could lead to a costly mistake. Check the current thresholds and document requirements before you commit to any purchase or transfer.
Step by step: citizenship through property purchase
The real estate option is the one most investors choose. In practice it generally involves the following steps:
- Due diligence on the property and sellerThe title deed record, annotations, zoning status and occupancy permit are checked. Restrictions specific to the programme, such as whether the property has previously been used for a citizenship application or was bought from a foreigner, should also be examined.
- Valuation reportThe value of the property is determined by a report prepared by a licensed valuation company. The value in the report matters for whether the investment threshold is met.
- Payment and currency conversion certificateThe price is paid through a bank, and a certificate is obtained showing that the foreign currency was converted into Turkish lira at a bank in Turkey.
- Title deed transfer and annotationThe transfer is completed at the land registry, and an annotation is entered stating that the property will not be sold for three years.
- Certificate of conformityThe General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre issues a certificate confirming that the investment meets the requirements.
- Residence permit and citizenship applicationA residence permit is obtained for the investor, and the citizenship application is then filed with the supporting documents. The application is concluded after a security review.
Most of these steps can be carried out through a lawyer holding a power of attorney, so the investor does not need to be in Turkey throughout. Personal attendance may still be needed at certain stages, for example for biometric data.
Including your spouse and children
An investment-based application can include the investor's spouse and their minor or dependent children. Identity documents, marriage certificates and birth certificates proving the family relationship must carry an apostille (or consular legalisation) and be translated into Turkish by a sworn translator.
Other cases under the exceptional route
Apart from investment, Article 12 allows the following persons to be naturalised by Presidential decision, provided there is no national security obstacle:
- Persons who bring industrial facilities to Turkey or have rendered, or are expected to render, outstanding services in science, technology, economy, social life, sports, culture or the arts
- Turquoise Card holders, together with their foreign spouse and minor or dependent children
- Persons whose naturalisation is considered necessary
- Persons recognised as immigrants
The Turquoise Card, a special permit for highly qualified foreigners, is explained in our immigration law guide.
Turkish citizenship by marriage
Marrying a Turkish citizen does not grant citizenship automatically. Under Article 16, a foreigner who has been married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years, and whose marriage is continuing, may apply. The applicant must:
- Live together with the spouse in a family union
- Not engage in activities incompatible with the marital union
- Not pose a threat to national security or public order
The authorities examine whether the marriage was entered into in order to obtain citizenship; interviews with the spouses and home visits are common. If the Turkish spouse dies after the application is filed, the requirement that the marriage continue no longer applies, provided the other conditions are met.
Citizenship by residence (the general route)
Foreigners who have lived in Turkey for a long time may apply under Article 11. The main conditions are:
- Being of age and of sound mind
- Five years of uninterrupted residence in Turkey immediately before the application
- Confirming by conduct the intention to settle in Turkey
- Not having a disease that poses a danger to public health
- Being of good moral character
- Speaking Turkish at a sufficient level
- Having an income or profession sufficient to support oneself and dependants
- Not posing a threat to national security or public order
Applicants are assessed by a commission on their knowledge of Turkish and their integration into society. Which types of residence permit count towards the five years, and how much time may be spent abroad, are regulated in detail in the implementing regulation, so these points should be checked before applying.
Where to apply and which documents are needed
In Turkey, applications are filed with the provincial population and citizenship directorate where the applicant resides; abroad, with the Turkish embassy or consulate. In Istanbul there is a separate unit for investment-based applications. Requirements vary by route, but usually include:
- Application form and biometric photographs
- Valid passport and certified translation
- Birth certificate and documents showing marital status (marriage, divorce or death certificates)
- Identity and birth documents of parents and children
- Valid residence permit (for applications in Turkey)
- For investment applications: the certificate of conformity and documents proving the investment
- For the general route: documents showing income or profession
- Proof of payment of the application fee
Documents issued abroad must carry an apostille (or consular legalisation) and be translated into Turkish by a sworn translator in Turkey, usually with notarisation. Names and dates must be consistent across all documents; inconsistencies are one of the most common reasons for delays.
What if the application is refused?
Naturalisation is within the discretion of the administration; meeting the statutory conditions does not by itself give a right to citizenship. That discretion is not unlimited, however: a refusal must be based on concrete reasons consistent with the public interest. If your application is refused, the options are:
- Obtaining the decision and its reasons: The refusal letter should be formally received. If no reasons are given, access to the file and the reasons can be requested through right-to-information and file inspection procedures.
