Turkish Citizenship by Investment
The application for Turkish citizenship by investment consists of three steps:
- Making the investments specified in the law and obtaining the eligibility certificate.
- Obtaining a residence permit for the main applicant, his/her spouse, and their children under the age of 18.
- Applying to the population directorate for citizenship procedures.
There are seven different investment options to become a Turkish citizen. Upon making one of these investments, the relevant institution issues an eligibility certificate.
The investment types to gain Turkish citizenship are as follows:
- Making a fixed capital investment of at least USD 500,000 in Turkey and maintaining this investment for at least three years.
- Purchasing real estate in Turkey worth at least USD 400,000 or making a commitment to not sell these properties for at least three years.
- Establishing a business in Turkey that employs at least 50 people and committing to maintaining this employment for at least three years.
- Depositing at least USD 500,000 or the equivalent amount in foreign currency in Turkish banks with a commitment not to withdraw it for at least three years.
- Purchasing government debt instruments worth at least USD 500,000 or the equivalent amount in foreign currency and holding them for at least three years.
(Investment can be made in nine types of government debt instruments: Government domestic debt securities, Central Bank liquidity bills, Financing bonds, Bank bonds, Asset-backed securities, Mortgage-backed securities, Income-indexed securities, Income partnership securities, Private sector bonds.)
- Purchasing shares in a real estate investment fund or venture capital investment fund worth at least USD 500,000 or the equivalent amount in foreign currency and holding the shares for at least three years.
- Investing at least $500,000 or the equivalent amount in foreign currency in the individual pension system and committing to keeping it in the system for at least three years.
After obtaining the eligibility certificate, the main applicant, his/her spouse, and their children under the age of 18 can apply for a residence permit to the Directorate of Migration Management.
The citizenship application is completed by applying to the Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs, after obtaining the residence permit.
Upon the completion of the security background check, citizenship files are sent to the President’s Office for approval.After the approval of the President, Turkish citizenship is granted to the applicant, his/her spouse, and their children under the age of 18.
Those who obtain Turkish citizenship can apply for a Turkish Republic identity card and a Turkish Republic passport by providing fingerprints.
Turkish citizenship is provisional during the three-year investment commitment period. If the investment is terminated within this period, Turkish citizenship is revoked. After the three years, Turkish citizenship becomes permanent, and applicants can choose to end their investments if they wish.
Our Legal Services for Turkish Citizenship Application
We provide full legal services for Turkish Citizenship Application. Our services include:
- Preparing and filing all documents for the Turkish Citizenship Application
- Getting a tax number
- Opening a bank account
- Consultancy about choosing the investment type
- Getting currency conversion document
- Getting appraisal report for real estate properties
- Title deed check for the properties
- Title deed transfer
- Getting eligibility certificate for Citizenship
- Getting residence permit
- Applying for Turkish ID card and Turkish passport
We provide personalized legal and financial consultancy for your real estate investments. After learning about your goals and demands, we help you find the best property which fits your requests. We not only assist you with the title deed transfer but also help you with finding the right tenant for your real estate investment, preparing the lease agreement and collecting your rent.
Benefits of the Turkish Citizenship
- No minimum stay or Turkish proficiency requirement
- No previous residency in Turkey required
- Get a residence permit when the investment is approved
- Get a Turkish passport in 3 to 6 months (processing time may vary according to the number of applications)
- No need to live in Turkey before or after you get the Turkish passport
- “Visa-free” or “visa on arrival” entrance to 111 countries (including Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina)
- Simple visa procedure for the United States, the UK, EU countries, and Canada
- Limited time program (Minimum amount can be changed or program may cease at any time)
- Can apply for Turkish social security and medical insurance programs, free medical treatment in state hospitals
- Can apply for Turkish pension programs
- Free K12 education in government schools, free higher education in state universities
We should note that the investment limits can be increased or the program may cease anytime and this is a limited-time opportunity. Therefore interested parties should act fast. To get more information please contact us at +90(544)288-5280 or yusuf@ateskanlaw.com
Residence Permit Application
Foreigners who would stay in Turkey beyond the duration of a visa or visa exemption or longer than ninety days should obtain a residence permit. The applications for residence permits shall be lodged with the governorates.
