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Aerial view over Eminönü at sunset, with the New Mosque and passenger ferries on the Golden Horn, Istanbul

Citizenship by Investment

Türkiye

Citizenship of a G20 economy through a retained investment in real estate or a bank deposit — not a donation.

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Time to citizenship

6–8 months

Minimum investment

$400,000+

Travel access

122 destinations

Figures as of August 2026, per the official program source; the time shown is our recent case experience, not an official figure; travel access is our own count — confirmed on application.

Program Overview

About the Türkiye program

In brief

The Türkiye program is a citizenship-by-investment program that grants full legal citizenship. The minimum qualifying investment is $400,000+, and complete files have typically taken 6–8 months in our recent cases, not an official figure. It requires no residence or relocation, and Türkiye citizens can reach 122 destinations on our travel-access count — visa-free, on arrival, or with an eTA or e-visa granted on arrival terms. Figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant.

Türkiye's citizenship by investment route is distinctive: the qualifying investment is retained rather than donated. Investors purchase real estate or place a bank deposit, hold it for three years, and may then realize the asset.

As a G20 economy at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Türkiye offers commercial as well as mobility advantages, including eligibility to apply for the US E-2 Treaty Investor visa.

Presence requirement

No residence required; one visit for biometrics

Document validity

Passport valid for 10 years, renewable

Dual nationality

Dual citizenship permitted

Program Finder

Plan Türkiye for your family

Estimate the total cost with every government fee, check who in your family can be included, get the document checklist for everyone applying, and see how Türkiye ranks against the other 17 programs.

Open the Program FinderCompare with others

What Turkish citizenship unlocks

Beyond travel, a grant of Turkish citizenship comes with practical, day-one capabilities. Explore what changes:

  • Apply for the US E-2 Treaty Investor visaTürkiye holds an E-2 treaty with the United States, so Turkish citizens who establish a qualifying US business can apply for the E-2 investor visa — a well-trodden two-step route to living and working in the US market.
  • Bank onshore as a localYour Turkish ID number opens the domestic financial system: lira and foreign-currency accounts with Turkish banks, local cards and payments, and Turkish-licensed investment platforms that require a local ID.
  • Turkish ID card and driver's licenseCitizenship brings the national identity card (T.C. kimlik), and with it a Turkish driver's license — obtained locally or converted from an eligible foreign license.
  • State healthcare and educationAccess to Türkiye's public health system and state universities on the same terms as any Turkish citizen — including for your spouse and children once they hold citizenship.
  • Adopt a Turkish name — if you wishDuring the citizenship application you may register a new given name or surname written in the Turkish alphabet. Entirely optional: most applicants simply keep their existing name.
  • Citizenship that passes onChildren born to you after the grant are Turkish citizens by descent, wherever in the world they are born — the investment is made once, the nationality continues.
  • Consular support worldwideAs a citizen you can call on Türkiye's extensive network of embassies and consulates for assistance while traveling.
  • Ten-year travel documentsAdult passports are issued with up to ten years' validity; under-18s receive up to five years, because children's biometrics change as they grow. Renewals are handled at any Turkish consulate abroad.

Capabilities follow from the status itself — citizenship or residence as the program grants it; specifics are confirmed during your assessment.

Investment Pathways

Ortaköy Mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge, IstanbulMost chosen route

Real Estate Purchase

From $400,000

Purchase of real estate in Türkiye with a commitment not to sell for three years.

Minimum 3-year holding period

Aerial view over Eminönü at sunset, with the New Mosque and passenger ferries on the Golden Horn, Istanbul

Bank Deposit

From $500,000

A fixed deposit in a Turkish bank, maintained for at least three years.

Minimum 3-year holding period

Program terms move: Türkiye's property threshold has risen before ($250,000 to $400,000 in 2022) and can rise again. Files lodged under current terms are processed under them.

Explore your route

From (indicative)

$400,000

Capital treatment

Minimum 3-year holding period

Purchase of real estate in Türkiye with a commitment not to sell for three years.

Who comes with you

  • Spouse of the main applicant
  • Children under 18 of the main applicant or spouse
  • Adult children only when legally dependent (e.g. disability), confirmed by counsel

Family additions are quoted individually — request your exact figure

Application Timeline

Typical processing time

Current Türkiye files, based on recent case experience — the numbered stages below show where those months go. Here is the figure to plan around.

6–8 months

Typical processing time, complete files

Plan around the top of the range — 8 months end to end leaves room for queries without changing your plans.

Your dates

Complete files are typically processed in 6–8 months.

Based on recent case experience, not an official figure. Government timelines are not guaranteed.

  1. 1

    Month 1

    Investment

    Completion of the qualifying real estate purchase or bank deposit, with valuation certification.

  2. 2

    Month 2

    Residence permit

    Issuance of the investor residence permit, a prerequisite for the citizenship application.

