Turkish Citizenship by Investment
Turkish Citizenship by Investment
Türkiye's citizenship by investment programme is one of the most popular in the world, offering foreign nationals a direct path to Turkish citizenship and a Turkish passport through a qualifying investment. The programme has attracted thousands of applicants from across the globe, and demand continues to grow.
At Yilmaz Attorneys, citizenship by investment is our highest-volume practice area. We have guided applicants from over 40 countries through the process — handling everything from investment selection to the final oath ceremony.
Qualifying Investment Options
The Turkish government offers several investment routes to citizenship. The most common pathways include:
Real estate purchase — Purchase property worth at least $400,000 USD, with a commitment to hold it for a minimum of three years. This is by far the most popular route.
Capital investment — Invest at least $500,000 USD in a Turkish business or deposit the same amount in a Turkish bank account for three years.
Government bonds — Purchase at least $500,000 USD in Turkish government bonds with a three-year holding period.
Job creation — Establish a business that employs at least 50 Turkish citizens.
How the Process Works
The citizenship by investment process typically takes 3–6 months from application to approval. Here is what to expect:
Investment selection and verification — We help you identify a qualifying investment, conduct due diligence on the asset or vehicle, and ensure it meets the programme requirements.
Valuation and compliance — For real estate, we obtain the government-approved valuation report and the conformity certificate confirming the property meets the minimum threshold.
Title deed transfer and annotation — The property is transferred to your name at the Land Registry, with the required three-year sale restriction annotated on the title deed.
Residence permit application — A short-term residence permit is obtained as a prerequisite for the citizenship application.
Citizenship application — We prepare and submit the full application dossier to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs, including all supporting documentation for you and your family members.
Government review and approval — The application is reviewed by multiple government agencies. We track progress and respond to any information requests.
Oath ceremony and ID issuance — Upon approval, we coordinate the oath ceremony and the issuance of your Turkish ID card and passport.
Family Members
One of the key advantages of the Turkish programme is that your spouse and children under 18 are included in the application at no additional investment cost. We prepare the documentation for all family members as part of a single application package.
Due Diligence: Protecting Your Investment
The citizenship by investment space in Türkiye has attracted not only genuine buyers but also unscrupulous sellers and agents. We have seen cases involving overvalued properties, fake valuation reports, and properties with legal encumbrances that would disqualify the application.
Our due diligence process includes:
Independent verification of the property's market value against the government valuation
Title deed checks for liens, mortgages, annotations, and ownership disputes
Confirmation of zoning status, construction permits, and occupancy certificates
Seller background and authority verification
Review of the sales contract to protect your interests
Why Choose Yilmaz Attorneys
Based in Antalya — one of Türkiye's top real estate investment destinations — our firm is uniquely positioned to handle citizenship by investment cases. We work directly with local land registries, valuation firms, and government offices. Our attorneys speak English, Turkish, and work with translators for additional languages as needed.
We handle the entire process end-to-end: investment due diligence, legal documentation, government applications, and family inclusion. You get a single point of contact for what is often the most significant legal process of your life.
If you are considering Turkish citizenship by investment, contact us for an initial assessment of your options.
