Turkish Citizenship by Investment: The Routes Explained

Turkey offers foreign investors a path to citizenship through a qualifying investment. For many families in the Gulf, Asia, Latin America, Africa and North America, it is one of the most discussed investment programmes in the region. Here is a general overview of how it works.

The main routes

• Purchase of real estate, the most popular route
• A deposit in a Turkish bank, kept for a minimum period
• Investment in government bonds or approved investment funds
• A fixed capital investment or creating jobs in Turkey

Each route has its own minimum amount and holding period. These are set by presidential decision and regulation, not by law, and they have changed several times in recent years. For real estate the threshold is currently USD 400,000. Rules as of 2026 – always check the current requirements before applying.

How the real-estate route works

First, the property is valued by a licensed valuation company. The officially assessed value, not only the agreed price, matters for meeting the threshold.

Second, the purchase is registered at the land registry (Tapu). The title deed carries an annotation that the property may not be sold for a set number of years. Selling earlier can endanger the citizenship.

Third, the payment must be documented through the banking system, including proof of the foreign currency transfer. Cash payments are a classic reason for problems.

Fourth, the investor obtains a certificate of eligibility and a short-term residence permit, and then files the citizenship application. The file is reviewed by several authorities, including security checks, before a final decision is made.

Family members

The spouse and the minor children of the investor can usually be included in the same application. Adult children and parents generally need their own route. Every document from abroad must be apostilled or legalised and translated by a sworn translator.

Common mistakes

• Buying a property whose valuation turns out lower than the price paid
• Buying from a seller who already used the property for another citizenship file
• Missing bank documents for the transfer
• Relying on promises of guaranteed approval – no one can guarantee the outcome

This article is general information, not legal advice. Each case depends on the individual facts and the rules in force on the day of application.

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