Turkish Citizenship Application Procedures for Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals can acquire Turkish citizenship either through the standard naturalization process, which requires several years of legal residence, or through the exceptional acquisition route, which is most commonly used through a qualifying real estate or capital investment. This article explains both paths under Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and the general application procedure.

Last updated: August 2026.

Legal Basis

Turkish citizenship acquisition is regulated by Law No. 5901 on Turkish Citizenship and its Implementing Regulation. The law sets out several routes to citizenship, including birth, marriage, standard naturalization, and exceptional acquisition, each with its own conditions.

Standard Naturalization (Article 11)

Under Article 11 of Law No. 5901, a foreign national may apply for Turkish citizenship through ordinary naturalization if the following general conditions are met:

• Legal capacity under both their national law and Turkish law.
• Continuous legal residence in Turkey for at least five years immediately preceding the application, with absences not exceeding six months in total during that period without a valid reason.
• Demonstrated intention to settle in Turkey, evidenced by factors such as property ownership, business establishment, or family ties.
• No condition constituting a threat to public order or public security.
• Sufficient income or profession to support themselves and their dependents in Turkey.
• Good health from the perspective of public health, where relevant.
• Basic proficiency in spoken Turkish.

Exceptional Acquisition (Article 12)

Article 12 of Law No. 5901 allows the President to grant citizenship without the five-year residence requirement to foreign nationals who meet one of several exceptional criteria. In practice, the most commonly used route for foreign residents and property owners in Didim is real estate investment.

Real Estate Investment

A foreign national who purchases real estate in Turkey with a value at or above the threshold set by the relevant regulation, and who undertakes not to sell the property for at least three years, may apply for exceptional citizenship. The applicable minimum value threshold is set by regulation and has been adjusted over time, so it should be confirmed at the time of application.

Other Investment Routes

Article 12 also allows exceptional citizenship for foreign nationals who make a fixed capital investment of an amount determined by the Council of Ministers/President, who create employment for a minimum number of people determined by regulation, who deposit a qualifying amount in Turkish banks for a minimum holding period, or who purchase government bonds or real estate investment fund shares meeting the applicable threshold and holding period.

Application Process for Real Estate-Based Citizenship

1. Purchase real estate in Turkey with a value confirmed to meet the applicable threshold, supported by an official valuation report.
2. Register the property at the Land Registry Directorate with an annotation indicating the three-year sale restriction associated with the citizenship application.
3. Obtain a conformity certificate (uygunluk belgesi) from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change confirming the property meets the investment criteria.
4. Apply for a short-term residence permit if not already held, since a valid residence status is generally required during the process.
5. Submit the citizenship application with the required documentation to the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs or the relevant authority handling exceptional citizenship applications.
6. Provide biometric data and complete any required interviews as part of the application.
7. Await the review and decision, which culminates in a Presidential decree for approved exceptional citizenship applications.

Required Documents

Documentation for an exceptional citizenship application generally includes a valid passport, the property valuation report and conformity certificate (for the real estate route), a Turkish tax identification number, proof of the source of funds used for the investment, biometric photographs, and, where applicable, documents relating to family members included in the application. Family members, including a spouse and children under eighteen, can generally be included in the same application.

Processing Time

Processing times for exceptional citizenship applications vary depending on the completeness of the file and the current caseload of the relevant authorities. Applicants should expect the process to take several months from the submission of a complete file to a final decision.

Dual Citizenship

Turkey generally permits dual citizenship, so acquiring Turkish citizenship does not automatically require renouncing one's original nationality. Whether dual citizenship is permitted also depends on the laws of the applicant's home country, which should be reviewed separately.

Interaction with Property Restrictions

The area and location restrictions applicable to foreign real estate ownership, discussed in our related article on buying property in Didim, remain relevant for citizenship-qualifying purchases, and the property must also fall outside military and security zones to be eligible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum property value required for citizenship by investment?

The threshold is set by regulation and has been adjusted over time; the current applicable amount should be confirmed at the time of the transaction, since purchasing below the threshold will not qualify for this route.

Can I sell the property before the three-year period ends?

Selling before the three-year restriction period generally affects eligibility for citizenship obtained or being sought through the real estate route, since the non-sale commitment is a condition of the application.

Do I need to live in Turkey to qualify for citizenship by investment?

No continuous residence period is required under the exceptional acquisition route, unlike the standard naturalization path, which requires five years of continuous legal residence.

Can my family be included in the application?

Yes, a spouse and children under eighteen can generally be included in the same exceptional citizenship application as dependents.

Is Turkish language proficiency required for citizenship by investment?

The Turkish language requirement generally applies to the standard naturalization route rather than the exceptional acquisition route, though specific procedural requirements should be confirmed at the time of application.

What happens if my application is rejected?

An applicant may reapply, address any identified deficiencies, or, depending on the circumstances, evaluate whether a formal objection or legal review is appropriate.

Can multiple properties be combined to meet the value threshold?

Current regulations allow the value of more than one property to be combined to meet the applicable threshold, subject to the conditions in force at the time of application.

Closing Note

This article provides general information on Turkish citizenship application procedures and does not constitute legal advice. Each application must be assessed according to its own particular circumstances and current regulatory thresholds. For further information, you may contact our office, noting that consultations are held only by prior appointment. Our office provides legal services in the field of Foreigners' Law.

This content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal opinion, advice, or an offer of legal representation. Each application must be evaluated according to its own specific circumstances. Messages sent through this website do not create an attorney-client relationship. This website has been prepared solely for informational purposes in accordance with the Union of Turkish Bar Associations' Advertising Ban Regulation.