How to Apply for Turkish Citizenship? 2026 Conditions, Documents, Investment, Marriage and Rejection Suits

Area of law: Citizenship Law and Foreigners Law

By what routes is Turkish citizenship acquired?

Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 provides that citizenship is acquired by birth or after birth. Acquisition by birth takes effect from the moment of birth once the conditions required by the law are met. Acquisition after birth does not operate by the same method for every application; it rests on different legal grounds such as a decision of the competent authority, adoption or the right of option. Which procedure is chosen depends on the applicant's personal situation, family ties, residence history and, if any, the type of investment. 1

Citizenship by birth: descent and birth in Türkiye

A child born, inside or outside Türkiye, to a Turkish citizen mother or father under the descent conditions provided in the law is a Turkish citizen. There are special distinctions regarding proof of acquisition through a Turkish mother and a Turkish father and the establishment of descent in a birth outside marriage. Merely having been born in Türkiye does not automatically make every foreign child a Turkish citizen. For a child who is born in Türkiye and cannot acquire the citizenship of any country through the mother or father, the special protection of Article 8 of Law No. 5901 may apply. In such files, the first review should be made, before an application for admission to citizenship, as to determination of citizenship existing by birth and the population registration. 1

Citizenship after birth: determining the correct application category

The same person may have a Turkish spouse, a work history in Türkiye and a real estate investment. Even so, the preconditions of the different routes do not combine automatically. For example, the three-year marriage condition does not replace the certificate of conformity in the investment route, and years spent for tourist purposes are not in every case counted toward the residence period in general citizenship. Determining the legal route before applying reduces the risk of missing documents, the wrong authority and unnecessary expense.

Turkish citizenship by the general route: five years of residence and other conditions

Under Article 11 of Law No. 5901, it is not enough for a foreign national who wishes to acquire Turkish citizenship by the general route merely to have been in Türkiye. Being of full age and having discernment, five years of uninterrupted lawful residence counted back from the date of application, the intention to settle in Türkiye, the absence of a disease posing a danger to public health, good moral character, sufficient Turkish, a means of subsistence, and the absence of obstacles in terms of national security/public order are examined as a whole. In addition, under Article 10 of the Law, meeting the conditions does not give the applicant an absolute right of acceptance. 1 2

How is the five-year residence calculated?

According to Article 15 of the Law, residence means living in Türkiye in a manner consistent with Turkish legislation. Within the residence period required for the application, stays abroad not exceeding twelve months in total are included in the period, subject to the statutory conditions. However, the entry-exit record alone is not sufficient; the residence permit or work permit on which the stay was based, the legal nature of the permit, any interruptions between permits and the applicant's purpose of settling are also examined. The calculation of total stays abroad should be made by combining non-consecutive trips. 1 5

Does every residence permit count toward the citizenship period?

No. For residence relevant to citizenship, the type and purpose of the permit matter. The effect on the process of permits tied to temporary stay purposes such as study, tourism or medical treatment, and of protection statuses, should be assessed separately on the basis of the Citizenship Regulation in force and the Migration Management records. A work permit or settled life based on employment may, depending on the specific conditions, be significant in the residence calculation. It is legally wrong to accept all of an applicant's stays in Türkiye automatically as five years by looking at passport stamps.

Exits abroad and record disputes

Exits abroad are treated together in assessing the twelve-month limit. If there is a dual passport, an old/new passport, different spellings of names or border crossings not reflected in the records, the entry-exit record should be requested from the relevant administration; erroneous records should be explained with additional documents. Where even a one-day difference in the calculation of the period may matter, it is appropriate to prepare a date schedule before applying.

The intention to settle in Türkiye and the subsistence requirement

Acquiring real estate, setting up a business, working, having family ties in Türkiye or long-term social and economic relationships may be assessed in respect of the intention to settle. No single document is conclusive proof. As to income, payroll, SGK records, a tax plate, business and bank documents become important depending on the application conditions. It should not be assumed that there is a specific fixed amount in a bank account that applies to every applicant; the obligation of subsistence is examined according to the specific circumstances.

