The Turkish Citizenship Program Through Real Estate Investment

According to the latest laws and amendments published in the official gazette, the minimum amount for obtaining Turkish citizenship through real estate investment is now $400,000. Under this investment, the property owner, their spouse, and children under the age of eighteen obtain Turkish citizenship. Of course, the purchased property must not be sold for a period of 3 years, and the investor signs an undertaking not to sell the property within those three years. In this article, we explain the conditions and features of obtaining Turkish citizenship through real estate investment, following this table of contents:

• What are the conditions for obtaining Turkish citizenship through real estate investment

• Why the Turkish citizenship program through real estate investment is the best option

• The procedures for obtaining Turkish citizenship through real estate investment

• What documents are required to obtain Turkish citizenship

• The time it takes to obtain Turkish citizenship through real estate investment

What Are the Conditions for Obtaining Turkish Citizenship Through Real Estate Investment?

• The total value of the property or properties must equal or exceed $400,000 US dollars, or its equivalent in Turkish lira based on the exchange rate at the date of purchase.

• The investor must hold a nationality that permits property ownership and real estate investment — North Korean and Syrian nationals are excluded from this.

• The investor must undertake not to sell the property for 3 years from the date of purchase.

• The property's value must match the real estate appraisal report, with the appraisal carried out by companies licensed by the Turkish state.

• The transfer of ownership and registration of the property at the Land Registry (Tapu) office in Turkey must be done properly.

• Payment for the property must be made exclusively by bank transfer; cash payment is not accepted.

• The property must be purchased exclusively from a Turkish citizen or a Turkish construction company for it to qualify for Turkish citizenship.

Why the Turkish Citizenship Program Through Real Estate Investment Is the Best Option

The main reason is that the amount is actually invested in a real, existing property, rather than being a donation to some entity or government. Beyond that, real estate investment in Turkey is a strong option, as properties generate a return for you, whether after three years or through rental income during those years.

If you want to invest in real estate, whether purely as an investment or to obtain Turkish citizenship, you should take into account the property's return on investment — meaning you should buy properties that are financially worthwhile, whether in terms of rental yield or the property's cumulative value appreciation. Some investors have made the mistake of, for example, choosing the more beautiful property, while its rental value or annual appreciation rate is negligible — whereas if they had bought a smaller, less expensive property, it would, from an investment standpoint, have yielded a much greater profit.

Hallak Turkey Services Company can help you purchase properties for investment or to obtain Turkish citizenship. We follow up with you every step of the way, from A to Z, and can manage your real estate assets right after the purchase — all in one place.

The Procedures for Obtaining Turkish Citizenship Through Real Estate Investment

1. Purchasing a property that meets the specifications required for citizenship, obtaining an appraisal that qualifies for Turkish citizenship, and obtaining the necessary approvals.

2. Obtaining the investor residence permit.

3. Submitting the citizenship application.

What Documents Are Required to Obtain Turkish Citizenship?

• The passport, translated into Turkish and duly certified by the notary.

• The passports of the spouse and children under eighteen, translated and duly certified at the notary.

• A family statement document, certified by the foreign ministry of the home country and the embassy or consulate of the home country in Turkey and the district governor's office, then translated and certified at the notary; or the family register, translated and duly certified at the notary.

• A certificate of no criminal record for every person over eighteen (husband and wife), certified by the foreign ministry of the home country and by the embassy or consulate of the home country in Turkey, followed by the district governor's office, and of course translated into Turkish and duly certified at the notary.

• Recent biometric personal photos, less than 6 months old, for all family members.

• A copy of the property's title deed (Tapu).

• The real estate appraisal document for the property or properties.

• Receipts for the bank transfers made, stamped by the bank itself.

• Receipts confirming receipt of the transfers by the owner or the construction company, stamped by the receiving bank.

• Any document issued outside Turkey must be certified by the foreign ministry of the issuing country and by the embassy or consulate of the issuing country in Turkey, then certified by the district governor's office, then translated into Turkish by a certified legal translator, followed by due certification at the notary.

• The Turkish citizenship application form, stating whether the investor is applying for citizenship for themselves only, or for themselves and their family.

• A certificate of no criminal record from Turkey, obtained through the e-Government (e-Devlet) application.

The Time It Takes to Obtain Turkish Citizenship Through Real Estate Investment

The process of obtaining Turkish citizenship goes through several stages, the most important of which is the security review, which determines whether or not citizenship is granted. Generally, the citizenship process takes between 3 months and up to a year at most, until the ID cards and passport are received, depending on workload and official holidays.

Hallak Services Company provides you with all the services related to real estate investment and property appraisal, through to obtaining Turkish citizenship — all in one place, without the need to get lost between government offices and procedures.