Turkish Citizenship by Real Estate Investment

The Republic of Turkey provides exceptional Turkish Citizenship and Residency to foreigners by a certain amount of Real Estate Investment according to the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901.

Turkish Citizenship by Real Estate Investment

The Republic of Turkey provides exceptional Turkish Citizenship and Residency to foreigners by a certain amount of Real Estate Investment according to the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901. Please find below the guidance for your information;

Gayrimenkul Yatırımı ile Türk Vatandaşlığı Kazanılması

• You need to buy a real estate in Turkey which is worth a minimum of 250,000 US dollars.
• Time condition for all investments is 3 years.
• You can be a Turkish citizen with the condition that you can take back all investments along with legal revenues 3 years later.
• You can sell your real estate once the required time expires and you are granted Turkish citizenship.
• The applicant’s spouse and children who are younger than 18 years old will also be granted Turkish citizenship.
• You do not have to live in Turkey to participate in the Turkish Citizenship application.
• Your Turkish Citizenship will remain for a lifetime and your children will be born as Turkish citizens.
• You can keep multiple citizenships along with your Turkish Citizenship.

Requirements for Real Estate Investment

• Applicants are required to buy a real estate in Turkey which is worth a minimum of 250,000 US dollars or the same amount in foreign currency or Turkish Lira by attaching annotation to the title deed registry that it will not be sold within the first three years after the purchase. Or applicants must commit to purchase the real estate, which is worth a minimum of 250,000 US dollars or the same amount in foreign currency or Turkish Lira with condominium and construction servitude costs paid in advance, by a Real Estate Preliminary Contract for Sale before Notary and annotate to the title deed that this contract cannot be handed over or canceled for three years. The criteria for the monetary amount can be met by a single or multiple real estates in accordance with the provisions of the law.

• Commitment that the applicants will keep hold of the real estate(s) they purchase for at least 3 years shall be attached to the Title Deed and/or Notarized Sales Contract; the annotation to the land registry should be determined by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.

* The value of the real estate(s) will be determined through an official assessment by the valuation companies announced by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA). Value of the property/properties must be at least 250,000 US dollars in the Real Estate Valuation Report. (The date of issue of this Real Estate Valuation Report cannot be later than three months before the date of application for citizenship. This valuation report shall be deemed valid until the transaction is completed.)

• The sales price of the real estate(s) will be paid to the seller via bank transfer. This transaction between the buyer and the seller’s account shall be documented by bank receipt for proof.

• The officially declared value of the real estate(s) must be minimum 250,000 US dollars at the time of the Notarized Sales Contract and/or of its ownership transfer at the Land Registry Office. In determining the monetary value of the real estate(s), the Republic of Turkey Central Bank’s effective exchange rate and/or cross foreign exchange rate at the time of valuation will prevail.
• The real estate(s) that will be purchased cannot be registered under any foreign real person’s name including the applicant’s spouse and children. Furthermore, the real estate(s) cannot be one that was transferred after 12.01.2017 by the foreign person, their spouse or children or any foreign real person. In addition, the real estate subject to purchase must not be one of the real estates registered in the name of the company to which the foreign real person is the partner or manager.

* In case the real estate is purchased with a mortgage loan or is subject to mortgage by any means, the mortgage value will be deducted from the total value of the real estate given in the valuation report and the remaining amount will be valid. (For this reason, it is important to clean the mortgages that have been paid off but not cleaned from the Title Deeds Registry Office before the report is prepared.)

• The application will be sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs, Foreigners Department via the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Land Registry Office.

Steps for Turkish Citizenship Application by Real Estate Investment

Obtain Tax Registry Number

• Tax registration number can be obtained from any tax office in Turkey.
• Original passport and photographs are required.

Open a Bank Account in Turkey

• Documentation of transactions during the buying stage will be required.
• Original passport and tax registration number will be required.
• An official document (such as public utility bill) showing your current address will be required.

Find the Real Estate

• The total value of the real estate must be at least 250,000 US dollars or equivalent value in Turkish Lira (one or more real estates).
• The building of the real estate must be completed or close to completion.
• Habitation license must be granted for the real estate.
• Its construction servitude or title deed must be ready.
• It must be suitable for the Official Valuation Survey.

Purchase the Real Estate

• Payments must be paid by bank transfer and he transaction must be documented by bank receipt.
• A title deed registry and/or notarized sales contract/sales contract with the explanation “Not to be Sold for 3 Years” must be obtained.

