Turkey

Last Updated: 2026-03-29

Official Portal: General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NUFUS)

Embassy Finder: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Missions Abroad

Quick Facts

Category	Detail
Residency for citizenship	5 years (standard naturalization)
Language requirement	Yes — Turkish language exam
Cultural knowledge	No formal test (but integration assessed)
Processing time	CBI: 3-6 months; Standard naturalization: 12-24 months
Application fee	CBI: ~$500-$1,500 USD (government fees only); investment is separate
Dual citizenship	Yes — Turkey fully permits and encourages dual nationality

Dual Citizenship

Yes. Turkey fully permits dual and multiple citizenship. Turkish nationals who acquire a foreign nationality do not lose Turkish citizenship. Conversely, foreign nationals who acquire Turkish citizenship (including through investment) are not required to renounce their original nationality.

Turkey actively encourages dual citizenship as a tool for maintaining ties with the large Turkish diaspora (estimated 5-6 million Turks living abroad, primarily in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Austria, and the United States).

Turkish nationality law treats dual citizens as Turkish nationals while on Turkish territory — they are subject to Turkish military service obligations and Turkish courts, regardless of their other nationality.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Turkey does not recognize unconditional birthright citizenship. Children born in Turkey to foreign national parents do not automatically acquire Turkish citizenship. The only birthright provision covers stateless children — children born in Turkey whose nationality cannot be established or who would otherwise be stateless acquire Turkish citizenship.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Turkish nationality is transmitted through either parent (mother or father):

A child born to at least one Turkish parent is a Turkish citizen at birth, regardless of the country of birth.
This applies equally to children of Turkish mothers and Turkish fathers — Turkey reformed its patrilineal-only rule in 2003 to grant equal transmission rights to both parents.
Children born out of wedlock to a Turkish mother acquire citizenship automatically; children of a Turkish father born out of wedlock may acquire citizenship through a formal paternity acknowledgment or court decision.
There is no generational cutoff specified in law, but registration at a Turkish consulate is recommended to formally document citizenship for subsequent generations.

By Adoption

Children legally adopted by Turkish citizens acquire Turkish citizenship, provided:

The child is under 18 at the time of adoption
The adoption is legally valid under Turkish law
The adopted child does not pose a threat to national security or public order

If the child is 14 or older, their consent is required.

By Marriage

A foreign national married to a Turkish citizen does not acquire citizenship automatically. The foreign spouse may apply for naturalization after 3 years of marriage, subject to:

The marriage subsisting at the time of application
The couple living together as a family unit (cohabitation must be genuine)
No criminal record that threatens national security
Ministerial approval (discretionary — can be refused without explanation)

Note: The 3-year marriage pathway is significantly faster than standard naturalization (5 years) but is still discretionary. Fraudulent marriages for the purpose of obtaining citizenship constitute a criminal offense.

By Naturalization (Residency)

Standard requirement: 5 years of continuous legal residence in Turkey.

Additional requirements:

Turkish language proficiency (reading, writing, speaking)
No criminal convictions for crimes requiring imprisonment
Demonstrate ability to support oneself financially (or have a Turkish sponsor)
No threat to national security or public order
Renunciation of prior nationality is not required (Turkey permits dual citizenship)
Ministerial of Interior decision; Council of Ministers final approval

Continuous residence rule: Absences from Turkey must not exceed 12 consecutive months or 180 days in aggregate during the 5-year period.

Reduced Residency Categories

Category	Residency Requirement	Notes
Spouse of Turkish citizen	3 years (marriage pathway)	Must cohabit; ministerial discretion
Stateless persons born in Turkey	3 years	Subject to statelessness documentation
Person performing exceptional services	No residency required	Council of Ministers decree; for scientists, athletes, artists, investors
Persons of Turkish origin / descent	2 years	For ethnic Turks or Turkmens from abroad; with supporting documentation
Refugees under 1951 Convention	5 years	Subject to BMMYK / UNHCR status

Preferred Pathways

Your Background	Benefit	Notes
Ethnic Turkish/Turkic origin	2-year reduced residency	Documented ethnolinguistic connection required
Spouse of Turkish citizen	3-year pathway	Cohabitation verification
CBI investor ($400K+ real estate)	3-6 months, no residency	Primary draw for international HNWIs
Exceptional talent (sports, arts, science)	No residency required	Nominated by relevant ministry

Where a Turkish Passport Opens Doors

Turkey’s passport ranks approximately 53rd globally (Henley Index), providing:

Visa-free access to ~110 countries
Strong coverage in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and parts of the Middle East
Requires visa for: United States, United Kingdom, Schengen/EU area, Canada, Australia

Turkey is NOT an EU member and is NOT in the Schengen zone. This is a significant limitation compared to EU member state passports. However, Turkey’s EU candidate status (stalled since 2016 coup attempt) means this could theoretically change, though most analysts consider full membership unlikely in the next decade.

