Cost of Turkey citizenship: how much to invest to obtain a passport

1. Real estate purchase — $400,000. To qualify, an investor can buy any type of property: an apartment, a house, or a commercial facility. Three years after obtaining the passport, the investor can sell real estate at a profit, as prices grow by 15 to 25% per year.

It is possible to buy several real estate units if the total value meets the minimum threshold. However, it is impossible to purchase undeveloped land or property that has already been used by another investor to obtain Turkey citizenship.

2. Deposit in a Turkish bank — $500,000. The investor opens a bank account in a Turkish bank and makes the required deposit. The money can be kept in a savings account in any currency accepted by the Turkish financial system and withdrawn after three years.

3. Buying government bonds — $500,000. Government bonds are debt securities issued by the treasury to secure financing, while the buyer receives profit at an agreed rate of interest. For example, a 10-year bond currently offers a yield of 28,67%. The investment must be maintained for at least 3 years.

4. Purchase of investment fund shares — $500,000. The investment must be directed into a real estate investment fund or a venture capital investment fund. During ownership, the investor receives passive income. The shares can be sold 3 years later.

5. Business investments — $500,000. The applicant invests in the capital stock of an existing Turkish company. Alternatively, they can set up a new company and create 50 jobs for Turkish citizens. After 3 years, the investor can sell their share.

Individual cost calculation for Turkish citizenship

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Apart from the main investment, the applicant incurs other expenses, including the following:

• $100 per family member — entry visas;

• $15 per family member — a registration fee;

• $108 per family member — a residence permit fee;

• $165 per family member — a passport fee;

• $25 per family member — a citizenship certificate fee;

• $574 per family member — a government processing fee;

• $150 per family member — health insurance;

• $18 — tax number;

• $1,000 — opening a bank account;

• $400 per person — translation of documents.

Real estate buyers must also pay a $10,000 property registration tax.

Requirements for an investor. The main applicant must be an individual over 18 years old. They must have no criminal record or serious illness and be able to confirm the legality of their income.

Family members. The investor’s spouse can be included in the application if they are in an officially registered marriage. Children under 18 years old can join them as well.

The investor and their family members are not required to take any language or natural history exams to obtain citizenship. There are no obligations to live in the country before or after receiving the passport.

Even if the spouse and children are not included in the application, they are eligible for citizenship by family reunification at any point once the investor gets a passport.

The investor’s parents and children above 18 cannot be included in the application. Unless they apply for citizenship separately, they are only eligible for a residence permit.

A Turkish passport remains valid for 10 years for adult citizens and for 5 years for citizens under 18.

A renewal application can be submitted abroad at the nearest Turkish consulate or embassy. It is advisable to do this six months before the expiration of the current passport.

The documents that the applicants are required to submit along with the renewal application form include:

• the current passport;

• passport photos and a biometric photograph;

• birth and marriage certificates;

• Turkish Identification Number;

• military service completion proof for eligible age groups;

• renewal fee payment.

The renewal fees vary depending on factors such as the applicant’s age and processing location.

1. Visa-free travel. Turkish citizens can travel to over 120 countries without a visa, including Japan, Singapore, South Africa, and most South American countries.

2. 5-year Schengen visas. Turkish passport holders can obtain a C‑2 Schengen visa, allowing them to spend up to 90 out of 180 days in the Schengen countries for 5 years.

3. Travelling to the USA. Investors with Turkish citizenship are eligible for an E‑2 business visa to the United States, allowing them to run a business there. They can also obtain a 10-year В‑1/В‑2 visa if they want to travel to the USA for tourism or medical treatment.

4. Possibility of investment return. The investor can return the money three years after obtaining citizenship in Turkey. It applies to all investment options, including real estate purchase.

Examples of real estate ro purchase in Turkey

Turkey, Izmir

$1,000,000+

Two-floor villa with a swimming pool near the sea

140 m²

3

3

Turkey, Istanbul

$280,000 — $2,020,000

Furnished apartments in a prestigious area of Istanbul

55 m² — 200 m²

1—3

1—3

Turkey, Istanbul

$124,000 — $510,000

Apartments and commercial premises in a premium residential complex

40 m² — 162 m²

2—3

1—2

5. Safe haven. Investors with Turkish passports can enter the country at any moment, even if the borders are closed. They have the same right to work, live, and study in the country as any other Turkish citizen.

6. Low cost of living. In comparison with many European countries, Turkey is more affordable. For example, the cost of living without rent in Turkey is 32% lower than in Portugal, 38% lower than in Spain, 83% lower than in Germany and the United Kingdom, and 88% lower than in France.

In Istanbul, a family of four can spend an average of approximately $2,250 per month on all the basic needs without rent. For one person, the estimated monthly cost of living is around $620.

7. Lenient requirements. Investors are not required to pass any language, culture or national history exams to be eligible for Turkey citizenship. Additionally, they are not required to live in the country to maintain it.

8. Citizenship for the family. Investors’ spouses and minor children are also eligible to apply for Turkey citizenship. Regardless of the number of family members in the application, the investment amount remains the same.

9. Dual citizenship. Turkey allows its citizens to have multiple citizenships, meaning that investors are not obliged to renounce their original nationality if the first country allows it.

Apart from obtaining Turkey citizenship by investment, there are three main options to become a Turkish national: by birth, naturalisation, and marriage.

Citizenship by birth or descent is granted to any individual who has at least one parent with a Turkish passport. Minor children of a Turkish parent can obtain citizenship automatically. Additionally, a child adopted by a Turkish citizen also becomes a Turkish citizen if under 18 years old.

However, if children do not register as Turkish citizens before turning 18, the Ministry of Interior examines their applications.

Citizenship by naturalisation is granted to individuals who legally reside in Turkey for 5 years without leaving the country for more than 6 months in total. The applicant is required to pass a Turkish language test, have a sufficient income and good moral character, and pose no risk to public health or national security.

Citizenship by marriage is granted to foreign spouses of Turkish nationals after 3 years of marriage. The applicants must prove that they pose no threat to national security or public order. On some occasions, they may also be interviewed to establish the authenticity of the marriage.

After a successful application, the naturalised spouse may retain Turkish citizenship even in case of divorce, as long as both partners had entered the marriage in good faith.

1. Turkey offers citizenship to foreign investors who spend at least $400,000 on real estate in the country and hold it for a minimum of three years.

2. Other options, including a deposit in a Turkish bank, buying government bonds, investment fund shares, or a share in a Turkish company, require a minimum investment of $500,000.

3. Successful applicants can obtain citizenship for a spouse and children under 18, with additional costs for various fees and health insurance.

4. Obtaining citizenship takes at least 8 months. Adult applicants need to travel to Turkey to obtain residence permits as participants in the citizenship by investment program.

5. Turkish citizens can travel to over 120 countries without a visa. They are also eligible for long-term visas to the USA and the EU.