Turkey Citizenship by Investment: How To Become a Turkish Citizen in 2026

With territory in both Europe and Asia, Turkey is often viewed as a bridge between the East and the West, both practically and symbolically. Its position makes it an attractive destination for high-net-worth individuals looking to broaden their global reach, a fact that Turkey has only reinforced with its fast-track citizenship by investment (CBI) program.

In this article, we’ll examine Turkey citizenship by investment program’s rules and regulations, providing answers to questions such as:

• What is the minimum investment in Turkey for citizenship?
• What types of investments are eligible for citizenship by investment?
• What is the process of becoming a Turkish citizen as an investor?

Benefits of Turkish Citizenship

Strategically, the benefits of becoming a citizen of Turkey stem from the country’s international standing:

• Turkey is a NATO member and maintains a good relationship with the USA, allowing Turkish citizens to apply for the E-2 visa
• Turkey maintains strong relationships with the BRICS bloc, going so far as to apply for membership but making little headway on the accession process
• Even though Turkey’s EU candidacy has stalled for years, the country is still considered a key EU partner in various areas, including the economy

This positioning allows Turkish citizens to travel to around 120 countries without obtaining a visa beforehand, enabling them to experience a multi-polar world with ease. The country is situated at the crossroads of Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Africa, making it a trans-continental bridge for logistics, transport, and finance.

Thanks to its multicultural tradition and secular daily life, Turkey can be enjoyed by naturalized citizens without much worry about assimilation difficulties. With its growing economy and steadily appreciating real estate values, Turkey is also an attractive country for investment. 

Turkey’s Citizenship by Investment Program Explained

Turkey offers one of the world’s most competitive CBI programs, with features and requirements that emphasize ease of entry:

• A minimum investment of USD 400,000
• No long-term residence requirements
• No language requirements 
• A short timeframe (nine months) from application to becoming a citizen

Keep reading: Interested in other countries’ CBI programs? Explore our guides on Cyprus, Grenada, Panama, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Mauritius, and more.

Turkey Investment Options for Citizenship

Under Turkey’s CBI program, you can become eligible for the country’s citizenship by making one of the following investments:

Type of Investment	Value	Conditions
Real estate investment	USD 400,000	The deed should have a three-year restriction on resale
Job creation	/	Must create at least 50 jobs
Bank deposit	USD 500,000	The deposit must be fixed for three years
Bond investment	USD 500,000	Must hold government-issued bonds for a three-year period
Financial investment	USD 500,000	Investment has to be in real estate or venture capital investment funds, with a three-year mandatory holding period
Fixed capital investment	USD 500,000	/

How To Get Turkey Citizenship by Investment: The Process Explained

To acquire Turkish citizenship as an investor, you must follow these steps:

1. Make the appropriate investment
2. Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility
3. Apply for a Residence Permit
4. Apply for Citizenship

Make the Appropriate Investment

The first step towards becoming a Turkish citizen as an investor is to choose and execute the appropriate investment. For many applicants, real estate is the obvious choice, as it meets the minimum requirements of all pathways and is an appreciating asset that can also generate passive income. 

With any investment, you should familiarize yourself with the local regulations and any additional criteria for foreigners. For real estate, for example, you should be aware that:

• You are not required to have Turkish residency in order to purchase real estate
• You are required to apply for approval to the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre with the owner of the real estate before making the purchase
• If you purchase land, you will have to submit a development plan within two years of acquisition

You should also note any requirements you must meet when making the purchase as an applicant for Turkish citizenship. Staying with the real estate example, you will have to:

• State the reason for acquiring real estate in the application to the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre
• Include the reason in the title deed 
• Make an official declaration that you do not intend to sell the property within three years of purchasing it

If you’re unsure about the rules and regulations in Turkey, consider hiring an advisory agency to help you navigate the process.

Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility

A Certificate of Eligibility is a document that confirms your investment meets the requirements for the CBI programs. There isn’t one single body that issues certificates for all types of investment. Instead, you have to apply to the government body in charge of your investment:

Type of Investment	Government Body
Real estate investment	General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadaster, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization
Job creation	General Directorate of International Labor, Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services
Bank deposit	Department of Financial Consumer Relations, Banking Regulations and Supervision Agency
Bond investment	Ministry of Treasury and Finance
Financial investment	Department of the Brokerage Activities, Capital Markets Board of Turkey
Fixed capital investment	General Directorate of Incentive Application and Foreign Capital, Ministry of Industry and Technology

Each type of investment has to be supported by different documentation, as required by the overseeing body. If you choose the real estate investment route, for example, the Directorate of Land Registry and Cadaster will require you to submit:

• Your passport or another identity document
• An Identity Declaration Form 
• One photo of yourself
• Power of attorney or another document attesting to representation if someone else is applying on your behalf
• Your Foreigner ID Number, if you have one
• The title deed for the real estate you invested in
• A valuation report for the real estate you invested in, issued by an authorized valuation firm
• Bank certificates proving the money transfer
• Proof of mandatory earthquake insurance

Apply for a Residence Permit

Even though the Turkish CBI program doesn’t have a residency requirement with a physical presence component, you’re still required to be a Turkish resident when applying for citizenship. 

