ABOUT TURKEY CITIZENSHIP
In 2018, the government launched the Turkish citizenship by investment program. The program focused mainly on real estate investments. The program application process is easy and smooth. In addition, it permits investors to benefit from rental income and may resell the property at will.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old to participate in this program. Also, applicants must be in good health and without a trace of criminality. The applicants would be required to hold the real estate purchase for 3 years.
Country Statistics
Turkey is located at the crossroads between Asia and Europe. It expands from the northeast of the Mediterranean Sea in southeast Europe and southwest Asia; to the north of Turkey is the Black sea, and to the west is the Aegean sea. Turkey’s neighboring countries to the west include Greece and Bulgaria; to its north and northwest are Russia, Romania, and Ukraine; to the east are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Iran; to its south are Iraq and Syria. The country is divided by the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus. Turkey is dominated in turn, first by the Greeks, Persians, and Romans. The named country, Turkey, was formally the seat of the Byzantine Empire. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, Turkey developed and metamorphosed into the modern state that it is today. Turkey has a rich historical background and geography. Moreso, it is a well-varied country.
Facts About Turkey
- The Republic of Turkey operates a parliamentary democracy
Ankara is the country’s capital. Its other cities include Istanbul, Adana, Bursa, and many others - In Turkey, the President is recognized as the head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of government. Since 2007, the presidents of Turkey have been elected directly, and the elected President appoints the prime minister.
- In 2011, the country had an estimated population of about 78.8 million citizens. About 70 to 75% of the population is Turkish.
- Turkish is the official language of the Republic of Turkey. Turkish is mostly spoken in the Turkic family, a part of the Altaic linguistic group. It is connected to Central Asian languages such as Turkmen, Kazakh, Uzbek, etc.
- The total area of Turkey is about 783,562 sq. km. It spans the Sea of Marmara, which separates southeastern Europe from southwestern Asia.
- One of the world’s key maritime passages includes the narrow Turkish Straits seaway between Europe and Asia. Moreover, the Turkish Straits is the only access point between the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. This feature gives the country huge geopolitical importance.
- Turkey is rated among the top 20 economies across the globe. 30% of jobs in the country are from the agricultural sector; however, the Turkish economy greatly depends on the industrial and service sector.
- Turkey has natural gas and oil reserves. It is the main distribution center for Middle Eastern and Central Asia natural gas and oil going to Europe and different ports for export abroad.
- Turkey has a calm Mediterranean climate, dry summer, and rainy winter seasons. However, the weather could be extreme in the eastern parts and mountainous areas.
BENEFITS OF TURKEY CITIZENSHIP
Visa-free Travel
Citizens holders have access to visa-free and visa-on-arrival benefits in more than 110 countries, including Hong Kong, Singapore, and Brazil.
E-2 Investor Visa
Turkish citizens can easily apply for the E-2 investor visa for the U.S.
Smooth Process
The application process is free of stress and within 4-6 months to gain approval.
Tax Relief
The country does not enforce capital gains, foreign income, wealth, gifts, and
inheritance taxes.
Minimal Residency Requirements
No imposed visit before or after application.
Dual Citizenship Allowed
Turkey’s second citizenship holders do not need to renounce their first citizenship.
VISA FREE COUNTRIES FOR TURKEY
Having a Turkish passport grants you access to visa-free and visa-on-arrival to more than 110 countries which include Brazil, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Turkish passport ranks the 20th most powerful across the globe. In addition, being a citizen permits you to apply for the E-2 Investor Visa for the United States.
(Visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries)
- Albania
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Costa Rica
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Guatemala
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
GUIDELINES FOR APPLICATION FOR TURKEY CITIZENSHIP
Document Screening
We assist you in screening your document in preparation for government approval. For this process to go smoothly, applicants are expected to make a down payment for opening the application. We will get a response within 48 hours.
Collection of Checklist Document
We have professionals who will assist you with collecting the proper documents needed by the government to process your citizenship application.
Selection of Real Estate Purchase
We will lead you to government-approved properties that fit the government criteria. You will then make your choice. Then the purchase and transfer process will take off.
