Turkey grants citizenship to foreign nationals who make a qualifying investment and hold it for at least three years. Several routes qualify, the most used being real estate.
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 offers one of the faster citizenship by investment routes. An applicant makes a qualifying investment, commits to hold it for three years, and applies for citizenship alongside a residence permit. A spouse and children under 18 are usually included in the same file.
Citizenship is granted by Presidential decree once the relevant ministry confirms the investment and the civil registry completes its checks. Turkey allows dual citizenship, so most applicants keep their existing nationality. Confirm any figure below with the official authority before you act.
The main routes are: buy real estate worth at least 400,000 US dollars, supported by an official valuation report, with a title deed annotation that bars sale for three years; place a bank deposit or buy government debt instruments and hold them for three years; make a fixed capital contribution to a Turkish company; or create jobs for Turkish citizens. Each route has its own minimum set by regulation. Confirm the current minimum for any route with the official authority.
Many applicants reach citizenship within a few months of completing the investment, though timing depends on document gathering, due diligence and current processing loads. The broad sequence is to complete the investment and obtain the conformity certificate, apply for a short term residence permit, then file the citizenship application. Treat any single number of months as indicative and confirm current processing times with the official authority.
Beyond the qualifying investment you should budget for valuation reports, title and notary costs, translation, official fees and professional help. The investment itself can often be recovered after the three year hold, for example by selling the property or withdrawing the deposit, subject to the rules in force. The table sets out indicative items. Verify every figure with the official authority.
A Turkish passport gives visa free or visa on arrival access to many countries and the right to live in Turkey. Turkey is not a member of the European Union, so a Turkish passport does not grant European Union free movement. Check current travel rights against official sources, as they change.
| Route or item | Indicative minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate purchase | 400,000 US dollars | Held for three years, valuation report and title deed annotation required |
| Bank deposit | 500,000 US dollars | Held in a Turkish bank for three years |
| Government bonds | 500,000 US dollars | Held for three years |
| Fixed capital contribution | 500,000 US dollars | Confirmed by the relevant ministry |
| Job creation | 50 employees | Employment of Turkish citizens, confirmed by the labour authority |
| Official and professional fees | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Valuation, notary, translation and application fees |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. General Directorate of Civil Registration and Nationality (NVI), Republic of Turkey publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
At least three years. For real estate this is enforced by an annotation on the title deed. Confirm the holding rules for your chosen route with the official authority.
Yes. Turkey permits dual citizenship, so most investors keep their original nationality. Check that your home country also allows it.
No. Turkey is not an EU member, so the passport does not grant EU free movement. Travel rights change, so verify current access against official sources.
A spouse and children under 18 are generally included in the same application. Confirm the current family rules 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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