The acquisition of Turkish citizenship is regulated by Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and its implementing regulation. Citizenship may be acquired by decision of the competent authority through the general application route, through marriage to a Turkish citizen, under exceptional circumstances such as the acquisition of immovable property or a capital investment, or through special routes such as adoption and the right of option.
Each route has its own timeframe, documents and examination process; applications are most often prolonged by missing documents, apostille and translation errors, or a mistaken reading of the conditions. At BKT we determine which route is viable for you, handle the apostille and sworn translation of documents originating abroad, and follow your case through to the outcome.
Who is it for?
- Foreign nationals wishing to apply through investment by acquiring immovable property of the amount stipulated by law
- Those assessed under exceptional citizenship through fixed capital investment, bank deposits or job creation
- Foreign nationals who have been married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years and whose marriage is continuing
- Foreign nationals who have resided in Türkiye for five uninterrupted years and meet the conditions of the general application route
- Those who will apply for a blue card, the right of option or reacquisition of citizenship
- Those whose application has been refused and who wish to have their case reassessed
Required documents
The list below is for a typical case. Additional documents may be requested depending on your nationality, the type of application and the practice of the relevant authority; the definitive list is given to you in writing at the initial consultation.
- Passport and, if available, residence permit document
- Birth certificate or civil registry extract; document showing marital status
- Apostille certification or consular attestation for documents issued by foreign authorities
- Sworn translation and notarisation of all foreign-language documents
- For the investment route, the certificate of conformity and title deed records
- For the marriage route, the marriage certificate and a declaration of living together as a family unit
- Criminal record certificate and medical report (where these are requested)
The process step by step
- 1
Identifying the route
Your situation is assessed in terms of which citizenship route is viable, and a realistic timetable is drawn up.
- 2
Obtaining documents from abroad
The procurement, apostille certification and sworn translation of documents such as birth, marital status and criminal record certificates are completed.
- 3
Conformity and preliminary steps
On the investment route the certificate of conformity process is handled, and on the marriage route preparation for the family unit examination is carried out.
- 4
Application
The file is submitted to the relevant provincial directorate or diplomatic mission; follow-up begins through the application number.
- 5
Examination and outcome
The interview, investigation and examination stages are followed; after the decision, guidance is provided on the civil registry procedures.
Common mistakes
- Bringing documents obtained abroad to Türkiye without apostille certification
- Having the translation done by someone other than a sworn translator and skipping notarisation
- Being unprepared to document the requirement of living together as a family unit on the marriage route
- Committing to the investment amount without examining the conditions for the certificate of conformity
- Not realising that breaks in the residence permit disrupt the five-year period
Legal basis
Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law
Legislation and administrative practice may change. The information on this page is for general guidance only; an assessment specific to your case requires a consultation.