Turkish proficiency, the interview and the public order review

The Law requires the ability to speak Turkish sufficiently. The review commission may assess everyday communication and the applicant's adaptation to Türkiye. The required level and the method of measurement are determined according to the legislation and practice; a fixed language exam score not written in the law should not be invented for every application. In terms of public order and national security, the specific record, decision and relevant legislation are examined; it is not right to equate a mere investigation or suspicion with a final conviction. Administrative discretion is limited by the principles of the rule of law and judicial review.

How is citizenship obtained through marriage to a Turkish citizen?

Marrying a Turkish citizen does not directly give Turkish citizenship. Under Article 16 of Law No. 5901, a foreign national who has been married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years and whose marriage continues may apply, on condition of living within the family union, not engaging in activities incompatible with the marital union, and the absence of obstacles in terms of national security/public order. Applications made before three years have passed, or mere de facto cohabitation, do not constitute the conditions of this special route. 1 2

The three-year period and a genuine family union

The date of the marriage should be verified with official records. Living together in different countries, the spouse's travel for work or temporary separation does not directly mean a sham marriage. However, separate addresses, never living together, contradictory statements or documents contrary to the truth may be the subject of administrative review. The assessment should be made on file-specific facts rather than abstract opinion.

Death of the spouse, divorce or annulment of the marriage during the application

Under Article 16/2 of the Law, if the marriage ends because of the death of the Turkish citizen spouse after the application, the condition of living within the family union is not sought. Divorce or termination of the marriage before the application may have a different result. If a decision of annulment of the marriage is given after citizenship has been acquired, a foreign national who was in good faith when marrying may keep his or her citizenship. These are separate statutory situations, and an automatic loss of citizenship cannot be inferred for all divorces. 1

The marriage application and the documents to be requested

The application is made, in Türkiye, to the governorate/provincial directorate of population and citizenship of the place of residence, and abroad to the competent foreign mission. The main documents are the Turkish spouse's records, marriage and identity details, the foreign spouse's passport, birth/marital status documents, the requested photographs and the service fee receipt. For documents brought from abroad, the authentication and translation requirements are separately fulfilled. The current copy of the application form should be checked with the receiving authority. 2 6

Turkish citizenship by investment: 2026 conditions

Article 12 of Law No. 5901 and Article 20 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law allow certain investments to be taken as the basis for an exceptional citizenship assessment. This route does not provide Turkish citizenship automatically at the moment of purchase. Depending on the category, there are the realisation of the investment, the determination of its conformity by the relevant institution, completion of the necessary residence and citizenship files, the public order review and the decision of the competent authority. 1 2 3

Investment types and minimum thresholds

Important: The foreign currency equivalent, the means of payment, conversion and the document arrangements may vary by investment type and transaction date. Because some older official information pages still carry the earlier Turkish lira wording, the current regulation, institutional circular and bank/title deed practice should be confirmed separately before the investment is made. This table does not on its own establish the conformity of an investment. 2 3 7

Citizenship by buying real estate: the USD 400,000 condition

In the real estate route, it is not sufficient to look only at the figure in the title deed. The acquisition in the land registry, payment records, foreign currency transaction documents, the type of real estate, value determination, the non-disposal undertaking and the seller-buyer relationship are assessed together. The current practice arrangement of the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre is decisive. A sale within three years or a disposition contrary to the undertaking may affect the citizenship procedure and the administrative consequences that may arise afterwards. 3 7

Is every plot, field or timeshare suitable for citizenship?

