Both promise a second passport for an investment, but they sit in very different places. One programme is active and tested, the other is contested and has delivered little.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
Both routes offer a second passport in return for a qualifying investment, with no language test and no long residence requirement stated. The similarity ends there. Turkey runs an active programme that has naturalised many investors since 2017. North Macedonia legislated an investment route, but its delivery is contested and reports suggest very few passports have been issued through it. Neither country is a member of the European Union.
In North Macedonia the published routes are a deposit of at least 200,000 euros into a private investment fund held for a set period, or a direct business investment of at least 400,000 euros that creates local jobs. In Turkey the most used route is real estate worth at least 400,000 US dollars, held for three years, with other approved assets such as bank deposits or government bonds set at 500,000 US dollars.
Government charges, due diligence and professional fees apply on top in both countries. Confirm the current figures with each authority before you budget.
Turkey reports issuing citizenship within roughly six to twelve months of a complete application. North Macedonia advertises a short processing window, but because the route is contested the real time to a passport in hand is uncertain. Confirm current timelines with each government.
A Turkish passport carries broad visa free and visa on arrival access, though Turkish citizens still need a visa for the Schengen area. A North Macedonia passport gives visa free access to the Schengen area under a Western Balkans arrangement, but North Macedonia is not an EU member, so the passport is not an EU passport. Neither route is a shortcut to European Union citizenship.
Turkey suits an investor who wants an active and tested programme, a tangible property asset and a faster route to a passport. North Macedonia may appeal to those drawn to Schengen visa free travel from a European country, but the contested delivery means the route carries real execution risk. Weigh that risk carefully and verify the live position.
| Item | North Macedonia Citizenship | Turkey Citizenship by Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Main investment routes | Fund deposit from 200,000 euros or business investment from 400,000 euros | Real estate from 400,000 US dollars or other approved assets from 500,000 US dollars |
| Outcome | Citizenship | Citizenship |
| Residence or language test | None stated | None stated |
| Indicative processing | Advertised 3 to 6 months, delivery contested | Reported 6 to 12 months |
| Passport access | Visa free to the Schengen area, not an EU member | Broad visa free access, Schengen visa still required |
| Official authority | Government of the Republic of North Macedonia | Presidency of the Republic of Turkiye |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Government of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Presidency of the Republic of Turkiye publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. North Macedonia is a candidate country and not an EU member, and Turkey is not an EU member. Neither passport is an EU passport.
It is contested. Reports suggest few passports have been issued under the investment route. Treat older marketing figures with caution and confirm the current position with the government.
Both allow dual citizenship in principle, but your own country's law decides whether you may hold a second passport. Check your home rules first.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The rules for this route changed recently. Confirm the current position with current guidance before you act.
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