Citizenship in Turkey can be obtained by marriage, at birth (based on kinship), or by acquisition. We recommend those interested in citizenship by marriage in 2023 to discuss all legal aspects with one of our Turkish lawyers with experience in this matter. In the following lines, you can read some essential information about Turkish citizenship requirements to get an idea of what this entails and what you need to prepare. Our team can help you immigrate to Turkey in a fast and simple manner.
Quick Facts
How can you get citizenship in Turkey?
- by birth,
- by marriage,
- by naturalization,
- by investment
Documents required for obtaining Turkish citizenship
- standard form VAT-6,
- translated and notarized passport,
- birth certificate,
- residence permit,
- clear criminal record
Condition for obtaining citizenship by marriage
Being married for at least 3 years.
Turkish citizenship by property purchase
It needs to buy a property worth at least USD 400,000.
Other types of investments for getting Turkish citizenship
- forming a company and hiring at least 50 Turkish workers,
- have bank deposits or government bonds worth at least USD 500,000
Time frame for obtaining citizenship in Turkey
Around 3 months
Family members joining the citizenship by investment application
- spouses,
- minor children,
- parents,
- grandparents
Police clearance certificate required (YES/NO)
YES
Proof of investment source for citizenship
The Turkish authorities solicit information about the provenience of money you want to invest when accessing citizenship by investment in Turkey.
When can you apply for citizenship in Turkey?
After 5 years of living in Turkey
Turkish citizenship by employment
Application is possible after 5 years under a work contract in Turkey.
We can manage the formalities for Turkish citizenship application (YES/NO)
YES
Dual citizenship allowed (YES/NO)
YES
Benefits of a Turkish passport
- visa-free travels to many countries worldwide,
- possibility to obtain US residency through an E-2 visa
Reasons to choose our Turkish law firm
- complete legal services at competitive prices,
- experienced team of lawyers,
- professionalism and efficiency
What is the acquisition of citizenship by birth?
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, Turkey still does not allow obtaining citizenship at birth. Thus, children who are born in this country to foreign parents do not receive Turkish citizenship because it must be based on kinship. In other words, citizenship in Turkey by birth is granted to those who have at least one parent of Turkish origin. It is important to understand the legislation of this country, namely the Nationality Act, and to ask for specialized help from our immigration lawyers who can help you move to Turkey.
Having Turkish citizenship allows you to enjoy visa-free travel to varied countries worldwide. Moreover, the formalities required for visas for countries like the USA, UK, or Latin America countries are much simplified.
Here is an infographic with details about Turkish citizenship:
Turkish citizenship by marriage in 2023
People married for at least 3 years to Turkish citizens can be excellent candidates for citizenship in Turkey. We present the following Turkish citizenship requirements:
You must prove that you lived together, as a family, in Turkey.
The authorities will ensure that candidates for Turkish citizenship by marriage do not represent a threat to the country.
The authorities are also the ones who can make checks regarding multiple partners, as such thing is not allowed when applying for Turkish citizenship by marriage.
You must complete the standard form VAT-6.
The passport must be translated and notarized.
Birth certificate, identity registry copy, marital status certificate will be requested.
In this process, you need to present your residence permit in Turkey.
So, these are some of the Turkish citizenship requirements and we specify on this occasion that if the authorities consider that you have other plans than a proper marriage or family union, they may reject your application for obtaining citizenship in Turkey.
We advise you to contact our immigration lawyers in Turkey to learn more about Turkish citizenship by marriage.
According to statistics, the Turkish passport is the 52nd most powerful in the world. Turkish passport holders can travel without electronic travel authorization or visa on arrival.
Acquiring citizenship in Turkey by purchasing a property
You have the opportunity to obtain citizenship in Turkey by purchasing property in this country. Thus, with the purchase of property worth at least USD 400,000, you can access the Turkish citizenship program. The procedures are simple, as long as the steps for the purchase of real estate property are followed, and then the formalities for obtaining citizenship in Turkey must be taken into account. And in this case, you are invited to contact our lawyers for specialized legal advice who can help you relocate to Turkey.
Below is a video presentation about the ways you can obtain Turkish citizenship:
Turkish citizenship by descent criteria
Getting citizenship in Turkey can involve different paths. But if you have Turkish ancestry, things can be simplified. Thus, if you have distant relatives or roots in Turkey, you can apply for Turkish citizenship by descent.
Many clients want to purchase this type of citizenship and need a detailed check and specialized legal services. To be able to apply for Turkish citizenship by descent, you must prove the bloodline first. Here we need birth and/or death certificates, marriage certificates, and other documents that certify family relationships with Turkish citizens. Our immigration lawyers in Turkey can help you in this way:
Verification of the documents presented, with the relevant authorities.
The request for information according to the documents presented.
Clear evidence is needed to prove that you have or have had Turkish relatives.
Representation before the authorities at the time of application for Turkish citizenship by descent.
There are certain conditions to apply for Turkish citizenship by descent, as follows:
You must prove that you were born in Turkey or outside the country, having a Turkish mother or father.
You are a child born of a foreign mother and a Turkish father or a Turkish mother and a foreign father.
One can claim Turkish citizenship by descent if one of the parents is Turkish, without taking into account the place of birth. However, getting citizenship in Turkey by descent is not a valid option for children born in Turkey to foreign parents.
We recommend specialized help offered by our law firm in Turkey if you are interested in more information about Turkish citizenship by descent.
Other conditions for getting citizenship in Turkey
The authorities are quite strict regarding citizenship in Turkey and are entitled to make a series of checks and also to ask for a lot of information. Here are other formalities and conditions that you should take into account for getting citizenship in Turkey:
The minimum age to apply for Turkish citizenship is 18 years.
Before applying for citizenship in Turkey, you must prove that you have lived in this country for at least 5 years with a residence permit.
You must also prove that you know the Turkish language and that you have enough funds to support your living in this country.
A clear criminal record is also requested, and normally a good conduct certificate issued by the police is required.
The E2 visa for Turkish citizens
Once you are getting citizenship in Turkey, you can enjoy a series of benefits, including easily obtaining the E2 Visa for USA. This type of visa allows enter the American market as Turkish entrepreneurs looking to expand their business horizons in this territory. Business connections with the United States are thus greatly simplified for Turkish citizens who have obtained citizenship.
If you are interested in more about this topic, you can talk to one of our lawyers. We can help you with the steps and formalities to obtain citizenship in Turkey when you want to apply.
Turkey dual citizenship
Those interested in citizenship in Turkey are not obliged to give up their current citizenship. According to the local legislation, foreigners can even have multiple citizenships, if necessary. In conclusion, Turkish dual citizenship is allowed.
More than 1.3 million residence permits were issued in Turkey in 2021, compared to approximately 886,000 registered in 2020.
The information for 2021 emphasizes the fact that around 553,737 refugees are registered in Turkey.
Recent data show that there are over 114,000 people with student residence permits.
Working with our immigration lawyers in Turkey
You can simplify the process of getting citizenship in Turkey if you call for specialized help and a team with experience in this field. At our Turkish law firm, you can discover a wide range of legal services tailored to your needs. In addition, you can avoid situations where the application for residence or work permit or Turkish citizenship by descent, for example, is rejected due to incomplete or missing documents.
We recommend those interested in Turkish citizenship requirements in 2023 to contact our law firm as soon as possible.
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Cagatay Altunsoy is the the co-founder and coordinator of CS Yonetim ve Destek Hizmetleri and he is an experienced specialist in company formation and business consulting services provided for foreign investors all over the world.