Turkish Citizenship Application
Author: Lawyer Cihat BALTAŞ / 10 January 2026 / Istanbul
There is no single way to acquire Turkish citizenship. We will summarise the ways to acquire Turkish citizenship for you and explain the most important points;
Types of Turkish Citizenship;
✅ Turkish Citizenship by Birth
✅ Citizenship through Investment
✅ Citizenship through Marriage
✅ Citizenship by Residing in Turkey for 5 Years
1- Turkish citizenship acquired by birth
The phrase ‘acquisition of Turkish citizenship by birth’ should not be understood to mean acquisition of Turkish citizenship based on place of birth. What we need to understand here is that if the person’s mother or father is a Turkish citizen, the person acquires Turkish citizenship from the moment of birth. It is not possible for a person to acquire Turkish citizenship simply because they were born in Turkey. According to Turkish citizenship laws, it is not possible to acquire Turkish citizenship based on place of birth.
Children born abroad or in Turkey to a Turkish citizen mother or father can be registered at the registry office with their birth certificates. If a child is born abroad or in Turkey, either the mother or father can go to the relevant registry office alone and register the child.
In order for the child to be registered in Turkey, the persons must have an address registration in Turkey. If the persons do not have an address registration in Turkey, they can go to the consulate in the country where they live and make a declaration of Turkish citizenship.
2- Taking of Turkish Citizenship Subsequently
The key phrase here is ‘a person who proves to the authorities that they have decided to settle in Turkey’ can acquire Turkish citizenship subsequently.
These proofs, as stated in the letter of the law, include ‘Acquiring immovable property in Turkey, establishing a business, making investments, relocating a trade or business centre to Turkey, working at a workplace subject to a work permit, and similar actions, or marrying a Turkish citizen, applying as a family, having a mother, father, sibling, or child who has previously acquired Turkish citizenship, or completing one’s education in Turkey.’
There are many ways to acquire Turkish citizenship later in life. These ways can be listed as follows:
1- Turkish citizenship can be acquired through investment;
An example of this is citizenship acquired by purchasing a house worth USD 400,000. If individuals have no criminal record, our law firm has a 100% success rate in obtaining citizenship through investment.
When taking Turkish citizenship through investment, the investor’s spouse and children under the age of 18 also acquire Turkish citizenship.
2- Individuals who have resided in Turkey for at least 5 years can apply for Turkish citizenship;
Foreigners residing in Turkey must stay in the country with residence permits such as work permits or family residence permits, which are intended for the purpose of staying and establishing a life in Turkey.
The 5 years spent in Turkey must be continuous, but the person may stay abroad for 6 months. Departures abroad exceeding 6 months or periods spent without a residence permit are considered interruptions in the residence permit.
Relevant Regulation;
Residence of foreigners and calculation of residence periods
ARTICLE 71 – ……..ç) Without a legal residence permit or, even if legal, without demonstrating the intention to settle in Turkey; asylum or refugee applicants, asylum seekers, students, accompanying a child studying, receiving medical treatment, or residing in Turkey with a diplomatic or consular immunity card issued to foreign mission personnel shall not be considered valid residence for the purpose of acquiring Turkish citizenship.
According to this article, it is understood that citizenship cannot be applied for with residence permits such as student residence permits, tourism residence permits, or temporary protection.
Applications for Turkish citizenship can only be made by foreigners who hold a Family Residence Permit and a Work Permit.
3- Taking Turkish Citizenship Through Marriage
Turkish citizenship is not acquired directly through marriage. A person married to a Turkish citizen may apply for Turkish citizenship after three years of marriage. This rule does not apply to citizenship applied for through investment. The spouse and children of the investor are also entitled to acquire Turkish citizenship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for citizenship applications to be concluded?
Citizenship applications take approximately 1-2 years from the date the documents are given to “nüfus müdürlüğü”
Where are citizenship applications made?
The foreigner can apply directly for citizenship applications or You can also do this job by authorizing a lawyer. You can work with our lawyers who are experts in citizenship applications. An application must be made to “Vatandaşlık ve Nufüs Müdürlüğü “.
If it is abroad, it can be done through foreign representatives. Citizenship applications cannot be made by postoffices.
What is the citizenship application process like?
Citizenship applications are very diverse. The person should apply by choosing one of the citizenship applications that are suitable for him. The person can apply to “Vatandaşlık ve Nufüs Müdürlüğü” in the country or to foreign representations abroad, by preparing the necessary documents according to the application forms. You can work with our lawyers who are experts in citizenship applications. Application cannot be made by mail.
After the application is made, an application number is given to the person, and with this number, the person can check the status of the citizenship application on the “What is the stage of my citizenship application” portal at https://www.nvi.gov.tr/. Citizenship applications usually take between 1-2 years, and there are cases where the process takes shorter or longer.
What is the application process for citizenship by investment?
*By making a investment of at least 500,000 USD
*Purchasing real estate for at least $400,000 and not selling it for 3 years.
*Creating employment for at least 50 people
*Depositing the amount in any Turkish bank in return for $500,000 and making a bank custody agreement for 3 years.
*Purchasing government debt instruments amounting to $500,000.
Individuals can apply for citizenship if any of the above-mentioned investment types are selected and this investment is made in accordance with the procedure.
As Baltaş Global, we carry out this process with you from the beginning to the end of the process for applications made through investment. With the principle of 24/7 support at every stage, your consultant will be with you in every transaction and will help the transactions progress quickly.
We decide your investment decision together. After your investment decision, you can make the investment according to the recommendations of your consultant. The investment must be made in such a way as to make an application for citizenship, and the transactions must be specially arranged for citizenship while investing. Your consultant will take the necessary actions for you at this stage.
After the investment is made, the necessary documents for the citizenship application will be prepared by you and the necessary citizenship procedures will be finalized. After the citizenship application is made, the processes take approximately 1-2 years, and our support for you will not be interrupted after the application, and you will be able to call your consultant for all your legal problems and get a quick solution.
Lawyer Cihat BALTAŞ
Lawyer Cihat BALTAŞ graduated from Police College in 2006, Police Academy in 2010, Yalova Law Faculty in 2016 with a degree and has worked and specialised in foreign law throughout his professional life. Cihat BALTAŞ, who is currently working as a lawyer in Kadıköy, Istanbul, is the founder of BaltaşGlobal law and consultancy office.