Special Clauses & Programs

Turkish Diaspora (Yurt Disi Turkler)

The Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) supports the Turkish diaspora’s connection with Turkey. Dual citizens living abroad retain full political rights including the right to vote in Turkish elections from abroad (since 2014). This was demonstrated significantly in the 2023 elections when overseas Turkish voters played a material role in results.

Council of Ministers Exceptional Grants

Individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Turkey in sports, arts, science, economy, or social fields may receive Turkish citizenship by decree of the Council of Ministers with no residency requirement. Historical recipients include foreign-born professional football players playing in Turkish leagues.

Investment Pathways

Citizenship by Investment (CBI)

Status: Active — one of the most popular CBI programs globally

Turkey’s Citizenship by Investment program is among the most accessible and cost-effective formal CBI programs in the world. It was introduced in 2017 and significantly reformed in 2018 and 2022.

Legal basis: Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901; Council of Ministers Decision No. 2016/9601 (initial); revised by Presidential Decree No. 106 (2018) and subsequent amendments. Current thresholds set by Presidential Decree.

Investment Options

Option	Minimum Threshold	Holding Period	Notes
Real estate purchase	$400,000 USD	3 years	Property must not be previously acquired by a foreigner under the CBI program; annotated in land registry
Bank deposit in Turkish bank	$500,000 USD	3 years	In Turkish lira or foreign currency; held in a Turkish bank
Fixed capital investment	$500,000 USD	3 years	Capital contribution to a Turkish company
Government debt instruments	$500,000 USD	3 years	Turkish state treasury bonds, government bills
Real estate investment fund	$500,000 USD	3 years	Shares in a Turkish REIF registered with Capital Markets Board
Venture capital investment fund	$500,000 USD	3 years	Shares in a Turkish VCIF
Job creation	N/A (50 jobs)	Maintained	Must create minimum 50 jobs for Turkish nationals; verified by Ministry of Family and Social Services

Most popular option by volume: Real estate purchase at $400,000 USD. The real estate route accounts for approximately 70-80% of all Turkish CBI applications. Istanbul, Antalya, Alanya, Bursa, and Ankara are the most active markets.

Note on 2022 threshold increase: The minimum real estate threshold was raised from $250,000 to $400,000 in June 2022, following extraordinary demand that was contributing to property price inflation in major cities. The threshold for other options simultaneously rose from $500,000 to maintain the structure.

Key Program Terms


Physical presence	Not required at any stage of the application
Residency requirement	None — citizenship is granted directly, not residency first
Processing time	3-6 months (typically 4 months average in 2024-2025)
Language requirement	None for the CBI pathway
Due diligence	Background check required; serious criminal record or sanctions list membership disqualifies
Family inclusion	Spouse and children under 18 are included at no additional investment cost
Parents	Parents of applicant are NOT included in the CBI grant
Investment annotation	Real estate title deed is annotated at land registry with a 3-year restriction against re-sale below threshold
Citizenship grant	Full Turkish passport — same rights as Turkish-born citizens

Due Diligence Process

Turkey’s CBI program is lighter on due diligence than programs in Caribbean nations or Malta. The process involves:

INTERPOL database check
Turkish National Police screening
Ministry of Interior security assessment
No certified Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) reports required from licensed third-party firms (unlike Malta or St. Kitts)

This lighter screening has drawn criticism from transparency advocates and has led some banks and financial institutions to flag Turkish CBI passports for enhanced scrutiny.

Passport Access After CBI

Upon receiving Turkish citizenship through investment, the applicant receives a Turkish Biometric Passport (Biyometrik Pasaport). Access includes:

Region	Status
Latin America	Visa-free (most countries)
Southeast Asia	Visa-free or VOA (most countries)
Middle East	Visa-free (most Arab states)
Africa	Visa-free or VOA (many countries)
Central Asia	Visa-free
Schengen / EU	Visa required
United States	Visa required (B-1/B-2)
United Kingdom	Visa required
Canada	Visa required

Key limitation: Turkish CBI does not unlock Schengen or US visa-free access. Investors seeking EU/US/UK freedom of movement should pair Turkish citizenship with a European Golden Visa program (e.g., Greece or Portugal).

