Short answer: in 2026 a foreigner can obtain Turkish citizenship by investment: property worth at least USD 400,000 with a 3-year no-sale annotation, or USD 500,000 in a bank deposit, government bonds, real estate or venture capital fund units (supervised by the Capital Markets Board, SPK), fixed capital or private pension; or by creating 50 jobs. Ordinary routes are 5 years of residence or 3 years of marriage to a Turkish citizen.
Last updated: 1 November 2026.
Which investments qualify in 2026?
Under Article 20(2) of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law:
| Option | Minimum | Condition | Certifying authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate | USD 400,000 | 3-year no-sale annotation | Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation |
| Real estate or venture capital fund units | USD 500,000 | hold at least 3 years | Capital Markets Board (SPK) |
| Bank deposit | USD 500,000 | hold 3 years | BDDK |
| Government bonds | USD 500,000 | hold 3 years | Treasury and Finance |
| Fixed capital investment | USD 500,000 | certified | Ministry of Industry |
| Private pension | USD 500,000 | 3 years in the system | SEDDK |
| Employment | — | at least 50 employees | Ministry of Labour |
Citizenship through property: recent changes
- Since 13 May 2022 the threshold is USD 400,000 (previously 250,000).
- Since 12 December 2023 only units with condominium or construction servitude title, or land with a building on it, qualify; empty plots and farmland do not.
- An off-plan unit can qualify through a notarised promise-to-sell contract, with USD 400,000 paid upfront and a 3-year non-transfer undertaking annotated on the title.
In practice, value is confirmed by a licensed valuation report sent via TADEBİS, and payment goes through a Turkish bank with a currency sale certificate. If the contract price is below the valuation or payment rules are not followed, the investment may be rejected — so legal checks should come before payment.
Common mistakes
- Valuation below USD 400,000 — the documented value counts, not the agreed price.
- Cash or third-party payments — payment should go from the buyer through a bank in Turkey.
- Buying a plot without a building after 12 December 2023.
- Mortgage, attachment or annotations on the title deed.
- Family documents without apostille and sworn translation.
What is "citizenship through SPK"?
It means buying units of a real estate investment fund or venture capital investment fund worth at least USD 500,000 and holding them for 3 years, certified by the Capital Markets Board. Check that the fund and its management company are SPK-licensed and eligible for citizenship before investing.
Process and ordinary routes
Investment → certificate of conformity → investor residence permit under Art. 31(1)(j) of Law No. 6458 → citizenship file and Presidential decision. The spouse and minor or dependent children are included (Law No. 5901, Art. 12). Ordinary naturalisation (Art. 11) requires 5 years of uninterrupted residence, Turkish language, income and good character; marriage (Art. 16) requires at least 3 years of continuing marriage.
For citizenship and residence matters: residence and citizenship lawyer in Alanya · lawyer in Antalya. Related: residence permit through property · how to check a tapu.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy land to qualify?
Not since 12 December 2023 unless there is a building on it.
Does my family get citizenship too?
Yes — the spouse and minor or dependent children.
When can I sell the property?
After the 3-year annotation on the title deed expires.
How long does it take?
The law sets no deadline; it depends on workload and security checks.
This article is general information as of 1 November 2026 and is not individual legal advice. Thresholds and procedures change by Presidential decision — confirm them on the date of investment.
Rufina Taştan Law Office — lawyer in Alanya: legal advice in English, Russian and Turkish.