REQUIRED CONDITIONS FOR ACQUISITION OF TURKISH CITIZENSHIP THROUGH INVESTMENT

1- What are the investment conditions required for acquiring Turkish Citizenship through investment?

-To make a fixed capital investment of at least 500,000 US Dollars or equivalent in foreign currency or equivalent Turkish Lira.

– Purchasing the immovable in the amount of at least 250.000 USD or equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish Lira and having an annotation not to be sold for three years in the land registry records

– To create employment for at least 50 people,

-To deposit at least 500,000 USD or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira deposits in banks operating in Turkey and make a commitment to keep them for three years.

-To purchase government debt instruments of at least 500,000 US Dollars or equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish Lira and make a commitment to keep them for three years.

2- What is the process to be followed in acquiring Turkish Citizenship through investment?

– Fulfilling one of the investment conditions specified in Article 20 of the Regulation and obtaining a Certificate of Conformity from the relevant institution,

– Obtaining a short-term residence permit in accordance with subparagraph (j) of the first paragraph of Article 31 of the Law No. 6458,

– Making an application to the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship of residence in order to acquire Turkish citizenship by investment.

3- Who can apply for Turkish Citizenship by investment?

– Foreigners and turquoise card holders who have obtained a residence permit pursuant to subparagraph (j) of the first paragraph of Article 31 of the Foreigners and International Protection Law No. 6458 and dated 4/4/2013.

4- Are there any legal restrictions on the application of foreigners for citizenship through investment?

-There can be no restrictions, on the other hand, in accordance with the 35th article of the Law No. 6302, in the application for Turkish citizenship with the acquisition of real estate, Turkey has provided the citizens of 183 countries with the opportunity to purchase real estate without seeking reciprocity. However, Syrian citizens cannot apply for Turkish citizenship by acquiring real estate, as their immovable properties in Turkey have been confiscated by the treasury pursuant to the Law No. 1062 of Mukabele-i Bilmisil.

5- Can the applications made for the purpose of obtaining Turkish citizenship through exceptional means be made by proxy?

– Obtaining a certificate of eligibility, short-term residence permit application, receipt of the residence permit card and submission of the necessary information and documents for the citizenship application can be concluded remotely, without the need for the foreigner to enter the country, with a special power of attorney, if this issue is clearly written in the power of attorney.

6- What is the Certificate of Conformity?

 It is a document issued by the relevant institutions in order to determine that the minimum investment requirement in Article 20 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 to be used by foreign investors in both citizenship and residence permit applications.

7- How to get a Certificate of Conformity from which institutions? 

From the Ministry of Industry and Technology for Fixed Capital investment (General Directorate of Incentive Implementation and Foreign Capital),

• From the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization (General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre) for the purchase of real estate,

• From the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services (to the General Directorate of International Labor Force) for those who create employment,

• From the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (to the Financial Consumer Relations Department) for deposit investment,

• From the Ministry of Treasury and Finance for those who purchase government debt instruments,

• From the Capital Markets Board (Department of Intermediary Activities) for those who purchase Real Estate Investment Funds or Venture Capital Investment Funds.

8- Is it possible to apply for Turkish Citizenship for previous investments?

Investments made before 12.01.2017 are not covered.

9- Where to apply after receiving the Certificate of Conformity?

– To be sent to our General Directorate, citizenship files are prepared in their names by applying to the Private Joint Offices operating in Istanbul and Ankara, and by applying to the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship in other provinces.

10- What to do after the Certificate of Conformity and Residence Certificate is received?

Citizenship files are prepared in their names by applying to the Private Joint Offices operating in Istanbul and Ankara to be sent to our General Directorate, and to the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship in other provinces.

11- Which documents are needed while preparing the citizenship file? Passport or similar document showing which state the person is a citizen of,

• An official document, duly approved, obtained from the official authorities of their own country, showing the Identity Information and family ties of the person,

• Official document, duly approved and received from the official authorities of their own country, showing the events of celibacy, marriage, divorce, death (the date of marriage must be day/month/year),

• The application form to be filled with wet signature by the persons or their representative (Vat-4),

• 15,00 TL per person for each individual who applies in the file. The citizenship application service fee to be deposited in the Accounting Directorate in the Revenue Office or the Property Directorate in the District Governorate.

12- Concluding citizenship applications?

Citizenship applications of foreigners are evaluated by the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs; The decision regarding the acquisition of Turkish Citizenship by persons who do not have any obstacles in terms of national security and public order is submitted to the approval of the President. The final decision is made by the President.

SOURCE: T.C. Ministry of Interior General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs