All you need to know about Turkish citizenship

Created: 2021-04-19
Last Updated: 2024-04-25
Views: 4414

It is no secret to anyone that Turkey has become one of the most powerful countries in the world and has succeeded in overcoming great difficulties and challenges and achieving successes on all political, economic and cultural levels, and many factors helped it in that, as Turkey enjoys an important strategic position between my two continents. Europe and Asia The Turkish government is making many improvements and providing many facilities to ensure the quality of the services provided.
As a result of this great success, many people and investors began to search for ways and means to obtain Turkish citizenship and enjoy its advantages. Certainly there are many details that must be known before applying for citizenship, which we will learn about in the following article ..

First : The advantages of Turkish citizenship:
1- Obtaining a Turkish passport:
One of the most important advantages that you get when possessing Turkish citizenship is carrying the Turkish passport, which is ranked high in the world and is considered one of the best and most powerful passports in the world.
The Turkish passport allows entry to about 72 countries around the world without the need to obtain an entry visa. We mention from these countries: Japan, Qatar, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, Singapore, Argentina, Chile, Georgia, Serbia, South Africa Ukraine, Thailand, Northern Cyprus and other countries.
You can also obtain the visa directly upon arrival to some of the estimated 42 countries around the world, including some of them: Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon and many countries of the African continent.
You can also obtain an entry visa electronically via the Internet for a group of countries, the most important of which are Australia, the Sultanate of Oman and others.

2 - Obtaining health insurance:
Once you become a Turkish citizen with Turkish citizenship, you can obtain health insurance that entitles you to enter all government hospitals and receive treatment in them completely free of charge. You also have many discounts and offers when visiting any private hospital that does not belong to the government and the state secures a large number of medicines in a manner. Free for you to take advantage of.

3 - Simplifying all transactions for buying a property in Turkey:
When you obtain Turkish citizenship, many papers and documents necessary to buy an apartment in Turkey in case you are a foreigner will be canceled, and the process will become more smooth and easier.

4 - The possibility of granting Turkish citizenship to your family:
According to Turkish law, a person who obtains Turkish citizenship has the right to grant it to his wife and children who have not yet reached the age of 18, thus becoming Turkish citizens with full enjoyment of rights and duties.

5 - Total freedom in work and employment:
The owner of the company or the employer who acquired Turkish citizenship can employ workers of various nationalities as he is not required to employ a specific number of Turkish workers, as is the case with the foreign investor.
It is also possible for a person who obtains nationality to practice the profession he desires without the need to obtain permission to practice a profession and this is what relieves him of many burdens and provides him with many good opportunities for work.

6 - The possibility of inviting relatives to Turkey:
When you become a Turkish citizen, you can apply for a visit to your relatives in your home country to come to Turkey and spend a special time in this beautiful country.

7 - Free Education Opportunity:
A person who obtains Turkish citizenship can benefit from free education within Turkish government schools, in addition to taking advantage of discounts and low prices for private schools compared to foreigners.

8 - Possessing the right to vote:
Upon possession of Turkish citizenship, it becomes the right of the Turkish citizen to vote in all kinds of elections, and thus he is an effective element in society and a real tool for change and control of the country's destiny.

9 - The possibility of retaining the first nationality:
One of the important advantages of Turkish citizenship is that you can retain your mother's nationality without relinquishing it when Turkish citizenship is issued without any problems or conflicts of interests.

10 - Obtaining the Turquoise Card:
This card is given to every Turkish citizen who was forced to give up his nationality of origin in one of the foreign countries in exchange for obtaining the other nationality, as this card allows him to enter and leave Turkey naturally even after losing his Turkish nationality.

11 - Obtaining an E2 American investor visa:
Once you obtain Turkish citizenship, you can apply for an entry visa to America, as you can reside there for two years as an expatriate Turkish investor, and this visa is granted to some countries that deal with America and have commercial relations with it.

Second : Ways to obtain Turkish citizenship:
Turkish citizenship through real estate investment in Turkey:
Foreign investors were given the opportunity to obtain Turkish citizenship when they bought a property or group of real estate with a minimum price of $ 250,000, according to the new amendment to the Naturalization Law, which was issued in 2018, as the amount of money, which amounted to $ 1 million, was reduced. The buyer must not sell this property for at least three full years.

- Turkish Citizenship by Investment:
The matter is not limited to buying real estate or apartments, as it is possible to obtain Turkish citizenship through investing in Turkey in the way the investor prefers, and there are several options for that, which are:
1- A capital investment of not less than 500 thousand dollars, provided that the period of time is not less than 3 full years.
2- Depositing money in a Turkish bank, and the minimum amount of money is $ 500,000 for a period of three years.
3- Buying borrowing bonds from the Turkish government with a financial value of $ 500,000 as a minimum, and refraining from selling them for a full 3 years.
4- Buying shares of REITS or VCTS with a minimum value of $ 500,000.
5- Buying a company in Turkey with an amount of 500 thousand dollars in capital.

- Turkish citizenship by employing Turks:
An investor or business owner can apply for Turkish citizenship in return for employing 50 Turkish citizenship employees and paying their social guarantees.

- Turkish citizenship through marriage:
You can apply for Turkish citizenship when marrying a Turkish person, but it is required that this marriage is not for the purpose of citizenship and that it lasts for a minimum of three years without a divorce between the two parties.

- Turkish citizenship by origins:
If the person is of Turkish and Ottoman origins, he can apply for Turkish citizenship after submitting evidence and proof of documents and documents proving Turkish lineage.

- Turkish citizenship through adoption:
Any Turkish family can adopt a foreign person and apply for him to obtain Turkish citizenship, provided that he is less than 18 years old.