No. The amendment dated 12 December 2023 emphasised, in the real estate route, real estate with condominium ownership/condominium easement established, or real estate with the character of land with a building on it. There are separate restrictions for undeveloped land, fields, agricultural land, timeshares and real estate with problems in zoning/use. The proposition that "buying any real estate for USD 400,000 is sufficient" is not current. A legal and title deed technical review is mandatory before the sale. 3 7

Shared real estate and applications with more than one property

The TKGM guide dated 9 December 2024 states that a citizenship application cannot be made on the basis of a property acquired by shares by more than one foreign person so as to form co-ownership. By contrast, the acquisition by a single foreigner of the whole of a property belonging to more than one seller is a different situation. In a sale, the total amount of more than one suitable property may be assessed under certain conditions. However, promise-to-sell agreements have particular requirements such as a single contract and full payment of the price on time; it should not be assumed that conformity can be achieved by adding together, afterwards, independent promise-to-sell agreements. 7

Notarised promise to sell, payment and valuation documents

A promise to sell drawn up at a notary can be an investment option only if the real estate characteristics stated in the regulation, the condition of payment of the price and the title deed annotation requirements are met together. Proving the payment flow with banking documents, the foreign currency purchase certificate and the property amount determination process are important. Under TKGM Circular No. 2024/4, there is an application of the Certificate of Amount Determination for Acquisition of Real Estate and Citizenship Acquisition (TTB). The technical instruction in force on the report should be checked as of the transaction date. 7 8

TKGM amendment announcement dated 29 September 2026

TKGM announced an amendment to Circular No. 2024/4 on 29 September 2026. During the preparation of this publication the announcement was verified; however, the full content of the amendment document in the link could not be reliably accessed. For this reason, before the real estate is acquired, the current full text of the 2026 amendment should be confirmed with the relevant land registry directorate or the TKGM system, and where it differs from the earlier guide in technical provisions, the current text should be applied. On this point, no definitive statement is made as if there were a new, unverified rule. 9

The investment certificate of conformity and the residence permit under Article 31/1-j of Law No. 6458

Merely showing the investment does not complete the citizenship application. A Certificate of Conformity / a real estate-specific investment determination certificate must be issued by the relevant institution and, in appropriate cases, short-term residence permit procedures must be carried out under Article 31/1-j of the Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection. The citizenship file is then created through the provincial directorate of population and citizenship or the competent special joint office. The certificate of conformity is not a decision to admit to citizenship. 2

Can the investor's spouse and children apply?

The provisions of Article 12 of Law No. 5901 and Article 31/1-j of Law No. 6458 allow assessment, under certain conditions, also of a foreign spouse and foreign children who are minors or dependants. The identity, family ties, marital status and security records of each family member are examined separately. It cannot be said that citizenship will be given automatically to the investor's spouse or child, without a separate decision. In particular, polygamy, the custody of the child, dependency, the other parent's consent and coming of age while the application is pending are critical elements that may change the outcome of the file. 1 2

Earlier investments and the application of rules in time

Investment limits and the technical conditions of real estate transactions have changed over the years. Ownership acquired or an amount paid at an earlier date should not be accepted as suitable merely by regarding it as above today's minimum amount. The dates of acquisition, promise to sell, annotation, payment, valuation and the relevant regulation amendments must be compared separately. Exceptions and transitional provisions specific to the earlier period should be checked against the procedure the relevant institution applied as of that date.

How is a Turkish citizenship application made at the Population Directorate?

Citizenship applications are made, in Türkiye, through the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship within the governorate of the place of residence, and abroad through the competent foreign mission. For some exceptional investment files, special joint offices may exist. In the process, the Population Directorate is not merely a place that issues identity cards; it is the central administrative application unit for receiving the application file, review and notification procedures. 2

The order of the application stages

1. Choosing the legal category: It is determined which of the general route, marriage, investment, reacquisition or another special ground will apply.
2. Checking the preconditions: The residence schedule, marital status, investment conformity, descent or the other conditions specific to the category are examined.
3. Preparing the documents: The form, passport, birth, family and marital status records are completed, together with an apostille/authentication and a sworn/notarised translation if required.
4. Applying to the receiving authority: An application is made to the competent provincial directorate of population and citizenship, the special joint office or the foreign mission; biometric data and an interview are carried out when necessary.
5. Administrative review: The file is examined and the opinions of institutions are obtained; where necessary, the citizenship application review commission and the relevant security checks take part in the process.
6. Decision and notification: Depending on the type of file, the competent authority's decision of acceptance/rejection is notified to the person concerned.
7. Population registration and identity: After acceptance, the announcement certificate and population registration procedures are carried out; a separate application is made for the T.C. identity card and, if needed afterwards, for a passport.