We provide full legal services for getting residence permit and work permit applications.
Residence permit documents following their applications shall be issued separately for each foreigner. Those applications may be made in person as well as by his/her legal representative or lawyer. However, if the administration deems it necessary, it may also require foreigners to be present at the time of application.
e-Residence System
Six types of residence permits shall be issued and first, extension or transfer applications shall be made online via e-Residence system (https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/).
First and Transfer Applications
For the first and transfer applications, foreigners are required to make a residence permit application via e-Residence system and be present at Provincial Directorate of Migration Management on the appointment date together with the required documents.
Furthermore, original passport for the first or transfer applications and notarized passport photocopy for the extension applications shall be submitted.
Extension Application
Extension applications shall be made to the governorates within sixty days prior to the expiration of the residence permit and, in any case, before the expiration of the residence permit.
After applying for residence permit via e-Residence system and gathering required documents, foreigners are required to send those documents by post to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management within 5 (five) working days.
In addition, during the application for extension, the information given earlier should be checked to ensure correct entry. Otherwise the e-residence system will not allow to make an extension application and will direct the applicant to the appointment system.
Work permit as a residence permit
A valid work permit, within the framework of the law, shall be considered as a residence permit, which means that the work permit holder is entitled to stay in our country without a residence permit within the period of the work permit.
Health insurance requirement
Duration of your insurance must cover the requested duration of residence permit.
One of the following health insurances shall be considered sufficient:
1-An e-signed/signed and sealed/stamped document which is received from the Provincial Unit of Social Security Institution and which proves the access to health services in Turkey within the scope of bilateral social security agreements;
2-An e-signed/signed and sealed/stamped certificate of authorization received from Social Security Institution (This certificate, for family residence permit, must be issued in a way covering both sponsors and family members.);
3-An e-signed/signed and sealed/stamped document proving the application made to Social Security Institution for General Health Insurance;
4-Private Health Insurance.
Residence Permit Fee
Residence permit fee shall be collected from foreigners. In cases where an application for the extension following the expiration of the residence permit is not made, residence permit fee for the period spent in Turkey shall be collected as much.
Address of Stay in Turkey
Foreigners are required to submit information on their address of stay in Turkey and this address may be a fixed address or an accommodation facility address. However, in any case, foreigners are required to state correct and complete address information. In addition, address, telephone number or e-mail information must be up-to-date in order for the residence permit document to be sent to address.
If the address information changes within the period of residence permit, the necessary documents are required to be submitted to the provincial directorate of migration management and provincial directorate of civil registration and citizenship within 20 (twenty) working days.
Right to Exit-Entry for 15 Days
Residence Permit Application Document shall be issued following the first application of the foreigner via e-Residence and completion of the application on the appointment date at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management.
Residence Permit Application Document shall be issued by the system upon the completion of the application for the extension of the residence permit via e-Residence system.
Foreigners can exit from Turkey with the “Residence Permit Application Document” approved by the Directorate along with the fee receipt on condition of entry within 15 days. However, in case of staying abroad for more than 15 days, the provisions of visa shall apply to the foreigner.
Finalization of Residence Permits
According to Article 21 of the Law in question, residence permit applications shall be finalized no later than ninety days.
In addition, pursuant to Article 22 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, the ninety-day period shall begin from the date on which information and documents have been fully submitted to the competent authority. Foreigners are notified in case of an extension in this period.
Warning about fake documentation
The Presidency of Migration Management shall not work with the third real and/or legal entities in the activities and actions related to foreigners. It has been determined that fake documents have been produced to be used in residence permit applications by persons or companies that are working for a consideration. In this context, applications for residence permit are required to be made in person, and the third real and/or legal entities should not be accredited.