Turkish citizenship is acquired by fulfilling the conditions set forth for any of the methods of acquiring citizenship предусмотрed under Law No. 5901 and by submitting an application accordingly. At this stage, the complete and accurate preparation of the required documents plays an important role. For legal assistance in applying for Turkish citizenship, please consult our law firm specialized in immigration law.
Requirements for Becoming a Turkish Citizen
A foreign national who wishes to become a Turkish citizen must meet the criteria set out in the Law and the relevant Regulation. If these requirements are not fulfilled, the citizenship application will not be approved. Each method of acquiring citizenship specified in the Law has its own specific conditions.
The methods of acquiring Turkish citizenship under the Turkish Citizenship Law (TCL) are as follows:
- Acquiring Turkish citizenship after 5 years of residence
- Acquiring Turkish citizenship through marriage
- Acquiring Turkish citizenship through investment
- Acquiring Turkish citizenship by descent (through mother or father)
- Acquiring Turkish citizenship through immigration
- Acquiring Turkish citizenship through the Turquoise Card
- Reacquisition of Turkish citizenship
- Acquiring Turkish citizenship by exercising the right of option
Acquiring Turkish Citizenship After 5 Years of Residence
A foreign national may acquire Turkish citizenship if they have resided in Turkey continuously for at least 5 years preceding the date of application. However, certain additional conditions must also be met. The requirements regulated under Article 11 of the TCL are as follows:
- Having sufficient knowledge of the Turkish language to adapt to life in Turkey
- Having an income or profession sufficient to support themselves and their dependents
- Not posing a threat to national security or public order
- Having the capacity to act and being of legal age (The foreigner must be considered an adult under their own national law.)
- Having resided in Turkey continuously for at least 5 years (calculated retrospectively from the application date)
- Demonstrating the intention to settle in Turkey and acting accordingly
- Not having a disease that poses a danger to public health
- Being of good moral character
For legal assistance with your Turkish citizenship application, please consult our citizenship lawyers.
Acquiring Turkish Citizenship Through Marriage
The conditions for acquiring citizenship through marriage are regulated under Article 16 of the Turkish Citizenship Law. Marriage does not automatically grant citizenship. In order to acquire citizenship through marriage, the marriage must have lasted for a certain period.
The conditions required are as follows:
- Being married to a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years
- Living in family unity with the spouse (If the Turkish citizen spouse dies after the application is submitted, the requirement to live in family unity is not sought.)
- Not engaging in activities incompatible with the marital union
- Not posing a threat to national security or public order
For legal assistance with your Turkish citizenship application, please consult our citizenship lawyers.
Acquiring Turkish Citizenship Through Investment
There are several ways to obtain Turkish citizenship through investment. Each option has its own specific application requirements. The foreign national must first choose the most suitable investment route and then fulfill the relevant conditions.
The main investment-based citizenship options are:
- Purchasing real estate worth at least USD 400,000
- Making a fixed capital investment of at least USD 500,000
- Depositing at least USD 500,000 in a Turkish bank
- Creating employment for at least 50 people in Turkey
For legal assistance with your Turkish citizenship application, please consult our citizenship lawyers.
How to Apply for Turkish Citizenship?
An application for Turkish citizenship is made by submitting the required documents to the governorship (provincial authority) in the province where the foreign national resides. However, before applying, the service fee must be paid to the relevant cashier’s office. The receipt obtained must be attached to the application documents and submitted to the governorship.
Foreign nationals residing abroad may apply through Turkish consulates.
For legal assistance with your Turkish citizenship application, please consult our citizenship lawyers.
Required Documents for Turkish Citizenship Application
The required documents for Turkish citizenship vary depending on the specific method of acquisition. However, there are also documents that are common to all application types. These documents must be prepared completely and accurately. Otherwise, the application may be rejected.
What Are the Required Documents for Acquiring Citizenship Through Marriage?
The documents required for a Turkish citizenship application are regulated by the relevant laws and regulations and may vary depending on the circumstances. For legal assistance with your Turkish citizenship application, please consult our citizenship lawyers.
What Are the Required Documents for Acquiring Citizenship Through Investment?
The documents required for a Turkish citizenship application are regulated by the relevant laws and regulations and may vary depending on the circumstances. For legal assistance with your Turkish citizenship application, please consult our citizenship lawyers.
What Are the Required Documents for Acquiring Citizenship Through 5 Years of Residence?
The documents required for a Turkish citizenship application are regulated by the relevant laws and regulations and may vary depending on the circumstances. For legal assistance with your Turkish citizenship application, please consult our citizenship lawyers.
What Are the Required Documents for Acquiring Citizenship by Descent (Through Mother or Father)?
The documents required for a Turkish citizenship application are regulated by the relevant laws and regulations and may vary depending on the circumstances. For legal assistance with your Turkish citizenship application, please consult our citizenship lawyers.
What Are the Required Documents for Reacquiring Turkish Citizenship?
The documents required for a Turkish citizenship application are regulated by the relevant laws and regulations and may vary depending on the circumstances. For legal assistance with your Turkish citizenship application, please consult our citizenship lawyers.
What Are the Required Documents for Acquiring Citizenship by Right of Option?
The documents required for a Turkish citizenship application are regulated by the relevant laws and regulations and may vary depending on the circumstances. For legal assistance with your Turkish citizenship application, please consult our citizenship lawyers.
Stages of the Turkish Citizenship Application
The stages of a Turkish citizenship application are listed chronologically below:
- Meeting the required conditions for the chosen method of citizenship
- Obtaining the necessary documents for the selected citizenship route
- Paying the prescribed application fee at the treasury cashier’s office and obtaining the receipt
- Submitting the application to the Population Directorate under the governorship in Turkey, or to the Turkish consulate abroad
- Submitting additional documents or information to the administration if requested
- Sending the application file to the police department for archive screening
- After the archive screening is completed, forwarding the file to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs under the Ministry of Interior
- Calling the applicant for an interview before the commission
- Evaluation by the commission of all findings and impressions obtained from the beginning of the process
- Issuance of the final decision on the application (in some cases by the Ministry, in others by the Presidency)
- Notification of the decision to the applicant
Some of these steps must be carried out by the applicant, while others are administrative procedures. The applicant should conduct their part of the process carefully, without errors, omissions, or procedural mistakes. This may help the process conclude more quickly. For legal assistance with your Turkish citizenship application, please consult our law firm specialized in immigration law.
How Long Does It Take for a Citizenship Application to Be Concluded?
A citizenship application is finalized in approximately 1 year on average.
The documents required for a Turkish citizenship application are regulated by relevant laws and regulations and may vary depending on the circumstances.
Annulment Lawsuit Against the Rejection of a Turkish Citizenship Application
The applicant has the right to object to and file an annulment lawsuit against a rejection decision. In such a lawsuit, it is crucial to raise the necessary legal objections and present defenses within the framework of administrative law, as the decision constitutes an administrative act.
Any legal defects in the administrative act must be asserted. These annulment lawsuits must be filed before the competent and authorized administrative court. Otherwise, the applicant may suffer legal loss.
If the case is won on the merits, the applicant may acquire Turkish citizenship. Considering recent precedent decisions and for detailed information on the matter, it is advisable to consult a Turkish citizenship lawyer. For filing a lawsuit against the rejection of Turkish citizenship, please contact our lawyers.