INTRODUCTION
Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law was amended with the Presidential Decree No. 106 published in the Official Gazette dated 19.09.2018. In this context, the monetary values determined for the investments to be made in the acquisition of Turkish citizenship by foreigners through investment were reduced and the applications were facilitated.
Lastly, with the amendment made with the Presidential Decree No. 418 published in the Official Gazette dated 07.12.2018, foreigners acquire Turkish citizenship by purchasing a real estate with minimum of 250,000 USD, and a way of applying for Turkish citizenship by making a real estate sales promise agreement issued by a notary for real estates with construction servitude or floor ownership was opened.
1. DOES THE REGULATION MADE BY THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPLY TO ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY CITIZEN?
The regulation applies to all foreign nationals, and no country has been excluded with the regulation.
2. WHO ARE UNDER THE SCOPE OF THE REGULATION AND WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?
Foreigners with a residence permit, foreigners with Turquoise Card and their foreign spouse, and their minor foreign children can benefit from this regulation. There are various conditions for acquiring citizenship by investing and will be examined in detail below.
3. IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACQUIRE CITIZENSHIP THROUGH CAPITAL INVESTMENT?
Yes. A foreign citizen that has made a fixed capital investment of at least 500.000 USD or equivalent foreign currency or equivalent Turkish Lira which will be determined by the Ministry of Industry and Technology can acquire Turkish citizenship.
4. IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACQUIRE TURKISH CITIZENSHIP BY PURCHASING A REAL ESTATE?
Yes. A citizen of foreign country may acquire Turkish citizenship by purchasing a real estate valued at least 250,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish Lira, provided that the annotation is made for non-sales of the real estate for three years or if the property ownership or construction servitude has been established, by determination of Environment and Urbanization Ministry that the sales promise agreement; that has been notarized and stating that at least 250.000 USD or its equivalent foreign currency or equivalent Turkish lira amount has been invested in advance for the purchase of the real estate, is annotated to registry with the promise of “nontermination and non-transfer of the agreement.”
5. IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE TURKISH CITIZENSHIP BY CREATING EMPLOYMENT?
A foreign citizen determined by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services to have created employment for at least 50 people can acquire Turkish citizenship.
6. IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACQUIRE TURKISH CITIZENSHIP BY KEEPING DEPOSIT IN TURKEY?
Yes. A foreign citizen of a foreign country determined by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Authority which invests at least 500.000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish lira of deposit with the condition that they keep them for three years.
7. IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACQUIRETURKISH CITIZENSHIP BY PURCHASING GOVERNMENT DEBT TOOLS?
Yes. A foreign citizen of a foreign country determined by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance may acquire Turkish Citizenship, provided that he / she has purchased State debt instruments of at least 500.000 USD or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish Lira, provided that they keep them for three years.
8. IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACQUIRE TURKISH CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE INVESTMEN FUND OR VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMEN FUND PARTICIPATION SHARES?
Yes. A citizen of a foreign country determined by the Capital Markets Board, who has purchased real estate investment fund or venture capital investment fund participation shares valued at least 500.000 USD or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish Lira provided that they keep them for three years, can acquire Turkish citizenship.