Real Estate Investment
Turkish citizenship can be obtained by purchasing one or more properties, including apartments, villas, and shops, worth
$400,000
Turkish citizenship can be obtained by purchasing one or more properties, including apartments, villas, and shops, worth
$400,000
Turkish citizenship can be obtained upon depositing an amount of
$500,000
Conducting industrial or commercial investment activities and employing a number of Turks with a capital of no less than
$500,000
*Papers must be brought from the investor's country
In light of Turkey's rapid expansion and the instability that many countries are experiencing, many investors have resorted to gaining Turkish citizenship in order to protect their living circumstances for themselves and their children, as well as to enjoy freedom of movement between other countries, where the Turkish passport holds advanced rankings owing to the pace of its predicted advancement in light of the Turkish Republic's strategic intentions.
According to the Henley Passport Index for the year 2023, the Turkish passport is one of the finest passports in the world, ranking 50 out of 199 countries, and entitles its possessor to entry and stay in several countries without difficulty. We do not rule out the possibility that one day, with the Turkish government's attitude to cementing diplomatic connections, economic growth, and ongoing development, the Turkish passport will be among the top 10 in the world.
Furthermore, if Turkey's plans to join the European Union and the Schengen area are realized, Turkish passport holders will be allowed to travel to the majority of countries inside and outside of Europe without a visa.
Beautiful vistas, being near the sea, wonderful cuisine, and being surrounded by kind and friendly locals are all part of life in Turkey. When compared to the people of many other nations, the Turkish people live a dynamic and prosperous lifestyle.
Turkey is also a country of tremendous regional and global significance since it is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. It is a vast intercontinental country strategically positioned and surrounded by three seas, with a geographic location that allows it to communicate with important markets via well-developed transportation routes, making it a popular tourist destination.
Who wouldn't want to live in a continental country with all of the aforementioned benefits? Not to mention the fact that, thanks to recent citizenship initiatives, entering Turkey is no longer a demanding challenge. Furthermore, the business opportunities for expats in Turkey are pretty huge, and investing in Turkey is definitely advantageous.
Back to 2016, the government of Turkey unveiled a citizenship-by-investment program allowing for the acquisition of Turkish citizenship by investment , and it initiated the program in late January 2017 to encourage foreign direct capital and enhance the country's real estate market.
And when the Turkish citizenship by investment in real estate program was first announced, the government estimated that the admittance fee would be at least $1 million. As a result, few investors were interested. The Turkish government reduced the required investment to $400,000 in mid-2022 after discovering that the amount assigned was a bit too high. Consequently, Turkey is now one of the market's lowest-cost to acquisition of Turkish citizenship by investment programs.
Following the latest legislative amendments, the Turkish Republic has begun to grant citizenship to those who invest in Turkey without requiring a minimum period of residency. The option to acquisition of Turkish citizenship by investment has grown even more appealing since the minimal investment amounts were dropped, as mentioned above, and the entire procedure may now be completed in 2–3 months.
For a variety of reasons, including the following, foreigners may endeavor to obtain Turkish citizenship:
It is available to all Turkish nationals and foreigners who have earned citizenship. It is known as a "regular" or "public" passport. This passport is granted by the Passport department of the Ministry of Interior or by Turkish consulates worldwide.
According to the degree of kinship, it is the passport given to those who work for the government and their families. Most countries do not require a visa for entry or leave for those possessing green passports. Former members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, former ministers, former government employees, and their offspring are all eligible for the green passport.
It is referred to as a diplomatic passport and is a sort of international identification document issued by the interior ministry. Its holder is not required to get a visa in order to enter any country on the globe. Members of the Turkish Parliament, ministries, the head of religious affairs, mayors, city governors, the republic's president, and former ambassadors are all eligible for this black passport.
This passport is issued to those who work for the government abroad or represent Turkey in international organizations, as well as to youngsters above the age of 25.
Several factors, including the following, are used to evaluate the strength of the Turkish passport:
A person holding a Turkish passport is eligible for visa-free travel to 54 countries, with stays ranging from one to three months. These countries are:
Palestine - Jordan - Iraq - Lebanon - Libya - Qatar - Syria - Tunisia - Morocco - Argentina - Albania - Sultanate of Oman - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bolivia - Belarus - Chile - Brazil - Botswana - Dominica - Costa Rica - Colombia - Georgia - El Salvador - Ecuador - Honduras - Haiti - Guatemala - Kazakhstan - Kyrgyzstan - Iran - North Korea - Japan - Jamaica - Malaysia - Macedonia - Kosovo - Mongolia - Moldova - Mauritius - Panama - Nicaragua - Montenegro - the Philippines - Peru - Paraguay - Singapore - Serbia - Russia - Ukraine - Thailand - South Africa - Venezuela - Uruguay.
