Turkish naturalization 2023
Turkey shines with its enchanting landscapes and rich history, and this goes beyond its natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Turkish naturalization opens the doors to a new world of opportunities and privileges.
In this article, we will take you step by step through the stages of obtaining Turkish citizenship and explore how this step can change your life forever.
Advantages of obtaining Turkish citizenship
Turkish naturalization comes with numerous privileges and advantages, such as facilitating paperwork, visa-free travel to many countries worldwide, increased job opportunities in both public and private sectors, utilizing retirement benefits, and using public transportation. Obtaining Turkish citizenship allows individuals to engage in professions that were previously restricted to foreigners and to make changes to professional certifications.
Moreover, Turkish naturalization opens doors to international positions with better salaries, enables participation in elections, and allows candidacy for government positions. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for integration and assimilation into Turkish society, with easier property ownership.
It’s important to note that obtaining Turkish citizenship does not conflict with holding other nationalities. With economic growth and political development, Turkish citizenship remains attractive to many seeking opportunities and a sustainable future in Turkey.
Ways to obtain Turkish citizenship 2023
In a rapidly changing world, Turkish naturalization through investment has become more transparent and attractive under the Turkish Nationality Law of 2023. Citizenship can be acquired through various investments:
1. Real Estate Investment
You can obtain Turkish citizenship by purchasing one or more properties with a total value of at least 400,000 US dollars.
2. Bank Deposit
Citizenship can be obtained by depositing a sum of 500,000 US dollars in a Turkish bank for a period of 3 years.
3. Job Creation
ُTurkish naturalization can be acquired by creating employment opportunities for at least 50 people on Turkish soil.
The process can typically be completed, and the passport obtained, within a period ranging from six to eight months.
Conditions and documents required to obtain Turkish citizenship
Obtaining Turkish citizenship in 2023 requires the availability of certain documents and meeting specific conditions, as follows:
1. The applicant must be at least 18 years old, according to the Turkish Nationality Law of 2023.
2. There should be no unlawful residence in Turkey, in accordance with local laws.
3. Payment of taxes and related costs associated with the process.
4. Meeting the specific nationality requirements, and in the case of real estate investment, purchasing a property worth no less than 400,000 US dollars.
Additionally, applicants are required to submit the following documents in accordance with the Turkish nationality requirements for 2023:
- Birth certificate.
- Passport.
- Colored biometric passport photos.
- Marriage certificate (if required).
- Proof of a clean criminal record for all applicants.
- Proof of a 400,000 US dollar investment in a Turkish bank account according to real estate investment conditions.
A Turkish tax identification number must also be provided.
What are the stages of Turkish naturalization in 2023?
The process of granting citizenship to foreigners in Turkey consists of seven distinct stages, starting with the submission of the Turkish citizenship application to the Civil Registry Directorate and concluding with the acquisition and receipt of Turkish citizenship. Here is a brief overview of the stages of the citizenship process in Turkey for the year 2023:
Stage 1
Submission of the Turkish citizenship application to the Civil Registry Directorate.
Stage 2
Sending the application to the General Directorate of Civil Registry.
Stage 3
Receipt of the application by the General Directorate of Civil Registry.
Stage 4
Sending the application for examination and verification.
Stage 5
Processing your application for Turkish naturalization.
Stage 6
Your application is transferred to the relevant authority and awaits signature.
Stage 7
Receiving a congratulatory message stating, “You have become a Turkish citizen with all rights. You must now visit the General Directorate of Civil Registry to collect the citizenship decision.”
Together, we will explore the stages of naturalization in Turkey, along with detailed information about the process of acquiring Turkish citizenship and highlights of its stages in 2023. We will shed light on the stages of processing Turkish citizenship applications for foreigners residing in Turkey.
Naturalization Laws in Turkey 2023
As you are aware, prior to 2017, individuals seeking Turkish naturalization through property acquisition had to invest a minimum of $1 million in real estate.
In 2018, the Turkish government revised this requirement, reducing it from $1 million to $250,000, aiming to stimulate its business sector and attract foreign investors. This alteration led to a surge in real estate investments by individuals from around the world. However, it was anticipated that these regulations would evolve rapidly.
In early 2021, the investment threshold for obtaining citizenship through real estate investment increased from $250,000 to $400,000. As we approach the beginning of 2023, there have been further changes to the requirements for obtaining Turkish citizenship, which will come into effect in 2023.
New regulations for Turkish naturalization in 2023 have been introduced. In this section, we will compare the 2023 laws with the previous ones. Please continue reading to learn more.
Previously, if, for instance, two families jointly purchased a property worth $800,000, each contributing $400,000, both families could obtain Turkish citizenship based on that single property. Under the new 2023 laws, only one family is eligible to apply for citizenship for each property, and the second family will not be granted citizenship. Even if the property’s value significantly exceeds the citizenship threshold, only one family per property or apartment can seek citizenship through real estate investment in Turkey.
Should a buyer intend to distribute the $400,000 investment across the purchase of multiple apartments to reach the required threshold, all property documents must be readily available. Previously, a notarized agreement could suffice for this purpose. However, starting in 2023, notarized contracts will only be accepted if all purchased units are part of the same development project. If acquisitions are made from different projects, notarized contracts will not be accepted for Turkish naturalization application purposes.
The duration of each stage of naturalization in Turkey in 2023
| Stage | Duration |
| First | One week to three weeks |
| Second | From one week to one month. |
| Third | From one day to two weeks. |
| Fourth | This stage is considered a crucial and the longest phase in terms of duration and complexity. Under normal circumstances, it takes between two weeks to a month for this stage to be completed. However, due to excessive workload, 90% of the applications may take from one month to six months.It’s worth noting that this timeframe does not apply to obtaining Turkish citizenship through real estate investment. In the case of investment, the procedures are expedited significantly due to direct supervision and special auditing by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey. Therefore, this type of naturalization application reduces the audit period to a maximum of two weeks. |
| Fifth | The duration can range from one to two months. |
| Sixth | This stage typically takes from a few weeks to a couple of months. |
| Seventh | This stage usually lasts from one week to two weeks only. |
Stages of naturalization through marriage in Turkey
Foreigners who marry a Turkish citizen have the right for Turkish naturalization, provided that 3 years have passed from the date of marriage, whether or not they have children.
The Turkis naturalization process through marriage shares similarities with general or exceptional naturalization in terms of duration and stages, while citizenship through investment has relatively shorter durations and procedures.
What is the citizenship application duration?
The commission interview represents the final step in the Turkish naturalization application process, during which your eligibility for citizenship will be determined, and this typically occurs within a maximum timeframe of 8-10 months.
The extended duration of these procedures is primarily attributed to the high volume of individuals seeking Turkish citizenship.
Edited by : VAAL Real Estate