Turkish Citizenship by Investment

Since 18 September 2018, Law No 5901 disposes that foreign citizens investing in Turkey will be granted the right to apply for Turkish citizenship.

Foreigners who meet any of the following criteria may be eligible for Turkish citizenship:

• Made a minimum fixed capital investment of USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira, as attested by the Ministry of Industry and Technology,
• Acquired a property worth a minimum of USD 250,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira with a title deed restriction on its resale for at least three years, as attested by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization,
• Created jobs for at least 50 people, as attested by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services,
• Deposited at least USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira in banks operating in Turkey with the condition not to withdraw the same for at least three years, as attested by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency,
• Bought at least USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira worth of government bonds with the condition that they cannot be sold for at least three years, as attested by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance,
• Bought at least USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira worth of real estate investment fund share or venture capital investment fund share with the condition that they cannot be sold for at least three years, as attested by the Capital Markets Board of Turkey^[5]

Additionally, the applicant and those family members to be included in the application (kids under 18 and the spouse of the applicant can be included) must have a clear criminal background that will be checked by the internal authorities within Ministry of Interior although a clean-background document is not necessary.

Applicants must submit documents issued in their name that show their name and surname, name of their fathers and mothers, city of their birth, date of their birth, their ID/passport numbers, their marital status (marriage books if married, documents if divorced or widowed) and other main details about them. Financial declarations are not required as well as criminal background check documents.

Turkish Citizenship by Investment Program does not have a pre-approval system that many Caribbean citizenship programs have but also the program’s application requirements are easier and approval ratings are higher.

The investment made and claimed by the foreign national will be monitored and confirmed by the relevant Government authority. Once the investment is confirmed by the relevant governmental authority, the foreign national will be granted Turkish citizenship.^[6]

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is possible in Turkish law.

The laws of Turkey provide for the acquisition of Turkish citizenship based on one’s descent—by birth to a Turkish citizen parent (or parents) in Turkey and also by birth abroad to a Turkish citizen parent (or parents)—regardless of the other nationalities a person might acquire at birth. Children born in Turkey to foreign citizens do not have a claim to Turkish citizenship unless one of the parents is also a Turkish citizen or the child would otherwise be stateless. The automatic acquisition (or retention) of a foreign nationality does not affect Turkish citizenship. Turkish laws have no provisions requiring citizens who are born with dual nationality to choose one nationality over the other when they become adults.

While recognizing the existence of dual nationality and permitting Turkish citizens to have other nationalities, the Turkish government requires that those who apply for another nationality inform the relevant Turkish authority (the nearest Turkish embassy or consulate abroad) and provide the original naturalization certificate, Turkish birth certificate, document attesting to completion of military service (for males), marriage certificate (if applicable) and four photographs. Dual nationals are not required to use a Turkish passport to enter and leave Turkey; it is permitted to travel with a valid foreign passport (or national ID card for some nationals) and the Turkish National ID card.

Since not all countries allow dual citizenship, Turks must sometimes give up their Turkish citizenship in order to naturalize as citizens of another country.

References