Bahrain - Kuwait - Armenia - Comoros - Mauritania - Sudan - Madagascar - Azerbaijan - Djibouti - Guinea - Indonesia - Cambodia - Nepal - Mozambique - Maldives - Togo - Tanzania - Tajikistan – Timor Leste - Zambia - Uganda - Ivory Coast.
The following countries—Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Rwanda, and Australia—issue electronic visas to holders of Turkish passports within two days.
Many countries, including 25 countries in the European Union, need Turkish passport holders to get entrance visas.
The holder of a Turkish passport can benefit from the following advantages:
A foreign investor who has purchased a property for sale in Istanbul , Antalya , or Bursa for example, and that property worth at least 400,000 USD in foreign currency or Turkish lira, as determined by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, can apply for Turkish citizenship if an annotation is made in the land registry records stating that it will not be sold for three years. Before purchasing real estate, a real estate valuation report indicating the market value of the real estate should be issued by real estate assessment agencies licensed by the Capital Markets Board and the Banking Supervision Board. The date of issuance of this appraisal report, presented as part of the application for the purchase of real estate, must be at least 3 months prior to the application date.
However, if you are a foreigner intending to buy an apartment for sale in Trabzon , Turkey, or any other kind of properties, like commercial properties ; offices, villas , or even a luxury penthouse in any part of Turkey , including Istanbul , Antalya , Ankara, Kocaeli, or Sakarya , you should be aware of the following:
When it comes to real estate purchases in Turkey, the term "foreigner" is classified into three subgroups:
Acquisition of real estate by foreign natural and legal persons is governed by Article 35 of Law No. 2644 on Land Registry. Article 36 outlines the rules for corporations with foreign ownership.
The Cabinet of Ministers determines which countries' citizens are entitled to buy real estate in Turkey, and may also impose extra requirements for acquisitions if considered essential.
The Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law, the Foreigners and International Protection Law, and Presidential Decision No. 106 and 418 all contain provisions governing the acquisition of Turkish citizenship by investment for a foreign investor.
Whereas, article 12 of the Turkish Citizenship Law states that:
Article 31/1-j, headed "Foreigners' Short-Term Residence Permit and International Protection Law," states the following:
“Those who do not work in Turkey but plan to make investments within the scope and quantity set by the President, as well as their foreign spouse, underage or dependent foreign children, or spouse, shall be entitled to apply for a short-term residence permit.”
As shown above, not everyone who invests can acquisition of Turkish citizenship by investment as a result of their investment in a duplex apartment for sale in Istanbul , for example. These investments must meet specific criteria or surpass particular financial thresholds. The investment has to be within the scope and volume designated by the President, according to the Foreigners' and International Protection Law. Presidential Resolution No. 418 established the scope and quantity of the investment required from foreigners to become Turkish citizens and acquisition of Turkish citizenship by investment .
According to Presidential Decision No. 418, foreigners can get Turkish citizenship by investment after filing an application according to the President's decision if they meet any of the following conditions:
A foreign investor who has made a fixed capital investment of at least 500,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currency or equivalent in Turkish lira, as decided by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, may obtain Turkish citizenship. Purchasing real estate on its own does not qualify as an investment in this category. An investment in fixed capital should be an investment in the production of commodities and services. As a result, it should include factory-related components. Machinery, gear, buildings, and land are only a few examples.
If a pledge is made in the land register records stating that the property will not be sold for three years, a foreign investor who purchases real estate worth at least 400,000 USD (or equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish lira) can apply for Turkish citizenship.
A foreign investor who employs at least 50 people is eligible to obtain Turkish citizenship as determined by the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services.
A foreign investor who has invested at least 500,000 USD or equivalent in foreign money or Turkish lira in Turkish banks for three years, as decided by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, can obtain Turkish citizenship. The bank where the investment will be made must be based in Turkey. Citizenship cannot be obtained by depositing money into a deposit account opened in a branch, affiliate, or representative office of a bank based in Turkey. The deposit must be in a CBRT-approved convertible foreign currency or precious metal.
For three years, a foreign investor can get Turkish citizenship if he possesses government debt instruments worth at least 500,000 USD or comparable foreign currency or Turkish lira, as determined by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance.
A foreign investor who has paid at least 500,000 USD or equivalent in foreign currency or equivalent in Turkish lira for a stake in a real estate investment fund or venture capital investment fund can obtain Turkish citizenship as determined by the Capital Markets Board.
These monetary restrictions are calculated using the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey's effective selling rate and/or cross exchange rate on the calculation date.