Is the application made in person, or can a lawyer pursue it by power of attorney?

According to the official explanation of the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NVİ), applications may be made in person or by a special power of attorney relating to the exercise of the right; applications by post are not accepted. However, at stages where fingerprints or personal presence are required, a power of attorney does not remove the necessity of the person's actual presence. In exceptional investment applications in particular, the official guidelines may provide for a personal application. The role of the representative in document preparation, completing missing papers, administrative correspondence and judicial proceedings should be assessed separately from the applicant's personal procedures. 2

What documents are required for a citizenship application?

A single document list does not apply to all citizenship routes. The framework below shows the main groups of documents. The exact list should be matched with the current NVİ form and the specific file requests of the receiving authority. 2 6

Common identity and family documents

• The current form petition containing the request to acquire citizenship (for example VAT-3 in the general route, VAT-4 in investment, or another form according to the relevant category).
• A valid passport or national identity document; in the case of statelessness, a document showing that status.
• Birth certificate and identity details, marriage/divorce/death certificates, records showing family ties.
• Current biometric photographs in the required number and format; fingerprinting when required.
• For children under custody, the necessary consent, custody and court decisions.
• The application service fee receipt and the other transaction records requested.

Additional documents for the general route, marriage and investment

General route: Documents of five years of lawful residence and entry-exit records, residence/work permits, proof of income and profession, a health report and, depending on the situation, criminal record/court records. Marriage: The Turkish spouse's population records, valid documents of marriage and family union. Investment: The certificate of conformity/determination, the payment records of the relevant investment, and in the real estate route the title deed, valuation, annotation and bank/foreign currency documents; the special residence document and family records. In every case, the current checklist for the application type applies. 2 6 7

Apostille, consular authentication and Turkish translation

For official documents issued by foreign state authorities, whether the country is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention of 5 October 1961, the type of document and special agreements between the two countries are important. Where an apostille is not possible, applicable consular/foreign mission approval or other authentication methods may come into question. An apostille does not guarantee that the content of the document is correct; it concerns the authentication of the signature and capacity of the person who issued the document. The Turkish translations of the requested documents must be prepared in accordance with the official procedure, and the spelling of identity details must be consistent throughout the file.

Disputes over name-surname, date of birth and passport

Different Latin letters in a document, a father's name, a former surname or a missing day of birth may affect the application file. In this case an identity equivalence certificate, an explanatory official record, a correction of the population registry or, when necessary, a court determination decision may be sought. Submitting a document contrary to the truth creates a risk not only of rejection but also of later cancellation of the citizenship decision and in terms of criminal law.

How much are the 2026 citizenship application service fees?

The citizenship application service fees stated in the NVİ provincial directorate announcement dated 14 January 2026 are as follows. These amounts do not include the investment amount, notary, apostille, translation, title deed, passport or other expenses. The current institutional announcement and exemption cases should be checked at the time of payment. 4

The application of the fee items to other persons processed together with the applicant, and the statutory exemptions, should be checked against current collection announcements. The information of TL 115 for 2023 in the older text should not be used for 2026.