- Turkish citizenship by residency:
When residing in Turkey for a full 5 years, a person can apply for Turkish citizenship by establishing a company in Turkey and obtaining a work residency.

- Exceptional Turkish citizenship:
There are many cases in which the Turkish government grants citizenship to specific people with global achievements and great competencies who carry out actions that benefit humanity and leave a clear impact, in addition to some humanitarian cases.

Third: Conditions for obtaining Turkish citizenship:
- The applicant must be 18 years old or over, which is the legal age in Turkey, and he must be a sane adult capable of taking decisions.
- He must be healthy and healthy, and this is done through a full medical examination to ensure that he is not infected with any communicable diseases that may threaten public health in Turkey.
- It is necessary for the applicant to have a stable job through which he can secure a stable income for himself and his family without needing government aid.
- It is preferable for the person to be understanding and speaking the Turkish language to some extent, noting that it is not a prerequisite.
- It is essential that the person possesses a clean criminal record and does not pose a threat to national security in Turkey.

Fourth : The documents necessary to obtain Turkish citizenship through real estate investment:
There is a set of documents that must be available in case you wish to apply for Turkish citizenship by purchasing a property in Turkey 2021, and they are:
- The title deed (Tabu) for the property.
- The real estate appraisal report, which is issued by specific companies known by the Turkish government, makes an inspection of the property to determine its value, and this report is valid for use for only three months.
- 2 personal photos of the applicant.
- The passport of the applicant and his family members, provided that it is translated and certified by a notary.
- Payment receipt, which states that the full amount owed by the buyer will be paid to the bank in exchange for the purchase of the apartment or property, and it must be sealed by the bank.
- Receipt of receipt, which states that the entire amount agreed upon by the previous owner of the property will be appropriated in exchange for the sale of the property, and it must be sealed by the bank.
- The birth certificate of the applicant and his family members, to be attested by the concerned authorities.
- A copy of the marriage contract in case the applicant is married, provided that it is attested.
- A family statement or a copy of the family book, translated and certified.
We must note that all documents issued by the applicant's country of origin must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of origin, and in the event that this is not possible, they must be certified by the special travel of his country of origin within Turkey.

Fifth : The most important amendments related to the law on obtaining Turkish citizenship through real estate:
1 - It is strictly forbidden for a person who obtains Turkish nationality to buy a property to sell it to a Turkish person, and then sell it to another foreign person who has the same nationality as the first owner, as his nationality must be in contravention.
2 - It is not permissible for a person who bought a property with the aim of obtaining Turkish citizenship to resell it to its original owner after the legal period of three years has passed, as this is considered fraud and the person is legally prosecuted.
3- The application for Turkish citizenship cannot be done by several foreigners for the same property, as it can be used only once, and others must invest in another property that has not been registered before.
4- In the event that any fraud is proven in the papers and documents related to real estate ownership in Turkey or with nationality papers, Turkish citizenship will be withdrawn.

Sixth : Military service for those with Turkish citizenship:
As it is known, persons holding Turkish citizenship must perform compulsory military service upon completion of 21 years, and in the event of obtaining Turkish citizenship, there are many options:
1- For people who obtained Turkish citizenship at the age of less than 22 years, they must perform military service in Turkey.
2- As for persons who obtained Turkish citizenship at the age of more than 22 years, they are exempt from performing military service.
3- In the event that there are documents proving that a person has performed military service in his country of origin or is exempted from it for any reason, his military service in Turkey is waived.
4- In the event that a person comes to Turkey before the age of 21 and obtains citizenship after this age, then he must perform military service, as is the case for other Turks.
And there are many cases in which a person is exempted from performing military service, either for medical reason or for study, and a financial allowance can be paid in exchange for exemption from performing the service.

Seventh: Common questions about Turkish citizenship:
Q: Can I apply for Turkish citizenship by purchasing a property in installments in Turkey?
A: Yes, those who buy a property in installments can apply for citizenship.

Q: Can I change my name when I receive Turkish citizenship?
A: Certainly, you can choose the name that suits you when obtaining Turkish citizenship.

Q: What are the taxes for the property purchased for the purpose of obtaining Turkish citizenship?
A: Title deed tax: it is paid one time only, and its value is 4% of the value of the property, and it is paid on par between the seller and the buyer.
Annual tax: Its value is 3% of the property's value.
Profit tax: This is paid if the property is sold before the completion of 5 years from the date of its purchase.

Q: Is it possible to grant citizenship to the father and the mother?
A: A person cannot grant citizenship to his parents, but to his wife and children who have not yet completed 18 years of age.

Q: Can I apply for Turkish citizenship if there are partners in the property?
A: It is not permissible to apply for citizenship through joint ownership, as it is necessary that it be affiliated and registered in the name of one person only.

Q: If I own old real estate in Turkey, can I benefit from the amendments to the naturalization law?
A: All real estate must be registered in the owner's name after 9/19/2018 in order to be subject to the new modifications, otherwise they are treated according to the old law, that is, the person must make a real estate investment in Turkey with an amount of at least one million dollars in order to be able to apply for Turkish citizenship.

On May 13, 2022, the Turkish government issued a decision to raise the amount of obtaining Turkish citizenship through the purchase of real estate to a value of 400,000 dollars instead of 250,000 dollars. The decision has been implemented starting in 12th June 2022.

The investor has the right to buy a real estate or several properties with the new amount of $400,000 in order to obtain citizenship, provided that the investor must keep the property for 3 years and he mustn’t sell the property he purchased for the purpose of citizenship before 3 years from the date of purchasing. For more information about the Turkish citizenship law and its conditions, click here.