There are several groups who are eligible to apply for a Turkish passport, including:
It is noteworthy that the Directorate of Land Registry and Real Estate Survey reported that 17,968 investors in real estate from 122 different countries acquired Turkish citizenship between the beginning of 2017 and the middle of 2021.
Following a 36% rise from the year prior, costs for Turkish passports in 2022 are listed below according to the length of validity:
Fees in Turkish lira |
Duration |
534 |
Passport fee for 6 months |
677 |
Passport fee for 1 year |
963 |
Passport fee for 2 years |
1274 |
Passport fee for 3 years |
1703 |
Passport fee for more than 3 years |
Service and special "green" passports are exempted from fees.
The passport might be delivered within 2–7 working days from the date of submitting the application by PTT to the specified address. Sometimes when it is not possible to deliver the package to the address mentioned in the application, it can be taken from the nearest PTT branch within 10 days. Yet, please know that if the package is not received in the specified period (10 days), it will be returned to the department concerned.
A foreign investor can apply for a short-term residency permit without having to enter Turkey. Investors can also use the e-residence system to apply for a short-term residency permit. The appropriate documentation must, however, be presented to the General Directorate of Migration Management in this circumstance.
From outside Turkey, applications for residence permits are submitted to Turkish consulates in the countries where the foreigner is a citizen or lawfully resides.
Foreigners applying for a residence permit must have a passport or passport replacement that is 60 days longer than the residence permit sought. Applications must be completed within 90 days of the application date.
Foreigners' applications for citizenship are assessed by a commission created by the appropriate ministries and presented to the President for approval. The President has the last say on whether or not to grant citizenship.
When applying for a certificate of conformity, a short-term residency permit, or citizenship, a great amount of information and documents must be fully prepared. If any of the needed application papers are missing, your application may be refused, or it may take some time to complete the missing paperwork.
All procedures for obtaining a short-term residence permit, receiving a residence permit card, obtaining a certificate of conformity, and all necessary steps for a citizenship application can be completed remotely with a special power of attorney, without the foreigner having to visit Turkey in person. damasturk's professional team will take all the required precautions to complete all transactions on your behalf as quickly as possible.
To gain Turkish citizenship as an investor, there are no residence requirements. This implies that you may get a Turkish passport 6 months after making a financial commitment, even if you have never lived in Turkey. However, to be eligible for citizenship, the applicant must meet one of the following investment requirements:
Investing in real estate makes the most sense for overseas investors. It not only requires less money, but its worth is expected to rise in the next few years. And it can also be rented or sold.
The conditions for getting Turkish citizenship by investment have changed significantly as of March 23, 2021. These new regulations have imposed a considerable additional barrier for international investors, as getting Turkish citizenship through real estate investment procedures now demands considerably more due diligence.
The following are the most recent changes:
The following information will assist you in understanding the procedures for applying for Turkish citizenship.
After the applicant has decided how he wants to invest in Turkey, he must submit an application for a residency permit. It normally takes 3 to 4 months to complete the procedure. The greatest feature is that you don't have to be physically present in the country to conduct an interview or obtain documents.
The next step is a little more time-consuming. You will be asked to complete a significant amount of documentation. Notary certifications, official translation (if required), and so on; the process will undoubtedly consume a substantial amount of your time.
Furthermore, whether you choose real estate, job development, or capital investment, the process is quite similar. Here are the measures to take concerning the real estate investment method.
At the end, you have to know that each of these tasks may be completed in less than 24 hours, and you do not need to be physically present in the country. However, if you are available in Turkey when you drop off the documents and return home with the title deed, you will receive your ten-year passport within three to four months of filing your application. Imagine how fascinating that would be!
Finally, we hope, dear reader, that we have answered all your inquiries about the Turkish passport, its arrangement, its privileges, and the promising opportunities that await you after obtaining Turkish citizenship. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any more inquiries.
by: damasturk
Sources: invest.gov.tr / turkiye.gov.tr / goc.gov.tr
In September 2018, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a decision to grant Turkish citizenship to foreigners who acquire a property/real estate worth a minimum $400,000 in Turkey, with a title deed restriction on its resale for at least 3 years.
After preparing all the documents needed for the application, including the title deed of the purchased property, the Turkish citizenship can be acquired after only 90 days, as there is a special coordination office to follow up on citizenship transactions through properties’ ownership.
Is it possible to acquire Turkish citizenship without my presence? Yes, this can be done by making an official power of attorney at the Turkish embassy in your country for the legal team in damasturk, and we will go through all the procedures for you.
Yes, Turkish law allows dual citizenship, but you have to check with the responsible authorities in your country if it is allowed.
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