Review of the citizenship application, the interview and the time to conclusion

Files may be concluded in different periods depending on the application route, missing papers, correspondence between institutions and the intensity of the review. There is no definite guarantee of conclusion in three, five or six months in the Law that applies to all types of citizenship. Submission of documents at the first application and the issuing of the Ministry or Presidential decision are separate administrative stages. Submitting papers or attending the interview does not mean that the application has been accepted. 1 2

Citizenship application number and online enquiry

With the application number and date of birth, information can be obtained from NVİ's official Citizenship Application Status Enquiry service: official enquiry address. The number can be learned from the provincial population directorate or the relevant unit; for applications at foreign missions, the method of access may vary according to the date of application. Intermediate statuses on the enquiry screen should not be equated with the final decision of acceptance or rejection. 2 10

The citizenship announcement certificate, population registration and identity card

Following a decision to admit to citizenship, an announcement certificate is given to the person concerned by the receiving authority. The decision on acquiring citizenship, as provided in the law, takes effect from the date of the decision. After the announcement certificate and population registration procedures, an application for the T.C. identity card is made at the district population directorate or the competent foreign mission. If the former foreigner identity number continues to appear in the system, correction of the records may be requested. A Turkish passport is also a separately issued travel document; it is not deemed delivered automatically with the citizenship approval. 1 2

Why is a citizenship application rejected?

Grounds for rejection vary by application category: the required residence period not having been completed, the intention to settle not being proven, contradictory or missing documents, the conditions of the marriage tie, the investment amount or nature not being found suitable, a negative assessment in terms of public order/national security and similar reasons. In acquiring citizenship by decision of the competent authority, Article 10 of the Law gives the administration discretion; however, this power does not mean arbitrary application, failure to assess the reasons and evidence, or deciding outside judicial review. 1

The reasoning of the administrative rejection decision and file review

Upon notification of the rejection, the following should first be established: the authority that issued the decision, the date of notification, the statutory article relied on, the specific ground for rejection, the documents in the application file and, if any, the legal possibility of objection regarding the security investigation. In files where confidentiality and access restrictions exist, a separate review may be needed in terms of the defence and effective judicial review. Where the ground for rejection is notified only with a general expression, a legal assessment should be made of the reasoning of the specific case and the relevant documents.

Application to the administration, annulment action and time limits

Under the Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577, if no special period is prescribed, the time limit for filing suit before the administrative courts is 60 days and, as a rule, starts running from the day following written notification. The effect on the time limit of an application made to the superior authority or the authority that issued the act under Article 11 of the İYUK is calculated on the basis of the date of the application and the administration's 30-day reply period. Administrative inaction under Article 10 of the İYUK is examined as being of a different nature. An abstract final day cannot be given to all applicants on the basis of a single example. The competent court is determined according to the authority that directly issued the decision and the applicable rules of jurisdiction; the generalisation that all rejection suits will undisputedly be filed in Ankara is not accurate. 11

What evidence should be prepared before filing suit?

The application form and document receipt records, notifications, residence and entry-exit records, marital status documents, investment certificates of conformity, bank and title deed records, administrative correspondence, the accessible parts of interview records, identity equivalence records and the administration's reasoning for rejection should each be examined. The subject of proof should be tied to the statutory conditions of the citizenship route applied for and the specific allegation of unlawfulness in the rejection act.

Can one reapply after a rejection?

If the statutory conditions are met again or the earlier deficiencies are remedied, there may be a possibility of reapplying. However, reapplying does not automatically suspend or restart the time limit for filing suit against the existing rejection decision. For this reason, a new application and the alternatives of judicial review should not be confused with each other. 2

Other ways of acquiring citizenship

Turkish citizenship by adoption

Under Article 17 of Law No. 5901, a minor adopted by a Turkish citizen may acquire Turkish citizenship from the date of the decision, provided there is no obstacle in terms of national security and public order. The adoption decision, the need for recognition in Türkiye of a court decision given in a foreign country, and the status of the population registration are examined separately. The adoption of adults does not automatically produce the same special citizenship result. 1

Reacquisition of citizenship and the right of option

For persons who have previously lost Turkish citizenship, Articles 13 and 14 provide different regimes. Certain groups, such as those who lost citizenship with a permission to renounce, may apply for reacquisition without a residence period being sought, provided there is no national security obstacle. For some other reasons of loss, three years of residence in Türkiye may come into question. The right of option that children who lost citizenship by dependence on a parent may exercise after coming of age is also subject to a special period; it cannot be reduced to the general five-year rule. Which paragraph applies is determined from the earlier decision on renouncing/losing citizenship. 1

