The Turkey General Directorate of Migration has announced new changes to the immigration procedures for property investors applying for citizenship by investment. Rules have been tightened requiring investors and spouse to be personally in turkey for biometric fingerprinting and also with documentation process. The minimum investment is not increased, still remains $400,000 as of 2024, which is a good news for property investors.
Important Changes
Here is a summary changes below.
- Personal visit – Principal investor and spouse must attend the appointments in person for filing the short term residence permit and citizenship application in person to provide biometric data.
- Police record – Criminal record certificates must be provided from home country for investor/spouse.
- Land restriction – Purchase of land or fields restricted under new rules. Only “apartments/buildings” are allowed for acquiring properties for the purpose of becoming turkish citizen..
- Health insurance – Valid health insurance (Insurance period must cover the duration of the intended residence permit. Private insurance also accepted.
- Expert evaluation report – All Property transactions in Turkey, there is mandatory expertise report which shows current market value of the Property according to governmental regulations and market facts. This amount in the sales value has to be min $400.000 or above.
- Payments – All payments must come directly to the bank account from abroad. No requirement to open bank account in Turkey. The down payment amount has to be as min $400.000 usd to apply nationality. If paid in installment, only after completion of the payment, it is possible to file citizenship application.
Download
The Migration directorate of Turkey has english page to guide you on supporting documents and application forms.
Documents Required –
Criminal Record Certificate
If the foreigner has not been staying in Turkey for the last 5 years; it could be obtained from his/her own country authorities (It is recommended to apply for this document at least 3 months before application in case that it takes a long time to obtain), or if the foreigner has been staying in Turkey for the last five years, from the Turkish judicial authorities/e-government system. (It must be e-signed/signed and sealed/stamped if obtained from Turkish authorities; it must have a notarized Turkish translation and an Apostille if obtained from abroad. It is required to be a citizen of a country which is a party to the Apostille Convention; or if there is no Apostille on the document even if the country is a party, the documents in question are required to be approved by the relevant country authorities (approval by the consulate/embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Turkish Authorities authorized on this issue).
Marriage
Provide marriage certificate or document proving marriage (pages containing information, the first 3 pages) (The original document must be presented on the appointment day.) (It must be e-signed/signed and sealed/stamped if obtained from Turkish authorities (could also be obtained from Provincial/District Directorates of Registry); it must have a notarized Turkish translation and an Apostille if obtained from abroad. It is required to be a citizen of a country which is a party to the Apostille Convention; or if there is no Apostille on the document even if the country is a party, the documents in question are required to be approved by the relevant country authorities (approval by the consulate/embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Turkish Authorities authorized on this issue).
Children
For children – If the mother and father could not be determined from passport or passport substitute document or national identity card, a certified birth certificate shall be requested. – In the absence of either mother or father, a certified deed of consent shall be requested. (In case of death of one of the parents, the other spouse must submit a certified death certificate.) – In case of divorce, a certified custody document of the child shall be requested. (These documents must be e-signed/signed and sealed/stamped if obtained from Turkish authorities; they must have a notarized Turkish translation and an Apostille if obtained from abroad. It is required to be a citizen of a country which is a party to the Apostille Convention; or if there is no Apostille on the document even if the country is a party, the documents in question are required to be approved by the relevant country authorities (approval by the consulate/embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Turkish Authorities authorized on this issue). – If the foreigner in question is under eighteen years old, a certified deed of consent by mother/father abroad or legal representative, and a notarized undertaking by real or legal persons in Turkey provided that it is specified in the deed of consent.