Cost Breakdown (Real Estate Route)

Component	Cost
Minimum real estate investment	$400,000 USD
Title deed transfer fee	~4% of declared value
Real estate agent commission	~2-3%
Sworn translator (documents)	~$500-$1,500
Notary fees	~$500-$1,000
Government CBI application fee	~$500-$750 per application
Legal representation (immigration attorney)	$3,000-$8,000
Total cash outlay (excluding investment)	~$5,000-$15,000
Total including investment	~$415,000-$425,000

Recent Changes & Controversies

2022 threshold increase: The jump from $250K to $400K reduced application volume sharply in H2 2022, but volume recovered through 2023-2024 as the program remains competitive globally.
Currency risk: Investors depositing Turkish lira face significant FX risk given Turkey’s inflationary environment. Most investors use the real estate route in USD to avoid currency exposure.
Banking correspondent risk: Some European banks have flagged Turkish CBI passports as elevated risk due to the lighter due diligence regime.
Lira denomination debate: Periodic government proposals to require real estate investment thresholds to be set in Turkish lira (TRY) rather than USD would dramatically reduce the real cost in USD terms during periods of lira depreciation. As of 2025, the threshold remains USD-denominated.
Program popularity: Turkey processed tens of thousands of CBI applications between 2018-2024, with peak demand from Iranian, Afghan, Iraqi, Arab, and Chinese nationals.

Residency by Investment (RBI)

For those not yet ready to invest at CBI thresholds, Turkey offers:

Short-term Residency Permit:

Requires property ownership or rental agreement in Turkey
1-year renewable permit
Property value minimum: approximately 75,000 USD equivalent (varies by region)
No path to citizenship until 5 years of residence completed (then standard naturalization applies — not accelerated CBI pathway)

Tourist / Short-Stay Residency:

Available for most nationalities without investment
Allows living in Turkey while exploring the CBI program

Business & Entrepreneurship

Turkey is a significant emerging market economy — the world’s 19th largest by nominal GDP — positioned at the intersection of Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Istanbul is one of the top 50 largest financial centers globally and the 3rd largest city in Europe by population.

Company Formation


Most common entity	Anonim Sirket (A.S. — Joint Stock Company) or Limited Sirket (Ltd. Sti. — Private Limited)
Formation timeline	3-7 business days (via MERSiS system)
Minimum capital (Ltd. Sti.)	TRY 10,000 (~$300-$500 USD equivalent, subject to exchange rate)
Minimum capital (A.S.)	TRY 250,000 (~$7,500-$8,000 USD equivalent)
Foreign ownership	100% allowed
Online registration	Yes — via MERSiS (Central Registry Record System)

Ltd. Sti. (Limited Sirket) is the standard vehicle for foreign investors and SMEs. It allows 100% foreign ownership, requires a minimum of 1 shareholder and 1 director (no residency requirement for directors), and minimum capital of TRY 10,000.

A Turkish bank account and a tax number (Vergi Kimlik Numarasi) are required before incorporation. Opening a bank account typically takes 1-2 weeks for non-residents.

Tax Overview

Turkey’s tax environment is shaped by the country’s high inflation and periodic fiscal adjustments. Despite headline rates that appear moderate, the effective burden can be significant due to inflation accounting and complex local tax rules.


Corporate income tax	25% (increased from 20% in 2023)
Dividend withholding tax	10%
Capital gains tax	Included in corporate/personal income (15-25%)
Personal income tax (top rate)	40% (on annual income >TRY 4,300,000+)
VAT (standard rate)	20% (increased from 18% in 2023)
VAT (reduced)	10% (food, some services); 1% (basic food items)
Social security (employer)	~20.5% of gross salary
Social security (employee)	~15% of gross salary
Withholding tax on services	20% (applicable to certain payments to non-residents)

Tax treaty network: Turkey has Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) with 90+ countries, including all major EU states, the US, UK, China, Russia, and most of its regional neighbors.

Inflation accounting: Turkey reintroduced inflation accounting for corporate taxpayers effective 2024, following years of high inflation (peak 85% in 2022). This affects how asset values, depreciation, and capital gains are calculated for corporate tax purposes.

No global territorial taxation: Turkey operates a residence-based tax system. Turkish residents are taxed on worldwide income. Non-residents are taxed only on Turkey-source income. CBI recipients who do not establish tax residency in Turkey are generally not subject to Turkish income tax on foreign-source income.

Banking & Financial Infrastructure


Currency	Turkish Lira (TRY) — significant volatility; USD/EUR widely accepted in contracts
Major banks	Ziraat Bankasi (state), Is Bankasi, Akbank, Yapi Kredi, Garanti BBVA, Halkbank, VakifBank
International banks	HSBC Turkey, Citibank Turkey, Deutsche Bank Turkey
Fintech	Papara (Turkish neobank); Wise and Revolut available for remittances
Crypto	Legal in Turkey; crypto exchanges operate under MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) regulation; cannot use crypto for payments (2021 ban)
Banking for CBI investors	Most major Turkish banks open accounts for CBI applicants with passport + Turkish tax ID

The Turkish lira has depreciated dramatically against major currencies since 2018. Investors doing real estate CBI should ensure contracts are denominated in USD or EUR for clarity on the $400,000 threshold compliance.