Special practice for TRNC citizens

Article 42 of Law No. 5901 provides a special provision regarding the written request to acquire citizenship of those who are citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by birth. For foreign nationals who acquired TRNC citizenship after birth, reference is made to the general provisions of the law. For this reason it cannot be concluded that "everyone with a TRNC passport becomes a Turkish citizen by declaration alone"; how the TRNC citizenship was acquired must in any case be documented. 1

Exceptional services, the Turquoise Card and migrant status

Article 12 of Law No. 5901 provides the possibility of exceptional citizenship for extraordinary service to Türkiye or special interests assessed by the relevant authority, for investors under Article 31/1-j of Law No. 6458, Turquoise Card holders and certain other groups listed in the law. The exceptional route is also not exempt from the public order and national security assessment. Being a Turquoise Card holder is not synonymous with automatically acquiring citizenship. 1

The effect on spouse and children, multiple citizenship and loss of citizenship

Do the citizenship of the spouse and children change automatically?

Under Article 20 of the Law, acquiring citizenship by decision of the competent authority does not automatically change the citizenship of the spouse. For children, custody, the other parent's consent and the special provisions of the law are important. The file of a child who comes of age during the application may change; in that case the child may no longer be dependent on the parent and may have to be assessed under his or her own conditions. Alongside family reunification and the protection of children, the separate rules on personal status must be observed. 1 2

Does Türkiye recognise dual citizenship?

Law No. 5901 recognises the institution of multiple citizenship. However, whether a person can keep his or her existing citizenship depends on the law of the other State and, if any, the rules on notices of renunciation. There is no general rule that renouncing the earlier citizenship is in every case compulsory in order to acquire citizenship in Türkiye. Where the other State prohibits or restricts dual citizenship, the legislation of that country should be examined separately. 1

Later cancellation, withdrawal and deprivation of citizenship

Cancellation of the decision to admit to citizenship may be assessed under Article 31 of the Law in connection with serious situations such as a false statement or concealment of material facts in acquiring citizenship. Withdrawal (Article 40) and deprivation (Article 29) are different legal mechanisms. A breach of a technical condition of an investment, fraud in the initial acquisition, a forged document or a public order problem may produce different results; they should not all be gathered under the same heading of "automatic cancellation". 1

Renouncing Turkish citizenship with permission and the situation of children

Renunciation with permission is a separate procedure not of acquiring citizenship but of losing it. The Ministry's process is assessed within the framework of full age and discernment, the citizenship of another country or reliable indications that it will be acquired, being wanted, and other limitations. Children losing citizenship together with the parent does not always happen automatically; custody, the other parent's consent, the best interests of the child and the statutory procedure are taken into account. Which rights those who renounce with permission will retain under the Blue Card may be examined separately. 1 2

Consequences of citizenship in terms of tax, military service, social rights and travel

Does a person who acquires citizenship pay tax in Türkiye on all foreign income?

No; merely being a Turkish citizen does not mean that all worldwide income will automatically be taxed in Türkiye. In income tax, full/limited liability, residence, the rule of staying more than six months within a calendar year and statutory exemptions; and for companies, criteria such as the head office, the place of business and double taxation treaties are decisive. Citizenship and tax residence are different legal concepts. The title deed and tax consequences of real estate acquired in Türkiye because of an investment should also be assessed separately.

Military service and other obligations

Whether military service arises is determined, for men who acquire Turkish citizenship afterwards in Türkiye, within the framework of Military Service Law No. 7179, age, military service performed in the earlier country, exemptions and special circumstances. Having dual citizenship does not by itself remove all military service obligations. The current guidelines of the Ministry of National Defence on procedures for acquiring citizenship afterwards should be taken as the basis. 12

Voting, passport and political rights in foreign countries

After Turkish citizenship is acquired, political rights such as voting are separately subject, under Turkish law, to age and electoral registration conditions. The right to vote and stand for election or hold public office in another country is determined by that country's citizenship and electoral law. A passport of the Republic of Türkiye is obtained by a separate application after the citizenship decision; visa practices in other States may vary by country and type of passport.