For your citizenship application, you first need a short-term residence permit, which will allow you to stay in Turkey while your application is processed. The permit is generally issued for up to two years, although investors may receive one valid for up to five years. 

The application is submitted to the Provincial Directorate of Immigration Administration, and it has to include the following documents:

• An application form
• A copy of your passport or another travel document
• Four biometric photographs of yourself 
• Proof of financial self-sufficiency for the duration of your stay
• Proof of payment for the application processing and card issuance fees
• Proof that you own property in Turkey, if you own it
• Health insurance certificate

You will also have to prove that you meet the requirements set out for the type of investment you made in Turkey using the Certificate of Eligibility.

The residence permit you acquire as an applicant for the CBI program will apply to all the dependents you plan to bring with you to Turkey.

Apply for Citizenship

You can apply for Turkish citizenship as soon as you’ve received your residence card. Here are the required documents:

• A form requesting citizenship by naturalization
• A passport or another document that can prove your state of origin
• A certificate showing your civil status, such as a marriage certificate, divorce certificate, or deceased spouse’s death certificate
• A birth certificate and other certificates that prove your relationship to your dependents
• A certificate showing you’re a first or second degree relative to a person with Turkish citizenship (if applicable)
• A receipt demonstrating the payment of application fees

After submitting your application to the Provincial Directorate of Census and Citizenship, the application will go through the following steps without your direct involvement: 

1. The Provincial Directorate of Census and Citizenship will create a citizenship file and send it to the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Nationality
2. The General Directorate of Security (Turkish police) will conduct due diligence to determine whether you pose a threat to national security and public order
3. Your application will be submitted to the Office of the Minister of the Interior, which will forward it to the President’s Office if the due diligence finds no reason to deny you
4. The President will ultimately rule whether you’ll be granted citizenship

Why Choose Turkey’s Citizenship by Investment Program?

Compared to other prominent CBI programs, particularly those offered by Caribbean countries like Dominica or Saint Lucia, Turkey’s program has a higher cost of entry. 

However, Caribbean CBI programs have recently doubled their minimum investment requirements. The minimum investment in CBI programs is usually a donation that doesn’t grant you ownership of an appreciating asset. This stands in contrast to Turkey’s most affordable investment vehicle, real estate.

Here’s a table comparing Turkey’s CBI program with select investment options from other countries’ programs:

Country	Donation	Real Estate	Business
Turkey	/	USD 400,000	USD 500,000
Saint Lucia	USD 240,000	USD 300,000	USD 3.5 million
St. Kitts and Nevis	USD 250,000	USD 325,000	/
Grenada	USD 235,000	USD 350,000	/
Dominica	USD 200,000	USD 200,000	/
Antigua and Barbuda	USD 230,000	USD 300,000	USD 1.5 million

Weighing the costs and benefits of a CBI program is a more complex process than simply looking at the minimum required investment. Considering the additional administrative expenses, as well as the costs of living, infrastructure, access to services, and economic opportunity, is crucial for making an informed decision. To ensure you make the right choice, contact Nomad Capitalist.

Secure Your Turkey Citizenship With Nomad Capitalist

Nomad Capitalist is a consultancy trusted by over 1,500 clients who rely on our services for wealth preservation and enhanced global mobility. We help high-net-worth individuals obtain residency or citizenship in foreign countries, legally reduce their tax burden, and identify investment opportunities in favorable jurisdictions. 

At the core of our services is the creation of a customized Action Plan. After learning about your current situation and goals, our team prepares a specific plan to help you achieve your financial, immigration, and other objectives.

Here’s what working with Nomad Capitalist looks like:

1. We ask you to fill out a form to help us determine whether we’re a good match
2. We schedule a 45-minute onboarding call to learn more about your circumstances and objectives
3. Our team creates the Action Plan and presents it to you for approval
4. We implement the Plan, managing the administrative part, over a 12-month period
5. You continue receiving support from us even after the Plan is implemented

Nomad Capitalist can help you determine whether applying for Turkish citizenship using the investor route will get you all the desired benefits. If it does, we will create a Plan that ensures you’re awarded citizenship in the shortest time possible and administer your application from start to finish. Get your Action Plan today!