In our legal system, the acquisition of Turkish citizenship by exceptional means is regulated within the scope of Law No. 5901 on Turkish Citizenship, providing facilitation for individuals who meet certain conditions to acquire Turkish citizenship. Legal arrangements regarding the acquisition of Turkish citizenship through investment were made with the amendments dated September 19, 2018. It is possible to acquire Turkish citizenship through the options we will mention below.
In this regard, individuals who have invested in Turkey, provided that they do not pose a threat to national security and public order, can acquire Turkish citizenship more easily compared to the general method of citizenship acquisition. Alternative methods related to the acquisition of Turkish citizenship by exceptional means consist of options such as “Employment Investment, Capital Investment, Real Estate Investment.” In this article, we will introduce these options for informational purposes.
Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship by Exceptional Means Through Employment Investment
The procedures and principles regarding the acquisition of Turkish citizenship by exceptional means for foreigners who own or hold partnership shares in companies in Turkey are regulated under Article 12 of Law No. 5901 on Turkish Citizenship, titled “Exceptional Cases in the Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship.”
According to Article 20 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law, prepared based on Article 46 of the Turkish Citizenship Law, titled “Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship by Exception, Required Documents for Application, and Procedures to be Followed,” it is stated that foreign nationals who provide employment for at least fifty (50) persons, as determined by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, may acquire Turkish citizenship by a presidential decree within the scope of subparagraph (b) of the first paragraph of Article 12 of Law No. 5901.
Application and Evaluation Process
Based on the justification of providing employment to at least 50 Turkish citizens, an application is submitted in writing to the Directorate General of International Labour, affiliated with the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, along with the required documents mentioned below.
Complete applications submitted to the Directorate General of International Labour are finalized within 7 business days. For applications submitted with missing documents, the applicant is given a 30-day period to remedy the deficiencies. If the existing deficiencies are not resolved within the given time, the application is rejected.
Required Documents for Application
The following documents must be submitted complete to the Directorate General of International Labour:
- Application petition personally signed with original (wet) signature by the applicant
- Employment Information Form filled out accurately and completely
- Notarized and original (wet) signed signature declaration belonging to the applicant
- Trade registry newspaper records of the company employing at least 50 Turkish citizens, and a current Trade Registry Certificate
- Photocopy of passport (including all pages with stamps or transactions)
- Updated list of employees from the Social Security Institution (SGK) showing that at least 50 Turkish citizens are employed at the workplace
- Recent official letter from the Revenue Administration (GİB) system indicating the tax debt status of the workplace owned or partly owned by the applicant
- Recent official letter from the Social Security Institution (SGK) showing the social security premium debt status of the workplace(s) owned or partly owned by the applicant
- Written declaration, required by public institutions’ administrative inspections, stating whether the applicant’s related company has been fined an administrative penalty within the last 6 months
- Document indicating marital status
The Ministry decides whether the applicant’s capital share and percentage of ownership in the company they own or hold shares in are sufficient.
Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship Through Capital Investment
Foreigners who make a fixed capital investment of no less than 500,000 US dollars (USD) are eligible to apply for Turkish citizenship through fixed capital investment. The made capital investment must be verified by the Ministry of Industry and Technology. Applications of citizenship candidates, along with the required documents, must be submitted in writing to the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
Required Documents for Citizenship Through Capital Investment
1. A report showing that the capital investment is not less than 500,000 USD (United States Dollars) with approval from a sworn financial advisor.
2. Investment Information Form filled out by the applicant.
3. 4 biometric photos.
4. Front and back photocopy of the residence permit.
5. Valid passport.
6. Document indicating marital status.
Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship Through Real Estate Investment
A person who registers a property in the land registry with a restriction that it cannot be sold for at least 3 years, and whose value is not less than 250,000 US dollars (USD), is eligible to apply for Turkish citizenship.
The foreign buyer of the property accepts and declares that they will not sell the property for 3 years due to the purpose of acquiring Turkish citizenship.
A condominium ownership or floor easement must be established on the purchased real estate.
Furthermore, the value of the purchased property in US dollars will be determined based on the exchange rate announced by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey on the date of appraisal.
Required Documents for Turkish Citizenship Through Real Estate Investment
Applications are submitted to the Directorate General of Land Registry and Cadastre Foreign Affairs Department and the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. If there are no missing documents in the application, the relevant application is finalized within 7 business days.
1. Valid passport
2. 4 biometric photos
3. Report on the value of the property
4. Document proving that the property price has been paid by the buyer to the seller (e.g., bank receipt)
5. Document from the relevant land registry office proving that a restriction has been placed on the property, preventing its sale for 3 years
6. Document indicating marital status
Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship Through Deposit Investment in Banks
Those who deposit a minimum of 500,000 US dollars in Turkish banks with the condition that the amount will not be withdrawn for three years are eligible to apply for Turkish citizenship. This deposit can be made to a single bank or divided among multiple banks. Deposits made to foreign branches of a Turkish bank are not valid. Only investments made within the borders of the Republic of Turkey are accepted.
Required Documents for Applying for Turkish Citizenship Through Bank Deposit Investment
- Passport
- A wet-signed form/petition expressing the request
- Document indicating marital status
- Documents and proofs showing that the person has made a minimum deposit investment of 500,000 USD
- Receipt proving payment of the service fee
The application is submitted to the Ministry of Interior with the completed documents. Complete applications are evaluated within 7 business days.
ANTALYA CITIZENSHIP LAW – ANTALYA CITIZENSHIP LAWYER
- Applications are evaluated by commissions established by the relevant ministries and forwarded to the Presidency. The final decision belongs to the Presidency.
- The time period allocated for all types of investments is 3 years.
- Foreign applicants who fulfill all the conditions specified in the regulation, along with their spouse and all children under the age of 18, if any, will acquire Turkish citizenship, remain Turkish citizens for life, and any children born thereafter will also be born as Turkish citizens.
- Citizenship applications submitted with misleading documents will be suspended. These applicants will be excluded from evaluation even if they meet all the criteria.
For this reason, obtaining consultancy during the application and evaluation process is of great importance. Our law office provides professional consultancy and follow-up services throughout the entire process regarding the acquisition of the right to apply for Turkish citizenship.