Common mistakes in applications and preventive checks

The problems that matter most in the review are: choosing the wrong citizenship route, an incorrect calculation of lawful residence in the general route, an outdated investment threshold, regarding shared or undeveloped real estate as suitable, a mismatch between the title deed price and the bank transfer, neglecting the special conditions of a notarised promise to sell, not checking the length of the marriage against official records, name differences in birth certificates, not obtaining the other parent's consent for children, the residence status ending during the application, and not tracking the notification date of the rejection decision.

In a specific file, the safe approach is to follow a sequence of checks: first the legal route and the date of the legislation, then the accuracy of documents and payments, then the administrative application, and lastly the notification and litigation calendar. Even where the investment amount is high, a title deed suitability assessment should be made before the purchase.

Conclusion

The right answer in a Turkish citizenship application cannot be reached only through the questions "how many years of residence are required?" or "how many dollars' worth of home is enough?" The application category, the legislation on the date of application, lawful residence and travel history, family status, the legal and technical suitability of the investment, the accuracy of documents and the administrative decision process must be assessed together. As of 2026, five years of lawful residence in the general route, a three-year marriage in marriage, and the thresholds specific to the relevant category in investment retain their importance. However, these conditions do not give rise to an automatic right to citizenship. A person whose application is rejected must not miss the time limit for filing suit, and a person who receives a decision of acceptance must complete the announcement, population registration and identity procedures. In the investment route, the current TKGM regulations must be separately confirmed before the transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does everyone who has lived in Türkiye for five years become a Turkish citizen?

No. Together with the type and length of lawful residence, the other conditions in Article 11 of Law No. 5901 are examined. Even if the conditions are met, admission to citizenship under Article 10 is not an absolute right.

How many months in total may be spent abroad in a general citizenship application?

Article 15 of the Law speaks of stays abroad not exceeding twelve months in total within the period required for residence. The period and the nature of the permit should be checked against the specific passport and Migration Management records.

Does one become a citizen immediately on marrying a Turkish citizen?

No. As a rule, an application can be made with a marriage that has continued for at least three years and the other conditions in Article 16 of the Law.

Is living together for a long time without an official marriage enough for the marriage route?

No. Acquisition through marriage depends on a marriage tie valid under the law. Living together does not by itself open this special application route.

What is the minimum number of dollars needed for citizenship by buying a home in 2026?

The general threshold in real estate investment is USD 400,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency. However, the type of real estate, the title deed, payment, determination and three-year non-disposal conditions are sought together.

Can a citizenship application be made by buying shared real estate?

In the TKGM guide of 9 December 2024, shared acquisition in the names of more than one foreigner so as to form co-ownership is not accepted as suitable. Later technical changes and the specific transaction should be checked separately.

Is it sufficient if the total value of more than one home is USD 400,000?

In a sale, the total amount of more than one suitable property can be assessed under the conditions in the guide. For a promise to sell there are special limitations such as a single contract and payment conditions.

Can any plot or field be the subject of citizenship by investment?

No. The 2023 amendment and the TKGM guide provide limitations on the type of real estate. Categories such as undeveloped land and agricultural land are not accepted as suitable automatically.

Does obtaining the investment certificate of conformity mean citizenship is final?

No. The certificate is the determination of the investment condition by the competent institution. Residence, the file, the security assessment and the final citizenship decision are separate procedures.

Do the investor's spouse and children automatically become citizens?

No. Although it is possible for the spouse and children to be assessed in connection with the application, identity, family ties, age and, where needed, consent conditions are examined separately.

Is a residence permit automatically granted when an investment is made?

No. Under Article 31/1-j of Law No. 6458, a separate short-term residence permit application and the related administrative assessment are required.

Is a citizenship application made to the Population Directorate?

