Turkish Citizenship by Investment

The legal framework

Turkish citizenship by investment is an exceptional acquisition route under Article 12(1)(b) of Law No. 5901, read with Article 20 of its implementing regulation and the investor residence framework in Article 31(1)(j) of Law No. 6458. A qualifying investment supports an application; it does not purchase a citizenship decision.

For an international investor, the first legal question is whether the proposed transaction will qualify. A property reservation, a normal savings account or a standard pension contract should not be treated as citizenship-ready without review.

Turkish citizenship by investment at a glance

These are investment thresholds, not a quotation for legal fees or total transaction costs. The detailed rules, evidence and currency-conversion requirements must be checked before execution. Fixed-capital and employment routes should not be assumed to follow the same three-year mechanics as a bank deposit.

Choosing your investment route

The right route depends on the asset you want to hold, access to funds during the restriction, documentation and your family plans. A lower entry threshold does not necessarily mean a simpler transaction. Compare legal eligibility and operational steps alongside investment risk.

Real estate: eligibility before purchase

A property transaction needs more than an advertised sale price. Review the title classification, seller, encumbrances, valuation and payment documentation together. The required three-year restriction must be recorded, and conformity must be confirmed. A contractual promise and registered ownership are different legal positions.

Before paying a reservation amount, obtain the title information and proposed contract for a property due diligence review. The real estate citizenship guide explains the checkpoints.

Bank deposit: plan the restriction and evidence

The deposit route has a USD 500,000 minimum or qualifying foreign-currency equivalent and a three-year holding condition. BDDK is the conformity authority. Bank onboarding, source-of-funds questions and the citizenship deposit documentation should be coordinated before the transfer.

A bank balance alone is not a completed citizenship application. Obtain the bank’s current written instructions covering conversion, the qualifying account and restriction before sending funds. Read the bank deposit guide.

Private pension / BES: check the plan

The pension route requires a qualifying USD 500,000 contribution or foreign-currency equivalent, eligible funds and three years in the system. SEDDK supervises the conformity framework. It is a regulated pension arrangement, not an ordinary bank deposit, and investment performance is not guaranteed.

Review plan restrictions and the documentary chain with the pension company before funding. See the BES citizenship guide.

Other qualifying investment options

Qualifying real estate investment fund or venture capital investment fund units and government debt instruments each have a USD 500,000 threshold and a three-year requirement. Confirm that the exact instrument qualifies; generic shares, funds or bonds should not be assumed eligible.

The fixed-capital route concerns a qualifying investment assessed by the Industry and Technology Ministry. Company incorporation alone does not establish that the investment test is met. The employment route requires at least 50 jobs and the relevant ministry’s confirmation. Project-specific evidence and ongoing obligations need separate advice.

Step-by-step application process

1. Assess the application

   Review the investor, family members, document availability and intended investment before signing or transferring funds.

2. Structure and complete the investment

   Arrange tax identification and banking where required. Coordinate payment evidence and the route-specific restriction.

3. Obtain conformity confirmation

   Submit the investment evidence to the relevant institution. The competent authority assesses whether the investment meets the route requirements.

4. Residence and document preparation

   Proceed through the applicable investor residence-permit framework. Prepare family and identity records in parallel; do not postpone legalization until the last stage.

5. Personal attendance and filing

   Plan the required attendance and fingerprints for residence and citizenship procedures. Submit the citizenship file through the competent provincial authority.

6. Administrative review and decision

   Respond to additional-document requests. Security and public-order checks and the competent-authority decision remain separate from investment conformity.

7. After approval

   Complete registration and apply separately for identity and passport documents. Keep the investment restriction in place until its proper release.

This is a planning sequence, not a guaranteed timetable. Document preparation often runs alongside investment work. The authority may require a different appointment order or further documents in an individual case.

Required documents

Prepare a case-specific checklist before obtaining certifications. Typically, the file brings together identity and family records, investment/conformity evidence, residence documentation, photographs and the relevant application forms. A lawyer’s power of attorney must cover the intended work.

• Valid passport and identification records for each applicant.
• Birth and civil-status records; marriage, divorce, custody or death records where relevant.
• Investment evidence and conformity confirmation for the chosen route.
• Residence and appointment documents required for the applicant.
• Translations and apostille or consular legalization, where applicable.

The issuing country, family circumstances and authority instructions determine the final list. Name spellings and dates should match across records. Use our document preparation page as a starting point, not a substitute for an individually confirmed checklist.

Can my family apply?

The exceptional investor framework can include the foreign spouse and the investor’s or spouse’s minor or dependent foreign children. Each person still needs the appropriate records and assessment. Adult children are not automatically included merely because the investor supports them financially; dependency and any special circumstances require individual legal review.

If a child is approaching adulthood, raise this before investment. A change in age during processing can affect the legal basis for inclusion. Custody and consent issues also need early review.

Residence, Turkish language and travel

Exceptional investment citizenship is distinct from general naturalization: the ordinary five-year residence and Turkish-language conditions should not be transposed to this route. The investor residence procedure and personal attendance requirements still apply.

Plan at least one visit to Türkiye for required residence/citizenship attendance and fingerprint procedures. The number and timing of appointments must be confirmed for your file; a single trip cannot be guaranteed to cover every step. A suitable power of attorney can support permitted preparatory work and follow-up, but cannot replace mandatory personal attendance. See travel and power of attorney.

Timing and the final decision

There is no approval or fixed processing-time guarantee. The investment, document legalization, bank checks, appointment availability, administrative workload and requests for further information can all affect progress. Separate the time needed to prepare a complete file from the authority’s decision period.

Investment conformity does not remove the national-security and public-order assessment. The final citizenship decision remains with the competent authority. Do not make irreversible relocation or travel plans based on a promised approval date.

Why legal due diligence matters

Common avoidable problems include committing funds before eligibility is checked, mismatched names in civil records, incomplete payment evidence and signing documents that do not reflect the agreed transaction. Keep a clear record of approvals, instructions and supporting documents.

For property, examine title and seller risks. For financial routes, ask how the restriction is documented, what evidence is issued and which events could interrupt compliance. Legal advice addresses the transaction and application; it is not a promise of investment return.

How G&K Partners assists

Our work can include pre-investment review, route structuring, property due diligence, banking or pension-company coordination, documentation, powers of attorney, residence applications, citizenship filing and administrative follow-up. The engagement defines the scope and the lawyer responsible for your matter.

We review the investor and family applications together, identify missing records early and explain which actions require your presence. Explore our legal services or meet the firm.

Frequently asked questions

Related guidance

• Compare Turkish citizenship investment routes
• Required documents
• Residence permits
• Property due diligence
• Working with us from abroad

Official sources & legal references

• Invest in Türkiye — investment routes
• NVI — citizenship questions and application procedure
• NVI — acquisition of Turkish citizenship
• TKGM — citizenship acquisition guidance
• SEDDK — private pension circular, Section K
• Capital Markets Board — investment fund route

Source check: 3 November 2026. Administrative requirements can change. Source checking is not a claim that an individual legal review has been completed.

Discuss your citizenship application

Tell us your preferred investment route, family circumstances and intended travel dates. G&K Partners can define the legal work and the documents needed before you commit funds. Please do not send passports or sensitive financial records through an initial enquiry.

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