Complete Guide to Turkish Citizenship by Real Estate Investment
The Turkish Citizenship by Investment Program allows foreign investors and their immediate family members (spouse and children under 18) to obtain full Turkish citizenship and passports within 90-120 days by purchasing real estate with a minimum value of $400,000 USD.
Key Benefits of the Turkish Passport
- Visa-Free Travel: Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 110 countries worldwide including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Latin America.
- E-2 Investor Visa to the USA: Turkey holds an E-2 treaty agreement with the United States, allowing Turkish citizens to establish business in the USA and reside there with their families.
- No Residency Requirement: You do not need to reside in Turkey before, during, or after receiving citizenship.
- Dual Citizenship Permitted: Turkish law allows dual and multiple citizenships without requiring you to renounce your birth nationality.
- Capital Recovery After 3 Years: You are only required to hold the real estate for three (3) years. After 3 years, you can freely sell the property, retain your Turkish citizenship for life, and repatriate your capital with capital gains.
Step-by-Step Acquisition Process
- Property Selection & Valuation: Choose a qualifying property. An official SPK-licensed valuation report is commissioned confirming value ≥ $400,000 USD.
- DÖVİZ ALIM BELGESİ (DAB): Foreign currency is converted through the Central Bank of Turkey into Turkish Lira to obtain the official Currency Exchange Certificate.
- Title Deed Transfer (Tapu): Transfer ownership at the Land Registry Office with an annotation not to sell for 3 years.
- Certificate of Conformity: Issued by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change.
- Residence Permit & Citizenship Submission: Immediate Investor Residence Permit granted, followed by submission of the naturalization file.
- Passport Delivery: Passports and ID cards collected at the Turkish Directorate of Population or nearest Turkish Embassy/Consulate abroad.