The Türkiye Citizenship by Investment program, established in 2017 and amended in 2018, allows foreign investors to obtain Turkish citizenship by making a qualifying economic contribution. This path avoids the usual residency requirements and grants full citizenship to the investor and their eligible family. The program has been designed to stimulate foreign investment and economic growth.
Minimum Age: 18 years old and mentally competent
Clean Background: No serious criminal record
Legal Funds: Investment must come from legal sources and go through Turkish banks
Restricted Nationalities: Citizens of Armenia, Cuba, Nigeria, North Korea, and Cyprus are currently not eligible
Family Members: Spouse and children under 18 (or disabled children of any age) can be included
Investment Options (Minimum 3-Year Hold Period)
Choose one of the following:
Real Estate: Buy property worth at least $400,000 USD (with no-sale restriction for 3 years)
Fixed Capital: Invest $500,000 USD in a Turkish company
Bank Deposit: Deposit $500,000 USD in a Turkish bank (locked for 3 years)
Government Bonds: Buy $500,000 USD in Turkish government bonds
Investment Funds: Put $500,000 USD into approved real estate or venture capital funds
Job Creation: Start a business that employs at least 50 Turkish citizens
Note: All investments must go through official valuation, documentation, and due diligence checks.
Full Citizenship for Family: Not only do applicants receive citizenship, but so do their spouse and eligible children, without extra investment.
Visa-Free or Visa-on-Arrival Access: Turkish passport holders can visit 110+ destinations, including regions in Asia and the Middle East, with developing access to the EU.
No Physical Residency Needed: There’s no minimum stay requirement to maintain investor citizenship.
Eligibility for U.S. E-2 Visa: After three years of residency, Turkish citizens can apply for the U.S. E-2 Investor Visa—a renewable five-year permit.
Secure Asset Investment: Real estate and other investments can serve dual purposes—yield potential returns and secure citizenship.
Yes—real estate purchased can be sold after the mandatory three-year holding period, without jeopardizing your citizenship.
Yes. Dual nationality is permitted, allowing you to retain your original citizenship alongside Turkish citizenship.
No language or cultural test is required as part of the investment route.
Typical processing time ranges from 3 to 6 months, although it can extend up to a year depending on complexity and completeness of documentation.
Yes—biometrics must be submitted in Türkiye as part of the process. A residence permit is also required before applying for citizenship.
While there have been evolving thresholds (e.g., from USD 250K to 400K in real estate), current minimums are stable as outlined above. Prospective applicants should verify thresholds before investing.