Obtain Certificate of Conformity

• Official Valuation Survey must be requested and provided.
• Bank transfer receipt must be sent.
• Application must be made to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.

Obtain Short-term Residence Permit in Turkey

• The necessary documents must be assembled.
• Application must be made to the Directorate General of Migration Management.

Apply for Turkish Citizenship

• Necessary documents must be assembled.
• The application must be made to the Directorate General of Migration Management.

Required Documents for Turkish Citizenship by Real Estate Investment

Documents Required for Purchasing Real Estate

• Title deed of the real estate
• Original and copy of the passport of the foreigner who will purchase the real estate (with approved Turkish translation)
• “Current Real Estate Value Document” to be obtained from the municipality of the region where the real estate is located
• Mandatory earthquake insurance policy for residences and workplaces
• 1 photograph of the seller (white background, biometric)
• 2 photographs of the buyer (white background, biometric)
• Certified interpreter in case the foreigner who buys the real estate does not speak Turkish
• The original proxy statement or its approved copy (approved Turkish translation, if it is issued outside Turkey), in case the transfer of the property is made by a proxy

Documents Required for Obtaining Short-term Residence Permit

• Residence permit application form (must be signed by the foreigner and/or their legal representative)
• The original and copy of the passport with 60 days longer validity than the requested residence permit duration (the page with identity information and those with entrance and exit details)
• 4 biometric photos (taken in the last 6 months on white background)
• Declaration of sufficient and regular financial means during the stay (which is to be shared in the application form and the administration may request additional documents to prove the availability of the financial means.)
• Applicable health insurance (insurance period must cover the requested residence permit period)
• Bank receipt for the payments of government fees and card fees
• Official, e-signed/signed and stamped/sealed document showing that the property belongs to the person (title deed)

Documents Required for Applying for Turkish Citizenship

• Application form stating citizenship request
• Passport or similar document; and in case the person is stateless, a document to prove statelessness if available
• Marital status certificate; marriage certificate if married; divorce certificate if divorced and spouse’s death certificate if widowed
• Identity information of the applicant (birth certificate or identity register copy, etc.)
• If the applicant is married, identity register copy or similar document that proves the family bond with spouse and children
• In case Turkish Citizenship is requested also for the child under the age 18 who is under the custody of the applicant, deed of consent by the other parent issued by a notary if in Turkey, or by a foreign representative office or authorized institutions if outside Turkey together with notarized Turkish translation

If the applicant has first or second degree Turkish citizen relatives a copy of the identity register of these persons

• If the applicant does not have a month and date of birth, the document obtained from the competent authorities of his/her country for the completion of the date of birth, and if the document cannot be obtained, the signed declaration stating that he/she has accepted the procedure under Article 39 of the Law No. 5490 on the Civil Registration Services
• Receipt showing that the service fee has been deposited to the Financial Payments Office
• Medical report
• 2 biometric photographs (on white background)
• Notarized Turkish translations of the said documents
• Trust deed

Legal Notice

• Upon the determination that the foreigner meets the requirements sought in the application by fulfilling the above-mentioned procedures in accordance with the rules and obtains all the documents, he/she may gain Turkish citizenship exceptionally in accordance with the decision of the President as per the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 Article 12/1-b.
• The information in this article is intended for information purposes only.
• It is not intended for professional information purposes specific to a person or an institution.
• Every institution has different requirements because of its own circumstances even though they bear a resemblance to each other.
• Consequently, it is your interest to consult on an expert before taking a decision based on information stated in this article and putting into practice.
• Neither Emlak Medya nor related person or institutions are not responsible for any damages or losses that might occur in consequence of the use of the information in this article by private or formal, real or legal person and institutions.

Keywords

Turkish citizenship, Turkey, Turkish, turkish citizen, real estate, real estate investment, foreign investor, foreigner, residency, residence permit, Turkish residency, purchasing real estate, real estate purchasing

Civil Engineer Mithat GÜNEY, PMP YouTube Channel

I am sharing videos and information about Professional Project Management, Real Estate, Construction Projects and Site Images from all around the world on my Civil Engineer Mithat GÜNEY, PMP YouTube channel.

Source; Türk Vatandaşlığı (emlakkonut.com.tr)

Rewriter; Civil Eng. Mithat GUNEY, PMP

This article is also published on the emlakmedya.com.tr.