What Is Citizenship by Investment?
Turkey offers an exceptional naturalisation route that allows foreign nationals to acquire citizenship by making a qualifying investment in the country. The most popular option is real estate: by purchasing property worth at least USD 400,000, an investor — together with their immediate family — may apply for Turkish citizenship without the usual residence requirements.
Investment Options and Thresholds
There are several qualifying routes; the most popular is real estate. The main options are:
| Investment Route | Minimum Amount | Holding Period |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate | USD 400,000 | 3 years |
| Fixed capital contribution | USD 500,000 | 3 years |
| Government bonds | USD 500,000 | 3 years |
| Bank deposit (TR banks) | USD 500,000 | 3 years |
| Job creation | 50 employees | — |
The qualifying value of real estate is confirmed by an official valuation report and assessed using the Central Bank exchange rate at the relevant date.
The 3-Year Holding Rule
For the real estate route, a title deed annotation is registered stating that the property will not be sold for at least three years. This restriction continues even after citizenship is granted. Selling earlier can jeopardise the status acquired through the investment.
Family Members and Timeline
The investor’s spouse and dependent children can be included in the same application. There is no minimum-stay or language requirement, and dual citizenship is allowed. On average, the full process takes around 10–12 months.
The most common route is a real estate investment of at least USD 400,000, confirmed by an official valuation report. Alternative routes (such as a fixed capital contribution, government bonds or a bank deposit) generally require USD 500,000.
Yes. A title deed annotation requires the property to be held for at least 3 years and not sold during that period, even after you receive citizenship.
Yes. The applicant’s spouse and dependent children (generally under 18) can be included in the same application.
No. The investment route does not require prior residence in Turkey, a minimum stay or a language test. Turkey also permits dual citizenship.
On average the process takes around 10–12 months from completing the qualifying investment to receiving the passport, depending on document preparation and processing times.
Planning a Citizenship Investment?
Get independent legal advice on title checks, valuation and the citizenship application before you invest.