South African nationals can apply for Turkish citizenship through investment. South Africa is not among the nationalities restricted from the programme. This page sets out the routes, the timeline and the costs, then points you to the official authority.
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.
Turkey Citizenship by Investment is open to most foreign nationals. A small set of nationalities is restricted, and South Africa is not among them, so South African nationals can apply. Applicants must hold a clean record, prove a lawful source of funds and complete a qualifying investment held for the required period.
South African nationals should also check how South African law treats acquiring another citizenship by a voluntary act, since retention of South African citizenship can require a prior application to the Department of Home Affairs. Confirm both the Turkish requirements and the South African retention rules with the relevant authorities before you act.
Turkey sets qualifying routes in law. The most common is the purchase of real estate at or above a set value, held for a minimum period that is recorded against the title deed. Other routes include a fixed capital investment, a bank deposit held for a set term, government bond holdings, or creating employment for a set number of workers.
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From investment to passport the process is commonly described as taking several months, with the exact timing driven by valuation, title work, due diligence and government processing. Family members such as a spouse and dependent children can usually be included.
Allow extra time to legalise South African source documents, police certificates and translations. Confirm current processing expectations with the official authority.
The dominant cost is the qualifying investment itself, most often real estate held for the required period. On top of that sit government fees, valuation and title costs, taxes and duties, and the usual costs of legalisation, translation and professional help.
Use the table as a checklist of cost lines rather than a quote. Verify each current figure with the official authority before acting.
| Cost line | Indicative amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying real estate investment | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Held for the minimum period set in law |
| Alternative routes | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Fixed capital, bank deposit, bonds or job creation |
| Government and application fees | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Charged through the process |
| Valuation, taxes and duties | Varies | Apply on the real estate route |
| Legalisation, translation and professional fees | Varies | Independent of the qualifying investment |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Presidency of the Republic of Turkiye, Investment Office publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
Yes. South Africa is not among the restricted nationalities, so South Africans can apply, subject to the standard checks. Confirm the current rules with the Turkish authority.
South African law can treat acquiring another citizenship by a voluntary act as a loss of South African citizenship unless retention was arranged in advance. Confirm the current rules with the Department of Home Affairs before acting.
The real estate route requires holding the property for a minimum period recorded against the title deed. Confirm the current holding period and value with the official authority.
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.
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