- Annulment action: Under Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577, an annulment action can be filed before the administrative court within 60 days of service of the decision. Since decisions are taken centrally by the Ministry, these cases are usually heard by the administrative courts in Ankara.
- New application: Where the reason for refusal can be remedied (for example, missing documents), a fresh application may be the faster route.
The general rules on actions against public authorities are explained in our administrative law guide.
Dual citizenship and the Blue Card
Turkish law does not generally require new citizens to give up their existing nationality. Whether your country of origin allows dual nationality, however, is governed by that country's law and should be checked separately.
Former Turkish citizens who renounced their citizenship with permission, and their descendants, may obtain a Blue Card (Mavi Kart) under Article 28 of the law. The Blue Card allows them to continue exercising many of the rights of Turkish citizens, such as residence, work and property acquisition, without holding Turkish citizenship, subject to certain exceptions such as the right to vote.
Key time limits
| Item | Period | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage before applying through marriage | At least 3 years | Law No. 5901, Art. 16 |
| Residence before applying through the general route | 5 years uninterrupted | Law No. 5901, Art. 11 |
| No-sale annotation for property investment | 3 years | Implementing regulation |
| Holding period for bank deposits and government bonds | 3 years | Implementing regulation |
| Annulment action against refusal | 60 days from service | Law No. 2577, Art. 7 |
Investment thresholds, holding periods, document lists and fees in citizenship procedures are changed frequently by Presidential decisions and regulations. Always check the current rules before making an investment or filing an application.
Relevant legislation
Turkish legislation is published (in Turkish) at mevzuat.gov.tr:
- Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 — Art. 7, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 28
- Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law
- Land Registry Law No. 2644 — Art. 35 (property acquisition by foreigners)
- Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458 (residence permits)
- Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 — Art. 7
Citizenship Law: topics
The main topics within Turkish citizenship law are listed below. Detailed guides for each are in preparation.
- Turkish citizenship by investment
- Citizenship by marriage
- Citizenship by residence (general route)
- Citizenship by descent
- Refusal of a citizenship application and lawsuits
- Dual citizenship and the Blue Card
Frequently asked questions about Turkish citizenship
Do I have to live in Turkey to get citizenship by investment?
No. The five-year residence requirement of the general route does not apply to the investment route. A residence permit is obtained as part of the process, but you are not required to live in Turkey before or after the application. Some steps may require you to be present in person, for example to give biometric data.
How much do I need to invest for Turkish citizenship?
The minimum amounts for each investment type (property, bank deposits, government bonds, fixed capital and others) are set by Presidential decision and have changed several times. Because outdated figures can lead to costly mistakes, this guide does not state amounts. Please check the current thresholds before committing to any investment.
Can I sell the property after obtaining citizenship?
A title deed annotation is entered stating that the property will not be sold for three years. Selling before the end of that period is not possible while the annotation is in place. After the three-year period, the property can be sold. The specific consequences of selling should be checked against the regulation in force at the time.
Can my wife and children get citizenship with me?
Yes. An investment-based application can include the investor's spouse and minor or dependent children. Documents proving the family relationship must be apostilled and translated into Turkish by a sworn translator.
Does marrying a Turkish citizen give me citizenship?
Not automatically. You can apply after at least three years of marriage, provided the marriage continues, you live together as a family, and there is no national security or public order obstacle. The authorities check whether the marriage is genuine.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship?
Turkish law generally does not require new citizens to renounce their existing nationality. However, some countries do not permit dual nationality, so the law of your country of origin should be checked before applying.
What can I do if my application is refused?
You can file an annulment action before the administrative court within 60 days of service of the refusal. The court reviews whether the decision is based on concrete and lawful reasons. Where the refusal is due to a remediable issue such as missing documents, a new application may be faster.
Can the whole process be done through a lawyer?
Most steps, including due diligence, the title deed transfer, obtaining the certificate of conformity and preparing the application file, can be carried out by a lawyer under a power of attorney. Certain steps may still require your personal attendance, depending on the current procedure.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a lawyer about your specific situation. Legislation and court practice change over time, so check the current legislation before taking any step. Last updated: 7 October 2026