Ways to Obtain Turkish Citizenship, the Required Conditions?

Turkey’s economic dynamism, strategically important geopolitical location, and rich cultural diversity lead thousands of foreigners to apply for Turkish citizenship every year. However, this process is a complex web of procedures requiring extensive administrative discretion, detailed legal provisions, and a high degree of legal diligence.

Below, the ways to acquire citizenship, application requirements, and critical points to consider are discussed in detail within the framework of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 (TVK) and current academic/judicial approaches.

1. Ways of Acquiring Turkish Citizenship

Turkish citizenship is primarily acquired in two main ways: by birth or subsequently (Article 5 of the Turkish Citizenship Law [TCL]). In addition to the model of acquisition by birth, which is based on lineage (jus sanguinis) or place of birth (jus soli), types of citizenship acquired subsequently rely on the voluntary applications of foreigners.

The acquisition of citizenship by foreigners through application to administrative authorities falls under the scope of “subsequent acquisition” and is sub-divided into three main categories:

A) Citizenship through Residence (General Track)

This method is based on the integration of the foreigner into society by living continuously in Turkey for a specific period of time and is legally termed “acquisition of citizenship by decision of the competent authority.”

It is observed that states tend toward a “perfectionist selectivity” in their subsequent naturalization decisions, expecting individuals to demonstrate a certain level of commitment and adaptation to their new society (Çelik, 2024). In this regard, the general conditions required pursuant to Article 11 of the TCL are as follows:

• Legal Capacity: To be of legal age (majority) and possess the capacity to discern according to one’s own national law, or, if stateless, according to the Turkish Civil Code.
• Uninterrupted Residence: Having resided without interruption in Turkey for 5 years counting backward from the date of application.
• Intention to Settle: Demonstrating the intention to settle permanently in Turkey through one’s conduct (e.g., acquiring real estate, establishing a business, or relocating a commercial center to Turkey).
• Health: Not harboring a disease that poses a danger to society in terms of general public health.
• Good Morals: Leading a life that inspires confidence within society and not harboring bad habits or criminal tendencies.
• Language: Being able to speak Turkish at a sufficient level to adapt to social life (it is stated that the language requirement serves as a critical threshold in terms of practical adaptation capacity, rather than social unity and assimilation, Çelik, 2024).
• Livelihood: Having an income or profession sufficient to support oneself and one’s dependents in Turkey.
• Public Order and Security: Not having a condition that would pose an obstacle to national security or public order.

Fulfilling all of these conditions does not automatically mean that citizenship will be granted. The criteria specified in the law constitute the minimum requirements, and the final decision rests entirely within the discretionary power of the administration.

B) Citizenship through Marriage

Marrying a Turkish citizen does not directly or automatically confer Turkish citizenship upon a foreigner. Pursuant to Article 16 of the TCL [Turkish Citizenship Law], foreigners who have been married to a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years and whose marriage is de facto ongoing may apply to acquire citizenship.

The specific conditions required for citizenship applications through marriage are as follows:

• Family Unity: The marriage must serve the purpose of establishing a genuine common life and the spouses must actually live within a family unity.
• Activity Restriction: Not engaging in illegitimate activities incompatible with the marital union (such as prostitution or operating as an intermediary thereto).
• Public Order and Security: Not having a condition that would pose an obstacle to national security or public order.

It is noted that along with the increase in international human mobility, there has been a significant rise in marriages between Turkish citizens and foreigners, which in turn brings along intensive bureaucratic scrutiny in administrative procedures (Yarar, 2020).

In evaluations made in light of current judicial precedents, it is stated that the administration possesses broad discretionary power regarding requests for citizenship through marriage on the grounds of national security and public order; furthermore, strict law enforcement investigations are conducted particularly to prevent sham marriages (muvazaalı evlilikler) entered into solely for the purpose of acquiring citizenship. However, it is emphasized that this discretionary power cannot be arbitrary and remains subject to judicial review by the administrative courts at all times (Eroğlu, 2024).

C) Citizenship through Investment (Exceptional Track)

With the legislative amendment enacted in 2016, subparagraph (b) was added to the first paragraph of Article 12 of Law No. 5901, thereby incorporating the exceptional acquisition of citizenship through investment into Turkish law.

This method is evaluated within the scope of the comparative law concept of “Jus Pecuniae” (Citizenship through Capital/Money) (Aygün ve Uslu Yiğit, 2026). This track allows for the exceptional granting of citizenship directly by decision of the President, without being subject to the rigorous criteria of the general track, such as the 5-year uninterrupted residence or language proficiency requirements. In addition to the investor, their spouse and children as specified by law may also benefit from this right.

