With the recent changes in the legislation, foreigners who have invested $250.000 in real estate within the borders of the Republic of Turkey or who have committed to purchase through a notary will be able to apply for Turkish citizenship directly, provided that they undertake not to sell the real estate for a minimum of three (3) years.

If granted permission, natural persons of foreign origin may acquire any real estate in areas where private property is allowed (residential, commercial, land lot, agricultural etc.).

If the real estate acquired does not include any previously built construction, the owner of the foreign origin is to apply to the relevant public administration within two years in order to develop a p​roject.

A natural person of foreign origin may acquire real estate and limited rights in rem anywhere in Turkey of up to 30 hectares. The Cabinet of Ministers may grant larger areas if deemed appropriate.

Natural persons of foreign origin may not acquire and lease real estate within prohibited military zones or military security zones. However, they may acquire and lease real estate within special security zones upon permission of the governor’s office.

Total acquisition by natural persons of foreign origin may not exceed ten percent of the total district area where private property is allowed. Foreigners’ request for acquisition shall not be permitted in case the ten percent limit is exceeded.​​

For the real estate to be eligible, its value must be assessed by a specially-licensed surveyor and then this eligibility must be confirmed by the Land Registry General Directorate. Furthermore, there are certain rules and restrictions regarding the previous owners of the real estate and the method of payment of its price.

Before you purchase a real estate for the purpose of Turkish citizenship application, it is highly recommended that you consult with professional consultants. Applying for Turkish citizenship can be a complicated process and it should be dealt with by experts who are specialized in this specific area. Efdal Consultancy offers legal services to foreign individuals who would like to apply for Turkish citizenship by investment. These services include but are not limited to checking the eligibility of the real estate, applying for residence permit, registering the relevant pledges in the land registry, having the Land Registry General Directorate confirm the eligibility of the property, arrange the secure transaction of the price of the property and apply for Turkish citizenship by investment for the buyers and their families.

In order to apply for Turkish Citizenship by Investment, the cost of the real estate must be paid through the bank. Therefore, when you apply for Turkish Citizenship, you may not use a bank loan from Turkish banks.

With the 2018 changes in the legislation, the entire citizenship process is usually completed in 2-3 months.