Turkish Citizenship Requirements 2026: Eligibility and Documents

Reviewed by Jane Katkova, Founder & Licensed CICC Consultant· Last updated: October 2026

The Turkish citizenship requirements for investors are a qualifying investment of US$400,000 in property or US$500,000 in a financial route held for three years, investor residence permits for you and your spouse, clean criminal record certificates, and one trip to Turkey for biometrics. There is no language test and no minimum stay.

Turkey citizenship by investment requirements: key facts

• Minimum Property Investment of US$400,000. or US$500,000 deposit, bonds, fund shares or fixed capital; or 50 jobs
• 3-Year Holding Period. registered as a no-sale annotation on the title deed
• Spouse and Children Under 18. adult children and parents do not qualify as dependants
• Investor Residence Permit for Applicant and Spouse. spouse requirement in force since 2 January 2024
• Criminal Record Certificates for Applicant and Spouse. apostilled and translated
• In-Person Biometrics for Adult Applicants. fingerprints taken in Turkey; at least one trip
• No Language Test and No Minimum Stay. no interview beyond the biometric and permit steps
• Around 6–12 Months to a Passport. around 3–6 months after investment for well-prepared property files

Turkish citizenship requirements: eligibility of applicants and dependants

These are the conditions the land registry, the Investment Office and the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs apply. We screen against each before you commit funds.

Main applicant

• Adult investor making the qualifying investment in their own name
• Lawful, traceable source of funds, paid through a Turkish bank; no cash
• Clean criminal record certificate
• Investor residence permit obtained in Turkey
• Biometrics and fingerprints given in person
• Passes the security checks carried out before the Presidential decision

Family members who can be included

• Spouse, who since January 2024 also needs an investor residence permit and a criminal record certificate
• Children under 18
• Adult children and parents cannot be included; each would need their own qualifying investment

Investment

• Real estate with an official valuation of at least US$400,000 from an SPK-licensed appraiser, registered on the title deed (tapu) with a three-year no-sale annotation
• Generally bought from Turkish citizens or companies; property previously owned by foreigners does not qualify
• Since December 2023, undeveloped land without a building or building permit does not qualify
• Or US$500,000 in a Turkish bank deposit, government bonds, real estate or venture capital fund shares, or fixed capital confirmed by the Ministry of Industry and Technology
• Or employment of 50 Turkish citizens, confirmed by the Ministry of Labour
• Every route held for three years

Documents required for Turkish citizenship by investment

Foreign documents are apostilled and translated into Turkish with notarisation. Criminal record certificates must be recent at filing, so we order them last.

Identity and civil status

• Valid passport for every applicant
• Birth certificates, showing both parents for each child
• Marriage certificate, or divorce decree and any custody order
• Biometric photographs

Character

• Criminal record certificate for the main applicant and the spouse: FBI Identity History Summary for US residents, RCMP certified criminal record check for Canadian residents, or the equivalent from your country of citizenship

Investment and payment

• Official valuation report from an SPK-licensed appraiser
• Title deed (tapu) with the three-year no-sale annotation
• Bank transfer receipts through a Turkish bank
• Currency sale certificate (DAB) for foreign currency sold to the bank
• For the financial routes: bank, bond or fund confirmation, or ministry confirmation for fixed capital or job creation

In Turkey

• Investor residence permits for the main applicant and spouse
• Health insurance for the residence permit
• Biometrics and fingerprints for adult applicants

Turkish citizenship requirements for US and Canadian applicants

For US and Canadian citizens

Your file is usually straightforward: an FBI or RCMP check, apostilled civil documents and a clean bank trail to Turkey. The points to settle first are military service for male applicants and sons, which should be checked with us before applying, and the trip to Turkey for biometrics.

For US and Canada residents on another passport

Your criminal record certificate may be needed from your country of citizenship as well as your country of residence, and funds earned abroad must be traceable into a Turkish bank. Check whether your own country allows dual citizenship: India, for example, does not.

Visa requirements for Turkish citizens and common grounds for refusal

Visa requirements for Turkish citizens. The Turkish passport gives visa-free, visa-on-arrival or eTA access to around 112–114 destinations according to the Henley Passport Index 2026. Turkish citizens need visas for the Schengen Area, the UK and the US, and generally need a visa for Canada. The US difference is the E-2 Treaty Investor visa, which Turkish citizens may apply for; US rules scrutinise nationality acquired through investment, and the State Department and USCIS examine the bona fides. Grenada offers the same treaty with Schengen and UK access; see the Grenada page.

Common grounds for delay or refusal. A valuation below US$400,000 even when the price paid was higher; a property previously owned by a foreigner; bare land bought after December 2023; payment outside a Turkish bank or without a currency sale certificate; a title deed without a clean history; and an adverse result in the security checks. Each can be avoided by reviewing the property and file before purchase.

Figures verified 2 October 2026. The fees are on the cost page.

Check your eligibility for Turkish citizenship by investment

Tell us your nationality, family and how the investment will be funded. We tell you directly whether Turkey suits your file, and which property checks to complete before you buy. Book a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Turkish or live in Turkey to qualify?

No. There is no language test, no civics test and no minimum stay before or after citizenship. Since January 2024, however, adult applicants must attend in person for biometrics and fingerprints, and the main applicant and spouse obtain investor residence permits in Turkey, so plan at least one trip. Our team coordinates the appointments so the visit is short.

Can I include my parents or adult children in a Turkish citizenship application?

No. Only your spouse and children under 18 are included in the same Presidential decision. Adult children and parents do not qualify as dependants, so each would need their own qualifying investment of US$400,000 in property or US$500,000 in a financial route. We can structure separate files for family members who want to apply.

What are the visa requirements for Turkish citizens travelling to Europe, the US and Canada?

Turkish citizens need a visa for the Schengen Area, the UK and the US, and generally need a visa for Canada. The passport reaches around 112–114 destinations visa-free, on arrival or by eTA. For the US, Turkish citizens can apply for an E-2 Treaty Investor visa, subject to US scrutiny of nationality acquired through investment.

Does any property in Turkey qualify for citizenship?

No. The property must have an official valuation of at least US$400,000, be bought generally from a Turkish citizen or company, be paid through a Turkish bank and carry a three-year no-sale annotation on the title deed. Property previously owned by foreigners does not qualify, and since December 2023 undeveloped land without a building or building permit does not either.

This guide is part of our Turkey citizenship by investment overview.

Official sources and references

1. Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs
2. Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye: citizenship by investment
3. Henley Passport Index
4. Government of Canada: entry requirements by country