  3. 3

    Months 3–6

    Citizenship application

    Submission and processing of the citizenship application by the relevant ministries.

  4. 4

    Months 6–8

    Citizenship & passport

    Grant of citizenship and passport issuance.

Requirements

  • Qualifying investment held for the required period
  • Clean criminal record
  • Valid passport and standard civil documentation
  • No requirement to reside in Türkiye

Family Eligibility

  • Spouse of the main applicant
  • Children under 18 of the main applicant or spouse
  • Adult children only when legally dependent (e.g. disability), confirmed by counsel

Required documents

The standard checklist for a single applicant. Get the checklist for your whole family in the Program Finder.

  • Passport Every applicant
  • Biometric photographs Every applicant
  • Birth certificate Every applicant
  • Marriage certificate If married
  • Police clearance certificate Adult applicants
  • Turkish tax number Main applicant
  • Proof of qualifying investment Main applicant
  • Application forms Main applicant
  • Health insurance Every applicant

Exact formats — apostille or legalization, sworn translation, issue dates — vary by your country of origin and are confirmed document-by-document during your engagement.

What to Weigh

Honest advice includes the trade-offs. Before committing to the Türkiye program, consider:

  • Your capital stays invested — but real estate carries market and currency risk, and the official valuation process must be navigated carefully.
  • Property must be independently appraised at $400,000+ at purchase; valuations are scrutinized by the government.
  • Turkish citizenship does not provide visa-free access to the EU Schengen area or the US.

Travel access with Türkiye citizenship

Where a Türkiye citizen can travel, and what each destination requires. Entry is always at the discretion of the destination authority — confirm before booking.

122destinations, our travel-access count — 71 visa-free + 34 on arrival + 6 eTA + e-visas granted on arrival terms

105 of 198 destinations need no visa arranged before travel. Counted from the Passport Index dataset, as of 19 October 2026.

Compare Türkiye with our other citizenship programs

Last updated 19 October 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell the property after three years?

Yes. After the three-year hold you may sell freely and keep your citizenship. Many clients treat the purchase as a medium-term investment in Istanbul's property market.

Does Türkiye report my citizenship to my home country?

Türkiye does not routinely notify other governments. Whether you must declare a second citizenship depends on your home country's laws — we advise on this during the engagement.

What does the E-2 eligibility mean?

Türkiye holds an E-2 treaty with the US, so Turkish citizens can apply for an E-2 investor visa after establishing a qualifying US business — a common two-step strategy for US market access.

How long does Turkish citizenship by investment take?

Türkiye publishes no official processing time. Recent cases through our licensed agents have taken about six to eight months end to end, including the property purchase, official valuation, residence permit, and citizenship decision — not an official figure, and never a promised date. One visit for biometrics is required; residence in Türkiye is not.

How often does a Turkish passport need renewing?

Adult passports are issued with up to ten years' validity. Passports for under-18s carry up to five years, because children's biometric features change as they grow. Renewals can be handled at any Turkish consulate abroad.

Can I take a Turkish name when I become a citizen?

Yes, optionally. During the citizenship application you may register a new given name or surname, written in the Turkish alphabet. Most applicants keep their existing name — nothing changes unless you ask.

Regulatory framework

Law No. 5901

Turkish Citizenship Law

Adopted 29 May 2009 · Official Gazette No. 27256, 12 June 2009

Article 12 — acquisition of Turkish citizenship in exceptional cases

Article 12 lets designated categories of foreign nationals acquire Turkish citizenship by resolution of the President, subject to national security and public order. The investor route rests on Article 12(1)(b), added by Law No. 7039 in 2017, which covers holders of the residence permit issued under Article 31(1)(j) of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection — the permit granted to qualifying investors. The investment thresholds themselves ($400,000 real estate, $500,000 deposit) are set in the law's implementing regulation.

View the law (opens in a new tab)

Official English translation (PDF) — nvi.gov.tr

Sources & verification

Program terms are set by the issuing government and may change without notice — figures last re-verified against the official source in August 2026. Investment figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant; fees, due diligence, and family additions are quoted individually. Government timelines are not guaranteed.

Official program authority

  1. 01Republic of Türkiye Investment Office — Acquiring Property and CitizenshipRetrieved 2026-10-29

Alternatives

Related Programs

Families often weigh this program against these alternatives.

MaltaResidency

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€375,000+routes from €99,000
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6–8 months
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PortugalResidency

Min. investment
€500,000+routes from €250,000
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10–14 months
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GreeceResidency

Min. investment
€400,000+routes from €250,000
Time to approval
3–6 months
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Is Türkiye right for your family?

A private assessment covers eligibility, total cost, and timeline for your situation — and says so if another route fits better.

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Türkiye6–8 months

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