According to data from the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey (invest.gov.tr) and the relevant regulations, the current types of investment, minimum thresholds, and competent approval authorities are as follows:

The Critical Legal Risk in Practice (The 18-Year Age Limit)

One of the most significant recent grievances in citizenship-by-investment procedures concerns the age limit for children. According to Dr. Volkan Aslan’s detailed constitutional analysis, the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NVİGM) under the Ministry of Interior has altered its administrative practice entirely infra-legem, without enacting any legislative or regulatory amendments (Aslan, 2025).

Under the previous practice, a child who was a minor at the time of application could still acquire citizenship even if they reached majority (turned 18) during the course of the process. Conversely, under the new administrative de facto practice, if a child turns 18 while the security clearance investigation is ongoing, their application is rejected. Although first-instance administrative courts and regional administrative courts annul these rejections on the grounds that they violate the principles of “legal certainty” and “vested rights / legitimate expectation,” the administration maintains its rigid stance. Consequently, investor families with children aged 16–17 must manage their timing and navigate the bureaucratic workflow with extreme diligence under the guidance of an expert (Aslan, 2025).

2. Required Documents for Application

Although the documents requested vary depending on the track of the citizenship application (General, Marriage, Investment), the general documents required for the completion of the dossier (dosyanın tekemmülü) are as follows:

• Application Form: (Vat-3, Vat-6, or exceptional application forms).
• Passport or Identity Document: A copy issued by the country of origin, accompanied by a notarized Turkish translation.
• Marital Status Certificate: Marriage certificate, divorce decree, or an official document indicating single or widowed status.
• Birth Certificate: Certified copy of the birth registry extract or birth certificate (bearing an Apostille endorsement or consular legalization).
• Residence Permit / Work Permit: Legal stay documents in Turkey required for monitoring the duration of residence.
• Proof of Income: Employment contract, payroll (payslip), bank account statements, or property revenues demonstrating compliance with the livelihood requirement.
• Health Committee Report: A medical board report issued by fully equipped hospitals authorized by the Ministry of Health.
• Criminal Record Certificate: Up-to-date criminal record certificates obtained both from Turkey and the applicant’s country of origin.
• Biometric Photograph: Photographs taken within the last 6 months, compliant with the applicable regulations.
• Certificate of Eligibility: (Applicable exclusively to investment-based applications; an official approval letter issued by the relevant Ministry).

Applications must be submitted in person or via a special power of attorney to the Governorships (Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs) within Turkey, or to foreign missions (Embassies or Consulates General) abroad.

3. Application Process and Average Timelines

The evaluation of the application encompasses interview proceedings, archival research, and comprehensive security clearance investigations. The progression of the workflow based on the selected application track is illustrated in the table below:

Note: The indicated durations are subject to fluctuation depending on the administrative workload, the depth of background security investigations (conducted by the National Intelligence Organization [MİT] and Law Enforcement authorities), and the presence of any missing documents within the dossier.

4. Grounds for Rejection or Revocation of the Application

Even if all statutory requirements are fulfilled, the administration may reject applications by exercising its discretionary power or upon identifying a legal impediment. The primary grounds for rejection are as follows:

• National Security and Public Order Obstacle: Detection of affiliations with organizations threatening national security, terrorist entities, or involvement in judicial incidents that disrupt public order.
• Establishment of a Sham Marriage (Marriage of Convenience): Uncovering through law enforcement or intelligence investigations that the marriage was contracted solely for the purpose of acquiring citizenship.
• Incomplete, Erroneous, or Misleading Declaration: Providing false information or submitting forged/fraudulent documents.
• Violation of the Uninterrupted Residence Requirement: Staying abroad for longer than the legally permitted period (e.g., under the general track, exceeding a total of 1 year within the 5-year period), thereby causing an interruption in the residence.

Revocation of Subsequently Acquired Citizenship (Article 40 of the TCL)

The mere acquisition of citizenship does not mean that the status is permanently protected. If a foreigner has obtained citizenship by making false statements or by concealing the truth behind forged documents (e.g., a fake birth certificate or sham marriage documentation), the naturalization decision shall be revoked (geri alınır) by the administration pursuant to Article 40 of the TCL upon subsequent discovery (Güner, 2017). By virtue of the inherent nature of administrative law, a revocation decision operates with retroactive effects (geçmişe etkili sonuç doğurur); meaning that the foreigner is deemed never to have acquired citizenship from the very outset. Dr. Güner points out that in such scenarios, the remedy must be executed in conformity with the principles of “legal certainty and stability” (hukuki güven ve istikrar) so as to safeguard the rights of bona fide (innocent) third parties (Güner, 2017).