In Türkiye, the governorate/provincial directorate of population and citizenship of the place of residence is the main receiving authority; abroad, foreign missions, and in special investment files, the competent joint offices may take part.

Can a lawyer make the citizenship application by power of attorney?

Certain procedures can be pursued with a special power of attorney complying with the official rules. At stages that require fingerprints and personal presence, the person's own attendance is required.

How much is the citizenship application fee in 2026?

A service fee of TL 957.26 for the general route, marriage and adoption; TL 505.72 for reacquisition, the right of option and the related TRNC application; and TL 135.45 for exceptional citizenship has been announced. Other transaction costs are separate. 4

In how many months is a citizenship application concluded?

There is no fixed and guaranteed period of conclusion for all routes. It varies according to the type of file, the completeness of documents and institutional reviews.

Where can one find out at what stage the application is?

Information can be obtained with the application number and date of birth from NVİ's official Citizenship Application Status Enquiry page.

Within how many days must suit be filed if the application is rejected?

In annulment actions for which there is no special period, the general period is 60 days. The notification, the type of act, whether an administrative application was made and the İYUK time-limit provisions should be examined specifically for the file.

Can a new citizenship application be made after a rejection?

A new application may be possible when the statutory conditions arise. However, a new application does not automatically extend the time limit for filing suit against the earlier rejection decision.

If Turkish citizenship is acquired, is it necessary to renounce the earlier citizenship?

Türkiye recognises the institution of multiple citizenship. However, whether the earlier citizenship can be kept depends on the law of the relevant foreign country.

Does becoming a Turkish citizen mean all foreign income is taxed in Türkiye?

No. Tax liability is determined within the framework of tax residence, statutory residence and tax treaties, which are different from citizenship.

Are those who acquire Turkish citizenship afterwards exempt from military service?

There is no automatic exemption for everyone. Age, military service performed in the earlier country and the provisions of Law No. 7179 are examined separately.

Is the application of TRNC citizens the same as that of other foreigners?

There is a special procedure in Article 42 for those who are TRNC citizens by birth; different provisions apply to persons who acquired TRNC citizenship afterwards.

Must a child born to a Turkish citizen parent be separately admitted to citizenship?

For children who may already be Turkish citizens by descent, determination of citizenship by birth and population registration should be assessed first.

Is a T.C. passport sent automatically after the citizenship decision?

No. The announcement, population registration and T.C. identity card procedures follow the decision of acceptance. A separate application is made for the passport.

Can a decision admitting to citizenship be cancelled later?

Depending on fraud, a false statement or other special conditions in the law, mechanisms of cancellation, withdrawal or deprivation may come into question; each is subject to different legal grounds.

When a person renounces citizenship with permission, do the children automatically lose citizenship too?

No. The request, custody, the other parent's consent and the statutory conditions are assessed together.

Legal Sources

1. Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, especially Art. 5-21, Art. 29, 31, 40-45; Ministry of Justice UYAP Legislation, NVİ legislation.

2. General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs, official explanations: Citizenship Services Frequently Asked Questions and Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship.

3. Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law, 2010/139, especially Art. 20 regulating the conformity conditions of investment; Art. 12 of Law No. 5901 and Art. 31/1-j of Law No. 6458.

4. NVİ Edirne Provincial Directorate, 2026 Citizenship Application Service Fees, 14 January 2026.

5. Article 15 of Law No. 5901, calculation of the residence period; the current twelve-month provision in the legislation.

6. NVİ, Application Document for General Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship (VAT-3).

7. TKGM, Implementation guide of 9 December 2024 on the acquisition of real estate for citizenship purposes.

8. TKGM, Circular No. 2024/4 and the valuation/TTB system.

9. TKGM, Announcement of 29 September 2026 on the amendment of Circular No. 2024/4. The current full text of the additional document should be separately verified before application.

10. NVİ, Citizenship Application Status Enquiry.

11. Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577, especially Art. 7, 10, 11, 32 and the related special provisions on jurisdiction and time limits.

12. Ministry of National Defence, Military Service - Citizenship Procedures.