Key Programs & Incentives

Regional Investment Incentives (Tesvikler): Turkey’s 6-tier regional incentive system provides VAT exemptions, customs duty exemptions, tax reductions (2-7 years), social security premium support, interest subsidies, and land allocation for qualifying investments by region. Underdeveloped regions (Categories 5-6) offer the most generous packages.
Strategic Investment Incentive Certificate: For investments >TRY 3B with >50% domestic content — includes 100% VAT refund, 40-90% corporate tax reduction, 10-year social security premium support, and land allocation.
Technology Development Zones (Technoparks): Companies operating in Technoparks are fully exempt from corporate income tax on software/R&D revenues through 2028; researchers’ salaries exempt from income tax.
Free Zones: 18 free zones across Turkey; companies operating in free zones are fully corporate tax-exempt on manufacturing for export.
Istanbul Finance Center (IFC): Opened 2023; designated financial hub with special tax incentives for financial institutions.
KOSGEB (SME Development Organization): Grants and low-interest loans for SMEs; programs include digitalization grants, green transformation support, and export support.
TurkPatent: Accelerated patent processing; R&D deductions of 200% for qualifying expenditures.

Loss of Nationality

Voluntary Renunciation

A Turkish citizen may renounce citizenship voluntarily by application to the Ministry of Interior, provided they:

Are of legal age (18+)
Already hold or will immediately acquire another nationality (cannot become stateless)
Have completed mandatory military service (or been exempted), or paid the military exemption fee (bedelli askerlik)
Have no outstanding criminal proceedings or tax liabilities in Turkey

Upon renunciation, a Pembe Kart (Pink Card) is issued. This document grants former Turkish citizens and their descendants certain rights in Turkey without citizenship: property ownership, business formation, inheritance, health care access, and re-entry without a residence permit. Military service and voting rights are excluded.

Involuntary Loss

Turkish citizenship may be revoked in the following circumstances:

Voluntary service in a foreign military without permission — if the person does not resign from the foreign military within 3 months of a Ministry of Interior warning, citizenship is revoked
Acts against national security or working against Turkey’s vital interests — ministerial determination
Obtaining Turkish citizenship through fraudulent means — false documents, bribery, etc.
Obtaining Turkish citizenship through the CBI program but failing to maintain the investment for the required 3-year holding period

Naturalized citizens (including CBI recipients) face the additional ground of citizenship revocation if the investment is sold, transferred, or falls below threshold before the 3-year holding period expires.

Recovery / Resumption

Former citizens who lost Turkish nationality due to acquiring a foreign nationality (prior to 1981 legal changes) may apply for reacquisition.
Children who were minors when their parents renounced Turkish citizenship may reacquire it between ages 18 and 21 by declaration.
Persons who lost citizenship due to foreign military service may apply for reacquisition after leaving the foreign military and meeting standard naturalization requirements.

Practical Guide

Documents Needed

For CBI (Real Estate):

For Standard Naturalization (5-year residency):

All of the above (passport, photos, criminal records)
5 years of residence permit records (ikamet izni)
Turkish language proficiency certificate
Tax returns for each year of residency
Proof of financial self-sufficiency
Proof of address (utility bills, lease agreement)

Where to Submit

CBI applications: Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Services (Nufus Mudurlugu) in the province of the real estate, OR authorized legal representative in Turkey
Standard naturalization: Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NUFUS) — online portal or in-person
From abroad: Turkish embassy or consulate in applicant’s country of residence (for authentication of foreign documents; final processing in Turkey)

Processing Time

Application Type	Timeline
CBI (real estate, clean file)	3-5 months
CBI (bank deposit or bonds)	4-6 months
Standard naturalization	12-24 months
Marriage-based naturalization	6-18 months
Turkish ID card after grant	2-4 weeks additional

Fees

Item	Cost
CBI application fee (government)	~$500-$750 per applicant
Title deed transfer fee	~4% of declared property value
Appraisal report (licensed CMB firm)	~$500-$1,500
Document translation (per document)	~$100-$300 TRY equivalent
Notary fees	~$500-$1,000
Turkish tax number (Vergi no.)	Free
Health insurance (1 year)	~$500-$1,500
Legal representation (immigration attorney)	$3,000-$8,000
Total government fees (CBI)	~$2,000-$4,000
Total including legal and ancillary	~$5,000-$15,000
Total all-in (including investment)	~$415,000-$425,000

UAE — Zero-tax hub, Golden Visa residency, Middle East neighbor
Greece — EU citizenship via Golden Visa; Turkish-Greek historical connection
Portugal — EU Golden Visa; Schengen access pathway complementary to Turkish CBI
Jordan — Middle East neighbor; similar investment pathways
Georgia — Caucasus neighbor; popular low-tax digital nomad base

Turkey.tr

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