5. Why Legal Support Is Important

Citizenship applications are not merely about filling out a simple form; they are complex legal proceedings characterized by extensive administrative discretion, rigorous document evaluation, and multifaceted security clearance investigations.

Sudden shifts in administrative practice—such as the recent application of the 18-year age limit for the children of investors—or technical errors committed during the calculation of uninterrupted residence periods can result in a single rejection decision, thereby nullifying years of financial and emotional investment.

Therefore, Celiktas Law Firm provides meticulous legal support throughout this process by:

• Preparing a complete application dossier in strict compliance with the legislation, current circulars, and administrative constitutional principles.
• Monitoring and tracking official correspondence among bureaucratic institutions to expedite the workflow.
• Ensuring the effective protection of rights before the judiciary by filing timely administrative objections against potentially unfair or unlawful rejection decisions, or by initiating annulment actions (iptal davası) before the Administrative Courts coupled with a request for the suspension of execution (yürütmenin durdurulması).

6. Conclusion

The acquisition of Turkish citizenship is not merely the mechanical fulfillment of the substantive and formal conditions set forth in the law; it is also the official registration of the legal, political, and social bond of allegiance established between the State and the individual.

Given the broad margin of discretionary power vested in the administration within this domain, demonstrating absolute compliance with the legislation and maintaining a professional approach at every stage of the proceedings remains the most secure method to safeguard against irreparable violations of rights and unjust rejection decisions.

REFERENCES:

Cemil Güner, “Türk Vatandaşlığının Kazanılması ve Kaybı Kararlarının Geri Alınması (Revocation of The Decisions for Acquisition and Loss of Turkish Citizenship)”, MHB, Yıl 37, Sayı 2, 2017, 499-535.

Erman Eroğlu, “Güncel Yargı Kararları Işığında Evlenme Yoluyla Türk Vatandaşlığının Kazanılmasında Milli Güvenlik Ve Kamu Düzeni Kavramlarının İdarenin Takdir Yetkisi Bağlamında Değerlendirilmesi (Assessment of National Security and Public Policy Concerns in the Context of Administrative Discretion in the Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship through Marriage in the Light of Current Judicial Decisions)” ASBÜ Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi (2024/2 Prof. Dr. Mustafa Avcı’ya Armağan), s. 1974-2008.

424. Elif Çelik, “Evlenme Yolu İle Türk Vatandaşı Olma Taleplerinden Doğan Uyuşmazlıklara İlişkin Yargılamalarda Milli Güvenlik ve Kamu Düzeni Kıstası (The Criterion of National Security and Public Order in Proceedings Regarding Disputes Arising from The Demands of Becoming Turkish Citizen by Way of Marriage)”, Türkiye Adalet Akademisi Dergisi, Yıl 13, Sayı 49, Ocak 2022,  s. 389-424.
425. Elif Çelik, “Sonradan ve Yetkili Makam Kararı İle Türk Vatandaşı Olmanın Başvuru Şartları (TVK m.11), Application Requirements of Being Turkish Citizen by Naturalization (Turkish Nationality Act Article 11)”, TBB Dergisi 2021 (157), s. 445-508.

Güven Yarar, “Evlenme Yoluyla Türk Vatandaşlığının Kazanılması Koşullarında ve Uygulamada Karşılaşılan Bazı Sorunlar”, SDÜHFD, Cilt: 15, Sayı: 2, Yıl: 2025, s. 2203-2231. 

Mesut Aygün ve Gülser Banu Uslu Yiğit, “Yabancıların Yatırım Yoluyla Türk Vatandaşlığı Kazanmalarının Hukuki Yönden Değerlendirilmesi ve Yeni Model Önerisi”, Selçuk Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, C.34, S.1, 2026, s. 197-246.

Volkan Aslan, “Yatırım Yoluyla Türk Vatandaşlığına Alınan Kişilerin On Sekiz Yaşını Dolduran Çocuklarının Vatandaşlık Durumunun Anayasal Açıdan Değerlendirilmesi (Der Staatsangehörigkeitsstatus volljähriger Kinder beim Erwerb der türkischen Staatsangehörigkeit durch Investition: Eine verfassungsrechtliche Analyse)”, TAÜHFD/ZtdR – 2025/2, s. 543-582.