Property Evaluation
We will get a qualified Capital Markets Board of Turkey licensed valuation expert to evaluate your selected property. Then we will assist in completing the purchase by registering the applicant’s name on the purchased property. Also, confirm the criteria that state that the property must be maintained for three years.
Confirmation of Property by the Government
The minister of environment and urban affairs will have to verify if the property is worth both in registry and valuation worths above $250,000. After which, a residence permit would be issued by the Directorate General of Immigration Authority, especially for investors.
Submission of Application for Evaluation
We will assist you in completing and cross-checking the file before sending them to Istanbul for evaluation by the Directorate of the Civil Registry of the city where the residence permit is taken.
Due Diligence Background Investigations
At this point, the General Directorate of Civil Registry will send your file to the National Intelligence Agency of Turkey. Here they will conduct a due diligence background investigation. If the application passes this process, the Ministry of Interior will approve the application and pass it to the Presidency of Turkey.
Approval of Turkish Citizenship
After every approval, the Presidency of Turkey will approve Turkish citizenship for the applicants. The Presidency’s approval will be published in the Official Gazette and start operation immediately.
COST OF TURKEY CITIZENSHIP
Obtaining Turkish citizenship by Investment is achievable by investing in property(s) in Turkey.
Turkey Citizenship Program is in 3 folds:
1. Purchase of real estate
2. Obtaining a residence permit
3. Receiving passports
A) Purchase of Real Estate
This is the first criteria for citizenship by investment in Turkey. Applicants must invest a minimum sum in a property(s) in Turkey. In addition, other costs need to be settled:
Minimum required Investment – USD 250,000
Land Registry fee – 2 % of the purchase price
Official Transfer fee (paid to Land Registry) – USD 200
Property Value Report – USD 500 (approx.)
B) Obtaining a Residence Permit
Immediately the real estate purchase is made, the investor will give the title deed. Then the Certificate of Conformity will be issued by the Land Registry Office, showing that the Investment meets up according to the government policy. The applicant can now apply for a residence permit and be able to renew it till the citizenship application is granted.
Visa fee per person – USD 100 (approx.)
Residence Permit Fee per person – USD 20 (approx.)
Insurance per person (for adults only) – USD 100 (approx.)
Receiving passports
After obtaining the residence permit, the applicant (investor) and family have the privilege to apply for Turkish citizenship at the Civil Registration and Nationality Office.
Application fee – USD 100
Notwithstanding, our professional fees, certificate of Citizenship, passport, official application forms, and other disbursements are the only charges inclusive of the cost. A detailed quotation without any hidden charge will be made available.
PROGRAM DURATION
The duration of 6 months is the specified timeframe for the application process. However, the initial duration of document collection could be a bit longer depending on how fast the applicant provides the required documents. We are fully on the ground to assist our client (applicant) pass-through this stage faster with samples and professional advice.
The duration of the renewal stage depends on the availability of the agency that would handle it. We have no regulation over this particular process. However, we assure you that we work with the best Government agencies to hasten the entire process and make our client (applicant) get quick approval.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & LEGAL GROUNDWORK
MAIN APPLICANT CRITERIA
QUALIFIED DEPENDENTS
LEGAL GROUNDWORK
Article 20 of the Control on the Implementation of the Turkish Nationality Law (“Regulation “) states the exceptional cases in which Turkish nationality is granted, as amended by the Presidential Decree No. 106 (“Decree “) which was published in the Official Gazette dated, September 19, 2018, and entered into force on the same date.
A new criterion for getting Turkish citizenship has been introduced to Article 20 of the Regulation.
A new prerequisite for obtaining Turkish citizenship has also been introduced to Article 20 of the Regulation. Accordingly, if Capital Markets Board determines that a foreigner has purchased a share of a real estate investment fund or venture capital fund with a minimum requested value of foreign currency or equivalent Turkish Lira on the condition that the share would be held by such foreigner for three years at least, Turkish citizenship can be obtained upon a Presidential decree.