Acquisition of Turkish citizenship is regulated within the framework of Law No. 5901 on Turkish Citizenship (TVK) and the relevant regulations.
This law determines the processes of acquiring citizenship by birth or subsequently, loss of citizenship, and re-acquisition.
A citizenship application is not merely an administrative procedure; it is also a process that is important in terms of personal status, public security, and international law.
How to apply for Turkish citizenship? Continue reading our article to learn, with up-to-date legislation, the conditions, required documents, and processes for becoming a Turkish citizen through marriage, investment, birth, the general route, and exceptional citizenship.
Basic Concepts
• Citizenship by birth: If either the mother or father is a Turkish citizen, the child acquires Turkish citizenship at birth.
• Citizenship acquired subsequently: A foreign person becomes a Turkish citizen by a decision of the competent authority, provided that certain conditions are met.
Citizenship by birth is often realized automatically together with the registration process:
If either the mother or father is a Turkish citizen, whether in Turkey or abroad, the child acquires Turkish citizenship.
A child born in Turkey whose mother and father are unknown or who cannot acquire the citizenship of another country is considered a Turkish citizen so as not to be stateless.
Procedures related to citizenship by birth are generally carried out at population (civil registry) directorates.
A foreigner may request to become a citizen of the Republic of Türkiye by meeting certain conditions. The most common routes and conditions are set out below.
3.1 By the General Route (Residence Requirement)
“Acquiring citizenship by the general route” is based on the condition that the foreigner has resided in Türkiye for a certain period.
Main conditions:
• There must be 5 years of uninterrupted residence counting backward from the date of application.
o Within this period, it is required not to have been outside Türkiye for more than a total of 12 months.
• The applicant must be of full age and have the power of discernment (if stateless, evaluated according to the Turkish Civil Code).
• It is necessary to demonstrate by conduct the decision to settle in Türkiye (for example, establishing a business, acquiring property, starting a family).
• There must be no issues in terms of health, morals, public order, and national security.
• There is a requirement to know Turkish—at least at a level to express oneself.
• The applicant and those for whom they are responsible must have income or a profession sufficient to provide for their livelihood.
This route has the advantage of offering the opportunity to acquire citizenship without being tied to special conditions such as marriage.
3.2 Through Marriage
Marriage is one of the commonly used ways to acquire citizenship. However, marrying alone does not confer citizenship.
Conditions:
• The applicant must have been married to a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years, and the marriage must still be ongoing.
• The marriage must be registered in the civil registry in Türkiye; it must be an official (civil) marriage—religious marriage alone is not sufficient.
• It is expected that the couple live as a family; living separately may undermine the genuineness of the marriage.
• The applicant must not engage in activities incompatible with marriage; for example, extramarital affairs or prostitution may be grounds for rejection.
• There must be no situation that would pose an obstacle in terms of public order and national security.
• Knowing Turkish is required during the application; the foreign spouse and the Turkish citizen spouse may be interviewed separately.
This route is particularly preferred in cases where spouses live together.
3.3 Through Adoption
• A minor foreign or stateless person adopted by a Turkish citizen may acquire Turkish citizenship as of the date of the adoption decision (subject to certain exceptional conditions).
• In this case as well, public order, security, and other conditions are assessed.
3.4 Exceptional Citizenship
Pursuant to Article 12 of the law, some persons may acquire Turkish citizenship directly by a decision of the President.
Those within this scope:
• Persons who make extraordinary contributions to Türkiye in the fields of industry, technology, science, culture, or sports,
• Foreigners who obtain the right to citizenship through investment,
• Persons of Turkish origin or coming from communities close to Turkish culture,
• Stateless persons or foreigners with special qualifications who have served Türkiye.
Citizenship by Investment (USD 400,000)
When investors meet one of the following conditions, they may apply for citizenship:
• Purchasing real estate worth at least USD 400,000 and placing a 3-year no-sale annotation,
• Holding USD 500,000 in deposits, government bonds, or investment funds,
• Providing employment for 50 persons.
Applications are carried out in cooperation with the Investment Office, the Presidency of Migration Management, and the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
3.5 Right of Choice (Reacquisition by Option)
Some people may have previously lost Turkish citizenship. These persons may reacquire citizenship by exercising the “right of choice.”
The application process and required documents differ for each route. Below, the process and some basic documents are outlined in general terms:
Process Stages
Some Required Documents
• Petition / application form (e.g., VAT-3, VAT-6)
• Passport and identity documents
• Residence permit documents
• Entry–exit records showing the residence period
• Documents showing financial status such as income / profession / tax
• Health report (if necessary)
• Criminal record
• In case of marriage: marriage certificate, population (civil registry) record, evidence of family unity
• Document showing knowledge of Turkish / exam results / interview result
In any case, the directorates of population and citizenship may request missing documents; having a complete file speeds up the process.
• Applications generally conclude within 6 to 24 months.
• Interviews are very common in applications through marriage; both the foreign spouse and the Turkish citizen spouse may be heard separately and together.
• Security and archive checks, criminal records, and evaluations of compliance with public order play an important role.
• If the application is rejected, the decision is notified to the applicant and the right to file an administrative lawsuit within 60 days is granted. Otherwise, the decision becomes final. If a lawsuit is not filed within the time limit, there is no longer a right to file a lawsuit. Therefore, time limits are important.
• Interruptions in residence: Staying abroad for more than a total of 12 months within the 5-year residence period may invalidate the condition.
• Valid residence type: The residence permit used at the time of application must be of an acceptable type. For example, student residence or tourist residence may not be accepted for citizenship applications in some cases.
• Risk of sham marriage: In applications through marriage, the sincerity of the marriage is very important. If a sham marriage is detected, the application will be rejected and sanctions may be imposed.
• Criminal record / security review: If the applicant has a situation that endangers public order or security, the citizenship request is rejected.
• Accuracy and translations of documents: Documents must be official, certified, and translated into Turkish; incomplete or incorrect documents prolong the process.
• Legal counsel / lawyer assistance: Obtaining expert support in complex processes can increase the chance of success.
7. Conclusion
Acquiring Turkish citizenship is not only the fulfillment of legal conditions but also the proof of the intention and adaptation to live in Türkiye. Each application is evaluated individually; therefore, obtaining professional support prevents possible mistakes and delays.
Our recommendation: Before applying, have the residence period, marriage duration, financial adequacy, and criminal record reviewed by an expert citizenship lawyer.
