Turkey Citizenship by Investment: Requirements and Process
Everything to know before you invest: which investments qualify, the three-year holding rule, who can be included, how long it takes and what the Turkish passport offers.
Under Article 20 of the Regulation on the Turkish Citizenship Law, investors qualify by buying property worth USD 400,000 with a three-year no-sale annotation on the title deed, or by placing USD 500,000 in a bank deposit, government bonds, real-estate or venture-capital fund units, a private pension or fixed capital for three years; creating 50 jobs also qualifies. Your spouse and children under 18 are included. You apply first for a residence permit and then for citizenship, without having to live in Turkey.
Qualifying investments
The options are set out in Article 20 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law. Each must be held for at least three years. Amounts are in US dollars or the equivalent in other currencies.
| Option | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate | USD 400,000 | One or more properties; value confirmed by a licensed valuer; three-year no-sale annotation on the title deed |
| Bank deposit | USD 500,000 | Converted to Turkish lira and held in a Turkish bank for three years |
| Government bonds | USD 500,000 | Turkish government debt instruments held for three years |
| Real-estate or venture-capital fund units | USD 500,000 | Units held for three years |
| Private pension contribution | USD 500,000 | Turkish private pension system, held for three years |
| Fixed capital investment | USD 500,000 | Investment in a Turkish business, confirmed by the Ministry of Industry |
| Job creation | 50 jobs | Confirmed by the Ministry of Labour |
Property must be bought from a Turkish owner and paid through a bank; property in military or security zones does not qualify, and properties already used for a citizenship application may be excluded. Government, valuation, title-deed and legal fees are extra.
Who qualifies
- Foreign nationals aged 18 or over, of nearly every nationality
- A clean criminal record and no threat to national security
- Investment funds from a lawful, documented source
- A valid passport; documents apostilled or legalised and translated into Turkish
- No need to live in Turkey or speak Turkish
Family members
Your spouse and children under 18 receive citizenship with you, and children over 18 who are dependent because of a disability may also be included. Adult children and parents need their own investment. Malta’s MPRP covers parents and grandparents, and Malta’s Citizenship by Merit framework is assessed for the whole family.
Step by step
- Free assessment and due diligence. We check your eligibility and source of funds and introduce you to our partner firm located in Turkey.
- Tax number and bank account. You obtain a Turkish tax number and open a bank account, which a lawyer can do for you with a power of attorney.
- Make the investment. For property, a licensed valuer confirms the value and a three-year no-sale annotation is placed on the title deed; for the financial options, the funds are converted to lira and committed for three years.
- Residence permit and application. After the certificate of conformity is issued, you receive a residence permit and file the citizenship application with the Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
- Approval and passports. After security checks and a presidential decision, you and your family receive Turkish ID cards and passports, usually about three to six months after investing.
Most families receive their passports about three to six months after the investment is made, depending on security checks. You can usually authorise a lawyer to complete most steps without travelling to Turkey.
Costs to budget for
On top of the investment, expect title-deed fees (4% of the property price, often split between buyer and seller) and VAT on some new builds, the valuation report, residence permit and citizenship fees, sworn translations and legal fees. We give you a written, itemised quote before you commit.
After you become Turkish
There is no requirement to live in Turkey before or after citizenship. Keep the investment for the three-year period; after that you can sell the property or withdraw the funds. Your citizenship is not affected, provided the investment rules were met.
What the Turkish passport gives you
- Full Turkish citizenship for you and your family, for life, with the right to live and work in Turkey
- Dual citizenship is allowed; check whether your current country allows it too
- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 110 destinations, including Japan, Singapore, South Korea and much of South America
- Eligibility for the US E-2 treaty investor visa, subject to a qualifying US business investment
- No EU rights: Turkish citizens need a visa for the Schengen Area, the UK and the USA
Want an EU passport sooner? Malta’s Citizenship by Merit framework can lead to Maltese (EU) citizenship in about 12–16 months. It is discretionary and assessed case by case, and Malta allows dual citizenship. See Citizenship by Merit: steps and timeline.
Tax
Becoming a Turkish citizen does not by itself make you tax resident in Turkey. You generally become tax resident if you live there for more than six months in a calendar year or establish your legal domicile there, in which case worldwide income is taxed at progressive rates of up to 40%. Inheritance and gift tax applies to Turkish assets and residents. Take tax advice for your own situation.
Living in Turkey
Turkey has about 85 million people and straddles Europe and Asia. Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum and Izmir are the main choices for international buyers. It is an EU candidate country and in a customs union with the EU, but not a member. The lira has lost much of its value in recent years, which is one reason the investment thresholds are set in US dollars. Healthcare is available through public and private hospitals; private hospitals in the larger cities are of a high standard.
How we work
Zenturo is based in Malta. For Turkish applications we work with licensed partner firms located in Turkey, who handle the property purchase or investment, valuation, title deed and filings, while we coordinate your case and remain your point of contact. Malta applications are prepared and filed by our own licensed team.
Still deciding? See our Turkey vs Malta comparison, or compare options on Global-Residency.com.
Sources
- Turkey Golden Visa 2026: thresholds and rules (Rona Legal)
- Turkish citizenship by investment 2026 (Gurcan Partners)
- Turkey citizenship by investment in 2026 (Global Citizen Solutions)
- Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs, Türkiye
Checked November 2026. Programme rules and amounts change often; we confirm current figures in writing before you commit. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Talk to a licensed adviser
Tell us your goals and timeline. Turkish applications are handled with licensed partner firms located in Turkey; Malta applications, including EU residence and citizenship, are handled by our own licensed team.
- Licensed in Malta: Zenturo Ltd. is a licensed agent (Residency Malta Agency licence RES-DALI), company C-39472.
- In business since 2006: one team from first question to approval.
- Fast replies: usually within one hour, by e-mail, phone, WhatsApp, Telegram or WeChat.